I N T H E S P O T L I G H T
Eva Flis Ph ot ogr aph y
Eva Flis Ph ot ogr aph y
I N T H E
KRISTINA DECHEV I
am
deligh t ed
to
be
you r
M iss
Illin ois
Ear t h
2020.
Pr of ession ally, I am a dispu t e r esolu t ion par alegal. I also r epr esen t over 15 n at ion al br an ds acr oss t h e Un it ed St at es as a br an d am bassador an d social m edia in f lu en cer . I h ave a bach elor ?s degr ee in sociology an d cr im in al law an d ju st ice. Cu r r en t ly, I am a gr adu at e st u den t in in t er n at ion al r elat ion s an d diplom acy. I am n at ive-bor n Bu lgar ian w h o im m igr at ed t o t h e Un it ed St at es w h en I w as 8 year s old. I h ave lived in t h r ee dif f er en t cou n t r ies an d speak f ive dif f er en t lan gu ages. In m y f r ee t im e, I love t o t r avel. In f act , I h ave t r aveled t o over 20 dif f er en t
S
cou n t r ies. M y m ission as M iss Illin ois Ear t h is br in gin g clean w at er su pply t o u n der pr ivileged com m u n it ies an d edu cat in g ch ildr en on
P
developin g h abit s on w at er con ser vat ion . Th is year , I h ave r each ed 200 ch ildr en in edu cat in g t h em on t h e im por t an ce of w at er con ser vat ion . I h ave also volu n t eer ed over 400 h ou r s of
O T L I G H T
pr ovidin g su st ain able w at er su pply t o in dividu als in n eed in t h e cit y of Ch icago, IL.
" Wish in g ever yon e love, peace, & h appin ess t h is h oliday season . M er r y Ch r ist m as."
Ver a M or r is, Un it ed St at es of Am er ica?s M s. NC 2021
Joh n Her zog Ph ot ogr aph y
Ally Bow en Mrs. South Carolina, USA Elite Miss
Lu k e 2:9-11 NIV ?An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ?Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.?
Reven ge Face, Holt e Aver y
ON THE COVER Alexis Boyd Ph ot o by Abidin g Ligh t Ph ot ogr aph y
Cover M odel Alexis Boyd is f r om Yu lee Flor ida an d is t h e r eign in g Nassau Cou n t y Am er ican Teen . Alexis w ou ld lik e t o w ish you an d you r f am ily a h appy an d saf e h oliday season f illed w it h love. " I am w ish in g ever yon e a M er r y Ch r ist m as."
Lilli Yat es Delaw ar e Cou n t y PA Pet it e M iss Agr icu lt u r e USA
"At Ch r ist m as t im e, it is im por t an t t o r ef lect on w h at it m ean s. It is also t h e per f ect t im e f or an at t it u de of ser vice. An yt h in g you can do f or ot h er s, especially t h ose w h o n eed it , is ju st t h e r igh t t h in g t o do" " Th e Kin g w ill r eply, Tr u ly I t ell you , w h at ever you did f or on e of t h e least of t h ese br ot h er s an d sist er s of m in e, you did f or m e." M at t h ew 25:41
Cr ist ian a Reid-Th om pson USA Nat ion al M iss M ar ylan d Ju n ior Pr in cess k n ow s t h e h olidays ar e abou t givin g back t o ot h er s. Sh e h as collect ed m on ey t o pu r ch ase h at s an d gloves f or t h e h om eless, pr ovided f ood f or a f am ily in n eed, pr epar ed gif t s f or t h e Joh n Hopk in s Ch ildr en Cen t er , w r it t en car ds f or t h e elder ly, an d pr epar ed t h e sh oe boxes f or t h e an n u al Sam ar it an Pu r se Ch r ist m as Dr ive f or ch ildr en in t er n at ion ally.
Brooklyn Caesar America?s National Miss New York Jr. Teen I laid wreaths on veteran?s graves for Wreaths Across America. I also went shopping and hand selected toys to give to the local children?s hospital so they could have a Christmas.
Jor dyn n Hu ssk ison , Lit t le M iss of Am er ica 2021 h oliday ser vice pr oject s in clu ded dist r ibu t in g h er baked sw eet t o f ir st r espon der s, collect in g t oys f or Adopt a Fam ily an d Toys f or Tot s, an d a don at ion of 169 t ie blan k et s, t oys, book s an d Am er ican gir l dolls t o St Ju de?s in Peor ia. Jor dyn n is t h e f ou n der of t h e n on pr of it Blan k et s of Hope. Sh e loves doin g h er ser vice w it h h er best ie M ack en zie Lit t le M iss of Illin ois 2019-2020. Her f avor it e ser vice pr oject t h is year w as dist r ibu t in g h er bak ed sw eet s t o f ir st r espon der s.
Leía Ríos - M iss Wiscon sin USAA Pr eTeen Wr apped gif t s f or f am ilies in sh elt er s an d don at ed t oys f or M ilw au k ee Rescu e M ission .
An t oin et t e Kin g, Ph D, r eign in g Nat ion al USA Royal M s. an d t h e h on or ar y M s. Elit e Sou t h east Am er ica?s Un it ed St at es 2020 w as design at ed t h is year ?s ?Tow n Her o? f or t h e Village of Lak e Par k , a village in n or t h w est Un ion Cou n t y. Th e h on or w as best ow ed u pon h er by M ayor David Clevelan d. ?As an act ive m em ber of ou r com m u n it y, alon g w it h h er lar ger w or k t o en d t h e st igm a of m en t al h ealt h ,? said M ayor Clevelan d, ?An t oin et t e w as t h e per f ect ch oice f or ?Tow n Her o? ? especially t h is year .? Dr . Kin g lit t h e t ow n?s Ch r ist m as t r ee t o st ar t of f t h e f est ivit ies on Su n day, Decem ber 6 at 3801 Lake Par k Road, Lake Par k , NC. A con cer t an d ot h er act ivit ies cr eat ed t h e per f ect h oliday even t . For m or e in f or m at ion abou t Dr . An t oin et t e?s m en t al h ealt h plat f or m an d pr of ession al w or k , please visit w w w.An t oin et t eKin g.com an d @An t oin et t eKin gph d on In st agr am .
M y n am e is Par is Cou r t n ey Tit u s, an d I am t h e 2021 USA Nat ion al M iss M et r opolit an Pr in cess. Th is Ch r ist m as, especially given ou r cu r r en t sit u at ion w it h t h e COVID-19 Pan dem ic, it h as af f ect ed a lot of people f in an cially. I k n ow ch ildr en in n eed ar e af f ect ed even m or e. So, I w an t ed t o bu y t oys f or t h ese ch ildr en t o en joy on Ch r ist m as Day lik e m y br ot h er an d m e. It m ak es m y h ear t sm ile t o k n ow t h at I t ook par t in givin g t o Toys f or Tot s, m ak in g Ch r ist m as special f or ot h er ch ildr en .
M cKen zie St on e Nat ion al USA Royal M iss Pr e-Teen " I w ou ld lik e t o sen d ou t w ar m h oliday w ish es f or m y f am ily, f r ien ds an d local com m u n it y su ppor t er s. I w ish y ?all a saf e an d w on der f u l h oliday."
Scar let t De Wit t Fir st Lady In f in it y-V?by t h e Nat ion Nat ion als/ Un iver zV Or gan izat ion ? ?M ay t h e good t im es an d t r easu r es of t h e pr esen t becom e t h e golden m em or ies of t om or r ow ?. M er r y Ch r ist m as an d a Happy New Year !
BEYOND THE BEAUTY
" Have a saf e an d f u n h oliday season ."
Callie Noe Nat ion al USA Royal Lit t le M iss
?
Cr ist ian a Lyn n Reid- Th om pson 2020 USA Nat ion al M iss M ar ylan d Jr . Pr in cess ?Holidays t o m e ar e abou t givin g t o ot h er s.? -Ran dom act s of k in dn ess -Don at e t o you r local Salvat ion Ar m y -Pr ay f or ot h er s -Don at e t o Toys f or Tot s M ay 2021 br in g good h ealt h an d h appin ess t o all."
Am an da Fer gu son Ph ot ogr aph y
Syer e Vau gh n Hall USA Royal M iss Pr e-Teen
?I w ish ever yon e t h e best Ch r ist m as ever ! En joy lif e an d st ay saf e. We ar e all in t h is t oget h er .?
1 Tim ot h y 4:12 " Don?t let an yon e look dow n on you becau se you ar e you n g, bu t set an exam ple f or t h e believer s in speech , in con du ct , in love, in f ait h an d in pu r it y."
Photo by Shahgraphy
MODEL TAYLOR BARR
?No beau t y sh in es br igh t er t h an a beau t if u l h ear t an d even in t h e dar k n ess t h er e is joy."
Dr . An t oin et t e Kin g National USA Royal Ms. 2021 Ms. Elite SE America's United States 2020 Ms. Central Carolina Elite 2020
" I w an t t o w ish ever yon e a ver y M er r y Ch r ist m as! Th e year of 2020 h as been a ch allen ge t o ever yon e. Cou n t you r blessin gs t h is h oliday season an d ch er ish t h e t im e spen t w it h f r ien ds an d f am ily. I h ope ever yon e h as a saf e an d h appy n ew year !!! Love, Leah"
Teen M iss At lan t ic Ocean 2020
Ryan R. Nolan Ph ot ogr aph y
Photos by Benjamin Askinas
GWYN BRIDGES UNITED STATES OF AM ERICA WASHINGTON TEEN
TODAY' S INTERVIEW ON IGTV GET THE FULL INTERVIEWS
ERICA CARNEGIE HOST
Gw yn is an t eam called of dan ce a classes in t h eat er .
avid dan cer an d is on a com pet it ive dan ce Syn er gy Dan ce Com pan y. Sh e t akes 20 h ou r s w eek , likes all f or m s of dan ce an d t akes ballet , lyr ical, m oder n , jazz an d m u sical
CAREER AM BITION: Gw yn w ou ld love t o t ou r w it h a dan ce con ven t ion , t each an d do ch or eogr aph y. Th is w ou ld allow h er t o com bin e h er passion f or dan cin g, t each in g an d t r avelin g. FAVORITE QUOTE: ?Sh e believed Sh e Cou ld ? So Sh e Did! An yt h in g is possible. Dr eam bigly, believe in you r self , pu t in t h e w or k an d you can ach ieve you r goals!
@TODAYSINTERVIEW Q: Th r ou gh ou t you r t im e com pet in g in pagean t s, w h at do you t h in k is t h e m ost im por t an t lesson you h ave lear n ed? A: Th e m ost im por t an t lesson I h ave lear n ed is t h at you can m ake f r ien ds ever yw h er e! You can't close you r self of f becau se you t h in k som eon e m igh t be pr et t ier or t h ey h ave been com pet in g lon ger t h an you . Ever yon e is r eally n ice, an d it 's gr eat t o get t o k n ow ever yon e. Q: Wh at is you r plat f or m abou t ? Please t ell u s abou t you r goals. A: M y plat f or m is t h e Kit sap Hu m an e Societ y. I h ave alw ays loved an im als, an d w e h ave t h r ee dogs of ou r ow n . I t h ou gh t t h at if I can h elp ot h er dogs get adopt ed or in t o gr eat h om es, t h at 's som et h in g I w ou ld lik e t o be par t of . Q: You m en t ion ed t h at you w er e a com pet it ive dan cer . Can you t ell u s you r f avor it e st yles of dan ce an d h ow you get r eady t o com pet e? A: I com pet e w it h t h e Syn er gy Dan ce Com pan y, an d m y f avor it e st yles of dan ce ar e ballet an d con t em por ar y becau se t h ey ar e ver y dif f er en t bu t ver y beau t if u l. How I get r eady is w h en I'm back st age f or ou r solos or gr ou p dan ces, I go over m y dan ces in m y h ead, ju st br eat h e in an d ou t an d k n ow t h at if I m ess u p it w ill be ok ay becau se t h e ju dges don't k n ow t h e ch or eogr aph y. Q: Wh at advice w ou ld you give t o a you n g lady w h o is n ew t o pagean t r y? A: I w ou ld ju st say t o be t r u e t o you r self , an d t h e ju dges w ill love you f or w h o you ar e?
