By STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD / Staff Writer

HOOVER – Cortney Burns specializes in burns at UAB hospital, where she works as a nurse in the operating room. During her free time, she models.

For the past two years, Burns has modeled in Birmingham Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week, and she will represent Shelby County in the Miss Alabama USA pageant in Montgomery Nov. 15-16, a qualifier for the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.

Burns got involved with the organization after meeting the reigning Miss Alabama USA, Mary Margaret McCord, during Birmingham Fashion Week. They modeled together, and McCord encouraged Burns to apply. Competing in Miss Alabama USA requires an application, and the organization selects people to represent different parts of the state from the application, Burns said.

“I’m just looking forward to the experience and meeting new people,” she said.

If picked to be Miss Alabama USA, Burns said she would like to work with the Wounded Warrior Project, especially because she specializes in burns and her grandparents and father were all in the military. She is also interested in promoting safe driving because she sees a lot of victims of car accidents.

The Miss Alabama USA pageant is at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center Nov. 15-16 from 7-10 p.m. For more information, visit Missalabamausa.com.