By Marin Murray, Staff Writer
When her name echoed through the Jones Performing Arts Center and the crowd erupted in applause, the newly- crowned Miss Ouachita Baptist University was in disbelief. As the crown was placed on her head, it marked more than a pageant win for junior Anna Derby – it was a testament to her character and all she has overcome this school year.
Derby was crowned Miss Ouachita Baptist University on Saturday, Feb. 14 during the campus pageant and will represent OBU at the Miss Arkansas competition in June. “I couldn’t believe it,” Derby said. “It was just an unreal experience. To have this opportunity is such a blessing, and to be able to represent Ouachita across the state of Arkansas as I go on to Miss Arkansas is just an unreal experience and will be the best thing I’ve ever done.”
After overcoming a significant health struggle last semester, Derby went on to compete in and win the first pageant of her career, using her experiences as a platform to help others. “I felt like it was the right time, because after everything I went through last semester, I just wanted to really advocate for health and wellness,” Derby said. “I wanted to use what I know and what I’ve been through to share that with other people and to help others in the community. I’ve always thought about doing this every year, because I think representing Ouachita is just an honor and the best job ever.”
For her community service initiative, Derby decided to focus on wellness, calling it “Strive to Thrive: Working Toward Wellness,” and encouraging others to live a healthy lifestyle. Building her platform around her experiences, her kinesiology background and her passion for helping others, Derby has already been able to make a significant impact on the Ouachita community.
“She’s brought so much life and energy to our club,” Kinesiology Club sponsor Terry DeWitt said. “We’ve been doing some good things, but as Anna has started Wellness Wednesday, it has become something that not just the campus is involved in but other people in the community look forward to it as well.” Derby began the campus-wide Wellness Wednesday movement during the previous academic year when she held the position of social media chair for the Kinesiology Club. She now serves as the vice president and represented the club at the pageant.
“The Kinesiology Club has supported me through everything I went through last semester,” Derby said. “But it also has been such an outlet for me to be involved here on campus, holding those leadership positions and just connecting with other students. So just being able to represent that, I know it was an opportunity for me to share something I was really passionate about.” A win for Derby was a win for the club and the kinesiology program as a whole. However, it was more than just her passion for wellness that led her to the title of Miss OBU, it was her character that really shined through.
“We’re a very small part of her winning,” DeWitt said. “All we did was sponsor her. But she’s got the personality, she’s a really nice person and she’s a godly person. So, to have her represent our club, our people, our campus and our community is just a wonderful thing.”
In addition to the title of Miss OBU, Derby also took home the Photogenic Award, Alpha Private Interview Award and the Evening Wear Award as well as a significant scholarship. For the talent portion of the competition, Derby tap danced to Bruno Mars’ Runaway Baby. “I was so happy for her,” 2025 Miss OBU Ava Weeks said. “I love Anna. She’s in my pledge class, so we’ve been friends for a long time. Getting to see Anna win was so special, and I know she is going to be amazing. She’s bubbly, she’s kind, she’s got a great story and deserves to be able to tell it on a big stage.”
The pageant marked the end of a chapter for Weeks as she passed on the crown to Derby, but Weeks will compete alongside her fellow member of the Women of EEE at the Miss Arkansas competition as Miss Southwest Arkansas. Derby, an Arkadelphia native, is also involved in the Ouachita Student Foundation, the cheer team and serves as the president of the Gridiron Girls.
“I have grown up here all my life,” Derby said. “So, being able to hold this position, do even more to volunteer and have an impact on the community is so special.” Another special moment for Derby after winning the pageant was celebrating with her sister, who held the title of Miss OBU in 2020-2021.
“Being able to hold this legacy with her of Miss OBU has been so special, and for her to be there was just an amazing moment for us,” Derby said. “We have always loved Ouachita. We’ve been here our entire lives in Arkadelphia, attending football games, going to all the events, and we’ve always loved interacting with Miss OBU on campus. So, being able to represent Ouachita and have that as a tradition and a legacy for us both, is so special. It’s truly an honor, and there’s nothing like it. I’m so grateful for the opportunity”
As Derby continues to prepare for the Miss Arkansas competition in a few months, her main focus is not winning at the next level, but instead serving the campus and community well. “I can work towards the goal of Miss Arkansas, but to serve as Miss OBU will be unlike anything else I’ve ever done before,” Derby said. “I really want to leave a good legacy and a lasting impact on Ouachita. I think this is an opportunity for me to share more information about kinesiology and just share things that I’m passionate about as well as to really connect with other students, love on them, support them and engage with them.”
On June 8-13, Derby will compete for the title of Miss Arkansas in Little Rock, representing OBU and a community that means so much to her while sharing her passion for wellness with others.
