Once she arrives at the location, she then organizes all of the different service stations that people use once they show up. If writing an essay is required, it will also force you to think about the specific ways that you plan to bring your cause to a resolution. Catwalking in front of thousands of people wearing four-inch heels and a bikini does . Another titleholder whose platform came from her own medical experience is Miss Washington World America 2019, Shree Saini. March 3, 2022. Another vulnerable moment for me here -- I'm sharing why my pageant platform is Mental Health for Everyone! And, as a survivor of the disease, she is committed to trying to raise awareness of the debilitating nature of eating disorders, and to spread the message to young girls that "Self-confidence is the single most important thing in the key to happiness. 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. Many Miss America contestants' platforms involve children's issues It should never be something that you just put on for the sake of a pageant competition, because you think the judges will approve of it or just because you want to win a title. Now, that weve got that cleared up. This Beauty Queen Uses Her Platform to Ease Mental Health Stigma in Asian American Community. How have you been able to overcome and get through the difficult aspects of being bullied? With the previous sections in mind, you want to make sure that above all, your platform stands out amongst the other contestants. 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. Because that is what it really boils down to. When you choose atopic that you love and are passionate about, everyone can see the passion from miles away! Photo: Miss Universe. 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. However, there has been a general downward trend over the last decade. If that is the case, then make sure that you think through how exactly you want to assist them. Other times the pageant that you are competing in asks you to raise a certain amount of money on behalf of the pageants charity. Get out some paper and a pen and find a nice, quiet place where you can reflect without interruption. Choosing the right pageant platform is integral to how you can market yourself and begin to make a true difference in your community throughout your time as a contender for the title that you are pursuing. 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. Your platform is the vehicle for your strategic marketing plan as a contestant. I need to raise money for my pageant platform. The vast media coverage and candid admissions of harassment and assault by countless celebrities has created an open environment to discuss issues that were off limits previously. The second paragraph of your essay should be the how. 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. Mental health conditions . List at least 10 Scratch out everything that is controversial or comes from your parents/family's beliefs: ie. Right in all the things you care about. What are your talents, interests, gifts and abilities? Its a tremendous and freeing time to champion a cause related to female empowerment and any related topics. kycuyuhealthclinic. What you must understand is that a platform is not an organization. Pageant Planet on Apple Podcasts This might have to do with the fact that so many pageant contestants and titleholders are genuinely and remarkably talented people. She has inspired hundreds of students who have taken her message back to their own communities to evoke change in the negative attitudes about seeking mental health services, and how to help a loved one who is showing signs of depression. Miss Washington World America 2019 Shree Saini. Creating a platform with an emotional tie to you. The answer to each question becomes a paragraph in your essay. By thinking along these lines, you will hopefully open yourself up to all of the possibilities that are within your reach. As the winner of Miss America, she has been able to do just that. 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). 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. pageant platform mental health. Minnesota mother-daughter duo use pageant platform to advocate for 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. Shree has held many titles in the years that she has been involved in pageantry. Aside from temporal changes in body size among idealized women, there is a dearth of research on the association between beauty pageant participation and mental health. You could of course tutor someone, like a student in Spanish. And at first glance, this year's winner - Sophia Ng - has all the hallmarks of a typical pageant queen. Their unimaginable loss inspired their complete devotion to shining a bright light on the dark issue of opioid abuse that has crippled our nation, and killed our children for some time. The women who win the national titles always have the kind of platforms that have the ability to go global. 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. Promoting your platform is not something that you must do alone. It truly is endless! This . Think about artistic interests, academic interests, physical abilities or sports related interests. 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. With a platform, you could accomplish so many more appearances and talks than without one, which means if you go without, the possibilities of creating a legacy decrease. by . She shows up for these people when nobody else does. 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. 101 Pageant Tips (for First Time Contestants) - Pageant Planet Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, created a personal platform that focused on self-defense, and she then made it her mission to empower women and keep them safe with her Unbreakable initiative, which she launched in 2017, while she was still Miss South Africa. Instead of thinking about promoting your platform, think more about communicating about it, because that is, in essence, what you are really doing. Childhood beauty pageant contestants: associations with adult - PubMed She shows up for the homeless, the ignored, the forgotten, the invisible and for the disenfranchised. The term "bullying" used to conjure images of a boisterous kid pushing down a weaker peer on the playground. Unfortunately, there are a plethora of diseases and illnesses that afflict human beings. Photo: Lasopa. "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 . Its always a good idea to find a specific niche with regard to a popular platform subject like bullying. 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. Size does not define beauty. Now, is it absolutely necessary to have as a pageant contender? Some of the platform topics related to business, just to name a few, are women mentoring women, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Miss Washington Teen USA 2019 Lily Lloyd. So, dont be too quick to pass up world peace if you believe that your purpose is tied to this type of service work. 