A pageant platform is an integral part of becoming a contestant and a reigning queen once you win the title that you are after! You should also speak about what you will be doing with your platform in the future and how you hope your platform will impact those in the next generations. In fact, you can make a major difference in the lives of homeless individuals just by being willing to show up. Think in terms of different areas or genres. 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. Early detection can significantly increase a woman/man's survival rate. 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. Her goal as the national titleholder was to educate children and adults alike as to the signs and risks of eating disorders, as well as how and where to get help for themselves or a loved one. Are you facing any medical conditions that you like to bring awareness to? Think about all of the possible ways to communicate with people, and all the different ways that we do that. Miss America 2015 Kira Kazanstsev. From crushing a child's self-esteem after losing a pageant, to poor diets and lack or rest. Mrs. International 2017 Melissa Pocza at the "Broken Little Voices Child Advocacy Center. 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. COLUMNS Mind Over Mood: Vulnerableand Vigilant. Another national titleholder that created a platform based on her own personal history, is Nia Sanchez. by . Also learning to walk on a stage in heels without looking down and falling off stage is definitely a skill that . Its an exciting time to explore volunteering in this area, and you will absolutely feel rewarded for your efforts, as you help other women achieve their own goals. You need to see what the pageant's "definitions" are by looking at the performance of the top 5 contestants. As a professional therapist she works with children and teenagers from age 5-19, and does individual counseling for those who suffer from a diagnosed mental health disorder (major depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder etc). This is also called, finding your niche. 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. Create a concise announcement about your platform, your goals and what you would like to do with your platform in the future. Get urgent help now for mental health Find an NHS talking therapies service Feelings, symptoms and behaviours Read about common feelings and symptoms such as stress, anxiety or a low mood. "I have worked first hand in CHEO's inpatient psychiatric ward, Mental Health classrooms, non for profits, and homeless shelters," she said. Anything can be an appearance! Their singular mission is saving lives so we dont lose our future generation. If youre having a hard time getting started then go talk to your parents, friends, relatives, teachers and anyone who knows you well and that you trust. 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. 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. All you have to do is make yourself available. What would you do with a free afternoon or if you had a weekend all to yourself? My pageant has a pageant platform essay. 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. San Francisco is home to the longest-running Asian-American beauty pageant in the nation. For example, why not contact your local Mayor, city official or any other important public figure. 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. Because that is what it really boils down to. 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. My role models are my Mom, my aunts and other family members. Cheslies one-of-a-kind brand of beauty, brains and business is so attractive to other females, and the fact that she is such a transparent and down to earth gal, despite her accomplishments, makes her an ideal role model for todays generation. She's 27, with beauty, brains and charisma. She saw an opportunity to create an environment for women to share their stories and learn how to protect themselves. And, depending on your particular passion and niche, there are so many wonderful organizations that you can get involved with such as, Dress for Success, Goodwill and Jobs For the Future. You can have t-shirts made, along with stickers, custom made pens, buttons, bumper stickers and wrist bands. 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. Or, is it your mission to ensure that no animal should ever be abandoned by their owners? You can spread awareness of your cause through social media, but taking your cause to the streets not only gets the general public more engaged, but it can also give you more inspiration to keep going. 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. Is that your platform? And, then begin writing down every single person that you know that you think you could network with in some way. While this may seem difficult at first, once you sit down and take a deep dive into who you are as a person and what motivates you to move forward, you should be able to nail down a platform with ease. With so many causes out there, how does anyone choose just one pageant platform? Some tips to improve your mental health. Best for quitting alcohol: I Am . If you bring out your inner creativity and try to market your platform in a way you have never seen others do it before, then you are well on your way to a great platform. Miss Dominican Republic 2015, Clarissa Molina. Photo: Lasopa. 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. Teresas passion to combat eating disorders stems from a friend who struggled with bulimia. They have the power to make us laugh, to make . . It can be a very simple event, without a lot of fuss, as long as people are interested in attending. 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. Home; My Story; Courses. However, it needs to be customized so that it looks like it was made for you as well. 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. Photo American Bazaar Online. Miss Washington Teen USA 2019 Lily Lloyd. Photo: Miss Universe Organization. 10900. A friend urged Ng to get the help she needed and it was through the transformative power of therapy that she found a new sense of purpose. Having a relatable and personal platform helps for the judges to remember you as well as making sure that you are actually accomplishing a goal in real life with your platform. What a valuable thing that would be! 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 . 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. If you have decided to work with an organization, you could begin to volunteer your time with these organizations if it is not something that you already have a personal connection with. 