This community started with a dream to compete in my first pageant ever. I manifested it into reality by believing in myself and learning to love everything about me. I'll let you in on a little secret; self-love takes work, but if you believe you are worth it, the investment always pays off.
But let's rewind a little bit to explain exactly how I started my own self-love revolution.
I found my fairytale romance with my husband. It was love at first sight, and we’re still making memories almost two decades later. While my family is all in other states, they find ways to support all my goals and dreams. Outside of my career and podcasting, you can find me taking long walks to clear my head and catch up on podcasts, sipping champs celebrating almost anything, or cozied up in a chair reading a book. My grandparents were a huge influence in my life. From long walks and great talks with my grandpa to learning life lessons from my grandma - their memories still guide how I move through life today. They sparked my love for reading!
I’ve always considered myself a strong, confident individual, but not even I am immune to letting judgment and negative self-talk take over. Over time the things people said started to add up. My first memory of judgment is from the 3rd grade when a random mom at a school fashion show commented about my size and was surprised I was modeling in the show. BTW, I killed it on the runway. I have other similar memories sprinkled throughout the years. I wasn’t much of a follower, and coolness didn’t impress me - not exactly the best recipe to fit in. I was the subject of jokes, bullying, and hurtful comments.
One day there was a perceived threat to my life. The incident eventually resulted in being diagnosed with PTSD. I recently went through treatment, where I learned just how much my life had changed after that day. Everything I went through created a domino effect that led to an eating disorder and years' worth of self-hate.
I’m okay with everything that happened in my past because it gave me the strength and power to be here, building this community. It’s allowed me to find the why, claim my voice, and use it to connect with others through our stories.
Through reflection, I can identify when my strength flourished during the hard moments. I have a drive within me to experience new things, like skydiving to walking across the stage in a pageant.
Pageantry is empowering. The women competing are at the top of their game, making a difference in their communities. I knew I belonged on stage and wanted to be part of the pageant community. So I got a coach and learned to walk in really high heels.