Miss Kansas Theresa Vail First Contestant to Show Tattoos During Miss America Pageant

I've noticed lately that more people have tattoos than ever before, especially women. It should be no surprise then that a beauty contestant would have them as well. However, it's been almost 'taboo' for a so called beauty queen to have a tattoo, at least one that is visible, until now that is. Miss Kansas, Theresa Vail is making headlines because of her refusal to cover her rather large tattoos during the Miss America pageant. Plus, the fact that she is also a Sgt. in the Army National Guard.

Vail says she is refusing to hide her tattoos because her "whole platform is empowering women to overcome stereotypes and break barriers. What a hypocrite I would be if I covered my ink.'

So what are her 2 tattoos that will be showing? One is the insignia for the U.S. Army Dental Corps on her shoulder and the other is the Serenity Prayer which runs down her side. It's not just her tattoos though that make her unique in the pageant world. She is a hunter, sky diver, mechanic, boxer, a former motorcycle racer and she is an expert M16 marksman. A woman you don't want to mess with but someone you would normally see walking the stage of a beauty pageant.

Bullied as a kid Vail wants women to know you can do whatever you want as long as you put your mind to it, even if it is a male dominated arena and that beauty comes from the inside.

The pageant will be held Sunday, Sept. 15th on ABC. One contestant will also be crowned as America's Choice. Each contestant submitted a video telling why they would be a good representative of the Miss America Organization. You can vote through tonight (Sept. 12th) at 11:59 EST for your favorite.

Here is Theresa Vail's video submission

I can tell you she has my vote. She is very well spoken and doesn't seem fake or jaded but rather self-confident, smart and encouraging.