Meet Miss Macon’s Teen Emmy Taylor: Platform, goals and future plans

Emmy Taylor shares her journey, platform and what’s next after being crowned Miss Macon's Teen.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Miss Macon’s Teen Emmy Taylor is stepping into her new title with a focus on connecting generations and raising awareness about loneliness among older adults.

Taylor joined 41 Today to discuss her recent win, her background and the personal experience behind her community service initiative.

Taylor said she began competing in pageants in January and was shocked when she was named Miss Macon’s Teen.

“Getting on that stage and overcoming all my fears of being in front of a huge crowd was a big accomplishment for me,” Taylor said.

Taylor attends Southland Academy and describes herself as a “big farm girl.” She lives on a farm with cattle and said winning the title also helped her overcome insecurities about her height.

Her community service initiative, “First Generation,” focuses on bringing generations together and raising awareness about loneliness among older adults.

Taylor said the initiative was inspired by her grandmother’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her grandmother spent more than four months in the hospital in 2020 and struggled with isolation while family members were unable to visit her.

Taylor said her grandmother is now 94 years old.

That experience also inspired Taylor to start the Grace Challenge, which encourages people to perform simple acts of kindness for older adults, such as getting groceries, writing notes, giving gifts or spending time with them.

Taylor said she hopes to involve others in the effort, including members of her cheer team at Southland Academy, and visit residents at Magnolia Manor in Americus.

“I hope that I can bring together people,” Taylor said.

As Miss Macon’s Teen, Taylor said she is looking forward to stepping outside her comfort zone, meeting new people and using her voice throughout the year.

“Being able to have this title and go out and get my voice out there and be with an amazing group of girls is just a big deal for me,” Taylor said.

Outside of pageants, Taylor said she enjoys working with cattle on her family’s farm and plans to continue balancing her new title with her life as a self-described farm girl.