M ISS TEEN USA
2020 Ki?ilani Arruda was born and raised in Kaua'i, Hawaii. She is a freshman at the University of Puget Sound, studying molecular and cellular biology, and minoring in Spanish. As an honor roll senior in high school, she maintained a 4.00 GPA. She also served as her school's student body president and was a varsity member of the volleyball, swim, and track and field teams. ? Ki?ilani credits her passion for STEM to a special biology teacher from high school. After obtaining her degree, Ki'ilani plans to continue her education at Stanford Medical School to become a dermatologist. ? In her free time, Ki'ilani enjoys spending time at the beach, hiking, and gardening. She's the oldest of three siblings. Inspired by her brother, Ki'ilani is an advocate for autism awareness, and her hope is that we can build a world that is accepting and inclusive for all people.
Photos by Benjamin Askinas
I N T H E S P O T L I G H T
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M odel Leah Hin ch ee Ph ot o by R Nolan Ph ot ogr aph y
M odel Lila Ar zillo Ph ot o by Clyde M cDon ald Ph ot ogr aph y
M odel M cKen zie St on e Ph ot o by Ter esa Bu r ch
M odel Leah Hin ch ee Ph ot o R Nolan Ph ot ogr aph y
CROWNS INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHT
M at t h ew Gon zales
KNOWN MANAGEMENT GROUP Modeling and Acting Agency Char lotte KNOWN M an agem en t Gr ou p is a bou t iqu e t alen t agen cy. We r epr esen t t alen t in t h e Sou t h east m ar k et an d w or k in g as a m ot h er agen cy w e do placem en t s w it h t op agen cies in New Yor k , Los An geles, Lon don , Par is, M ilan an d elsew h er e. Fou n ded by M at t h ew Gon zales, w h o h as been in t h e m odelin g an d act in g in du st r y developin g t alen t f or n ear ly 2 decades. He h as w or k ed f or IM G M odels in New Yor k , War n in g M odels in Bever ly Hills, an d scou t ed f or DNA M odels in t h e Sou t h Region . KNOWN M an agem en t Gr ou p is cu r r en t ly au dit ion in g f or local placem en t an d dir ect book in gs in ot h er m ar k et s..
How can I clean m y cr ow n an d sash ? Your crown is, essentially, jewelry. You?ll want to clean it in a similar fashion. A great item to keep in your crown case is a jewelry cleaning cloth. One side cleans, the other polishes to quickly bring back that just-crowned sparkle. Some queens swear by glass cleaner, aka Windex, or gentle toothpaste applied with a soft toothbrush. Don?t spray the glass cleaner directly on your crown. Dip the brush in the cleaner, scrub gently and wipe off with a lint-free cloth. A jewelry cleaning kit also works and includes the solution and a brush. Always spot test by applying to a single stone at the base first, where it?s not as noticeable. You?ll want to make sure the product you?re using doesn?t etch the stones. We don?t really recommend using toothpaste, because you?ll have to rinse it off and you don?t want water to get trapped underneath the stones. Water may also leave spots on the metal. If you want a professional job, many jewelers offer steam cleaning. Here are some tips to keep the crown clean to start with. -
Always finish your hair before putting on your crown.
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Never spray your hair with your crown on. Never handle your crown with lotion on your hands. Hairspray and lotion will leave a dulling film on the stones. When not wearing your crown, store it in an airtight container to prevent tarnishing. A Ziploc-type bag does the trick. You can even throw in some of those anti-tarnish paper strips that come with new jewelry.
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How you?ll clean your sash will depend on the fabric and whether it?s blinged-out. Durable sashes without rhinestones can be tossed in the washing machine on delicate. Make sure the Velcro closure is secure to prevent snagging. You can soak sashes in a tub with a cup of Oxi Clean and rinse with cold water. Always hang to drip dry. For rhinestone sashes or to spot clean use a Shout wipe, Tide pen or bleach pen (if white) or baby wipe will work. You can also send your sash out to a professional like Elite Custom Cleaning. A dirty sash is a sign you?re working hard as a titleholder but not to worry, we?ve got a complete sash cleaning guideto get you ready for your next appearance.
TODAY' S INTERVIEW ON IGTV @TODAYSINTERVIEW
HOST ERICA CARNEGIE
Cassandra Wallace Ms. World International Mrs. World America
Q: What advice do you want to share with this audience? A: I would encourage everyone to find what they're passionate about, volunteer in their communities, and give back. Most volunteer positions do not take a lot of time but can make a huge difference in someone's life.
LeAndra Grant Royal International Miss Ms. Diamond State
Q: You are a dyslexia therapist. Can you please explain what that means? A: As a Dyslexia Therapist, I help struggling readers. Most don't have a passion for school because they struggle to read. But, reading is essential to all subjects, so I teach them effective strategies to cope with this neurological disorder.
SEE FULL INTERVIEWS HERE @TODAYSINTERVIEW
BEYOND THE BEAUTY
THANK YOU VETERANS National USA Royal Miss Pre-Teen McKenzie Stone said thank you to veterans by serving 170 veterans a dinner to show appreciation for their love and commitment to our country and for keeping us safe. The dinner was held Veterans Day weekend at the Veterans Park in Person County, North Carolina.
O N T H E C O V E R
M ISS USA
2020
Asya Branch, a University of Mississippi alumna and the first African American Miss Mississippi USA, was crowned Miss USA on November 9, 2020 at this year ?s Miss USA pageant. This is the first time Mississippi has won the title. This year ?s pageant aired live from Memphis and was previously postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. ?I?m filled with so much joy and excitement,? Branch said. ?I?m still running on adrenaline, and it truly is amazing. It?s such an honor to have been able to represent the state of Mississippi and to be this first Miss USA from the state of Mississippi.? Branch is from Michigan, and she moved to Mississippi in 2003. She has been competing in pageants since the first grade and has participated in pageants every year since. Branch was crowned the 2018 Miss Mississippi in the Miss America circuit. Branch said that being the first African American to win Miss Mississippi and becoming the first Mississippian to win Miss USA are two very important accomplishments for her. ?I think it?s important that we have examples in the media for children that look up to. So many young people are on social media now, and that?s where they get their information. That is where they see everything all day,? Branch said. ?They?re glued to their phones, and so it?s important that we have good representation and diversity for them to see and to have as examples and role models.? Branch said managing the coronavirus pandemic was the most difficult aspect of her preparation for Miss USA. Instead of her usual pageant prep-work, she had to do home workouts alone every day and meet with trainers and coaches virtually. ?It was a hard transition. You go from going everywhere to being at home, but I enjoyed it,? Branch said. ?It gives you time to really reflect on yourself and realize your strengths, your weaknesses (and) your capabilities.? For her platform, Branch promotes ?I Am More,? which advocates for those who have been affected by incarceration. As a child of a formerly incarcerated person, she realized that she was more than the hardships she faced and any difficulties that came her way, so ?I am more? became her life motto. Another part of her platform is a program called Love Letters, where she donates stationery and stamps to inmates so they can write their loved ones and maintain a good connection with their families. ?I know that my letters from my dad are what kept me positive and strong throughout these hardships,? Branch said. ?Just being able to write your children, being able to write your mother or whoever it is that?s at home, being able to keep that bond so that when (you) are released, you have a foundation to help you reintegrate into society.? Branch said that through Love Letters, she?s been able to share her own story of growing up with an incarcerated parent. ?(My story) is something that they can truly relate to and see that this is possible. It doesn?t matter where I come from or my background, I can accomplish anything,? Branch said. ?I just have to overcome these obstacles to strengthen me in order to achieve my goals.? As Miss USA, Branch said her goals are to expand Love Letters nationwide and to continue spreading positivity. After winning Miss USA, Branch faced controversy online because of her 2018 performance at a presidential rally. Branch sang the national anthem and participated in a roundtable event at the White House, and she received backlash for both. Branch said that at the time, she was Miss Mississippi USA and was contractually obligated to attend all appearances that she was booked for, and these just happened to be appearances she was obligated to attend. ?I attend events and represent all people, not just one particular party, and so I, personally, don?t ever share my political beliefs,? Branch said. ?Those are simply assumptions.? While she doesn?t share her political views, Branch said she believes it is a true honor to represent the country when she sings the national anthem. She also said that she considered the roundtable discussion an opportunity for her to speak about prison reform. ?From that discussion, the First Step Act was passed, which helps rehabilitate inmates back into society,? Branch said. ?I think that in order to make a difference for those that I?m so passionate about, I needed a seat at the table, and that was an opportunity for me.? As Miss USA, Branch will move on to the Miss Universe pageant in 2021.