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. Proceeds from Catrionas music helped to build a preschool and childcare center for Young Focus, and also provided meals for families and children so they could celebrate Christmas with food on their table. I have chosen to serve the people in this area by collecting and donating books to those in need. Mrs. International 2013 Amy Gregorio found her passion and platform as a CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate. VISIT www. The women who win the national titles always have the kind of platforms that have the ability to go global. You just have to care. Its kind of like finding your perfect evening gown, but its too big or ill fitting. Its when you finally tell the judges what your platform is. Having confidence also makes these women come back year after year to try again. 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. A public eating contest of any kind: pie eating, hot dog eating, pizza eating and so on. If you grew up in foster care, are a parent to an adopted child or just feel inspired to help in that area, then check out an organization that is tied to foster care, adoption or some other form of. She still teaches classes today through, Self-Defense by Nia, which supports empowering battered and/or abused women, and she also hosts additional workshops to help young girls dealing with low self-esteem. Copyright 2023, Pageant Planet. Her platform: mental health awareness. Now, is it absolutely necessary to have as a pageant contender? For example, if you have noticed a large population of homeless veterans in your community, you can use your platform to bring awareness to their struggles as well as creating events and fundraisers that would help the veterans find permanent solutions to their issues. Furious, Lightner decided to take action against what she later called the only socially accepted form of homicide. MADD was the result. Cheslies desire to help other women with their wardrobe stems from years of internships and full-time experience in corporate America. 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. I want to create a pageant platform. The other contestants raised money by holding their own pageants, gala balls, fun runs, quiz nights and cake sales. 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. You can raise money for your platform right through your Pageant Planet profile! In fact, there are entire pageant systems established around the idea of ending the war on violence, such as, Miss Grand International. Not having a pageant platform is like joining a sports team, becoming the captain, and benching yourself from all the games. There is nothing wrong with having an anti-bullying platform, if that is what you feel drawn to. Your platform is the vehicle for your strategic marketing plan as a contestant. Just because a pageant labels itself "natural" doesn't necessarily mean no makeup; and casual wear does not mean jeans and a T-shirt. Are you ready to truly make a difference in the world with your pageant platform? What classes have you really enjoyed when you were in school? Bed ridden for months, the psychological toll of a shattered dream and recovering body led to an eventual downward depressive spiral. This is why being passionate is absolutely necessary. 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. You also run the risk of feeling resentful and insincere, and that is one of the worst combinations of emotions that any pageant girl can have. And, she even received a personal thank you letter from the President of the United States! Mas An Lawi 2023. The sad news about Sunday's suicide, at age 30, of Cheslie Kryst, a former Miss USA, makes my heart ache. 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. Pageant coaches teach their clients confidence and work on how to develop it within themselves. We do recommend that you work on those skills, though, especially learning to talk to strangers or to a group of people. "I have seen a great need for much more accessible and affordable forms of . This type of a platform would be extremely personal and motivating for you. What have you done for fun in your free time? Demi-Leight was inspired to launch Unbreakable after her own violent carjacking experience in June 2017. Best for eating disorders: Recovery Record. 1910 Thomas Ave 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? Just ask them what they think that you are really gifted at. We've created a list of 107 Pageant Platform Ideas (with a few organizations to partner with) just for you! 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. Everything from how they look to what theyve accomplished is judged against someone else, and that isnt healthy.. Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin. Depending upon your system, you may also have to write an essay or a speech about your platform and the work youve put in towards achieving the end goal of your platform. Cheslies obviously enamored the judges at Miss USA, and she consistently demonstrates that todays pageant queen can be a titleholder who is relevant and relatable, while still being a whole bunch of fun! 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. They approach the world as if there are no strangers, only friends they havent met yet! Sophia Ng started competing in pageants to raise awareness around mental health, especially among the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. I need to raise money for my pageant platform. 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. 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. 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. The pageant platform essay is apart of the competition in which a contestant can validate, in writing, why she chose the specific cause she has. Won the Miss Congeniality Title, Miss Visibility Title, Miss Photogenic Title, and the Peoples Choice Award at the Miss Voluptuous Ohio Pageant. You could also offer to make videos of pageant contestants practicing their walking and posing techniques. Although she passed on the crown to a new Miss Universe, Demi-Leigh has no plans on giving up on her Unbreakable initiative. A couple of interesting organizations that support survivors of assault or domestic abuse are The Global Sisterhood and Milagros Day Worldwide. For the price of a coffee, you will be getting a huge list of . For example, you may want to help children who are growing up in poverty, like our current Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray does. In fact, she wants to make it even bigger and turn Unbreakable into a foundation where she could work with safe havens to bring the empowerment workshops to the women they serve. The pageant has adopted a mission that they call the, Stop the War and Violence Campaign. So, first off, playing volleyball may or may not be a good money making idea, although, depending on your skill level, your experience and your desire, you may just make a pretty good volleyball coach. 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. It has been a complete turnaround with my balance, mobility, double vision, swollen feet, speech and difficulty swallowing this is the best that I've felt in years. 