Patricia Southall: From Beauty Queen to Empowered Advocate and Philanthropist

Patricia Southall is a household name in the celebrity community—though she’s also a power of philanthropy, a devoted mom, and an ex-beauty-queen-turned-activist who used her pedestal for a purpose. Known to others as Martin Lawrence’s and Emmitt Smith’s ex-wife, Patricia has created her own remarkable legacy. From her win at Miss Virginia USA to her ascension as an advocate for women’s empowerment through her nonprofit work, her journey reflects strength, dignity, and deep compassion. With a background as a journalist, passion for public service, and life formed by personal and professional strife, Patricia Southall is a testament to resilience. Her narrative includes winning beauty pageants on a national level, being in the public eye, and now giving back in a second act. Patricia’s tale is worth looking into more deeply, whether you’ve seen her on TV, followed her charity work, or read her inspiring book. Let’s look more closely at her life, her accomplishments, and the power she still has today.

Quick Bio

What is Patricia Southall?

Pat Smith, whose full name is Patricia Annette Southall, is an American model, actress, author, and philanthropist. She was born on December 17, 1970, in Chesapeake, Virginia. Patricia first gained fame after winning the Miss Virginia USA beauty pageant in 1993 and later winning the first runner-up prize at the Miss USA 1994 pageant. These accomplishments ushered her into the public eye and laid the groundwork for a lengthy and successful career.

Apart from her pageant wins, Patricia has worn many caps in her life. She is the force behind Treasure You, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to empowering and inspiring women who have had difficult life issues. She is also a writer of a memoir titled Second Chances, which chronicles the highs and lows of life as she lived them, taking hope and inspiration from her journey. Her combination of glamour and cause has made her both a celebrity and a changemaker.

Early Life

grew up in a close and loving family in Chesapeake, Virginia. Her parents, Henry and Mildred Southall, brought her up along with her identical twin sister, Pam. Patricia’s parents instilled in the girls the values of faith, work ethic, and community service. Patricia at an early age developed a love for public speaking and helping others, which would be the traits that defined her career. She also graduated from Western Branch High School and subsequently went on to James Madison University to study journalism.

While in college, she stayed active with student organizations, student life, and community groups. Her mother’s untimely death from breast cancer in 1993 had a lasting impact on her, motivating her to advocate for women’s health, as well as emotional health. That transformative experience was one of the driving forces behind her nonprofit endeavors.

Career Beginnings

Patricia was introduced to the limelight by the arena of beauty competitions. She won the much sought-after title of Miss Virginia USA in 1993, bringing her onto the national platform as the first runner-up of Miss USA 1994. These victories opened the gates for her modeling career and opportunities for work in television, including bit roles in popular shows like The Wayans Bros. and Beverly Hills, 90210.

Even with early success in entertainment, Patricia’s interests lay beyond celebrity. She started to make a difference in people’s lives by using her fame. Later, she stopped modeling and being on TV and focused on writing, public speaking, and volunteering. This change showed that she was determined to use her power to help others, especially women who were going through tough circumstances.

Who Is Patricia Southall Related To?

Patricia’s personal life has also experienced celebrity-level relationships that earned her even broader publicity. She was married in 1995 to comedian and actor Martin Lawrence, with whom she had a daughter, Jasmine Page Lawrence, in 1996. Their marriage, however, collapsed after just two years when Martin and Patricia divorced in 1997. Although the marriage failed, Patricia nonetheless remained on good terms with Martin for the sake of their child and pursued co-parenting.

Patricia married NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith in 2000. They have three kids together: Emmitt IV, Skylar, and Elijah. They developed a family life based on faith and respect for each other. Patricia and Emmitt announced their separation in 2020 after being married for 20 years. However, both of them stressed that they will continue to co-parent and support each other’s efforts. Even though they were hard, these relationships taught her think about love, growth, and forgiveness.

Patricia Southall’s Physical Appearance

People admire Patricia Southall most for her elegant and timeless beauty. She is about 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 meters) tall and has a healthy frame, weighing about 110 pounds (50 kilograms).She possesses deep brown eyes and dark, long hair, resulting in a classic poised appearance and demeanor. Her beauty is matched by her friendly and vivacious personality, making her a favorite among the fans as well as co-stars.

Patricia’s dress is smoother and more refined that projects her inner strength and outer beauty. Whether it’s a formal event or when delivering a speech at a charity gala, her attire always exudes professionalism and intent. Being a former beauty queen and public figure, Patricia continues to ooze charisma and elegance in every venue she enters.

Net Worth

With her versatile modeling, acting, writing, and philanthropic experience, Patricia Southall has made a fair amount of net worth. Her current estimated net worth is listed as approximately $1 million. This is an approximate figure from winning in pageants, public appearances, television shows, and from profit generated by her charitable organization and book sales.

Patricia has been humble and smart with her money even if she is famous. It’s never been just about the money for her; it’s always been about doing something that matters to people. Patricia has put a lot of her time and money toward helping women in need through Treasure You. This shows that her actual riches is how she makes a difference.

Social Media

Patricia enjoys a healthy and engaged social media presence, especially on Instagram under the handle @patsmithty. With more than 175,000 followers, she shares family experiences, motivational quotes, and updates of her nonprofit work. The content generally reflects on her religious faith, optimism, and desire to engage with the followers in a real sense.

Apart from Instagram, Patricia also operates on Facebook and Twitter occasionally in order to reach a larger audience. Her social practice is grounded on humility and inspiration rather than self. This genuine platform has earned her fans, who love her both for herself and for standing for a good cause.

Future Prospects and Vision

Patricia Southall is barely done making an impact. Her skills and talents won’t stop until she continues to develop Treasure You, sharing its message with increasingly more women through retreats, mentorship programs, and empowerment events. She has also spoken of developing content—books, podcasts, and even TV shows—featuring untold stories of hope and faith.

Her call is one of healing, development, and community building. Whether in some form of public speaking, new writing projects, or social activism, Patricia is committed to making a positive difference in the world. Her journey still unfolds, but the principles of love, service, and purpose remain at the center of all that she is about.