International Pageant Day

My very first boyfriend Billy (hi Billy if you’re reading this ) used to call me “Beauty Queen” as a playful nickname. Little did that farm girl Sarah know she would actually become one… and of course little did Billy know he was being prophetic lol.

Prior to experiencing the world of pageantry myself, I (like so many others I’m sure) adhered to the stigma of pageants and beauty queens as being all bimbo, pomp, and circumstance, with little to no substance. It was a turnoff, and the reason I never had interest in participating.

Orientation day at Nationals with my Sister Queens

Obviously there IS pomp and circumstance (it’s a PAGEANT after all), but what I wasn’t expecting was the wealth of substance I immediately found in this brand new world of sisters I call family.

In everything from their platform to their families, careers, interests, discipline, achievements, causes, and cares, every single one of my 2023 NC/SC sister queens (and many of the contestants I met at Nationals) are such a diverse display of personality and passion.

In fact, despite how well-deserved the honor, the titles they hold are quite possibly the LEAST interesting thing about them. They shined before a crown ever touched their head.

While I reflect on the last year, I’m so thankful I didn’t let the “beauty queen” stigma and all that comes with it stop me from entering this door of opportunity the Lord opened, and the platform it created.

And, as I continue to meet all of our wonderful 2024 contestants, I’m so excited to watch as they embark on this journey while championing their communities, raising awareness to their causes, and truly using their beauty for good.

So cheers to International Pageant Day, beauty queens, and broken stigmas… and cheers to Billy the Prophet.