During Debbye Turner Bell’s reign as Miss America, she was asked countless times, “How did you do it?” Everybody wanted to know how—in her words—this little black girl from Jonesboro, Arkansas, ended up winning one of the most iconic titles in the world.

But Debbye quickly realized the question really wasn’t about the process; it was about the possibility. They wanted to know how they, too, could overcome the odds and find success, especially when facing opposition.