Aubrey’s Thompson sisters have maintained their family’s unity with pageantry, which began with Justice Thompson before touching both Addie Thompson and McKenna Thompson.
The endeavor began with Justice, the oldest, and a letter in the mail.
“I got a letter in the mail when I was seven and we thought it was a joke, but my mom was like, ‘Let's try it out,’ so we went and that was it,” Justice said. “I fell in love, and my sisters followed in my footsteps. It became a family thing.”
Justice, 24, has gathered several titles under her name over the years.
“I won the state title, National American Miss, three times, and my big title was the USA National Miss in 2021,” Justice said.
Addie, 19, followed suit. “I won my first Texas title with National American Miss when I was 5, then went on to win International Junior Miss Texas at 15 and then have been continuously competing,” Addie said. “I’m competing at Royal International Miss in July.”
The youngest, McKenna, 17, would not be outdone.
“I won my first Texas title with National American Miss when I was 4 and went on to be Miss Texas Junior High, and now I am UNM Texas Teen and I’ll be competing for nationals in July,” McKenna said.
It’s not just pageantry which presents a common thread for the sisters.
“We’re copy paste, like all three of us are the same, so it’s really been a, ‘Well, she’s doing it, so I’m gonna do it,’” Addie said. “We’ve all kind of done the same things as each other with cheer, pageantry and pigs. It’s all been consistent.”
Each of the sisters attributed two major benefits to their time in pageantry.
“It’s been a stepping stone of my life and the way I’m able to speak and interview,” Justice said. “These past two jobs I’ve had, I was so confident going into my interviews and people have told me, ‘You don’t interview like a 24-year-old.’” McKenna agreed. “I’m a normal girl like everyone else, I just talk better,” McKenna said.
The other gift competing has given is friendship, Justice explained.
“I’ve made lifelong friendships that will be part of my wedding party one day,” Justice said. “The confidence and friendships have spearheaded my love for pageantry.”
Both Addie and McKenna said they aren’t finished with the world of pageantry, with Addie in college and headed to Orlanda for the Royal International Miss in July, and McKenna soon to graduate high school.
“As of right now, going into college I’m going to be busy with nursing and Air Force ROTC, so I know that will take up a lot of time, but I want to continue in pageantry and see where it takes me,” McKenna said.
Aside from the confidence and friendships, all three sisters, huddled together at the AISD pig barn at 8 a.m. on a Saturday for McKenna, said the through line has kept the family together despite having three kids of varying ages.
“We also have such a tight family, the five of us love spending time together,” Justice said. “It doesn’t matter where we are, we want to be together, want to experience together. Our family is known for our chaos. We’re crazy, but we love to be together, and if that’s at a pageant, that’s where it is.”
