Mallory Hagan, the 2013 Miss America pageant winner, launched her campaign for the Democratic nomination in Alabama's third congressional district on Tuesday.
Hagan, a 29-year-old native of Opelika, Alabama, announced her intentions during an event at her mother's dance studio, Al.com reported. The former beauty queen cited the lack of gender and age diversity in Congress as her reason for running.
"To not be represented both generationally and from a gender standpoint in Congress is just unacceptable to me," Hagan said. "I look forward to working with the people of this state, of our district, and of our country to make the world that we live in a better place ... and I hope that in joining with 390 other women who are running across the country that we can make this the new norm and we can get rid of what has been the status quo."
Hagan competed in the Miss Alabama and the Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen competitions before moving to Brooklyn, N.Y. in October of 2008. Hagan was crowned Miss Brooklyn in 2010. In 2012, she entered and won the Miss New York pageant, a platform she used to advocate for child sexual abuse awareness and prevention. In 2013, Hagan entered and won the Miss America pageant while creating some controversy for intimating her support of stronger gun-control measures in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting.
Since 2013, Hagan has discussed gun-control openly, even saying it was the most "important issue" for her during the 2016 presidential election.
How many more US citizens have to die before we make gun regulations?! I don't care what party. Surely we can agree on something?! #FSU
— Mallory Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) November 20, 2014
The single most important issue to me in this election will be gun reform, @HillaryClinton @BernieSanders. We HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
— Mallory Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) October 9, 2015
SO OVER THIS GUN DEBATE. We OBVIOUSLY need to do SOMETHING! When the constitution was written, they didn't have the arsenal we do today.
— Mallory Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) January 15, 2016
There are stricter laws on the purchase of cough medicine than guns. https://t.co/0OP8giBnev
— Mallory Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) October 4, 2017
Hagan has also taken to social media to voice her criticism of President Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and law enforcement.
Also. How about the ways that our police officers contributed to the mistreatment of others in 2015. https://t.co/PAbzhDUQTp
— Mallory Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) January 15, 2016
So...Shirley (CA) is black and a republican & just announced that she is voting for @realDonaldTrump because he gives her hope. I give up.
— Mallory Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) July 19, 2016
Donald Trump has the vocabulary and emotional intelligence of a 7 year old
— Mallory Hagan (@ItsMalloryHagan) October 10, 2016
Hagan is the only announced Democrat running in Alabama's 3rd Congressional District, which President Donald Trump won by 32 points over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election. The 3rd has been represented by Rep. Mike Rogers (R.) since 2003 and is based in eastern and central Alabama, including portions of Montgomery, Auburn, and Talladega. Since 2012, Rogers has garnered at least 64 percent of the vote in his reelection battles.