If you've ever considered competing in a pageant, I would strongly encourage you to do so. There are so many wonderful reasons as to why you should get involved in the world of pageantry if you get the chance. Being in pageants has allowed me to grow as a person. There are so many benefits of competing other than taking home the crown. Of course, the thought of winning a pageant crown and sash and wearing a beautiful gown is all part of what makes pageants so much fun, but there is so much more to being in a pageant than what is typically portrayed. Here are 6 ways pageants have helped me grow.

1. Everlasting friendships

Pageant girls are some of the kindest, most intelligent and friendliest girls I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Every girl has her own story to tell and during pageant weekend, you form a special bond with these girls. I've made some of my best friends through pageants.

2. You learn life skills.

I can't begin to say how useful the skills I learned during the interview portion of the pageant have been in my job and graduate school interviews. Being interviewed by the pageant judges during the interview portion of pageants made me more confident and ready to take on an interview.

3.Body Positivity

There is a HUGE misconception out there that pageants are all about how beautiful and attractive someone is. That view is false. As someone who suffers from an eating disorder and body image issues, pageants have made me so much more confident about my body and as a result, I started to love myself more.

4. Scholarship Money

Many pageants offer scholarship money to the girls who are crowned. Even though pageants are definitely more than about winning money, scholarship money can greatly help a girl who can use it to pay for her education.

5.Community service

Many pageant girls have platforms and philanthropies that are close to their hearts that they want to promote and pageants give them a greater opportunity to do community service and promote their platform if crowned since community service is so highly valued in many pageant systems.

6. They empower women

From teaching us life skills, the value of education, self-love, kindness and the importance of helping others, to teach us the importance of supporting other women, pageants do a great job in empowering women and young girls. One of the main reasons I participate in pageants for the sense of empowerment I get when competing. For me, there is nothing more empowering than being on stage and showing the world the strength and beauty I have inside of me.

You won't always walk away with a crown, but the connections and memories you make will last a lifetime, and in my eyes, that is equally as good as taking home the crown.