Nilah Lear Pollard, a junior social work major at Northwestern State University, was crowned Miss Minden 2025 on January 18. Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Pollard has spent most of her life in Shreveport and now resides in Benton, Louisiana. With aspirations beyond pageantry, she plans to graduate next year, pursue a master’s degree at Jackson State University, and begin a career as a high school social work counselor.
Pollard’s journey to the Miss Minden crown began with a phone call from her former director, Mr. Baker, who encouraged her to compete. After witnessing the work of her predecessor, she was inspired to represent Minden, a city known for its rich history and vibrant culture.
“I’m grateful for that call because it gave me the opportunity to connect with this wonderful community and strive to leave a meaningful impact,” Pollard said.
Pollard credits her aunt, Monica, as her greatest inspiration. A former pageant queen herself, holding titles such as Miss Hospitality and Miss Jackson State University in 2003, Monica has instilled in Pollard the importance of dedication, positivity, and community service.
“She has taught me to give 110% to whatever I do, maintain a positive attitude, and use my God-given gifts to serve my community,” Pollard shared.
One of Pollard’s most memorable moments as Miss Minden so far was seeing her grandmother’s excitement about her feature in the Minden Press-Herald.
“She eagerly awaited the newspaper’s arrival and even considered driving to Minden to get a copy when it was delayed. Hearing her excitement reminded me how much this opportunity means to my family and the strong support they provide,” she said.
Pollard’s community initiative, Share A S.M.I.L.E., is an acronym for Sacrifice, Mission, Inclusion, Love, and Encouragement. The idea was born out of prayer and a desire to bring positivity to those in need.
“Recognizing the struggles many people face, I wanted to use my gifts to make a positive impact,” Pollard said. “Through this reflection, I developed Share A S.M.I.L.E., which allows me to bring positive change to my community and beyond.”
To promote her initiative, Pollard has launched “Encouragement of the Week” messages on Instagram Reels, where she shares uplifting content and challenges viewers to spread kindness.
“The positive feedback has been overwhelming, with many people reposting the videos to spread the message. I’m excited to continue growing this platform and inspiring others!” she said.
Pollard believes that every person has unique gifts that can be used to serve the community.
“I want to encourage individuals to serve with the gifts they have been given. Every person is passionate about something, and that passion can be used to uplift the broken and build the community. In every act of kindness, I encourage people to smile, knowing it may inspire others to do the same,” she explained.
Pollard has experienced firsthand how a simple smile can transform a situation. During her first Miss Louisiana competition, she felt nervous about the different phases of the event. However, moments of laughter shared with fellow contestants helped ease her anxiety.
“Our photographer, Steven Palowsky, played a key role by creating joyful moments—every time he took out his camera, smiles naturally followed,” she recalled. “Those moments helped me relax and contributed to a wonderful experience.”
For those looking to support her mission, Pollard encourages individuals to start with what they are passionate about.
“Find what you are passionate about and start there with serving the community. Not every person you come in contact with will share their struggles with you, but if you choose to treat everyone with kindness and serve with a smile, you can be sure that someone will reap the benefit and be encouraged to share their smile, too,” she said.
As Pollard prepares for the Miss Louisiana competition, she remains committed to making a difference in Minden and beyond, one smile at a time.
