BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) — The road to the glitz and glamor of Miss America is miles from where Ariana Rodriguez's journey began.
"At 12, I entered the foster care system," Rodriguez said.
When she got out, a boarded up, abandoned house is where she, her siblings, and mom who was battling addiction called home.
"We always used to put our water buckets, so that when it rained we would have water to use for our baths, and for us to cook food," said Rodriguez.
"It actually breaks my heart," said local pageant director, Kimberly Lile. "I knew she was going through something, but I didn't know it was that."
"When I turned 16, I actually became homeless," Rodriguez said.
She was living out of her car at the Nelson County Fairgrounds, using a parking lot light to do her homework.
"I think about how scary that is, to stay overnight in your car -- a single, young female," Lile said.
"I remember looking up and thinking one day, the sunset won't be the most beautiful thing in my life," added Rodriguez.
The light would come when Rodriguez started looking for ways to earn scholarships, and found the Miss My Old Kentucky Home Pageant.
"Which she thought was a talent competition," explained Lile.
"I showed up, didn't have really have any pageant show experience, and sang," added Rodriguez. "I put all of my college savings into it, and then I lost."
"I'm like it's okay, We will make it work," Lile said.
"She said 'if you want to go to Miss Kentucky, we'll get you there,'" said Rodriguez.
Kimberly Lile was the director of the pageant and ended up being the helping hand Rodriguez needed to turn her life around.
"I believed in her from the moment I met her," Lile said with a smile.
Lile posted asking for help, opening her home, connecting Rodriguez with some well-known names to get her in the game.
There were some pageant wins and several losses during a nearly three-year span, until she made it to Miss Kentucky, and won.
"I always kind of had a feeling that I would be successful," Rodriguez explained.
She never lost confidence, but was still surprised at what happened next.
"I definitely did not think I'd make it to Top 11 in Miss America," said Rodriguez with a smile.
Today, her days are full of appearances, pictures, and meet and greets.
"Life has been completely changed in just a matter of a couple years," Rodriguez said.
What's truly important has never changed.
"She's gone through hard times, but I don't think she's going to go through hard times any more."
The resilient girl plans to open a facility for teens aging out of the foster care system. Helping people just like her.
"It was kind of a fairytale, just an amazing ending," said Lile as she fought back tears.
More stunning, in fact, than all those sunsets at the Nelson County fairgrounds, just like Ariana Rodriguez always hoped.
After Rodriguez's reign as Miss Kentucky comes to an end in June, she plans to finish college at UK.
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