Eastwood Middle School holds a special place in Allissa Latham’s heart.

Not only was the Tuscaloosa school where Latham attended class, but it also served as the setting for her foray into beauty pageants.

"I was actually Miss Sixth and Miss Seventh grade at Eastwood," said Latham, a native of Tuscaloosa who now lives in Lowell, Massachusetts, which is outside Boston.

Through the years, Latham competed in more beauty pageants, culminating in her recent crowning as Miss Massachusetts USA 2018 in November. Next year, Latham will be one of more than 50 women to compete for the national Miss USA title in Las Vegas.

"I could not be more proud of her," said her mother, Virginia Wingenter.

After graduating from Paul W. Bryant High School in 2009, Latham attended the University of Alabama, where she received her bachelor’s degree in management with a concentration in health care. After graduating from UA, Latham moved to New England and took a job with Cerner, a health information technology company. At Cerner, Latham works as an integration architect, where she consults different hospitals about their electronic medical records.

At 26, Latham was close to the cutoff age to compete in the beauty pageant, but she knew it was something she wanted to do.

"We used to watch Miss USA pageant on TV growing up," she said. "It’s just something I’ve always wanted, and because I wanted it, I went after it."

Before trying out for Miss Massachusetts USA, Latham placed in the top 10 of Miss New Hampshire USA in 2015 and was first runner-up in 2016.

During her competion for Miss Massachusetts USA, Latham participated in a swimsuit contest and an evening gown contest. After an interview section dealing with what she would tell people about the state, she was placed in the top 10.

After reaching the top 10, Latham was asked another question onstage: What would you want people to know?

"It’s OK to not be OK," Latham told the judges.

Latham elaborated that one part of her platform is highlighting how depression affects people. While a student at UA, she experienced bouts of depression and anxiety. Now, she wants to tell people it is all right to have those feelings and to ask for help.

"I had a lot of anxiety, and I kept it to myself for a long time," she said. "It took me a while to learn that I had anxiety and learn how to deal with it."

Latham also wants to use her role as Miss Massachusetts to be an advocate for those who need proper health care, but cannot afford it, especially the homeless.

"I’ve also noticed that although we have a good health care system in Massachusetts, there is a gap between in the shelters and getting these people the care they need," she said.

Latham is already using her tiara to try and be a voice for issues she cares about, serving on an upcoming panel to discuss female empowerment and setting up meeting with politicians to talk about how things can be better. She hopes to have a meeting with Massachusetts state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez to talk about some issues.

In addition to her work at Cerner, Latham is currently completing her master’s in business administration at Suffolk University.

Reach Drew Taylor at drew.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.