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. You could host classes about the topics that your platform covers, you could create a specific event for your platform as well. 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. You have so many options through these places, too. Even if you all three volunteer your time at your local Red Cross, I bet that what you do, how you do it and what you really care about is very individual to each of you. I want them to know that they are perfect just as they are, and they dont need to compare themselves to anyone. In addition to being an active Dress for Success volunteer, Cheslie authors a fascinating blog, White Collar Glam, that provides modern corporate fashion inspiration and work related resources for women. There are likely churches in your area right now that are serving meals or collecting donations like coats, clothing and food. Another organization called the, There Is No Limit Foundation seeks a world free of poverty, inequality, and violence, where independent, networked individuals leverage their knowledge, skills and connections to uplift and provide for themselves, their families and communities. Arika chose financial literacy as her platform during the Mrs. DC America competition which she won and is competing this week in the 2012 Mrs. America Pageant. In our modern society, these issues are so prevalent that most everyone can say that they know someone who has struggled with one of these issues at one time or another. Cant you just imagine how much money you could make from canine culinary delights? In fact, our current Miss USA 2019, Cheslie Kryst, is a huge supporter of the non-profit, Dress for Success. It does not have to be a huge undertaking, like sponsoring a 5 course fancy dinner in a ballroom somewhere. Because once you volunteer for an event or make a connection by helping someone, they will think of you the next time that they have an opportunity. Selling products that you make or distribute. Two titleholders who have had intimate knowledge of depression and the resulting feelings of pain and isolation are Miss Black USA 2018 Kelsi Horn and Miss Global 2018 Sophia Ng. And, they have increased the percentage of the talent score, so talent has become an even more prominent feature to that competition. Because, that would indicate that book was about the organization itself. And, while it is extremely sad to think of all these poor souls who are suffering, the plus side is that all of this media coverage is bringing attention to an area that has been severely stigmatized in the past. * Take notice: Be aware of the world around you and see the . The Miss Grand International pageant has a beautiful mission that goes far beyond beauty. You could encourage and promote a movement that parents, childcare workers and guardians read to children every day. 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 very impressive for a 16 year old girl, isnt it? GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to leading the fight against AIDS on a national platform. This category encompasses an extensive array of issues related to women, including everything from body positivity and self-defense to raising awareness of human trafficking and domestic violence and sexual assault. If the person that you contacted cannot help you, they just might know someone who can. 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. 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. Most likely you do not. You may never have thought of this before, with regard to yourself, but most anything that someone can do well is something that they can make money at. 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. When you choose atopic that you love and are passionate about, everyone can see the passion from miles away! Choosing something that you are also accomplished at is key. Teresa did extensive research about eating disorders for her friend and discovered just how rampant it was across the nation. Why not create your own brand of healthy dog or cat treats in your kitchen? It does not have to be complicated. 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. If you are a pageant gal who has a soft spot for our furry, finned or feathered friends, a platform that is focused on animals is a fun and motivating way to help the creatures that we share the planet with. And, this one fact is the singularly most impressive thing about Lily Lloyd. Some people might think its a joke, but saving the world from hate and violence is no laughing matter. Stories have the power to change who we areboth in telling them and hearing them. In contrast, pageants seem to instill messages like "I should be flawless," "I have to be thin . Contact any person that you think might be interested in talking about your platform, either formally or informally. This creates the perfect opportunity for you because you know what struggles that you or your family member faced and you most likely have already thought about what would make the process easier. A platform is simply about solving a problem of some kind. Now that she is a pageant titleholder, she . ", Lauren says that her main objective is to remind all that have struggled and that are currently struggling with eating disorders that, "There is a beautiful life after recovery," and that individuals of any size can feel confident enough in their own skin to pursue any dream imaginable. Shree is a facial burns survivor and a heart patient, and has had a pacemaker since she was 12 years old. How do you get ideas for a pageant platform? Over the years, beauty pageants have proven to be detrimental to the physical and mental health of their participants. But, its nothing to get worked up about. Other child-related topics include fighting . You could even make money reading to sick or elderly people who only understand Spanish. Her Platform: Mental health awareness Crystal is passionate . 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. Mental health conditions . Depending on length, you may combine some of the paragraphs, but you should still have 5 distinct parts, in this order. You have to really think about what your platform is, not where you volunteer or serve. abortion, legalization of marijuana N. Many pageant systems have dedicated their organization and the work of their titleholders to enriching the lives of people affected by various diseases. Part of your job if you win the pageant, is being responsible for attracting new contestants, potential sponsors and business partners. You can start a Facebook Fan page, an Instagram account that is dedicated to your platform, or a blog or website. 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. You could even take it a step further and combine photography and doing hair and makeup! 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?