Kendra explains the personal feelings and beliefs that drive what she does; I live beside several counties that have high poverty rates. They may even see things that you didnt think of. Those kinds of activities are definitely a type of promotion, but they are not all that effective and they can be downright annoying or perhaps illegal if youre disturbing the peace or breaking a law. In your introduction, there is no need to delve into the why or the how of your platform just yet. And, that is what really makes a differencein your life and in the lives of others. Since the 1920s, the country has been crowning women for their charm and grace through the Manila Carnival, a celebration of the friendship between the United States and the Philippines. When we talk about promoting your platform, were not talking about renting a vehicle with a speaker on the top, and driving throughout your neighborhood yelling at people to give canned goods to their local food bank. Arika Burton states, "Becoming Mrs. DC America is an honor, and I am appreciative of the opportunity to reach a wider audience with my platform of raising awareness for financial literacy. The coolest part of the Siegels story is that the Mrs. America Organization was so moved by their efforts, that Victorias Voice has now become one of the official charities of both the Mrs. America pageant, as well as its sister pageant, Miss For America. She collected over 1,000 handmade butterflies that were created by people across the United States. Best for quitting alcohol: I Am . She is still part of CASAs Speakers Bureau and serves as a National CASA Ambassador. Do you all have the same platform? Or, if you want to expand your reach worldwide, but you dont own a sleigh, then why not partner with Samaritans Purse and give a gift to a child overseas who has never had one through, Operation Christmas Child. We want to nail down the things where you excel, that you also happen to like doing. 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. Choosing a platform that means something to you, a family member, or someone in your community, is the best place to start, as you are more likely to have a strong connection with it. Childhood beauty pageant contestants: associations with adult disordered eating and mental health Eat Disord. The recent death of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst has prompted local beauty queens to speak out about mental health struggles and the weight of the crown. Every individual is beautiful in her own unique way., Miss Massachusetts East Coast USA Photogenic Supreme Lauren Forbes. Over the years, beauty pageants have proven to be detrimental to the physical and mental health of their participants. (Recognize, Engage, Accept, Lead, Inspire, and Teach Youth), to bring awareness to service . Mas An Lawi 2023. Supper Club Where everyone pays a small fee and brings a dish and their recipe and you share a meal together. You would not call it, The Red Cross.Why? The 30-year-old attorney with an MBA . However, at age 16, a sport related injury led to a complete left-knee reconstructive surgery. 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. It is also very important to promote your pageant system, not just your platform by making appearances. I also held a local raffle which raised nearly 200. 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. 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. And, she even received a personal thank you letter from the President of the United States! We cover other topics such as interview techniques, fashion, beauty and modeling. Knowing just how powerful this woman is, we have no doubt that she will do just that! Instead of thinking about promoting your platform, think more about communicating about it, because that is, in essence, what you are really doing. And, for many of these ladies, their platform was born out of their own personal experiences. It makes me miss my dear aunt, Charlotte Sheffield, former Miss USA, Miss Utah USA and Days of '47 Queen. In this section of your essay, you should have at least three paragraphs, the first illustrating the backstory behind why you chose your platform. Play mind-stimulating games like chess, crossword puzzles and Scrabble. 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. Its surprising how often contestants choose a platform just because it seems interesting or is something that shows up in their lives, and they impulsively act on it. But, the great news is that there are thousands of organizations and foundations around the world that exist to educate, support and lift up those who are affected by them. MADD was formed when 13-year-old Cari Lightner was walking along a quiet road on her way to a church carnival when a car swerved out of control, striking and killing her. As written in Psychology Today, issues with self-identity after a child retires from the pageant scene in her teens such as eating disorders, depression, and mental health issues are not uncommon, proving the effect of these contests on a girl's self-esteem and how their behavior towards physical appearance becomes borderline obsessive (Matina . The overdose death rate from opioid (painkillers) drugs has increased a staggering 200 percent since 2000. One in four people in the U.S. will suffer from a mental health issues," Ker said. Or, is it your mission to ensure that no animal should ever be abandoned by their owners? Photo: Creative Sparks Imagery. 