Phillips began studying jazz music at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and, while there received the Most Outstanding Vocalist award. She was recently accepted into the renowned jazz studies program at the University of North Texas.
Phillips is the first African-American to hold the Miss Texas title when on 8 July 2006, at age 24 years, she won the pageant on her first attempt. She is only the second woman in the history of the program to win the title on her first try. She competed as Miss Frisco, sponsored by the Miss Plano Frisco Scholarship Organization. She placed 1st Runner Up at Miss America, 2007