When people hear the word pageant, there’s a stigma associated with the word that makes people cringe and have a picture of Honey Booboo in “Toddlers and Tiaras.” I just want to set the record straight that that is NOT what pageants are, or at least not why I do it. In fact, it’s the opposite actually.
Being a pageant girl means you fall in love with yourself first, and that’s a hard lesson to learn. For me, I didn’t get there until I was getting my headshots done for my first pageant and my photographer, who also did my makeup started putting makeup in my eyebrows. Now, for those of you who don’t know me, I have very strong eyebrows and it took me a while to truly appreciate them. (In case you’re wondering, it’s when Tyra Banks commented on a girl’s eyebrows in “America’s Next Top Model” and called them FIERCE, which is the highest praise you can get from Tyra.) So, when this lady, who called me gorgeous when she first met me, was caking on eyebrow stencil to my fierce eyebrows, and then edited away all of my scars and freckles on my actual head shot, I fell in love with who I was. These faults, as some call them, are what make me, me.
Being a pageant girl means you fall in love with titles and not tiaras. Walking around Greer, SC today I fell in love with local businesses who welcomed me into their shops and talked with me about pageants while my hair is in curlers. They made me want to win this title so I could promote their businesses. In fact, one woman in this adorable antique shop found out I forgot my earrings for my evening gown at home, so she went up and down the shop looking for something that would match, and when she was ringing me up welcomed me back to the shop with photos of the earrings and dress all done up so she could see. It’s about making connections and forming new relationships with people you never would have met before. It’s falling in love with the people and the town.
Being a pageant girl means you love your sisters. At the end of the night, it sucks if you don’t win, but you know your sister will make you proud and you cheer them on at state when they’re competing (by cheering, I mean screaming at the TV and jumping up and down). I’ve met and gotten so many friends by competing. When the winner is crowned and the new queen walks forward, it’s not an envious smile that I give my friend. It is pure excitement and joy for them because I KNOW they will make me proud (I’m looking at you Jordan!). Girls who do not support their sisters are not real queens because to be a queen you’ve got to remember why you’re where you are.
Being a pageant girl means you love your platform more than anything in the world and you would do anything to see it succeed. Personally, education is my love and passion, but seeing other girls talk about what makes them passionate is what pageants are about. It’s seeing a difference made in the world and helping to be that change agent to promote change in your community, state, and nation. It’s the best part of pageants.
So, no, I am not a stereotype. I have a 4.0 GPA and I love running and playing with my dog and seeing my sisters succeed because that means they are going to change the world. Like I pray before every pageant, “Let Your will be done, Lord, because you know what our situations will be in a year, a month, a week, and you know what will be best for each girl.”
