French competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss America pageants. She won the Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2004 title in a state pageant held in late 2003. It was her first attempt at the title. She went on to represent Arkansas in the Miss Teen USA 2004 pageant held in Palm Springs, California, in August 2004. French did not place in the nationally televised pageant, which was won by Shelley Hennig of Louisiana, but she did win the Miss Photogenic award. This award, chosen by a public internet vote, is given to the delegate who most "exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera".