Miss Treasure Island/Barbary Coast/Golden Gate: A reflection and a lot of “thank you’s!&

Whew, what a weekend!! This post is a bit of a reflection and a bit of a “thank you,” to some very key people who have been so supportive of me during my dream of becoming Miss California.

Though prep is key for success in pageantry, I almost feel as if I overwhelmed myself with preparation leading up to this weekend. I felt a strong amount of personal pressure to know all the answers to every single political issue and wracked my brain for solutions. I think this pressure got the best of me during onstage question because I had prepared so heavily for it that when I picked my question, my ADHD brain fizzled and I blanked on words and phrases and began to drag out my answer. I remember walking offstage after OSQ and feeling so defeated that I had to fan away my tears as I ran up the stairs to change into my swimsuit.

Violet (my teen) saw me right afterward and sternly told me something that stayed with me throughout the rest of the night: “OSQ is just one score. You have three more scores that you need to earn and you have the percentage from interview too. You can do this. Now go get changed and rock the rest of the night.”

She was right. Of course it’s hard on the heart to work so hard for a 30 second answer, only to feel defeated and deflated afterwards. But what got me through the rest of the competition was that these judges had already seen how I handled myself during my private interview. They knew I could handle pressure and tough questions, I just got a little long-winded and anxious. It happens- we are all human.

To anyone out there who gets anxious over OSQ or is worried about not nailing it- I understand, I’ve been there and I too have had blah answers as well as stellar answers. My advice to you is what Violet told me: shake it off, go change for the next competition, and pretend as if it didn’t happen because you still have 3 areas of competition to focus on.

You are still worthy of the crown even if you make a mistake.

Thank you: to all of the judges, friends, family, and strangers who have asked me to consider changing up my hairstyle for competition. It took me a while to come around to the idea, but I’m so grateful that I did because I received so much positive feedback from this change. Although I love my bangs, I still felt like myself as I competed without them this past weekend- and that is the most important feeling to me. I felt like Stephanie, but I felt like a more sophisticated, bolder version of myself. A version who wasn’t afraid of change and trying something new. A version who could look at herself in the mirror and see my dream of becoming Miss California a potential reality.

Thank you: to my amazing outstanding teen (and Miss California’s Outstanding Teen) Violet for being my savior (and sometimes my momager) and for helping me stay calm, collected, and confident. Also, major thank you for giving me the clothes off of your back (literally) when my talent top busted open and I was stressed right before I went on stage. You are my real MVP. I love you forever.

Thank you: to all the volunteers backstage who helped all of us get ready and calm before we went onstage. Competition can be super hectic, and I definitely am one to need an extra hand to hold before I go onstage. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who helped try and zip me into my talent dress (and reassured me that I looked okay!!). Y’all are incredible, and there aren’t enough “thank you’s” to go around.

Thank you: to the amazing panel of judges for choosing me as first runner up out of such an amazing group of women. I loved speaking with some of them afterward and I felt so grateful to hear their input and opinions to help myself prepare for the next competition. I’m so grateful that they saw so much potential in me.

Thank you: to my friends, family, and sisters for being the loudest, greatest cheering section I could ask for. Even if they couldn’t be there physically, I felt the love and support from hundreds of miles away. I wish I could give a personal shoutout to each of you, but you know who you are. Y’all are my heart, and I couldn’t do any of this without you. I love each of you so much.

Thank you: to Adonica Shaw and her family for putting together such an amazing pageant and for holding so many rehearsals for all of us. Being a director isn’t an easy job, and especially having two pageants and six titles in one day, but you did it with grace and poise.

I truly believe that everything in life happens for a reason, and it simply just wasn’t in God’s timing to have me be a titleholder this weekend. Who knows, maybe God’s plan will unfold at Miss Contra Costa County on November 4th 🙂

Never give up on your dreams, sweet friends. God always, ALWAYS has a plan, we just have to trust it!

Work hard. Stay humble. Love well.

XO,

Stephanie

#missamerica