Mallory Hudson, Bowling Green native and University of Kentucky student, is Miss Kentucky 2023. She is a 2020 graduate of South Warren High School where she was named a 2019 Kentucky Governor's Scholar.
Upon completion of the Governor's Scholars Program (GSP), she served as a Community Ambassador for GSP speaking to local high school students about the program's mission to keep the state's "best and brightest" students in-state for college. Mallory personally embraced this mission and accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Kentucky (UK) in Lexington. Mallory is currently a senior at UK where she is studying Communications and Political Science, and she plans to attend law school post graduation. At the University of Kentucky, Mallory has been actively involved in organizations such as Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, UK Student Government Association, Leadership Development Program, DanceBlue, and UK Panhellenic Council.
Off-campus, Mallory has been in over 40 theatrical productions, including a feature film, Beauty Mark, which was awarded the Best Narrative Feature Audience Award at the Austin Film Festival. Her favorite role to date is Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!. Additionally, Mallory is a two time Kentucky State Beta Speech Champion, served as a 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival Princess, and was named a Cycle 12 Jovani "It Girl" for her modeling work with Jovani Fashions in Atlanta and New York.
Mallory's Community Service Initiative is Inclusive Stages, which is designed to provide theatrical and artistic opportunities for individuals with special needs. Through her CSI, Mallory has had the honor of implementing a number of initiatives to further inclusivity efforts in the state. For example, she has initiated inclusive acting classes for individuals with a diagnosis of Down syndrome, written a children's book Inclusive Stages, created a podcast "Inclusive Stages: Behind the Curtain," and distributed sensory kits to Kentucky theaters to make them more accessible for those individuals with sensory processing disorders. Ultimately, Inclusive Stages strives to teach people to look for capabilities instead of disabilities and welcome all to not only the theatrical stage but also to the stage that is life! Mallory was awarded the 2023 Kentucky Farm Bureau Quality of Life Award for her work with Inclusive Stages.
In her free time, Mallory enjoys singing, playing guitar, reading, working out, cheering on her Kentucky Wildcats, spending time with her beloved Goldendoodle Bella, watching a good 'whodunit' film with friends, attending her younger sister, McLaine's, sporting events, and traveling with her parents Todd and Caroline. During her year of service, Mallory will serve as the official spokesperson for Kentucky Proud through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Mallory is especially excited about this opportunity due to her grandfather being a proud Kentucky farm owner in Edmonson County. Mallory plans to travel the state encouraging Kentuckians of all ages to support their fellow Kentuckians by purchasing agricultural products and services made, grown, and produced locally.
Mallory hopes to be remembered as a Miss Kentucky who built intentional connections with Kentuckians, advocated for inclusion, led with a servant's heart, and empowered through education
