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. Community activity night: bowling, ice skating, roller skating, paint ball, Community Bingo or other game that lots of people can play, Some kind of athletic event or tournament: An obstacle course, weight lifting, softball. That is totally normal, and its ok. Together we raised over 1700 last year. If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then you can begin to build a platform in which you want to let these conditions and ailments be known. Think about artistic interests, academic interests, physical abilities or sports related interests. Photo:Facebook. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- On Monday, people were remembering a former Miss USA and spotlighting the importance of mental health. Children are so deserving of our help and attention because they are often victims of situations and circumstances that they cannot control. If you have a unique platformnot included here, please email us at [emailprotected] so we can include it here! What if you combine your love of animals with your love of sewing and designing and create your own line of cute outfits or costumes for pets? Rachel has won the titles of: Miss Largos Outstanding Teen in 2014, Miss Florida Collegiate in 2015, Miss Florida International in 2016 and Miss Southeast International 2017. The current Miss Utah USA is breaking barriers as the first pageant winner to be open about having bipolar. This number represents 17 out of every 10,000 people in the United States. Make sense? Their singular mission is saving lives so we dont lose our future generation. Pageants have always attracted young ladies who have substantial talent and who are also interested in education. It does not have to be complicated. Platforms that are related to children can often be cross referenced with other categories as well. 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. For example, you may want to help children who are growing up in poverty, like our current Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray does. 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. Miss Global 2018 Sophia Ng. Being crowned Miss Black USA 2018 gave Kelsi a very powerful opportunity to speak positively to younger women across the country, and for that she is grateful. During her Miss USA reign, Cheslie Kryst went out of her way to support her fellow pageant queens, including former Miss Utah Rachel Slawson. Best for drinking less alcohol: Reframe. Since 2007, homelessness decreased by 15 percent. If that is the case, then make sure that you think through how exactly you want to assist them. Every contestant out there needs to be doing mock interviews, yet so many girls dont do it because either they dont know what to do, they dont have anyone to ask them questions or they dont feel comfortable filming themselves. 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. Is pageant prep feeling overwhelming to you? Our show is dedicated to helping women in the pageant industry find and develop a strong platform, one that can be used when they exit the pageant industry. As years go by, new national pageants emerged, announcing new sets of Miss Philippines and sending them abroad to compete. When you have finished creating your comprehensive list of talents, interests and abilities, then stop and take a look at it. If you have your mind made up on the topic of bullying for your platform, take some time to get clear on why this is so important to you. "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 . Lets explore your love of journalism, photography and making videos and see if we can find something related to those concepts to make money at. Smile Train is an international childrens charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate. Another titleholder whose platform came from her own medical experience is Miss Washington World America 2019, Shree Saini. Has someone in the family passed from a certain medical condition that has moved you profoundly? I bet you can! It becomes a purpose. 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. 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. You could even make money reading to sick or elderly people who only understand Spanish. No, it's not because I couldn't sleep, or even the reverse, that I was just so anxious to start the day. In a livestream on the Miss Universe YouTube channel, Catriona Gray addressed issues affecting mental health in the pageant world and called on fans, delegates, and international organizations to do their part to make the space safer and more positive for everyone. 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. Once it comes time for your pageant, youll be able to speak about your platform and incorporate yourself into the conversation with ease! 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. Join Jesse Ladoue McMullen, our Queen of Customer Success, and Cara Mund, Miss America 2018, as they tell you everything you need to know about finding and starting your platform. Let us mentor you! Miss Universe 2019 contestants volunteering at the Children's Hospital of Atlanta. Every year millions of cats and dogs are placed into animal shelters, and a majority are euthanized because there are not enough good homes available. How do you get ideas for a pageant platform? EXTREME MIND. In fact, you can make a major difference in the lives of homeless individuals just by being willing to show up. In your immediate family, those who stay with you in your home, is someone facing an extremely tough medical situation? Once you have the proper tone and diction down, your essay will write itself! 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. Its no wonder that so many of the ladies who have participated in the Miss America pageant in the past have been world class performers in their given field. Choose a full length gown with a full skirt. Lilys title is CEO. Youre on the right track, but you need to customize your concept. Miss Pageant Planet Lauren Forbes. 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. Or you could choose to bring about change in how certain medical conditions are treated. 