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. around the country. Creating a platform gives you a voice to advocate for the change you want to see for others who have faced the same ailments you have seen take hold of someones life. 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. 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. This is why most wellness programs start off with a personal health assessment and a biometric screening. Add to that, that frequently, pageants require their contestants to perform a talent during competition, and oftentimes, that talent score is a substantial amount of the total. 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). It does not have to be complicated. A Beauty Queen Who Fights Mental Health Stigma, and a Dream - KQED There are likely churches in your area right now that are serving meals or collecting donations like coats, clothing and food. If your platform is a charity or non-profit, this is certainly going to be the case. If you have a place in your heart for the holidays, you can make Christmas extra special for kids by joining up with the Marines and their, Toys for Tots drive. Some tips to improve your mental health. Miss Grand International 2019 Valentina Figuera. Photo: Facebook. 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. You can raise money for your platform right through your Pageant Planet profile! 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. 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. She struggled with anxiety and suicidal ideation as a teenager, and attempted suicide in her early 20s, she said. All rights reserved. Youre on the right track, but you need to customize your concept. We believe that it is never too early to educate yourself on the true facts, risks, and diagnostic techniques of breast cancer. Draw a circle. It has to be something that you want to invest in, work tirelessly for and put energy into for the long haul. EXTREME MIND. Teresa did extensive research about eating disorders for her friend and discovered just how rampant it was across the nation. The pageant platform essay should encase topics like, how you created your platform, what caused you to choose this specific platform, how you have advocated for it, and how you will continue to advocate for it. Play mind-stimulating games like chess, crossword puzzles and Scrabble. Sarah Schulz. The pageant has adopted a mission that they call the, Stop the War and Violence Campaign. Photo Miss Global. 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? It becomes a purpose. Take this into consideration if you decide that not having a platform is your best option. Over the years, beauty pageants have proven to be detrimental to the physical and mental health of their participants. Cheslies desire to help other women with their wardrobe stems from years of internships and full-time experience in corporate America. Originally aimed at helping hospital patients and their families, Kendra has now expanded her original vision to helping the lives of everyone she can. 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. Is that your platform? 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. As mentioned in the previous section, having a platform that means the world to you is absolutely key. You feel that this would be a good platform because you dont want other kids to experience what you did. What would you call your platform if it were a book, for example? 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. 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. Creating a platform with actual activities that you would like to accomplish can be the most difficult part of planning. Or, is it your mission to ensure that no animal should ever be abandoned by their owners? Catriona Gray calls for pageants to protect queens' mental health Send a press release to your local newspapers, news stations, online news sites or any organization that is in any way related to your platform and tell them about your projects and plans and any upcoming appearances. Keep in mind, the possibility of girls having the same platform as you is very high, there are only so many causes one can champion. We cover other topics such as interview techniques, fashion, beauty and modeling. Other organizations, such as Miss USA or Queen Beauty USA, have their organizations be open-ended as to where a contestant can decide if shed like to pursue a larger cause or have her title be more career-oriented. Just recently, however, bullying has been recognized as a leading cause of concern . Many pageant systems have dedicated their organization and the work of their titleholders to enriching the lives of people affected by various diseases. 1. There are never enough volunteers or advocates for these types of organizations, and there are countless children who are desperately in need of a loving home. Teen beauty pageant contestants discuss mental health 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. I was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease at the age of 56,in Jan of this year. In your introduction, there is no need to delve into the why or the how of your platform just yet. There is nothing wrong with having an anti-bullying platform, if that is what you feel drawn to. Using proper punctuation when needed, ensuring that you are not using run-on sentences, and proper word usage can all help with your tone. Henderson grew up around alcohol and domestic violence, being exposed to a plethora of negative experiences. It would not take much to set up the interview space, ask a whole bunch of random interview questions and film it all for each contestant. 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. Anything that is open to the general public can be considered a public event. When a contestant creates a platform and does nothing to make a change, it can be noticeable from a mile away that they are not actually working towards their supposed goal. It is based on the idea that colleagues can help build . It is also a martial art that teaches self-defense techniques, and that point was a major one for Nia, as she believes that women should have the skills to defend themselves. The reason that this is so crucial for the contestant who wants to compete at a higher level, is that any pageant organization that has a national or international competition, will want to promote the platforms of their winners. Opinion: A former contestant reflects on the tragic death of a pageant 9 Beauty Pageant Q&As That Celebrate Women's Intelligence, Ambition 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. Best for OCD: NOCD. Most people experiencing homelessness are individuals (67 percent). It really should not be something that you put on at all! Lily has dedicated over 400 volunteer hours serving her community through the non-profit that she created. 