It does not have to be a huge undertaking, like sponsoring a 5 course fancy dinner in a ballroom somewhere. Platform: Access to health and wellness care for global underprivileged communities. Her involvement with her platform allowed her to partner with Prevent Child Abuse America and Child Help. You feel that this would be a good platform because you dont want other kids to experience what you did. One of the most well known non-profit organizations in the world is Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD. Its when you finally tell the judges what your platform is. 2. This number represents 17 out of every 10,000 people in the United States. You could still talk about dyslexia if you wanted to, and this type of a platform would give you so many volunteering and community service options. That's why so many contestants have a pageant platform, or a cause that a contestant or titleholder dedicates their time to working on or giving back to. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray visiting a child with a cleft lip. They might be able to connect you with someone who has an appearance opportunity for you or an event where you could volunteer and promote your platform, as well as your pageant system. Dec 13, 2021. "Standing onstage in front of loads of people on a national pageant platform is going to . Ker's exposure to pageants began at the age of 10, through a mentorship program known as the Fleur de Lis . . Not only did Kelsi want to bring awareness to a range of mental disorders, but she is very passionate about dispelling the stigmas around mental health and also specifically wanted to speak to how often they affect young Black women. Answer (1 of 3): Let me tell you the most important thing about pageant platforms: caring. Photo: Miss Universe. Teresa did extensive research about eating disorders for her friend and discovered just how rampant it was across the nation. The current Miss Utah USA is breaking barriers as the first pageant winner to be open about having bipolar. Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. There is nothing that says that you cant have fun while volunteering. "From there I kind of witnessed firsthand where the gaps are in our mental health system, and I lived through the stigma that surrounds mental health and mental . You could also offer to make videos of pageant contestants practicing their walking and posing techniques. https://www.pageantplanet.com/article/5-pageant-platform-money-raising-ideas-that-are-guaranteed-to-work, 107 Pageant Platform Examples (& How to Choose THE One). Whats that? abortion, legalization of marijuana N. Mrs. International 2017 Melissa Pocza at the "Broken Little Voices Child Advocacy Center. We are looking for mental health therapy practitioners to join our tele-therapy network. Together we raised over 1700 last year. She has used her platform as the first Indian-American titleholder to increase representation of her South Asian culture, as well as expanding her mental health advocacy. Or, you could clue into that intimate detail, which is the real thing that motivates you. Through the Victoria Siegel Foundation the family is bringing this matter to the national stage, championing specific ways that we can reduce drug experimentation, addiction and overdose deaths. Her platform is built upon the idea that "every individual should feel comfortable in their own skin. She gave up her belongings but was able to survive the attack unharmed by using techniques she'd learned at a self-defense course three months earlier. Miss Universe 2019 contestants volunteering at the Children's Hospital of Atlanta. She encouraged individuals to take a vow stating that they would do all they could to support survivors of abuse and stop domestic violence and as an additional sign of solidarity, paint their ring finger purple, which is the accepted color of Domestic Violence Awareness. As you begin to think about all the people that you know, then begin to systematically reach out to them by phone, email or text. And, many of those titleholders decided to combine their love of the arts with education. Right in all the things you care about. 6. Miss Grand International 2019 Valentina Figuera. It doesnt mean that the contestant has already taken her platform to a global level; it simply means that she can take it there with the assistance of the pageant system. You just have to care. The best essays are written when it feels like the contestant is actually speaking to the judge in a polite manner with her personality all on the table; just like in an interview. Bonnie Lundberg. Kendra has also started a companion program that allows people to get in touch with their artsy side, while still helping others. These individuals may have a harder time coping with stress. Everyone either has a cause or has heard a story that pulls on your heartstrings and makes you want to help as much as humanly possible. Writing a pageant platform may seem like a tremendous amount of work, but the next section covers exactly how you want to write your platform essay and what you can include to differentiate your essay from the next! Pageant Planet, Inc Her Platform: Mental health awareness Crystal is passionate . The Miss Michigan USA pageant is right around the corner: May 27-28 in Port Huron. I also held a local raffle which raised nearly 200. Pageant systems and their connection to medical charities. com Thank You Kycuyu. They are most often affiliated with charities associated with medical issues, or are sponsored by them. With the recent deaths of beloved pageant competitors, many within the community are reeling and wanting to shed light on the larger, global mental health crisis.. Jennifer Lloyd, who is well . Social Media Challenge or Contest: This could be done privately within your circle of friends and family as well. It makes me miss my dear