French, a 2004 graduate of Lakeside High School in Arkansas, later moved to Columbia, Missouri, to study Broadcast Journalism at the University of Missouri. While there she won the Miss Mid-Missouri title and competed for the Miss Missouri 2006 title, which she won. Sarah is one of only a few Miss Teen USA delegates to win a Miss America state title, and it is even more rare than she has held titles in different states.
French competed in the Miss America 2007 pageant broadcast live on CMT from the Theatre for the Performing Arts on January 29, 2007, and won the Miss America 2007 Smile Award. Her platform was "Health and Fitness for Life". She has been very interested in diabetes. "I chose my platform because diabetes runs on both sides of my family." She has also volunteered with the Special Olympics and has written articles for Life & Home Magazine, where she established a monthly health and fitness column.
During college, French worked as an Anchor/Reporter at the NBC affiliate station, KOMU-TV, in Columbia, Missouri. She worked as a one-man band, working as a Photographer, reporter and Editor. During college, she also worked as an intern for NBC Universal in Burbank, CA, where she assisted in the production of NBC’s annual Press Tour. While in Los Angeles, French was a host for NBC’s local television show, YourLA.