Photos by Benjamin Askinas
Branch was originally born in Michigan. Her family relocated to Booneville, Mississippi in 2003 where she spent her childhood.At 17, She left her hometown for the first time to attend summer school at Harvard University. This experience changed her life, and since then she has accepted every challenge and opportunity thrown her way while encouraging others to do the same. As the 6th of 8 siblings, she strives every day to set an exemplary example for her brothers and sisters. Branch describes herself as adventurous, compassionate, and a go-getter. Having a strong mentality has allowed her to be a life coach and trend setter without second guessing herself.
She also runs her own a cosmetic line called Branch Beauty, and what started as a hobby, has now turned into a lucrative business.(the shop has been placed on hold since winning the title).She hopes to resume and continue expanding her business in the future. Branch said, ?I?ve always had a love for beauty. And growing up, I was a cute child. People were always telling my parents how cute I was, and my parents didn?t want that going in my head. So, I heard all the time, ?Don?t be ju st a pr et t y f ace, pretty is as pretty does.?And that's something that stuck with me forever. If I was going to have beauty on the outside, I wanted to have it in my heart as well.?
Branch states, ?I grew up with this love of makeup and I realized that the foundation needs to be beautiful as well. So that led me to really diving into my skincare because I think it?s important that we embrace our natural beauty. Makeup is wonderful because it helps us to enhance that. I think that we should be comfortable in our own skin, but there are beauty products that make people feel even more comfortable and more beautiful. And I think we should embrace that as well.?
She believes that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. She affirms, ?I think beauty means something different for everyone. Some people want to focus more on internal beauty while others want to focus on the external. And I think we all have our right to whichever we prefer.Beau t y com es in all dif f er en t sh apes, sizes, color s, f or m s, per son alit ies.I mean, it's so varied, but I just think that we should embrace all types of beauty. Everyone's beautiful in their own perfect way, and I think that's something that we as a nation should recognize and really embrace.?
Asya Branch
M ISS USA 2020 This year ?s winner was chosen by a selection committee that included Fox Nation host Abby Hornacek, entrepreneur Gloria Mayfield Banks, sports reporter and Miss USA 1999 Kimberly Pressler, businesswoman Susan Yara, Miss USA 2000 Lynnette Cole and Carolyn Aronson, CEO of It's a 10 Haircare and Be A 10 Cosmetics.
Photos by Benjamin Askinas
M eet You r Lit t le M iss Un it ed St at es-2020 Car olin e Gr ace Dow dy Coming from the small town of Kimberly, Alabama, Caroline Grace Dowdy is a girl with big dreams. Even at an early age, Caroline has always reached for the stars. Currently in her seventh year of dance and second year of voice training, she enjoys entertaining others and being on stage every chance she gets. Caroline competed in her first pageant at the young age of four and instantly fell in love with the glitz and glamour of pageantry. She enjoys the sisterhood pageants provide and cherishes the many friendships she has made. Pageantry has also provided Caroline with a strong work ethic which has transferred over to her academics. She is an honor roll student in the gifted education program at her school along with being a member of the Science Olympiad team and school safety patrol. Throughout her short life, Caroline discovered her passion for service and community involvement.She has led many charitable projects including diaper drives, foster children care packages, and toiletry collections for Ronald McDonald House. Her love of service inspired her to create the platform, ?Seeds of Light?. Through her platform she hopes to encourage children to get involved in their communities which will in turn make their communities stronger. Caroline wants children to see the importance of being involved and how fulfilling giving back truly is. Caroline believes that if she can help light the spark in just one child?s heart to make a difference then the possibilities are truly endless. Per son al Plat f or m Pr om ise Imagine a tiny little seed that grows into something bigger. Did you know that 2 out of 3 children who volunteer grow to become adult volunteers? I created my platform ?Seeds of Light? to encourage children to get involved in their communities. Growing up, community service has always been a big part of who I am. My faith and my family led me to serve so I hope by shining a light through volunteerism, it inspires others to do the same. As your Little Miss United States, I will show no matter the size of your seed, you too can make a difference. You too can be the light! In today?s world, more than ever, We need action We need compassion We need kindness And we need love. So, get out there, plant your seeds, and watch them grow!
