“The state Junior Miss director said I had to get in shape for the national contest, that I had to work out at the gym,” Kaileigh said.

Another difference from 1979. Kaileigh wears a silver medal proclaiming her title. Her mother wore a crown. Gayle got $1,000; Kaileigh, $2,500.

Neither mother nor daughter said they thought they were Junior Miss material.

“I am not a pageant girl,” Gayle Bullard said. “I was involved in 4-H and I showed steers and pigs. But my kindergarten teacher thought I hung the moon and encouraged me to get involved. She believed in me so much. She knew I could do it.”

Gayle Bullard went on to attend Northeastern State University and earn a degree in education. She was principal of an elementary school in Union Public Schools. She said she quit her education career to raise kids. She has a younger son, Kolton, 13.

Kaileigh is no stranger to the spotlight. She has fiddled, dance and sung with NSU’s Downtown Country since she was in elementary school.

She said being in a competition made her a little nervous. She said she doubts she’ll get involved in another scholarship pageant.

“It was fun, but it was a little out of my comfort zone,” she said.

This is the second major honor the mother and daughter share. Gayle Bullard, 46, said she was a valedictorian for Wagoner High School’s class of 1979 and Kaileigh is this year’s Wagoner valedictorian. Kaileigh plans to attend Belmont University in Nashville and pursue a music-related career.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email