Closing the deal
Fourth time’s a charm for real-estate agent and Miss Texas USA 2018, Logan Lester
Three days after Hurricane Harvey struck the Gulf Coast, Miss Texas USA hopeful Logan Lester received an urgent phone call — the pageant had been postponed.
“I can speak for the other contestants when I say that we were ready to go,” Lester said. “We thought it would be rescheduled within a week or two, but there were so many girls affected by Harvey. … There’s more to life than a pageant.”
The 22-year-old realestate agent made a point to view the unforeseen delay in a positive light. She used the extra five months to train harder and revisit her game plan.
And last weekend, the timing was right; 98 women contended for the 2018 Miss Texas USA crown at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel.
“On Saturday, we had a final show rehearsal at 3 o’clock, but I was early,” Lester recalled. “There was no one else in the ballroom besides the choreographer. I used that moment to take it all in — those chandeliers and how the room felt. It was a reflection on all the hard work and sacrifices I’d made to get to this point.”
Lester swapped out her original evening gown. This year, as a Harris County representative, she could make her own decisions.
“In the past, I went as Miss Houston USA, and that carries a lot of pressure,” said Lester, a four-time Miss Texas USA competitor. “When I competed this year, I felt really authentic. From my interview, to wardrobe choice, to my energy onstage, everything was very ‘me.’
“This time, I was just Logan.”
The best advice she received from previous Miss Texas USA victors was to visualize herself as the winner. Lester took the suggestion to heart; she even created a vision board and practiced placing the crown on her head.
By Sunday night, when she officially became Miss Texas USA 2018, the starspangled sash and crystal headpiece were real.
“The crowning moment was pretty crazy,” she said. “I was just floating and couldn’t feel my feet or hands.”
Her parents raised her to be goal-oriented and persistent.
Two years ago, when she got her Realtor’s license, she learned how to find a work-life balance.
“My 2016 title really helped prepare me for Miss Texas. I wanted to provide excellent service to my clients and also be a great Miss Houston.”
Lester is still solidifying her platform, though her life motto has always been “because nice matters.”
“It’s important to treat all people like they’re important and that their dreams matter,” she said. “My message is to be kind to people because you never know what they’re going through.”