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. In January of 2018, she worked one-on-one with the state senator and was instrumental in seeing the very first house bill passed in the state of Massachusetts regarding eating disorder awareness. It serves as a way to communicate who you are, what you care about, what your values are and it is a part of your overall brand. Jun 29, 2022. swansea council parking contact number . Then you tweak your platform concept in such a way that it is more unique and personal to you. The category of health and disease related platforms is probably the largest and most diverse of all of the platform categories. And, because there are so many types of pro-animal causes, you can find one that fits exactly what you want to do. Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez. MADD had expanded to some 320 chapters and 600,000 volunteers and donors nationwide by 1985, and by 2000, the 20th anniversary of MADDs foundingalcohol-related fatalities had dropped some 40 percent over two decades, and states with the toughest drunk-driving laws were beginning to treat alcohol-related fatalities as murder. You have to really think about what your platform is, not where you volunteer or serve. Another national titleholder that created a platform based on her own personal history, is Nia Sanchez. The remainder (33 percent) are people in families with children. Some people have the gift of gab, naturally, and those folks make it look easy. Pageant Planet, Inc This is especially effective if you have just won a new title. Miss America has been associated with The Childrens Miracle Network, and every woman who becomes Miss America, accepts the responsibility of being their ambassador. Although the pageant essay is not imperative for some systems, like Miss Earth USA or Miss USA, it is imperative for systems such as Miss America and Miss Teen, creating an essay is a great exercise for all contestants to ensure that they know the direction that they want to go in for their platform. A good platform is something that comes out from you, so to speak, naturally and easily. Its always a good idea to find a specific niche with regard to a popular platform subject like bullying. Through her charity, Kendra has donated over 2,000 books to underprivileged children and adults. Do you see how finding your niche makes your platform come alive? Then, she arranged for all of the proceeds to go directly to benefit The Childrens Miracle Network. Youre on the right track, but you need to customize your concept. Children are so deserving of our help and attention because they are often victims of situations and circumstances that they cannot control. 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. 10900. Were just trying to come up with ideas to raise money for your pageant. The way pageant platforms are implemented can take on many shapes and forms, but its all up to you on how you want your year as a contestant or a titleholder to be. However, it needs to be customized so that it looks like it was made for you as well. If youre interested in finding out more about the cause of Autism, there are organizations like Autism Speaks, the Autism Society of America and Autism Outreach Inc. that would love to get you involved. Meet contestant #4 Tarnia Eugene from the cultural and dynamic community of Grand Bay! For example, you may want to help children who are growing up in poverty, like our current Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray does. 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. Photo: Philstar. Shree is a facial burns survivor and a heart patient, and has had a pacemaker since she was 12 years old. Welcome to Ginger Chats, our collection of original stories from artists, athletes, industry leaders, and more. I'm a #1 podcast host, bestselling author, YouTube creator, and world renown pageant coach. Creating a platform with actual activities that you would like to accomplish can be the most difficult part of planning. Cheslies desire to help other women with their wardrobe stems from years of internships and full-time experience in corporate America. Get out some paper and a pen and find a nice, quiet place where you can reflect without interruption. It is absolutely possible to coast on through your pageant journey without having a platform, but you will have missed an opportunity to make a lasting impact in someones life. Your focus should be learning the ropes of pageantry, finding a platform that you can really get excited about and finding a way to volunteer in your community or express that platform in some way. There are people out there who are petite and always have to have their pants, dresses and skirts hemmed and they would love to pay you to do it for them. Is that your platform? Once it comes time for your pageant, youll be able to speak about your platform and incorporate yourself into the conversation with ease! Okay, how do I write a pageant platform essay? The essay is your moment to talk about every single intricacy that is apart of your platform. Lets find you the perfect platform! It requires a lot of strength, maturity and healthy boundaries to get involved with children who have been hurt because if you are a sensitive person, it can be very painful for you as well. You could start a campaign to create a neighborhood book borrowing service throughout your town. And, in 2019 she competed in the Miss America system and represented her native Florida as Miss Manatee River 2019. 