What do you think of Miss Kentucky?

You may picture a glamorous dress and a sparkly crown.

But in fact, the title is so much more than that.

It's a full time job that includes speaking at school assemblies across the state and being an advocate for a particular cause.

For this time, it's Kentucky farmers.

Our Laura Rogers spoke one on one with Miss Kentucky 2024 as she begins her year of service.

I actually had the stomach bug the day I was supposed to check in to Miss Kentucky.

Despite that Rocky start, Chappell ten years approached the job interview for Miss Kentucky.

Like any other goal she set for herself.

You always have to put in 110% into everything that you do.

That's kind of how I've always looked at life.

That is evident by her long list of accomplishments from music to her education and career, fitness and community service.

But the most important thing too, is in that persistence, you don't try to become somebody else.

Your new Miss Kentucky.

Her authenticity appealed to the judges, and after three previous years finishing in the top five, Penny has got her crowning moment.

It's just one of those moments that felt so surreal.

I was in shock and then I was like, Oh my gosh, this is happening.

She is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Bluegrass State, including through her community service initiative, Operation Gratitude.

As a little girl would go on walks with my grandfather and when I reached up for his hands, I would instead find hooks that were due to an injury during World War Two.

Her grandfather was a triple amputee when tennis was seven years old.

He gave her his Purple Heart for safekeeping.

Ever since then, I've known that this was something that I wanted to pursue, is making sure that our communities provide gratitude towards our veterans.

They put so much on the line for it today.

She works with Honor Flight Kentucky.

Which has been one of my favorite things in the.

World and is a nurse recruiter at the VA Hospital in Lexington.

I wanted to make sure that our veterans receive the resources that they need, especially in today's time with the rise of mental health issues for our veterans.

The homeless veteran population rising.

There's a lot of things that we can do to serve those who have served us.

It is part of her message as she speaks to schoolwide assemblies across the state.

She plans to bring a veteran with her on several of those visits.

It's one thing for me to sit here and tell you a veteran story, but when you can see that person firsthand, it makes a huge difference.

Jenny is also advocates for Kentucky Proud Products, part of a long time partnership between the Miss Kentucky Organization and the Department of Agriculture.

So I get to go and speak in schools about Kentucky.

Department of Agriculture.

Kentucky Proud.

Shopping.

Local.

Eating local, which.

Also supports a healthy lifestyle.

Another of her passions as an avid runner.

It is her plan to present that message in all 120 counties in the Commonwealth.

I know that there's one day I start in Maysville and then 4 hours later I'm supposed to be in Madisonville.

She also plans to take her violin into schools, using it to both educate and entertain.

I love everything about music.

It's been a huge part of my life.

I started playing the violin when I was three years old.

Denise incorporates music into her support for veterans, giving them a CD she recorded called Grateful as a form of music therapy.

Music has a way of helping people heal.

Through her year of service, she aims to remain true to herself as a forever Miss Kentucky.

Each girl brings her own unique set of values and lessons to the table, her own life perspective.

And that's what I love most about this organization is its that I'm not Miss Kentucky Chapel sitting in some chapel 20th Miss Kentucky.

It's not vice versa.

Chappell tells me she is very excited about carrying the prized country ham on the silver platter that will go for $1,000,000 or more at the Country Ham Breakfast later this month at the Kentucky State Fair.

She is also busy preparing for Miss America, which takes place in January.

Three for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you, Laura.

And our best to chapel.

She says her future plans possibly include law school or getting a master's degree in public policy.