TRAIN LIKE A BEAUTY QUEEN

Lacey Morgan has fared well in the world of beauty pageants.

She won the titles of Teen Miss Leesburg in 2010 and Miss Teen United States in 2012. In 2014, she finished in fourth place at the Miss Florida USA competition held at Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale. That was quite an accomplishment since she competed against 69 of the Sunshine State’s most beautiful women.

In the near future, Lacey plans on competing in the Miss Florida USA pageant for a second time.

The secret to her success is maintaining a competition-ready body. That’s why she works out with a personal trainer several times a week and faithfully visits Anytime Fitness in Lady Lake lifting weights and running on cardio machines.

“I always want to look as though I’m going to compete in a pageant tomorrow,” said Lacey, who is currently enrolled in a nursing program at Lake-Sumter State College. “I simply do not believe in going on a crash diet weeks before a pageant. That’s not healthy.”

Lacey Up Close And Personal

• Lacey typically eats grilled chicken, vegetables and yogurt. However, there are weekends when she surrenders to pizza

Th T e stairsteepppeer is s one e of f Lacceey’s favoorite e cardi d o machinnes

During competitions, a panel of judges scores competitors in four categories, including evening gown, swimsuit, interview and onstage question. While Lacey said each component delivers an exciting adrenaline rush, she never puts a ridiculous amount of pressure on and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream.

• The most Lacey has ever weighed is 125 pounds. “My goal is to be trim and thin and add more muscle weight,” she said.

• Despite being a pageant herself to emerge victorious.

“For me, it’s about going to a pageant and having a good time,” she said. “I never take them too seriously, and I never go in with any expectations. The less pressure you put on yourself, the better you’ll perform when you’re up onstage.” contestant, Lacey says society puts way too much emphasis on beauty.

“When you feel comfortable in your own skin, people will love you for who you are,” she said. “We tend to be our own worst critics and freak out if a hair is out of place. That’s not right. I feel that my personality is what makes me unique; not my beauty.”