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KIDS WHO CARE
Nataleigh Nix
Mistie Desper
“ALWAYS SHOW LOVE,
NO MATTER WHAT.” IT’S A
SIMPLE STATEMENT THAT
CAN CHANGE THE WORLD,
ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
Nataleigh Nix, daughter of Nathan and
Leigha Nix, has shown a servant’s heart from a
very young age. What began as a small acts of
kindness has blossomed into community service
projects that are transforming lives.
Leigha said, “She has always been such a
caring young lady but this really all began when
she wanted to go serve meals at an organization
for Thanksgiving around age 4. She also sang
for those in attendance and it was the sweetest
sight.”
Nataleigh’s love of singing and serving
others continued to grow. During a time when
her grandfather was in ICU, she spent many
hours in the waiting room with other families.
Quickly, she realized a need and asked how she
could help. Petitioning a local church as well as
organizing a Beta Club project at school, she
was able to provide bottled water and candies to
those “stuck” in the waiting room.
“She is extremely determined and well
organized. She is dedicated to her cause and
challenges herself. If you tell her something is
difficult, then that is exactly what she is going
to set out to do,” added Leigha.
Continuing her efforts, at age 13, Nataleigh
created her service initiative, AOK, through her
participation in the Miss Mississippi Corporation.
The AOK project includes the promotion and
importance of intentionally spreading kindness
throughout the community.
Now 16, Nataleigh is a junior at Madison
Central High School and the current Miss
Metro Jackson Teen. As a local title holder, she
prides herself on being able to be a role model
for younger girls. “In today’s world, it is so easy
to get caught up in other’s lives on social media.
What people show you is just a small percent of
the best in their lives, making young girls have
these unachievable and unrealistic goals. I try to
give them someone authentic and genuine and
real that they can look up to.”
Nataleigh’s heart for giving back has only
continued to grow since her days of packing
shoeboxes for underprivileged children with her
parents. Her list of projects has grown to
impressive heights and is deeply rooted into
changing the lives of those truly in need.
As part of her mission for February’s National
Random Acts of Kindness Day, Nataleigh is
working with her school leaders to nominate and
recognize other students making big changes in
their community. She has organized an entire
week of various “kind acts” that include writing
notes to teachers who have had a positive
influence on their students, social media tag
day to recognize someone in a positive way, and
so much more. She will be speaking to the
students at local schools during this week.
One of Nataleigh’s favorite organizations is
Shower Power of Mississippi which is a ministry
providing much needed items such as hygiene
products, food, clothing, and showers to the
homeless population in Jackson. Nataleigh is
working with Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins
to organize a community drive for items for
Shower Power that includes drop-off locations
for canned food items along with a night at
Chick-fil-A where proceeds will go directly to
the cause.
She added, “My pageant princesses and I
went to volunteer there and it was an incredible
experience. We, or at least I, had this image of
what homelessness looked like. As I was talking
with a young veteran, I realized he was there to
get help at the age of 25. That surprised me so
much and made me realize what a widespread
problem homelessness is in our community.”
Not only does she volunteer, but her love of
singing has blessed many through her pageants
as well as service projects singing for nursing
homes. Nataleigh added, “I think the residents
at The Orchard have left the biggest impact on
me. I was singing for the dementia patients one
time and so many of them do not have many
memories but they would recognize the words
of the songs and would begin singing with me.
It was such a special time to be able to connect
with them like that.”
In her spare time, Nataleigh participates in
her school’s show choir, dance team, is a member
of the student council, part of the Mayor’s Youth
Council, Beta Club member, a member of the
ACT 30+ club, and so much more. Along with
her upcoming projects, she will be singing the
national anthem at Ole Miss and competing in
the Miss Mississippi Teen pageant.
Leigha concluded, “We are so proud of her.
It is hard to be a teen in today’s world. She works
so hard to hold herself to a higher standard and
truly loves giving of herself to help others.”
Hometown MADISON • 37