aunt, Charlotte Sheffield, former Miss USA, Miss Utah USA and Days of '47 Queen. But, please dont stress out over it. The third paragraph is your moment to speak about how your platform can affect those in your community and those for whom you created your platform to help. 1. She shows up for these people when nobody else does. Catwalking in front of thousands of people wearing four-inch heels and a bikini does . Ng was unsure as to what pageants could offer her already budding career in mental health, but, she began to realize that she could use her platform to further her passion of wanting to de-stigmatize mental health especially amongst the Asian American community. If that is the case, then make sure that you think through how exactly you want to assist them. Cheslies desire to help other women with their wardrobe stems from years of internships and full-time experience in corporate America. Miss Montana 2012 Alexis Wineman, was the first woman ever with autism to compete in the Miss America pageant. If you decide not to embark upon having a pageant platform, youre limiting your reach as a contestant and are at risk for not having much to do as a titleholder. The stark reality is that 1 in 3 women experience sexual assault or domestic violence at some point in their lives, so its time that our society comes to terms with the damage of this epidemic and that we start aggressively seeking a solution. Writing what you have done, what you will do, and what has made you continue to keep going is a great way to remain humble and realize why you began in the first place. Parents would be thrilled to have someone teach their young daughters how to do appropriate hair and makeup, and theyd be happy to pay someone for that service. I held an online photo pageant for people of any age, race, ability, body type or gender. Staying homegrown and realizing the problems that face your community is a great way to be an advocate to advance your cause and give your hometown someone to believe in. However, this is the first time a trans woman has been among Puerto Rico's local competitors and shows promising resistance, as basic human rights for trans folks are threatened by lawmakers around . Welcome to the Pageant Platform Podcast! Miss Washington World America 2019 Shree Saini. Milagros Day Worldwide, is a non-profit organization that empowers survivors of Domestic Violence through leadership coaching and mentorship; and a commitment to turning abuse into success. Here are some public and private ideas that you can use to generate funds that can be very enjoyable not only for you, but for others to participate in. Research all the local city and county websites to look for upcoming events, then call or email whoever is in charge and ask if you can help out or participate in any way. Additionally, she spent time as a spokesperson and advocate for many other organizations and causes including the Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, Youth Service America, and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. It is important to have a splash of personality and professionalism throughout the tone of your essay, as you want the judges to take you seriously, but you do not want your words to bore them as well. Creating a platform with actual activities that you would like to accomplish can be the most difficult part of planning. It's no secret that pageant girls love to give back. San Francisco is home to the longest-running Asian-American beauty pageant in the nation. While beauty pageants play a role in women's empowerment by giving them a platform to establish themselves and make them feel more powerful in society, they also have inevitable backlashes. For example, if you have a family member that has suffered with autism, you may want to create a platform about autism awareness in their honor. If you decide to delve straight in with your story in the introductory paragraph, you risk overwhelming your judges. McCollum's platform, "Giving the Gift of Reading," focuses on children, as do more than half of the platforms of this year's 53 contestants. During her Miss USA reign, Cheslie Kryst went out of her way to support her fellow pageant queens, including former Miss Utah Rachel Slawson. But, we suggest that if you do adopt this subject as your pageant platform, that you really think through what you want to do with it, and make sure that you have a solid connection to the topic. This type of elementary school horseplay was frowned upon, but often brushed aside as harmless. When they are assessing the contestants during their national competition, one of the things that they are looking at is whether or not each womans platform is one that they can engage with and support on an international level. Mrs. International 2013 Amy Gregorio collecting toys for foster children in L.A. Photo Facebook. One point that we must clear up before we go any further is something that so many people get confused about, and if you dont get this part right, you will end up looking like an amateur. Kryst's tragic death reminded me of my pageant experience and conversations with my . Having confidence also makes these women come back year after year to try again. Lauren Forbes is the first crowned Miss Pageant Planet, 2018 Miss Massachusetts East Coast USA Photogenic Supremeand "Spirit Award" recipient of Miss Massachusetts USA 2018. You would not call it, The Red Cross.Why? Weve all been there. Photo: White Collar Glam. Sometimes, you may want to raise money for your platform because you care deeply about what you are doing, and your platform requires financial assistance from donors to survive. Best for drinking less alcohol: Reframe. Choosing to look for issues in your community and talking to those affected by the issue you choose (homelessness, poverty, gun violence, or any other major issue) can help you to figure out ways to best serve those in your community. . That support system kept her from falling victim to some of the issues young women succumb to who dont have such a strong family unit. VISIT www. Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst. This can be very useful if your platform is related to anything in their realm of interests. When you break down your essay like this, it makes writing your essay a bit easier. As years go by, new national pageants emerged, announcing new sets of Miss Philippines and sending them abroad to compete. Cleft repair surgery is simple, and the transformation is immediate. Prior to these movements, most women were too uncomfortable or ashamed to discuss the topic of sexual abuse so openly, and many certainly felt that it was a risky idea for a pageant platform. Mental health has historically suffered from a lack of meaningful measurement, which is critical to driving better health outcomes. Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez. Ask yourself: Who do I know? Think about all of the possible ways to communicate with people, and all the different ways that we do that. Do you now see how this works? If your platform is a charity or non-profit, this is certainly going to be the case. Notable Achievements: Miss Voluptuous Ohio Title Holder 2022-2023. Youve certainly noticed issues in your town and wondered, Who is going to get rid of this? Mas An Lawi 2023. Rachel Barcellona is a beautiful and inspiring pageant girl with autism. Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen 2020 and 2021, Charlee Sorensen, introduces the Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen 2022 competition at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo. You can also start a youtube channel if your platform is something that would fit this genre. We believe that it is never too early to educate yourself on the true facts, risks, and diagnostic techniques of breast cancer. Pageant Planet - that's right. The pageant accepts that a simple beauty pageant may not be able to remove hate and violence totally, but they are determined to decrease negativity by promoting peace, love and understanding. You could even take it a step further and combine photography and doing hair and makeup! Are you good at public speaking, photography, baking, playing chess, doing research, dancing, teaching children, applying makeup, speaking another language, reading out loud, cleaning and organizing? Miss America 2019 Nia . A public competition where people MAKE something: cookies, cakes, pies, chili, A public competition where people DO something: play music, break dance, carve pumpkins, decorate gingerbread houses, tell jokes, Zumba, Self-Defense, Kick Boxing or other fitness or dance class, Online Auctions where people donate items and you sell them to the highest bidder, Public Auctions where people donate items and you sell them to the highest bidder, Fun Runs or Walks, including color runs, or some other kind of theme, Dance-a-thons (or any other kind of thon). Mayelin De La Cruz Gutierrez, Miss Grand New Jersey 2019, says this about platforms, A platform is ideal for a contestant to have because you can learn so much from what they support and what they choose to advocate for., Need more information on what a pageant platform is and what it should mean to you? Young women are often comparing themselves against the accomplishments or achievements of others, she explains. Shree is a facial burns survivor and a heart patient, and has had a pacemaker since she was 12 years old. Teresas passion to combat eating disorders stems from a friend who struggled with bulimia. (Recognize, Engage, Accept, Lead, Inspire, and Teach Youth), to bring awareness to service . She collaborated with experts including Mark Grobbelaar, founder of the Woman INpowered course she had taken, and began hosting Unbreakable workshops in her home country to provide women with valuable and sometimes life-saving information. Read 107 Pageant Platform Examples (& How to Choose THE One)Read 6 Pageant Platform Money Raising Ideas That Are Guaranteed to Work!Subscribe to the Pageant Daily So, in this case, there are a couple of ways that you could drill this platform down to a more personal level. I was approved by my neurologist to try feasible alternatives to my current prescribed medication in the hope of improving my quality of life. The good news is that there are also tons of organizations around the world that are centered on helping, caring for and saving our animal friends, so its very easy to locate other people who have the same priorities that you do. There are several locations on the East Coast and in various parts of the Southern U.S. . Your body paragraphs are where you really delve into who you are as a person and why you chose your platform. How a Pageant Changed a Life. Childhood beauty pageant contestants: associations with adult disordered eating and mental health Eat Disord. A pageant like The International Pageant System is an organization that puts a major emphasis on service work and platforms, so its no surprise that two of their well known national titleholders in the Mrs. Division, embraced platforms that focused on helping suffering children. It does not exist just to give you something to do with your free time on the weekends. Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin. A few of the organizations that you might volunteer with if you want to get involved in this area and meet other people who share your passion are Paws, Petsmart or your local animal shelter. Life Clarity; Camera Confidence; Awards & Media; Blog . Miss Global 2018 Sophia Ng. Life Clarity; Camera Confidence; Awards & Media; Blog; Contact; pageant platform mental health. Some people have the gift of gab, naturally, and those folks make it look easy. Instead of thinking about promoting your platform, think more about communicating about it, because that is, in essence, what you are really doing. But taekwondo is not simply a mental and physical exercise regimen for Nia. She earned a Masters degree in Music Composition; she is a classically trained opera singer and she endeavors to use her voice and the power of music to transform lives through art. For our second example, well imagine that the things at the top of your list are cleaning and organizing, sewing your own clothing, you adore animals, youre fluent in not only speaking, but writing in Spanish, and baking cookies, cakes and other goodies. You are communicating with intent to inform, educate and engage. Choosing a pageant platform is one of the most important decisions in the pageant candidacy process because it is a reflection of your personal interest and dedication to community service. And, on top of all of those points, there are most likely going to be times when you want or need to raise money for your platform. In recent years, several noteworthy titleholders have created dynamic and powerful platforms that not only won them a significant title, but brought a lot of public attention and support to their individual causes. Miss Black USA 2018 Kelsi Horn. Kendra Hale has been involved in pageants for many years and most recently held the title of 2018-2019 National American Miss. She saw an opportunity to create an environment for women to share their stories and learn how to protect themselves. pageant platform mental health. EXTREME MIND. You want children to feel loved and accepted and you learned that through being read to. Another titleholder whose platform came from her own medical experience is Miss Washington World America 2019, Shree Saini. You can raise money for your platform right through your Pageant Planet profile! Yes, you could always make money by walking the dogs in your neighborhood, but lets think outside-the-box and try combining some of your talents and see what comes up. "Cheslie changed my life," Slawson, 26, tells PEOPLE . I want to encourage them to be aware of their mental health and to realize there is no shame in going to talk to someone. Sometimes beauty is born from ashes, and the most painful tragedies of our lives can become a catalyst for change that ultimately helps heal the pain of other people. All you have to do is make yourself available. Youre going to be spending a lot of time with your platform, years perhaps. Think in terms of different areas or genres. . She shows up. My role models are my Mom, my aunts and other family members. I saw so many young women struggling with mental health issues, trying to be perfect and taking on way too much pressure.. This is where your personality and hard work comes in. Creating the perfect pageant platform consists of three different types of thinking: how strongly do you feel about your cause, what actions can you take to make your community aware of this cause, and what about it makes you a memorable contestant. It is primarily a social opportunity. But, whats even more impressive than her ambition and her title is what shes doing when nobody else is watching. However, at age 16, a sport related injury led to a complete left-knee reconstructive surgery. Furious, Lightner decided to take action against what she later called the only socially accepted form of homicide. MADD was the result. For her senior thesis in undergrad, she conducted research on body image and clothing design. Copyright 2023, Pageant Planet. Competing in pageants is more than just being a beautiful face, its about being a representative for your community and having a platform can help you achieve just that. Childhood pageant participants scored higher on body dissatisfaction, interpersonal distrust, and impulse dysregulation than non-participants, and showed a trend toward . These types of ideas requires a financial investment, but they can be relatively inexpensive to make or purchase online at sites like Amazon.com. Its kind of like finding your perfect evening gown, but its too big or ill fitting. After spending years covering the fallout of abuse and neglect as an Emmy nominated TV journalist for CBS, CNN, and Fox, she took a step back from broadcasting and researched ways to use her skills on behalf of abused and neglected children. You can go so many places with that skill because most people dont even know how to thread a needle these days! If you do have your sights set on being a titleholder at some point being a skilled communicator is a skill set that you will have to develop. Cheslie also created a ball gown out of newspaper for the competition! But, that didnt stop this queen. Can you find 5-6 items on that list that you can honestly say, someone would be willing to pay you to do for them? Some of the platform topics related to business, just to name a few, are women mentoring women, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. It's the Carnival Queen show! Acceptance into Tiffin University's MBA Program Its always a good idea to find a specific niche with regard to a popular platform subject like bullying. This charity does for men what Dress for Success does for women. When asked who her role models were growing into womanhood, she explains why she was able to avoid some of the pitfalls social media offers. She shows up for the homeless, the ignored, the forgotten, the invisible and for the disenfranchised. Appearance does not define beauty. Then, she arranged for all of the proceeds to go directly to benefit The Childrens Miracle Network. Now that she is a pageant titleholder, she . This Beauty Queen Uses Her Platform to Ease Mental Health Stigma in Asian American Community. Despite Kendras intense involvement with a variety of charities and causes, the personal project that she is most passionate about is the one that she herself created. Now a mental health worker and