Yolan da St en n et t M r s. M ar ylan d Un it ed Wor ld 2021 Q: Lot s of people see t h e glit z an d glam of pagean t r y, bu t t h ey don't see t h e h ar d w or k t h at goes on beh in d t h e scen es. Wh at qu alit ies or per son alit y t r ait s do you t h in k ar e im por t an t f or a t it leh older t o h ave? A: I t h in k t h at t h ey n eed t o be h ar dw or k in g an d m ost of all, h u m ble. Th er e is a pagean t ou t t h er e f or ever yon e, so h avin g a st at e t it le does n ot n ecessar ily m ake you an in st an t celebr it y like you m ay h ave been 30 year s ago. So you h ave t o be h u m ble an d r ealize t h at w h at m akes you special is t h e per son you ar e, t h e gif t s you give t o t h e u n iver se an d h ow you pr esen t you r self . Ar e you a good per son ? Do you h ave a good ch ar act er ? Th ese ar e t h e t h in gs t h at m ake you special. Q: An ot h er par t of pagean t r y t h at a lot of h ar d w or k goes in t o, is t h e plat f or m sect ion . So, let 's t alk abou t you r plat f or m S.M .A.R.T. - a m en t or in g an d coach in g pr ogr am . Tell u s abou t t h at . A: So, I h ave been a m en t or an d coach f or all of m y adu lt lif e. It 's som et h in g t h at I st ar t ed becau se I r eceived som e r eally w on der f u l advice an d assist an ce f r om a m en t or w h en I w as a t een , an d t h e assist an ce f r om t h at per son r eally led m e t o w an t t o go in t h e sam e dir ect ion as I becam e an adu lt . I st ar t ed as a lif et im e at h let e, a ch eer leader an d a gym n ast , an d so t h at 's h ow I got in t o m en t or in g. I st ar t ed f r om t h e per spect ive of coach in g! A lot of t im es, as a h igh sch ool coach , you ar e spen din g t w o or t h r ee h ou r s a day w it h you r at h let es an d, t o be h on est , t h at 's m or e t im e t h an k ids spen d w it h t h eir par en t s, so you becom e alm ost like t h e secon d M om . So, I t ook t h at oppor t u n it y of bein g a good coach t o m old it in t o som et h in g a lit t le bit m or e -- let 's ju st n ot t alk abou t at h let ics, let 's t alk abou t you r n ext st ep. Wh at ar e you r lif e goals? How ar e you goin g t o get t h er e? Let 's plan ! Ar e you h oldin g you r self accou n t able f or t h e decision s you ar e m ak in g? Th in k sm ar t ! Q: You w r ot e abou t gain in g over 60 pou n ds af t er t h e bir t h of you r t h ir d ch ild, an d t h er e ar e so m an y M om s w h o st r u ggle w it h t h eir w eigh t af t er ch ildr en . How do you t h in k you can in spir e t h em or t ell t h em h ow you dealt w it h t h at ? A: It 's im por t an t t o k n ow t h at t h e n u m ber on a scale does n ot def in e w h o you ar e as a per son . How ever , you do, m ost t im es, h ave con t r ol over t h at n u m ber on t h e scale. For m e, I w as goin g t h r ou gh a t r an sit ion w h er e I ju st didn't r eally car e. I t h ou gh t , w h o is goin g t o see m e? I w or k f r om m y h om e an d I am n ot com pet in g in an y pagean t s, so w h o car es? Th at cou pled w it h som e h ealt h issu es, m edicat ion s an d t h eir side ef f ect s, I ju st r eally w asn't m an agin g w h at I w as eat in g ver y w ell. An d, t h en , lit t le did you k n ow , over a cou ple of year s, poof , I w as a w h ole dif f er en t per son , an d t h at m ade m e r eally dow n on m yself . So, I h ad t o t ake r espon sibilit y! I h ad t o do w h at I alw ays t ell m y m en t ees! :'You h ave t o t ake r espon sibilit y, Yolan da. You at e t oo m an y cu pcakes, so w h at ar e you goin g t o do t o f ix it ?' It w asn't abou t h avin g t o get t o a cer t ain size or n u m ber on a scale, bu t I h ad t o get t o a poin t w h er e I w an t ed t o look at m yself in t h e m ir r or an d n ot sh y aw ay. So, t h at 's w h at I t ell w om en . Ign or e t h at n u m ber on t h e scale, Ign or e t h at pan t size or t h e br a size n on e of t h at m at t er s. How do you f eel w h en you look in t h e m ir r or ? An d if you don't like w h at you see in t h e m ir r or , you h ave a h u n dr ed per cen t pow er s t o m ake t h at ch an ge, so ch an ge it !
