Former Rockette Says Skills She Learned on Job Helped Her Become Miss Texas (Exclusive)

When Regan Hutsell was 7 years old, she entered her first dance competition. As part of the entry requirements, Hutsell was asked to get a headshot, so she went to a photography studio for her first professional photo.

There, she got her hair and makeup done before snapping her shot, and while sitting in the chair, looked up at the walls of the photography studio where shots of girls who had won pageants lined the walls.

“I remember thinking, ‘I don’t know what that is, but one day I want to be a part of it. I want to do that,’ ” she tells PEOPLE.

However, dance was Hutsell’s first passion, and she knew it would always be part of her life. “My dream came true, of being a dancer, at 18 when I was hired as a Radio City Rockette,” she says. That was in 2019, and Hutsell auditioned in the August audition. She danced in that season, just before the world shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She tells PEOPLE that the skills and mindsets instilled in her as a Rockette and, later, as a dancer with ballet troupes in the United States and England ultimately helped her get to where she is today — preparing to compete as Miss Texas at the upcoming Miss America competition on Sunday, Sept. 6.

“I love when people ask me about that because finding the similarities has been something that’s been super special and unique,” she says.

Both pageants are historic organizations, she explains. “Radio City celebrated their 100th anniversary last year, and the 100th Miss America gets crowned next year,” says Hutsell.

Being able to carry the sisterhood and the legacy of each organization has been important to Hutsell as she’s made her way from Miss Houston to Miss Texas and, hopefully, this weekend, to Miss America.

“Knowing that you’re carrying something that people really resonate with has been number one, the biggest thing,” she adds.

When it comes to more specific similarities she can pinpoint between what it takes to succeed in the two organizations, Hutsell says that her time as a Radio City Rockette prepared her to “talk to people and talk about something you’re passionate about.”

“A big part of the Christmas Spectacular is being able to share that, not just on stage, but offstage and verbally with others, communicate to people about why you want to come see the show, and what it means to come and make time for joy in the same way that you get to talk about the Miss America opportunity and share all the incredible things like the scholarships for women, the community service initiative. So those communication skills have played a vital role, as well as being able to translate who you are on stage in many capacities,” she says.

Beyond that, there’s one other big thing that Hutsell points to that she picked up from her time as a dancer and a Rockette that’s been a big help to her as she’s spent time in West Palm Beach, Fla., ahead of the Miss America pageant.

“When I first got here, I was using a foundation, and throughout the day I was like, ‘My face is melting off,’” explains Hutsell, speaking with PEOPLE via Zoom from the Sunshine State. “Then I thought, ‘What did I do when I was dancing?’ And my trusted, tried, and true Mac Foundation, I had it in my bag still, and I was like, ‘I’m moving that stuff out because it does not move once it goes on.’ ”

She laughs, “So situation remedied. Our foundation is no longer melting off just in time for prelims.”

While Hutsell didn’t grow up competing in pageants like many women who find themselves in the competition space do, she says that her role as a dancer ultimately helped her feel empowered to try out. After moving home from England, where she danced with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hutsell says she found herself in a “season of life” where she was meant to be giving back to others.

“Now I’m not pursuing dance at the same capacity that I once was. I’ve had my professional career, but I really miss giving back to the community. I miss doing something with people where you’re growing stronger together, where you’re having that aspect of getting into community, serving other people, but also sharpening skills and being a leader to those around you,” she shares of her thinking when it came to deciding to compete in the pageant circuit.

“And I said, ‘It’s just me holding me back now. Time isn’t holding me back. Capacity of growing and pursuing a professional career in dance isn’t holding me back. The only thing that would be holding me back is fear.’ ”

Hutsell jumped in “with both feet,” finding that pageantry pushed her in a “multifaceted way.”

“The beautiful part about dance is oftentimes when you step into competition, you’re just worried about dance,” she tells PEOPLE. However, she’s since found that, in pageants, the talent portion is only one aspect of the competition.

“At first, something I had to acclimate to when you’re thinking about, ‘Okay, now I’m just simply walking, so what do I want my walk to say? What do I want to leave people with when I’m walking across the stage, not just dancing?’ Because I know how to do that when I’m dancing. I know exactly what I want to leave people with. I know how to prepare; I know how to train,” she says.

“It’s been that push to figure out who I am in different elements, which I’m incredibly grateful for,” she adds.