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Clair Hollis is Ready to Show the World What She is Capable of Accomplishing 

A gifted writer and passionate artist who is also stylishly fashionable, Clair Hollis (shown in the photo) is light years ahead of most teenagers.

At 16, the Pine Bluff, AR native is a seasoned student who is ready to show the world what she is really capable of accomplishing.

In her very first year of competing in the Pine Bluff (AR) Branch NAACP Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technology and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) Program, Hollis won two Gold medals in the categories of Original Essay and Painting. She is now preparing to represent Pine Bluff at the national ACT-SO competitions scheduled for July 15-19, 2026 in Chicago, IL.

Hollis was one of seven students honored during an awards program held on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Bethany Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff. The event celebrated finalists who participated in the local ACT-SO Program. Her goal for this year’s national competition is to be seen and heard.

“I hope that the message of the essay is heard and the message of what I have created is seen and that people can understand it,” Hollis said.

A sophomore at Pine Bluff High School during the time of this interview, she will be heading into her junior year this fall. When asked what type of artist she is, she shared that she is traditional.

“I usually incorporate multiple mediums in my art like I often use pens, markers and colored pencils, and paint — all of those,” Hollis said. “I’ve always drawn and I’ve always loved every aspect of art.”

While growing up, she became aware that people noticed her drawings and complimented her work. This increased her love for her gift and she began drawing almost everyday. She revealed that her grandmother was an artist who recreated the painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” a masterpiece by Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer.

She remembers the first time that she presented her art and people told her that she literally looked like her art as she wore earth tones and gold accessories.

“I believe that there’s art in everything. I see art in everything. I feel like it’s just a passion for me,” Hollis said.

She explained that music “inspires a lot of my art. It inspires how I write (and) how I dress a lot of times.” Certain musical frequencies make one feel a certain way, she said, adding that artists such as Erykah Badu, Marvin Gaye, Jill Scott and Lauryn Hill enhance her artistic flow.

“I always have a lot on my brain. I’m always thinking about something so a lot of times I like to put it on paper and write about it or I draw it,” Hollis said.

She shared that many times when she draws something, people will ask her where did she see what she came up with. Her response is that she saw it in her head.

Considering herself to be a “history nerd,” Hollis says that she also loves sociology and psychology.

“I just love to learn. My essay is mostly centered around history because it’s really centered around black people,” she said.

Her plans after high school are to attend college. During the summer, she works as a teacher in the STEM Academy at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Hollis’ advice is to “show off your talent as much as you can. Let people see how passionate you are, how talented you are.”

The world is waiting for Clair Hollis to make her bold entrance onto the national stage. Soon all eyes will be watching as her gifts unfold — not by chance, but through the dedication, courage, and authenticity that have brought her to this moment.

Her journey is proof that extraordinary talent, paired with relentless determination, has the power to inspire countless others. This is only the beginning. The spotlight is ready. The audience is waiting. And her next act promises to be her greatest yet.