living in Surrey, she said the bullying led to depression in adulthood. Photo: Lily Lloyd Instagram. How many people out there would love to hire you to help them clean and organize their home or office? I had strong women around me that I could look to for guidance and leadership, she says. Covering your bases like this will not only help you to seal the deal with your judges, but it will help to make an impact with others should you decide to post your speech online. Right off the bat, youve got a tremendous amount of talent here that could be used to raise money for your platform. You may not be a professional when it comes to taking photos or creating videos, so taking pageant head shots is probably not a possibility at this time. The Perfect Pageant Platform Outline consists of 5 questions. All you would need is a large, open space that was relatively private where a girl could walk comfortably and safely. Her platform: mental health awareness. A platform that revolves around serving children in some way is such a special and sweet way to help the innocent, little beings in our world. Bed ridden for months, the psychological toll of a shattered dream and recovering body led to an eventual downward depressive spiral. Have you had a traumatic experience as a result of someone treating you badly? Photo: Smile Train. As mentioned before, having a platform is integral to making your year of service, whether as a contestant or as a titleholder, worth the effort. Her pageant platform was, Celebrating Diversity Through Cultural Competency, and her motto was, Celebrate diversity and adopt a mutt., Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri. Many girls who are titleholders only use their titles to achieve personal fame and establish a modeling career from having their titles. We want to nail down the things where you excel, that you also happen to like doing. But, for now, lets concentrate on the myriad of ways that contestants promote their platform. If during the competition you never have a chance to speak about your platform, the essay needs to cover every single thing about your platform so that the judges have a semblance of what you have stood for thus far in your pageant journey. During her year as Miss America, Teresa travelled an incredible 20,000 miles per month, educating and counseling students and young adults about eating disorders, a platform that she advocates for to this day. Is that your platform? As mentioned in the previous section, choosing a cause that has an emotional tie to you and your past or your future is the absolute best way to bring out this passion in you. No, it is just one of those mornings where I am just in awe with life and miracles. What specific ideas do you have for how people can combat the problem of bullying and become a kinder, more accepting society? Aside from pageant systems making medical issues a priority of service, titleholders around the world have always been drawn to supporting these types of causes because by and large, the type of people who get involved in pageantry are givers. Lauren is also a first year medical school student, with a goal of obtaining her Doctor of Medicine (MD) and pursue her dream career of becoming a pediatric neuro-oncologist. And, one of the coolest things that Nia did while she was Miss America, was to re-record that song and then sell it online through the MAO website. Every person has their own personality, style and temperament when it comes to communication, and there are multiple ways that you can communicate about your platform that will be comfortable for you. Some tips to improve your mental health. After all, it is a cause, mission or charity that you have a deeply personal stake in or a deep affinity for. Get to know the people who you see everyday around town and listen to what they may be struggling with. As mentioned in the previous section, having a platform that means the world to you is absolutely key. You have to know who you are, what your values are and what it is that you want to change in this world. Lauren serves as the official Massachusetts advocate for both the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and Multi-Service Eating Disorder Association (Meda). There are likely churches in your area right now that are serving meals or collecting donations like coats, clothing and food. Appearances and volunteering are not the same things. A new international beauty pageant called Miss Gem Africa has emerged to create a platform that raises awareness about mental health and entrepreneurship issues. Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Best Buddies and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America are always on the lookout for people to come hang out with their clients. Having such a platform can bring meaning to your time in pageantry, and can get you started on the path to volunteerism if you werent involved before. The U.S. United Pageant supports Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention among women/men of all ages. Passion is contagious, and when you are passionate about a cause or charity, you can get other people fired up too. Early detection can significantly increase a woman/man's survival rate. Do you see how finding your niche makes your platform come alive? Having a platform through pageantry is much like being a politician already, but when you choose to advocate for your community, your voice is amplified just as much. Cheyenne, WY 82001. You could start a campaign to create a neighborhood book borrowing service throughout your town. Another national titleholder that created a platform based on her own personal history, is Nia Sanchez. Are you facing any medical conditions that you like to bring awareness to? As long as you stay true to who you are as a person and have your platform take center stage, you will write an amazing essay!