Miss Georgia enjoys her first St. Patrick's Day parade from Savannah Morning News float

Miss Georgia Patricia Ford is fluent in Mandarin, climbed the Great Wall of China four times, traveled to six different countries — and now she can add appearing in the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day parade to that list.

“I’ve never been here for the parade, so I’m extremely excited just to be on the float with the Savannah Morning News. I’m exited to see all the people and I’ve heard it’s a little crazy, but that’s good,” said Ford, who was the guest of honor on the Savannah Morning News float on Friday for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

“I don’t get down here often because I’m based up in Atlanta, but I love the trees and the architecture in Savannah,” she said.

Ford, who has about three months left before she’ll crown the next Miss Georgia, has spent the past year traveling across the state for numerous events and parades as well as working with the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

“That was my platform and something that’s really meaningful to me,” she said of working with the hospitals.

Ford hasn’t always been in the world of pageantry, though. The Johns Creek native didn’t compete in her first pageant until she was a sophomore at Georgia Tech. After some convincing from a sorority sister she entered the pageant and won. Three years later, she was crowned Miss Georgia.

“I never dreamed it would happen to me. I’m 5 foot 3 and half Chinese, and I just really never thought it was in my background or my genes to possibly ever be Miss Georgia and represent the state,” she said.

“But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this organization it’s about scholarships, successful women and highlight all of the services women do… I’ve really learned that this organization is about crowning beauty from within.”