CROWNS BRAND HIGHLIGHT SHE Or igin als is m y custom jewelry and accessories lin e w h ich w as of f icially st ar t ed in 2019. Th e n am e cam e f r om on e of m y m ost m em or able poem s t it led ?SHE?w h ich celebr at es w om en r ecogn izin g t h at t h ey ar e qu een s cr eat ed on pu r pose, f or pu r pose, an d w it h a pu r pose. Now t h at you k n ow h ow SHE Or igin als w as st ar t ed, let m e explain m or e abou t t h e Br ok en Cr ayon s collect ion . It st ar t ed w h en I r eceived a bask et of br ok en jew elr y f r om a bou t iqu e ow n er h opin g I cou ld do som et h in g w it h it . Well, I h ad n o idea t h at an en t ir e collect ion w ou ld be bor n f r om t h is gest u r e. Af t er a f ew days of look in g at t h is br ok en jew elr y, t h e ligh t bu lb cam e on . In st ead of t h in k in g h ow t o m ak e t h e pieces look t h e sam e, I cr eat ed n ew pieces. For in st an ce, a n eck lace br ok en in 4 places becam e a f ew pair s of ear r in gs an d a br acelet . Br ok en h oops becam e ear r in g st u ds an d br oach es w er e even m ade f r om m issin g st on es. Th e m essage I w an t t o r elay is ?br ok en cr ayon s st ill color ?. Have you ever f elt lik e you w er e n ot w or t h y becau se you w er e em ot ion ally br ok en , or cir cu m st an ces m ade you f eel lik e you w er e n ot beau t if u l? Rem em ber , you ar e n ever t oo br ok en w h er e you can?t becom e beau t if u l again . No m at t er w h at som et h in g look s lik e, as lon g as you ch an ge you r m in dset , you w ill look at it in a dif f er en t ligh t . For t h at r eason , each piece is u n iqu e an d t ells a st or y of on ce bein g br ok en an d n ow h avin g a pu r pose. SHE Or igin als Br ok en Cr ayon collect ion is per f ect f or pagean t qu een s w h ose plat f or m s ar e r ecyclin g, Goin g Gr een , w eddin gs, or an y occasion you w an t t o m ak e su r e is m em or able an d u n iqu e. As an added bon u s, I h ave par t n er ed w it h t h e Lu pu s Fou n dat ion of Am er ica?s ?M ak e You r M ar k ? f u n dr aiser w h er e 10% of each sale f r om Br ok en Cr ayon s w ill be don at ed. Th is is im por t an t t o m e as I am a 13-year lu pu s su r vivor . So n ow you see h ow m u ch im pact a bask et of br ok en jew elr y h as h ad ju st by ch an gin g m y m in dset an d r em em ber in g t h at ?br ok en cr ayon s st ill color ?. If you h ave br ok en jew elr y t h at you w ou ld lik e t o don at e, please con t act m e. You r jew elr y don at ion w ill ear n you a 10% cou pon t ow ar ds you r n ext pu r ch ase f r om SHE Or igin als. To don at e dir ect ly t o t h e M ak e You r M ar k ?Br ok en Cr ayon s? f u n dr aiser , please click t h e lin k in m y bio on m y social m edia pages. Feel f r ee t o em ail m e w it h an y qu est ion s or in qu ir ies. FB- SHE Or igin als IG- sh e_ or igin als Websit e- h t t ps:/ / sh eor igin als.sh op/ Em ail- ispeak @ch ocolat ef e.com Ph on e- 904- 878-POET
BEHIND THE BRAND - KATRINA TAYLOR
I am a w om an of m an y layer s, Pagean t Con t est an t , Bu sin ess Wom an , Spok en Wor d Ar t ist , M ot ivat ion Speaker , M u sician , Fou n der of a Non pr of it an d Au t h or I w an t lit t le gir ls t o k n ow t h ey can be an yt h in g t h ey set t h eir m in d t o. I even placed 2n d in t h e 40 plu s cat egor y of t h e 2020 M s. Fabu lou s Wom an Pagean t an d M ost Ph ot ogen ic. Now t h at I ju st t u r n ed 50, I am look in g f or w ar d t o par t icipat in g in t h e M s Sen ior Pagean t . On ce a lit t le gir l w h o h at ed h er r ef lect ion in t h e m ir r or , n ow a w om an w it h m u lt iple accom plish m en t s.
