Liz Cochran

Liz Cochran is truly concerned with the “matters of the heart.” This 21 year-old beauty has not only found success in the arts and beauty pageants, but she has also used her Miss Alabama platform to increase cardiovascular awareness and disease prevention through her organization With Every Beat.

Liz began her mission of informing the young and old about the importance of cardiovascular help when her young dance instructor died due to a heart condition. This tragedy became very personal for Liz provoking her to do something.

After competing three years for the title of Miss Alabama, Liz Cochran finally won the title crown in June 2009. But after the death of her dance instructor, Liz’s focused quickly changed from becoming a professional dancer and becoming a one-time beauty queen to becoming a cardiologist. Instead of completely giving up her pageant goals and literally focusing on “matters of the heart,” Liz decided to continue with her beauty pageant ambitions and use the platform to increase cardiovascular awareness.

As a result, this Birmingham-Southern College senior began her mission by speaking at schools in her home state of Alabama, a state weighed down with the obesity crisis. At the schools, Liz stresses the importance of proper nutrition and exercise to students. Her theory is that if you teach them while they’re young, when they’re older, living a healthy habit will be a natural habit.

She also puts on dance showcases in which high school dance troops from the Jefferson & Shelby Counties of Alabama participate demonstrating the results of living healthy. During the event, she gives statistics on heart disease and how to prevent them.

But Liz still hasn’t stopped or slowed down. She has also launched a children’s book The Quest to a Healthy Heart, and her own website containing links to the American Heart Association, The Center for Disease Control and USDA Food & Information Center. Liz Cochran has truly followed her heart in turning tragedy into a life-long inspiration for living healthily.