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. Mrs. America Contestant Raising Awareness for Financial Literacy - PRWeb These individuals may have a harder time coping with stress. Won the Miss Congeniality Title, Miss Visibility Title, Miss Photogenic Title, and the Peoples Choice Award at the Miss Voluptuous Ohio Pageant. She shows up. Cant you just imagine how much money you could make from canine culinary delights? No, it's not because I couldn't sleep, or even the reverse, that I was just so anxious to start the day. The theme sets a number of goals towards achieving this: * Connect: Develop your relationships with friends, family, colleagues, and neighbours as these connections support you and enrich your life. You can go so many places with that skill because most people dont even know how to thread a needle these days! In addition to those ideas, there are lots of other possibilities related to you skills at doing hair and makeup. Or, check out organizations like The Salvation Army, Goodwill, Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, StandUp for Kids and local shelters in your area. What we mean when we talk about drilling down your platform is that you may have a great platform concept, but you are feeling like its not quite right. 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. In 2015, Kira Kazanstsev was the third consecutive Miss America winner from New York, and she made a powerful impact with her platform, Love Shouldnt Hurt Protecting Women Against Domestic Violence. Your platform is the foundation of your service work (whatever that looks like) and its the cornerstone of your strategic marketing campaign, so what you choose is of the utmost importance. Usually your parents or your best friends are the people who will come up with a long list of qualities or activities where they see you excelling all the time. The sad news about Sunday's suicide, at age 30, of Cheslie Kryst, a former Miss USA, makes my heart ache. Start with your inner circle of friends and family and then work your way out to your neighbors, the people you work with or attend school with, and then the people that you know from all the different social circles you belong to. Amazon Smile you can raise money for almost any charity there. What do they do?..and then. Women are still continually fighting for equal rights and opportunities in the business arena, and who better to embrace and understand that fight than someone who is in the trenches day after day? 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. Miss America has been associated with The Childrens Miracle Network, and every woman who becomes Miss America, accepts the responsibility of being their ambassador. Now that you have created your own customized money-making plan for your platform, its time to build onto that foundation and come up with additional ways to make money. All of these aspects of your platform should mesh well together, and make it easier for the pageant judges to understand what youre all about. This type of a platform would be extremely personal and motivating for you. Advancing mental healthcare through research and data. - Ginger Mental health. In this paragraph, you should talk about how you have pursued your platform and how you have begun to tackle the issue your championing. Lets find you the perfect platform! She is an active advocate for people with disabilities and her platform The Ability Beyond Disability is concentrated on autism and other disabilities. However, it needs to be customized so that it looks like it was made for you as well. Her involvement with her platform allowed her to partner with Prevent Child Abuse America and Child Help. What do you lose yourself in? Then go through your top 10 activities and ask yourself if someone would pay you to do some of those things for them. Cheslies pageant platform had its early beginnings when she was still in college. Shrees platform is all about heart health and emotional wellbeing, and she is an incredible volunteer, logging an astounding amount of volunteer hours, and earning numerous awards for giving her time to many organizations including the American Heart Association and The Hope Heart Institute. An example might be that you know that you want your platform to be centered on literacy. You could also offer to make videos of pageant contestants practicing their walking and posing techniques. Therefore, you are more likely to work hard in your cause, not only because you do not want to let your family member down, but also because you have seen them struggle throughout their life. But, she is most impressive when she is breaking boards and doing her thing, notably being a fifth degree black belt in taekwondo, which she began practicing when she was just 8 years old. As long as you keep in mind that your hard work is what will set you apart in all aspects of competition, you are good to go! You want children to feel loved and accepted and you learned that through being read to. When you can key in to those personal details that motivate you, it then becomes so much more than a pageant platform. Bonnie Lundberg. Having a pageant platform is also the perfect way to increase your marketability to the judges to ensure that you stand out amongst the dozens of contestants. Self-acceptance is a vital pageant criterion, and this is many times what separates the winners from those who do not place. Photo: Miss Universe Organization. Cheslie also created a ball gown out of newspaper for the competition! This is also called, finding your niche. In fact, the majority of contestants go through a period of looking into different platform ideas, asking themselves a lot of questions about what the feel most motivated to change in the world. They provide professional clothing, mentoring and life-skills to help low-income men get the clothing and toiletries they need for job interviews. How many people out there would love to hire you to help them clean and organize their home or office? A pageant platform is an integral part of becoming a contestant and a reigning queen once you win the title that you are after! Photo: Pinterest. 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. Top tasks in Mental health. 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! Are you kidding! Miss America 2015 Kira Kazanstsev. Like the majority of pageant girls, Kendra Hale has been involved with a lot of service organizations throughout her time in pageantry. She stressed that the central taekwondo tenet of perseverance equipped her with the determination to overcome defeat throughout her life. 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.