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. VISIT www. Just get yourself out there! Writing your pageant platform essay may seem daunting at first, but always keep in mind the fundamentals of writing an essay: the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Photo: Lasopa. The pageant has adopted a mission that they call the, Stop the War and Violence Campaign. Photo: Safe Horizon. Or, if you are more interested in expressing your inner Julia Child, you could combine your love of animals with your baking hobby. Occasionally, you'll be asked to choose a tea length dress for the youngest contestants but, most pageant require that even princess contestants wear a floor-length gown. Also learning to walk on a stage in heels without looking down and falling off stage is definitely a skill that . However, at age 16, a sport related injury led to a complete left-knee reconstructive surgery. Photo: PBS. What do you lose yourself in? As most of us know, Cheslie is an attorney specializing in complex civil litigation, which gives her a unique ability to inspire, mentor and empower the women that she is helping. What you must understand is that a platform is not an organization. Your love of animals is also highly marketable, whether you realize it or not. You could also offer to make videos of pageant contestants practicing their walking and posing techniques. There are likely churches in your area right now that are serving meals or collecting donations like coats, clothing and food. Just start a fundraiser and share your page! pageant platform mental health. Unfortunately, this problem does not appear to be going away any time soon, and more and more contestants are choosing to address the issue of homelessness as their pageant platform. The "Be the One" initiative began in the State of Tennessee as a suicide prevention campaign for co-workers. There are several locations on the East Coast and in various parts of the Southern U.S. Notable Achievements: Miss Voluptuous Ohio Title Holder 2022-2023. The reach of her campaign was monumental and everywhere you looked, you saw women AND men with a fingernail painted purple. When pageant girls hear that they should be promoting their platform in some way, often times they get very anxious about the idea because they think that it means that they have to do something that is uncomfortable for them, or out of their area of experience or expertise. Not having a pageant platform is like joining a sports team, becoming the captain, and benching yourself from all the games. Best for boosting your mood: Happify. 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. A good platform is something that comes out from you, so to speak, naturally and easily. Best for eating disorders: Recovery Record. 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. (The word, H.E.A.R.T.S. stands for Helping, Encouraging, Achieving, Reading, Teaching, and Supporting.). Having this in mind will help you to answer your interview questions easier as well as give you the proper mindset of why you embarked upon your platform. It does not exist just to give you something to do with your free time on the weekends. The Miss Michigan USA pageant is right around the corner: May 27-28 in Port Huron. Most of the candidates who participate in the organization also enjoy getting involved with the annual fund raisers associated with the CMN, such as Dairy Queens Miracle Treat Day campaign and Free Pancake Day at IHOP. Like the majority of pageant girls, Kendra Hale has been involved with a lot of service organizations throughout her time in pageantry. You could encourage and promote a movement that parents, childcare workers and guardians read to children every day. Lets start out by talking about, The foundation of networking. 107 Pageant Platform Examples (& How to Choose THE One)6 Pageant Platform Money Raising Ideas That Are Guaranteed to Work!Pageant Daily Hosted on Acast. Youve probably already witnessed pageant girls using sources like, Go Fund Me or posting messages on their Facebook pages or Instagram accounts asking for people to donate money to them personally, or for their pageant platform, and although there is nothing inherently wrong with just asking for money, there are so many other creative ways to do it. The term "bullying" used to conjure images of a boisterous kid pushing down a weaker peer on the playground. And, for many of these ladies, their platform was born out of their own personal experiences. Mental health. Welcome to the Pageant Platform Podcast! For the price of a coffee, you will be getting a huge list of . Then, there is the tragic story behind Victorias Voice, otherwise known as the Victoria Siegel Foundation. You'll have to turn on your creative brain for this exercise, but it'll be fun! You can give of yourself to others by volunteering at a local fundraiser or charity that is related to your platform and you can even help your personal or pageant sponsors out by assisting at an event of theirs. Furious, Lightner decided to take action against what she later called the only socially accepted form of homicide. MADD was the result. Your platform could supplement an existing charity, like the American Heart Association or Shatterproof, or you could start the path to create your own organization. Acceptance into Tiffin University's MBA Program I want them to know that they are perfect just as they are, and they dont need to compare themselves to anyone. 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. AID FOR AIDS International is a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cheslies desire to help other women with their wardrobe stems from years of internships and full-time experience in corporate America. Or, perhaps you feel compelled to help children who are experiencing some kind of abuse. Platforms are a particular cause or program you choose to promote as part of your volunteer work through the pageant. There is nothing that says that you cant have fun while volunteering. You may just land an awesome interview! A new international beauty pageant called Miss Gem Africa has emerged to create a platform that raises awareness about mental health and entrepreneurship issues. 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. Mpule Kwelagobe. The first step in behavior change is to become educated about the need to change our behaviors. 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. Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin. My role models are my Mom, my aunts and other family members. You have to know who you are, what your values are and what it is that you want to change in this world. But, now, thankfully, the secrecy surrounding these issues has been lifted, and victims of assault are taking back their power and inviting other survivors to do the same. Also, by notifying all of the people on your networking brainstorming form that you are available for appearances and to volunteer, you just might get recruited to do things by people that you dont even know! house for rent waldport oregon; is thanos a villain or anti hero; Toggle navigation. 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. Make sure it's the right pageant system for you before you invest hundreds of dollars. 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. Are you motivated to save an endangered species? This can be very useful if your platform is related to anything in their realm of interests. Of course, you dont have to start your own non-profit to help make a difference for the homeless population. If you find that writing worries you, as long as you write from the heart and mean every word you say, you will find yourself writing too long of an essay. Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst. With so many causes out there, how does anyone choose just one pageant platform? It's no secret that pageant girls love to give back. Now, that weve got that cleared up. Selling something that you make like cookies, cakes, candy or specialty items like Christmas ornaments or other holiday decorations. Depending upon your organization, your platform can be a mandatory part of your reign, like for Miss America 2.0, where in its 99-year history, every single contestant must form a pageant platform with an amazing title. Pageant Planet - that's right. Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris AND Miss USA Cheslie Kryst at the Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference. 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. Photo Miss Global. Best for OCD: NOCD. You must be absolutely excited, passionate and sold out regarding your platform and your purpose as you understand it, otherwise raising money will feel like a grind. Currently, Rachel is the international spokesperson for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) at the University of South Florida and was recently elected to their executive board of directors. Its kind of like finding your perfect evening gown, but its too big or ill fitting. Click here to get started. The best way to think about and brand your platform, by the way, is to identify your platform by a sentence or statement. Now that youve figured out what your platform is, and why youve created it, you must figure out how you will enact it. 6. Kelsi explained that her college roommate attempted suicide and she got to see firsthand how devastating to consequences of depression was to her friend. But, just because your Grandfather grumbles about his gout, or some mean girls harassed you during junior high or on social media, does not mean that those are ideal platform ideas for you. If you are competing in a pageant system that has a progressive competition structure where the winner goes on to compete at a state competition, then the national pageant and finally at the international level, then you want to keep in mind that your platform has to be something that can be leveled up.This also applies if you are in a position where you are going to be competing as an at large contestant representing your state, and you will be going directly to a national pageant competition. Photo American Bazaar Online. Were not talking about starting a new career here. Lets say that on your list, the top things that you are good at and enjoy most are the fact that you love journalism, photography and video recording, doing hair and makeup, playing volleyball and you love talking to people, especially new people and strangers. They approach the world as if there are no strangers, only friends they havent met yet! In this section of your essay, you should have at least three paragraphs, the first illustrating the backstory behind why you chose your platform. They support Smile Train, GMHC and AID FOR AIDS, and the winner of Miss Universe spends her year traveling overseas to spread messages about the control of diseases, peace, and public awareness of AIDS. Additionally, the Me Too and the No More movements have also created opportunities for pageant contestants to explore a whole new genre of platform ideas related to female empowerment, that they may have been reluctant to promote in the past. Photo: Facebook. This is your moment to speak on your why. . 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. Contact any person that you think might be interested in talking about your platform, either formally or informally. Are you educating people about the history of the Red Cross? pageant platform mental health. She is an active advocate for people with disabilities and her platform The Ability Beyond Disability is concentrated on autism and other disabilities. RAELYNN TERVEER, a Norfolk girl who recently was named America's Elegant Miss Nebraska Junior Preteen 2021-22, has modified the "I Can" Campaign she . Choosing something that you are also accomplished at is key. 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. When Kira was a young college student, she experienced an abusive relationship with her then, boyfriend. Best for quitting alcohol: I Am . Teresa did extensive research about eating disorders for her friend and discovered just how rampant it was across the nation. Mas An Lawi 2023. Created by the Office of Crisis Services & Suicide Prevention, this training equips staff members with tools and resources to ultimately save lives within the workplace and beyond. 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. We havent even discussed your communication skills yet and youve already got a bunch of great ideas. Each Year U.S. United hosts events supporting . Public speaking is a skill that you can absolutely learn! Mandy is also a mental health advocate. The pageants director also knows that your participation with its designated charity will show judges and potential sponsors that you are personally invested, and frankly, part of being a titleholder is often raising not only awareness for causes, but funds as well. Then ASK for help! Since the partnership began, countless contestants have chosen to champion the cause, which has resulted in unprecedented growth and support of the charity, as well as hope for families, that the loss of their loved one was not in vain. The most important aspect of the platform is to be able to go out into the world and inspire with actions as well as words. Find information and support for your mental health. You wont be able to raise money unless you are all in on your platform. The introduction to your essay should begin with an explanation of who you are and what your platform is. 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. Creating a platform with actual activities that you would like to accomplish can be the most difficult part of planning. Select the top 10 things that you enjoy doing the most that you are also good at, and that do not require a huge investment of time or money on your part. And I'm writing a blog post. Some tips to improve your mental health. Kendras main focus with Healing Hearts is to use literacy as one of the mechanisms to achieve her goal of touching others. Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray in the slums of Tondo. Most people experiencing homelessness are individuals (67 percent). Candy Lightner learned from a policeman that drunk driving was rarely prosecuted harshly, and that the driver who hit Cari, (who had a record of arrests for intoxication, and had in fact been arrested on another hit-and-run drunk-driving charge less than a week earlier) was unlikely to spend significant time behind bars. However, there has been a general downward trend over the last decade. 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.