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. This is why being passionate is absolutely necessary. Barrett Stinson. Nia is the only Miss USA ever featured on the cover of the magazine, Tae Kwon Do Times, and was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Its important to prioritize self-care. . Photo: Miss Universe Organization. The problems and disorders under the umbrella of mental health are varied and include everything from suicide awareness to eating disorders. Best for drinking less alcohol: Reframe. The subject of bullying has grown so big over recent years, that you cant watch a pageant these days without seeing at least one contestant that has adopted bullying in one form or another as her personal platform. It is based on the idea that colleagues can help build . Solve a Rubik's Cube or a jigsaw puzzle, read challenging books, or even learn a new language. Photo: Facebook. She then pulled on her creative design skills and her proclivity as a social media influencer, and ultimately forged a service oriented purpose and platform that was undeniably her own. They have the power to make us laugh, to make . 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. child advocacy. Are you motivated to save an endangered species? You wont be able to raise money unless you are all in on your platform. If you are currently employed in a corporate environment or you are working towards a business related degree, then you likely have endless contacts available to you that can help support your platform work. You want to be able to speak about your platform for days on end to as many people as possible and not risk exhaustion because you love your platform just that much. 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. Do you find yourself helping them on a day to day, hour to hour basis in fighting their situation? Advocating for mental health. If you are new to pageantry and just getting your stilettos wet, then this suggestion is not as big of a deal because you are more in an exploration mode. They believe that the annual competition is not only a form of entertainment, but they endeavor to educate people around the world about the effects of war and violence, that many people may not be aware of. An example might be that you know that you want your platform to be centered on literacy. Between two girls with the same cause, a judge is more likely to choose someone with a personal connection to it and whos actually spreading awareness over someone who championed the cause because their coach told them to. Sandy Pentland, Young women are often comparing themselves against the accomplishments or achievements of others, she explains. When you can show the judges that youve been able to do this on your own with the pageants charity or your own platform, it demonstrates that you have the skill set and the capabilities to do that as a queen. . Whats that? Size does not define beauty. Choosing the right platform is about doing soul searching to figure out what you want to put your time and effort into. You can expand your reach by partnering with other people and organizations in order to promote your platform. What are your talents, interests, gifts and abilities? Cleft repair surgery is simple, and the transformation is immediate. And, if your platform is not the kind of cause that they can get involved with and expand on at a national or international level, then they likely will not choose you as their queen. 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. As an advocate of a platform, you have . You can help to facilitate a class, volunteer to tutor a child who needs help with their homework, teach a skill that you know or just show up on the weekends and play hoop! Many pageant girls will say that their platform is, The Red Cross, when in reality, their platform is not actually The Red Cross,because the Red Cross is an organization. Some people might think its a joke, but saving the world from hate and violence is no laughing matter. Kendra Hale has been involved in pageants for many years and most recently held the title of 2018-2019 National American Miss. If your cause is to raise funds for a certain charity, you could definitely create fundraisers and spread awareness through these ideas listed here (Insert link to this article: https://www.pageantplanet.com/article/5-pageant-platform-money-raising-ideas-that-are-guaranteed-to-work). If you are an empathetic person, who has the desire to impact a young life, then youll probably find your dream platform in this category. Lauren is also a survivor of anorexia nervosa. When you dig down deep and think about all the different skills, abilities and talents that you have, you are a treasure trove of money making ideas just waiting to happen! We've created a list of 107 Pageant Platform Ideas (with a few organizations to partner with) just for you! The International Pageants system promotes community service with half of each contestant's competition score based on knowledge of and work with her platform. Your platform is not an entity unto itself. What kind of work have you done, or what tasks do you most enjoy at your job? 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. 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. Just think of what can come from your networking efforts! Sadly, we are hearing more and more about the increase in depression, anxiety and mental health disorders in the world. Social Media Challenge or Contest: This could be done privately within your circle of friends and family as well. 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. It can be a very simple event, without a lot of fuss, as long as people are interested in attending. You need to see what the pageant's "definitions" are by looking at the performance of the top 5 contestants. But, that didnt stop this queen. pageant advocacy about mental health. 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. Caris tragic death compelled her mother, Candy Lightner, to found the organization, which would grow into one of the countrys most influential non-profit organizations.