Conant grad to vie for Miss Florida title

Audra Martin of Elk Grove Village crowned Miss University of Central Florida and will compete for Miss Florida in July.

Elk Grove Village resident and Conant High School graduate Audra Martin was recently crowned Miss University of Central Florida in Orlando. Martin, the daughter of Mark and Vicki Martin, is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in criminal justice.

Since it is a local Miss America preliminary, the Miss UCF contestants were scored on those guidelines. For her talent, she sang the Whitney Houston classic, "I Will Always Love You."

Martin led her Zeta Tau Alpha sorority sisters in a chant before beginning her first round of interviews and photos. "I am so excited!" she said. "I'm really looking forward to doing appearances and promoting my platform."

Each Miss America contestant, at the state or local level, commits to a year of service promoting awareness of the cause of their choice. Martin will work to combat cyber bullying.

"Parents, students, teachers and government officials need to realize that online bullying is as detrimental to a child's well-being as being bullied face-to-face," she said.

Martin will take home more than $3,000 in scholarships and gift certificates, and will compete in the Miss Florida Pageant in St. Petersburg on July 5.