MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Viewers in Kansas know Asia Symone Smith as the dynamic weekend sports anchor and sport reporter for KSN News 3. Most often found on the sidelines of football fields or courtside at basketball games, Smith is now making headlines herself, this time, as Miss Kansas USA 2025.
Born and raised in San Diego, Smith has called Wichita home for over two years. Since joining KSN, she’s transitioned from general news into full-time sports, a field where she’s building both her career and a legacy.
“Being on the sidelines has been a dream, but now I have the opportunity to stand on a different kind of stage,” Smith said during a recent interview on the BW Morning Show. “Competing for Miss Kansas USA was a way for me to return to my roots in pageantry and amplify my platform for women in sports broadcasting.”
Smith has been involved in pageantry since age 12, a pursuit she says built her confidence and prepared her for a life in front of the camera. Although she took a break during college, her recent return led to a state crown and a new mission.
“I didn’t compete in a local pageant. I went at-large and chose to represent East Wichita,” she said. “Now, I’ll compete for Miss USA later this year — and if I win that, it’s on to Miss Universe.”
The date and location for Miss USA have yet to be announced, but Smith said preparation is already in full swing. In the meantime, she’s focused on deepening her community engagement through mentorship and service.
Her mentorship initiative, Girls Talk Game, supports women pursuing careers in sports media — a field where women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles. Smith hopes to change that.
“I want to be the mentor I didn’t always have,” she said. “A lot of girls don’t know where to start. I want to give them that starting point — to show them they belong.”
Smith brings more than encouragement — she brings experience. A former competitive cheerleader and track athlete, she ran collegiately at San Diego State and the University of Florida, where she earned her master’s degree and was part of an NCAA championship-winning team.
Beyond broadcasting, Smith is currently writing a children’s book titled There’s No One Like Me, inspired by her mother, who developed vitiligo more than a decade ago. The story aims to teach kids about diversity, acceptance, and the beauty in being different.
“She struggled with how people looked at her,” Smith said. “I wanted to create something that helps children understand skin differences and learn not to judge people by appearance.”
In addition to her work at KSN and with Girls Talk Game, Smith also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas, serves as a mentor and "big," and is involved with the Miracle League of Wichita, supporting adaptive sports for youth with disabilities.
“Being Miss Kansas USA isn’t just about the crown,” she said. “It’s about using the platform to serve, to uplift, and to represent the people of this state with pride.”
As she prepares for Miss USA and juggles her roles in sports, service, and storytelling, Smith is focused on one mission: making space for others — particularly women — to follow in her footsteps.
“Pageants and sports might seem like opposites,” she said. “But I’m proof you can love both — and succeed in both.”
If you are interested in Girls Talk Game you can find more information here.