My Story: Still I Rose

I started competing in pageants when I was five years old. At first it was about the dresses and the sparkle, but over time it became something much deeper. Pageantry gave me confidence, community, and a voice, even when life outside the stage wasn’t easy. I’ve walked through seasons of both domestic and mental abuse, times when it felt easier to hide than to keep going. But I refused to let those experiences define me. I chose to rise.

 

Now, as a wife and mom of two, my world looks very different than it did when I was a little girl in a crown. I direct pageants of my own and get to help young women see their worth and recognize that they are enough just as they are. That’s the real reward for me , watching them step into their light and find joy in giving back to their communities.

 

My platform grew out of something close to my heart. When my friend’s ( more like little sister the way we grew up. Pageants brought us together ) little boy Tucker drowned, it shook me to my core. I knew I had to do something. Today I advocate for Tucker’s Promise Foundation, helping keep his memory alive while teaching families the importance of water safety. I also wrote children’s books that make safety lessons easier for kids to remember. Every time I tell his story, I carry him with me, and I make a promise that not one more child will be lost without a fight.

 

Life is busy and far from perfect. I’m back in college, homeschooling my son, running pageants, and keeping up with my daughter’s school schedule. On top of that, I still find myself refereeing the antics of our mini pig, Wilbur. But in the chaos, there is so much love and laughter, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

 

My journey has had its share of storms, but each one has reminded me that strength comes from getting back up, from finding purpose in pain, and from choosing hope even when it feels out of reach.

 

Still I rose.

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Still She Rose is a wellness program for leaders, women and teens in the pageant industry. Funded by the B4ACUSA Foundation, wellness program initiatives are open to all pageant community members.

The ROSE is symbolic of the spirit that grows within each of us when proper care and attention is applied.

Together, we can encourage wellness through self care, positive body image, renewed self esteem and affirmation of one's identity beyond pageantry. We aim to engage in a conversation of support, honesty, reflection and awareness, in order to promote wellness as the foundation of the pageant industry.

Because each of us can say, She Struggled; and Still She Rose.