Miss Texas Victor Breaux: 'I still can't believe this is real life'

Houston native Ellie Breaux expressed her delight at her victory at the Miss Texas 2023 pageant on July 1. Breaux, who just earned her bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of North Texas (UNT), didn’t have to travel far to earn the title as she represented Tarrant County at the competition held at the Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson, Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported.

“I still can't believe this is real life,” Ellie Breaux said on the pageant’s Instagram page. “I am constantly having to look at myself in the mirror to be sure I'm not dreaming. Being crowned Miss Texas 2023 was such a surreal moment, I can't even begin to describe it. Watching back on the crowning moment is like repeatedly witnessing magic.” 

According to a news release issued by KRIV, aside from representing the Lone Star State at the upcoming Miss America competition, Breaux was also awarded a $20,000 college scholarship which she said will go toward some of her student loan payments and a master’s degree in the future. Citing Breaux’s biography on the Miss Texas Competition Magazine website, the station reported that she – being the daughter of a Houston police officer – she wants to help children understand that law enforcement officials are heroes. KRIV reported that she competed in her first pageant when she was a college freshman.

In her biography, Breaux stated that it didn’t occur to her at the time she’d vie for the Miss Texas crown. Formerly a second runner-up, she said she has received many opportunities since then. On the Instagram post, she praised her counterparts – namely Miss DeWitt County, Miss Frisco, Miss North Texas, and Miss Houston – for their hard work and dedication toward the pageant.

Per a report from Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW) NBC affiliate KXAS, Breaux emerged on top in the evening gown and talent portions of the competition. The station reported that the North Texas Dancers, UNT’s official dance team of which Breaux was a member, offered their congratulations on Twitter. Breaux hopes to be the successor to Miss America 2023 and Wisconsin native Grace Stanke.