M eet You r M iss Pr e-Teen Un it ed St at es-2020 Tiar ah Th or n t on
My name is Tiarah Thornton.I'm a 12-year-old native of West Virginia. I'm a 3-time USTA state tumbling champion, my school science fair winner, and the weather girl for our school?s news broadcast. I am very proud to be your 2020 Miss Pre-Teen United States. My platform is ?Hospice Care?which means so much to me after losing my dad to cancer while he was at a hospice house. My goal is to not only bring ease of burdens to those receiving end-of-life care but also smiles through ?Happy Thoughts? journals I have created for patients and their families. I enjoy spending my free time outdoors, often riding my horse or taking photos of nature.
Per son al Plat f or m Pr om ise Terminal illness affects over 500,000 people every year but only 14% of those people receive the end-of-life care that they need. Through losing my dad to pancreatic cancer, my family and I know first-hand the importance of hospice care and the way they are able to step in and relieve burdens not only for the patient but also their families in a way that no other organization can. As your queen, I am using my title not only to fundraiser for hospice but to promote the need for hospice care in every community across the nation. So, I invite you to join me in helping hospice by logging onto HospiceCare.Org to see how you can help in your own community. Because every person with a terminal illness deserves quality end of life care.
M eet You r M iss Ju n ior Teen Un it ed St at es-2020 Gr aceson Pu gh
Miss Junior Teen United States-2020, that?s me! Graceson Pugh. I?m a 15-year-old who loves every form of art, from designing and sewing things to sketching different figures. I am the baby sister of two older brothers Garrett and Gavin. Per son al Plat f or m Pr om ise My oldest brother Garrett was born with a heart condition and grew up as a patient at a children?s hospital. One out of every 100 babies are born with a heart condition each year, making it the most common birth defect in the United States. Over time, I met many children who have been affected by a heart condition. These experiences have inspired my platform, ?A Work Of Heart?. Through my platform, I will raise awareness and funding for children?s hospitals. Something as small as adding my own little sparkle to a homemade heart monitor bag to auctioning off my very own work of art! You can join me by donating, purchasing artwork, or even submitting your own piece for auction. I am so excited to support these children by adding a little sparkle to their journey.
M eet You r M iss Teen Un it ed St at es-2020 Haley Helm in Haley, a junior at North Dakota State University, in Fargo, North Dakota, is pursuing a Bachelor ?s Degree in Accounting with intentions of obtaining a CPA license. Haley has hopes of becoming a forensic accountant with the FBI one day. Born and raised in Brainerd, Minnesota, Haley learned her love for community and volunteering. She has been active in her community and has logged thousands of volunteer hours over the last several years and was even named Brainerd?s Youth Volunteer in 2018. Competing in the United States National Pageant system for 5 years, she has volunteered as Miss Teen Midwest, Miss Teen Baxter, Miss Teen Gull Lake, and Miss Teen Minnesota. She loves the United States system because of the dedication to service they stand for. Hearing that someone in your family has cancer, especially a child, can be hard even for a 14-year-old. Haley?s cousin was 7 years old and diagnosed with terminal brain cancer called anaplastic astrocytoma grade III (AA3) in 2014. Allison, Haley?s cousin, taught many so much. She had a heart of gold, she was loving, caring, funny, and out-spoken. At the end of her life, she still never complained about why she can't do what other kids could. That just shows how strong and brave she was. Ally's cancer turned into a glioblastoma the worst kind, in over 6-week period. She lost her battle on December 10th, 2016. Haley became passionate about advocating for childhood cancer awareness when her cousin was first diagnosed. She started ?Ally?s Wings?, a 501(c) 3 non-profit, that brings awareness to the lack of national research funding in the US for all childhood cancers. Ally?s Wings also makes tie blankets/care packages for kids battling cancer. Haley has a goal to deliver a blanket to all 50 states! As Miss Teen United States, Haley is excited to bring awareness to childhood cancer. Per son al Plat f or m Pr om ise Imagine hearing the words ?your child has cancer ?. Let that sink in. Although 43 families hear this every day in the US, childhood cancer still gets less than 4 % of our national research funding. Because childhood cancers are mainly genetic, research is crucial. Cancer took my 9-year-old cousin, Ally so, for me, this fight is personal. When I was 17, I called a lawyer and launched my own non-profit, Ally?s Wings. We raise research funds and provide tie blankets for kids with cancer. As Miss Teen United States, I plan to deliver a blanket to a kid with cancer in all of the 50 states and raise awareness of our national lack of research funding. If you would like to find out more information on how you can help you can visit ?allyswings.square.site? or reach out to me on social media @officialteenunitedstates
