June 20, 2025
At 15, Shae Smith had to learn how to walk again. Following surgery to correct severe spinal curvature, she endured months of intensive rehabilitation and physical therapy to regain her mobility.
“Facing that kind of recovery at such a young age taught me perseverance and gave me purpose,” Smith said. “When I woke up from surgery, I was 3 inches taller and had a whole new sense of balance. It was challenging and painful. I was homeschooled for several weeks, had to drop out of competitive dance and didn't know if I would ever be able to do what I loved again. In the end, it only made be stronger and more determined."
Fast forward to today, and the health sciences major at the University of Missouri is not just a rising senior — she’s also the reigning Miss Missouri USA. Smith is leveraging her visibility to bring attention to the condition that reshaped her life: scoliosis.
To correct a 63-degree curve in her spine diagnosed at age 11, Smith wore a rigid body brace for several years. She eventually underwent anterior scoliosis correction surgery, a procedure that placed 15 titanium screws and two tether cords along her spine. Beyond healing her body, that life-changing experience also shaped her calling.
“I knew I wanted to go into a health-related field after that,” she said.
What began as a personal journey has grown into a statewide mission. Smith now advocates for early scoliosis detection and resources for young patients navigating treatment. She even authored a children’s book, “Beautiful Crooked Letter I,” designed to help kids better understand their diagnosis.
“There weren’t any resources out there that explained it in a way kids could understand,” she said. “I decided to write a children’s book so it would be easy for them to understand. I wanted something parents could read to their children.”
Smith has been competing in pageants since the age of 7. Though she was shy as a child, she credits those experiences with helping her build confidence, find her voice and sharpen her public speaking skills. In addition to being crowned Miss Missouri Teen USA in 2022, she also earned national recognition with the Prudential Spirit of Community Award in 2019.
As Miss Missouri USA, Smith’s platform focuses on scoliosis awareness and fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. She’s raised more than $53,000 for the cause, and she hopes to meet with Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe to advocate for statewide scoliosis screening legislation.
“Right now, there’s no mandated screening,” she said. “That’s exactly what happened with me. Mine progressed too fast at a young age to be able to stop it.”
Empowered by experience
Originally from Bolivar, Missouri, Smith chose Mizzou not only for its strong health sciences program but also for the sense of belonging she felt on campus.
“I truly felt like there was no place like home,” she said. “I’ve lived in Missouri my entire life, and I knew Mizzou was where I belonged.”
Outside the classroom, Smith brings that same passion and drive to her extracurriculars. She’s been a member of the Mizzou Golden Girls since her freshman year and is active in the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
“My teammates and coach have been so supportive through this process,” she said. “I just love how they've rallied behind me the whole way. I’m proud to represent them and the University of Missouri on this larger stage.”
Botswana Blackburn, chair of the Department of Health Sciences, first connected with Smith while teaching her Health Care in Missouri class. She described Smith, who is majoring in health sciences with an emphasis in leadership and policy, as an exceptional student whose ambition and authenticity make her a standout representative of the college.
“She consistently demonstrates dedication, school pride and a commitment to excellence both on the field and in the classroom,” Blackburn said. “We are incredibly proud of all she has accomplished and the way she represents our community with grace and integrity.”
This summer, Smith is balancing pageant prep for Miss USA, ongoing advocacy work and a hands-on internship at CORA Med HRT & Regeneration Center in Springfield, Missouri.
“I love a busy lifestyle,” she said with a laugh. “It keeps me on my toes and has taught me a lot about time management.”
A date for the 74th Miss USA pageant has not been set. The winner will represent the U.S. at Miss Universe 2025 in November in Thailand.
As she looks ahead, Smith is exploring several career paths. She’s currently leaning toward medical device sales, a field that would allow her to stay close to the health care innovations that changed her life.
“Potentially being able to sell the kind of equipment that helped me would be really meaningful,” she said. “I would love to give back to the people and the technologies that gave me so much.”
