Former Miss USA Whitney Miller visits Tiger Muay Thai

Hailing from the great state of Texas, Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp had a new face patrolling the camp’s grounds over the last month, former Miss United States, Whitney Miller.

Spontaneously jumping into a pageant in 2005, Miller took home the crown which jump started her future in pageantry. She decided to put down pageantry and focus on sports until six years later a call would change her life. A friend called MIller to participate in a Miss Texas United States pageant.

“Honestly, right off the bat I declined the offer,” said Miller. “But ultimately accepted the challenge and with a borrowed dress won the title of Miss Texas United States 2012 and walked away with the best in swimsuit award.”

A few months later in 2012, she was crowned Miss United States.
“I knew I would regret not competing for the Miss Texas U.S. title and looking back I can’t imagine how different my life would be if I would have decided against it,” said Miller.

Miller’s pageantry is over for the time being while she is focusing on a martial arts career. Falling in love with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ), Miller has been sucked into the martial arts world also training Muay Thai, kickboxing and wrestling to name a few.

Miller is now striving to start the long, tough journey to become a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“I started falling in love with BJJ a few months in when I started looking at rolling like a game or a puzzle that I had to figure out.” said Miller.
Her new focus is a term she’s branded as Miss2Jits.

“Miss2Jits is about my journey from Miss United States to Jiu-Jitsu. Its about hanging up my pageant gown and picking up a Gi and a pair of mixed martial arts’(MMA) gloves instead,” said Miller.

“The name, Miss2Jits, encompasses the effort, dedication, motivation, and the fact that none of us have to stay in the box society puts us in,” said Miller. “If a beauty queen can become a MMA fighter or BJJ fighter then what is holding you back?”

As a lover or travel and new experiences, Miller knew the trip to Thailand was inevitable when friend, Roger Huerta took a job as a MMA coach at Tiger Muay Thai. “I must say, the beautiful beaches and the fact that the gym is located in paradise definitely helped the cause,” said Miller. “Outside of the coaches, I’m surrounded by up and coming professional fighters that are all extremely supportive and push me everyday.”

From a former Miss USA winner to aspiring BJJ and MMA fighter, going against the grain seems to be the only path that Miller has planned in her future.

“I want people to realize that the unknown is okay and not to fear it,” said Miller. “Take the leap because that is truly when you start living!”

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