M eet You r M iss Un it ed St at es-2020 Tif f an y Rea Pageantry has been a part of Tiffany Rea?s life for the past 14 years and it has played a huge role in her development as an individual. Her passion is to serve others. Because of her work in pageantry, she has served over 1,400 hours of community service and has developed her own platform that promotes volunteerism through mentorship. Tiffany has received local, state, and national awards for her service, including two Gold Status President's Volunteer Service awards. In addition to her service work, Tiffany is a full-time, online student with Liberty University and is working towards her Bachelor ?s Degree in Criminal Justice - Crime Scene Investigation, with a minor in Psychology. Working in the Criminal Justice field has been a long-time dream of Tiffany's, as she hopes to work for the FBI one day. Her dream is to work in investigation and as a Victim Specialist. She has recently become an advocate for Human Trafficking and decided to become a volunteer with Operation Underground Railroad, which is an organization that fights to end modern day childhood slavery. When Tiffany is not working, studying, or competing in pageants she enjoys taking time to indulge in her favorite hobbies, such as cooking, baking, collecting vintage cookbooks, being outdoors, listening to crime podcasts and watching crime documentaries. She also enjoys going to Disneyland and playing with her rescued dog, Macie. Tiffany also comes from a large family where she is the youngest, and only girl, of five siblings. As Miss United States 2020, Tiffany plans on making the most of her year by volunteering in any way that she can. During the national pageant, Tiffany promised the judges that she would do the work throughout the year and work toward increasing volunteer and mentor participation. Per son al Plat f or m Pr om ise ?Please sit back, close your eyes, and visualize your greatest passions. What if I told you that you could utilize whatever you just imagined, in giving back? I am Tiffany Rea an d it is my mission in life to serve others.
M eet You r M s Un it ed St at es-2020 M an dy Pet er son
Hello! My name is Mandy Peterson, your reigning 2020 Ms. United States. I am currently a graduate student studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a future in adolescent counseling to aid in slowing the epidemic we are seeing among our youth with depression, anxiety and suicide rates. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression when I was fifteen years old. Left untreated I attempted suicide at 22 years old. That moment changed the trajectory of my life mission. I not only began my educational path in psychology and now clinical counseling but I also became an advocate. I have had the opportunity to speak across the country from a military base in Hawaii to the United Nations in New York. My advocacy comes from both a personal and professional perspective and I believe I can be the link in mental health reform and accessibility for all. As your Ms. United States, my mission has three pillars: to communicate with individuals and break the stigma surrounding mental health diagnosis, to educate individuals on a number of disorders in addition to symptoms and resources, and lastly to aid in bridging the gap in mental health care. Outside of school and work, I am a fur mom to a rescued pit-bull named Nala, future stepmom to an amazing five-year-old, and transitioning to being a vegan. In my spare time, the kids in the house keep me on my toes but I do love to cook and experiment with new recipes. Per son al Plat f or m Pr om ise According to the national health counsel, anxiety and depression screenings have increased by almost 400 percent EVERY DAY! As your next Ms. United States, I will continue to be an advocate for mental health awareness. Now, more than ever, our country needs a beacon of light and hope. As someone who has overcome both anxiety and depression, in addition to launching a career in clinical counseling, my advocacy comes from both personal and professional perspectives. A strong woman stands up for herself. An even stronger woman stands up for her country.
