01 Jul 2023 Conway native Allie Bell crowned Miss Arkansas’ Teen
By Carol Rolf
Allie Bell competed in her first Miss Arkansas Teen Pageant in 2022, placing in the Top 10 as Miss Teen South Central Arkansas. “After that, I definitely knew I wanted to come back this year and see if I could win,” said Bell of Conway. “I came back and I won.”
Competing this year as Miss Teen Ouachita River, Bell received the state crown June 9 at the Robinson Center in Little Rock. She will represent Arkansas in the 2023 Miss America Teen Pageant, scheduled sometime in January 2024. “I’m still on cloud nine,” she said a few days following the pageant. “It’s such a surreal feeling that not everyone gets to have. I’ve watched the video at least 50 times, and I’m still shocked that I won.”
Bell, the 17-year-old daughter of Rob and Kara Bell of Conway, won a $10,100 scholarship courtesy of the Miss Arkansas Organization and more than $25,000 in awards, wardrobe and gifts. During the week of competition, she received additional awards, including a $250 scholarship sponsored by Hannah Wright from The Royal We in the June 6 Preliminary Evening Gown category; a $250 scholarship sponsored by the Miss Arkansas Organization in the Preliminary Health and Fitness category on June 8; and a $500 scholarship sponsored by Butler Pharmacy in the #lovelikeKennedy Overall Evening Gown category on the final night of competition.
Bell will make appearances across the state promoting her platform, “Finish What He Started: Opioid Abuse Awareness.” Her platform is personal to her and her family. The “He” in the title refers to her late uncle, Kyle Allison of Conway. “My platform was created to honor and remember my Uncle Kyle,” she said. “He passed away in 2018 due to an addiction to opioids.
“I want to continue his legacy and educate Arkansans about opioids, what to do to avoid them and how to stay safe.”
For her talent, Bell performed a jazz dance to “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”
She said her platform will remain the same for the national pageant, but she’s not sure yet about her talent. “We’re still working on that,” she said, laughing.
A 2023 graduate of Conway High School, Bell has danced all her life. “I was on the dance team in high school and take dance lessons at Rock City Dance Center in Conway.” Bell will also be a member of the dance team at Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) in the fall, where she will study media and communications.
Unlike the winner of the Miss Arkansas Pageant, she will not have to give up a year of college. “I will continue to go to college and make appearances as Miss Arkansas’ Teen,” she said. “I know I will be super busy … I hope to learn a lot about time management and balance. When schools start again in the fall, I plan to make appearances around the state promoting my platform.” She also plans to speak to civic groups and organizations that request her appearance.
In addition to being a member of the dance team at Conway High School, Bell was also involved in theater, Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Caring Cats Club. She supports several community programs, including Renewal Ranch and Harbor House, and plans to remain involved with those organizations.
Bell has received enough money from the wins in the two pageants as well as the OBU Presidential Scholarship, the OBU Legacy Scholarship (her mother is an OBU graduate) and a small athletic scholarship to pay for her first two years of college. “That’s such a blessing,” she said.
Bell is the granddaughter of Debbie Allison of Conway and the late Dr. Walter Allison and Rosemary Bell of Searcy and the late Scott Bell. She has one younger brother, Connelly Bell, who is in eighth grade.