M eet You r M s Wom an Un it ed St at es-2020 Joan n a Tr ailov I am Joanna Trailov Ms Woman California. I am an inspired and intuitive teacher, mentor, and coach. Driven by good old fashion heart and soul, I have become a divinely driven and motivating fitness professional offering many opportunities to enhance personal growth from the inside out. The dedication it takes to have personal goals and internal motivation goes beyond physical training. With a certification in Sports Medicine and a specialization in Sports Performance Training and Corrective Alignment, I can create diverse movement patterns for my clients, providing function, strength, and balance. My truest love is our anatomy and the miracle of what our bodies do for us daily. As the creator of ?Mindful Nutrition?, I feel invested in teaching the importance of conscious cooking with the notion that ?Food is Medicine?. I believe in creating meaningful moments, learning what feels right for you, and how to rise after you fall. From competitive dance, collegiate cheer, triathlons, half-marathons, and currently as a World Fitness competitor, I have had my share of training and self-discoveries. None have broken me open more than the journey itself, rather than the destination. During the last 15 years, I have studied and practiced the Pilates repertoire with a specialization in dance. I am very passionate about teaching Pilates and have created some unique sequencing to execute such foundational movement with a creative flair. Teaching Pilates and the profound breath work within the repertoire was a gateway to move through the physical energy which lead me to path of healing. I have always intuitively been guided and it was a joy and a blessing to become a Master Reiki Practitioner. My hands just seem to know where to go in regards to physical and emotional healing, as well as, evoking the spiritual awakening. In the last 12 years, I have deepened my practice and continued my studies in yoga philosophies and Asana. One would say I am a student of self-study, life, and the magic of love. Yoga therapy and meditation has enhanced all of my clients and evokes vibrance through many healing modalities. It is remarkable to watch someone transform and step into their personal power. Experiencing that with someone is such a gift and gives to me as much as them. I have experience working with heart patients and cancer patients, rehabilitation, couples, prenatal, moms, dads, children, celebrities, NFL & MLB athletes, aspiring athletes, as well as the uninspired. The work remains the same, we are all doing it and when we realize that we become one. One heart, one love. My greatest work of all is being a mother of four beautiful children who teach me, open me, and give me new eyes to see from. I am woman, feel me roar... a friend, a love, and a student of life.... I am a Goddess I cry, I laugh, and learn through all of life's experiences...It is my beauty and what makes me humble. JLOVI am doing the work in this life with you...Right alongside of you. I don't preach...I practice, and every day is a practice...I am a Warrior. I am Light...I am Love...I am Soul...I am Honored. and... Exhale
Per son al Plat f or m Pr om ise: In the United States, every 9 seconds a person is abused 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men are sexually abused Most victims are left suffering and without support. How do I know this? Because my children and I are part of those statistics. As a survivor of domestic violence and abuse, I am grateful to share that through the power of love my family has healed. Our story is now a tool for transformation and can empower others to find the same strength to survive. While domestic violence and abuse are at an all-time high, this cycle stops with me! As the founder of ?iamlov?non-profit organization, it is my mission to feed the cycles of healing and break the cycles of abuse one heart at a time. Through the beauty of self-awareness, self-love, and natural healing we can all discover our wholeness. My platform is love.
M eet You r M r s Un it ed St at es-2020 Cait lyn Sch ollm eier My name is Caitlyn Schollmeier. I am a veteran of the United States Air Force, licensed nurse, doula, and reigning Mrs. United States 2020. I have a BA in Human Development and am currently in the process of applying to graduate school to become a certified nurse midwife. I have been married to my husband Matt for 6 wonderful years and we are currently expecting. We will be welcoming our twins in the early part of 2021. Despite only being 25 years old, I feel I have had the opportunity to experience and learn a lot. My husband?s spinal cord injury that occurred shortly after we got married, for example, served as one of many life lessons that has inspired a great deal of growth both personally and within our marriage. Beyond that, a major source of growth has come from engaging with my passion for women?s empowerment. I have spent the entirety of my adult life promoting and advancing the interests of women by advocating for more respectful and equitable treatment of women and mothers in the health care setting and broader community. In the military, I worked as a medic in women?s health clinics and labor and delivery units around the world. I have learned the tenets of respect and ethical treatment from some of the most thoughtful and empathetic maternal health providers in the field. I have witnessed the most beautiful parts of the childbirth experience. However, I have also seen sad or even ugly birth experiences often influenced by widespread and deeply ingrained flaws of the U.S. maternal health system. This is why my passion and my platform revolve around fixing this broken system and the first step in doing so is through education and awareness. Per son al Plat f or m Pr om ise Here in the United States we have the highest maternal mortality rate when compared to any other developed country. Beyond that, we are the only country, developed or otherwise with a steadily rising maternal mortality rate. That is why women today in our society are twice as likely to die in labor and childbirth as the women from the generation before them. The burden is not equally shared. Black and minority mothers are 3 to 4 times as likely to die as white women. With disrespectful treatment, lack of access to care, and over-medicalization as some of the root causes of these problems, it is my goal to spread awareness of these issues so that as a society we can combat this growing problem. Expecting parents deserve access to care and education that can allow them to protect themselves. Providing this education and working towards greater access are among my top priorities as Mrs. United States 2020.