Photos by Abiding Light Photography
Ms Senior World Pageant New Queens
Photos by Legnar Ekim Photography
Sheree Koester ?Wh at t h is Pagean t M ean t t o M e? Th is is m y ver y f ir st exper ien ce at a pagean t ? ever ! I h ave been over w h elm ed at t h e k in dn ess an d gen er osit y of all t h e par t icipan t s, as w ell as, t h e pr of ession alism t h at Sh er r y St r ot h er an d h er t eam pr ovided t h r ou gh ou t t h e en t ir e pagean t . I h on est ly did n ot k n ow w h at t o expect as a f ir st -t im e par t icipan t , bu t h ave exper ien ced k n ow in g lovely w om en , w h ose beau t y n ot on ly sh in es on t h e ou t side, bu t is also sh ow n t h r ou gh t h eir h ear t s t o love an d ser ve each ot h er . I h ave exper ien ced t r u e f r ien dsh ips w it h ever yon e I h ad t h e pr ivilege of k n ow in g at t h is pagean t . I am a m u ch bet t er per son f or k n ow in g t h ese w om en an d bein g a par t of t h is w on der f u l even t . By t h e w ay, I w on t h e t it le of M s. Sen ior Wor ld 50s on m y f ir st appear an ce at t h is aw esom e even t . I look f or w ar d t o sh ar in g t h is exper ien ce w it h ot h er sen ior w om en over t h e n ext f ew m on t h s an d en cou r age t h em t h at n o m at t er w h at ou r age is, w e?r e n ever t oo old t o t r y som et h in g n ew !
?Wh y I Ch ose t h e M s. Sr . Wor ld Pagean t ? I did n ot h ave t h e pr ivilege of bein g r aised in t h e ?pagean t w or ld? w h en I w as you n ger . M y f r ien d, Alieen Br ady, in t r odu ced m e t o t h is pagean t ear lier t h is year .I m u st say t h at I w as ver y appr eh en sive t o t ak e h er ser iou sly becau se I h ad n o pr ior exper ien ce in t h e pagean t w or ld. Sh e gave m e t h e det ails an d said pr ior exper ien ce is n ot n eeded t o apply sin ce it is t h e f ir st year of t h e even t . Wh at specif ically cau gh t m y at t en t ion w as w h en sh e said, ?Sh er ee, it w ill be f u n ! You w ill m ak e lif e-lon g f r ien dsh ips w it h t h ese w om en .? Sh e w as r igh t on bot h accou n t s. Wh at a w on der f u l exper ien ce I h ad at t h is gr ou n dbr eak in g pagean t f or w om en in t h eir 50s, 60s an d 70s.
Dreisa Jordan Sherrill For over 40 year s, I h ave been in volved in all aspect s of t h e pagean t in du st r y. M y in t er est began in college w h en I f ir st com pet ed an d w on a local M iss Am er ica pr elim in ar y pagean t . Th at exper ien ce in t r odu ced m e t o a w or ld dedicat ed t o t h e developm en t an d em pow er m en t of you n g w om en . Alt h ou gh I on ly com pet ed f or 3 year s, I f ou n d t h at u sin g m y exper ien ce an d t alen t s t o h elp ot h er s w as w h er e I w as m ost su ccessf u l. Th e sk ills I lear n ed r egar din g com m u n icat ion , self -assu r an ce, st yle, an d poise im pact ed m y car eer su ccess dir ect ly. As a 62-year -old lady, I con t in u ally look f or w ays t o ch allen ge m yself . Com pet in g in t h e M s. Sen ior Wor ld Pagean t pr ovided a m ean s t o set per son al goals an d t o f ocu s on self -im pr ovem en t . As a n ew pagean t syst em , I saw t h e pot en t ial t o pr ovide leader sh ip an d a ch an ce t o h elp gr ow a n ew or gan izat ion t h at exh ibit s st r on g m or al valu es. ?Wom en Su ppor t in g Wom en? is t r u ly on e of t h e cor e valu es t h at is eviden t in ever y aspect of t h e pagean t . Wit h ou t dou bt . t h is h as t h u s f ar been on e of t h e best exper ien ces of m y lif e. I am excit ed t o spen d t h e n ext year in ser vice as M s. Sen ior Wor ld 60s.
Paula D. Lee Fir st of all, I h ave t o believe in m yself . I am a posit ive an d act ive sen ior r egar dless of w h at age I am . You h ave t o h ave a pu r pose in lif e an d k eep set t in g goals f or you r self . Th is is m y goal. I am blessed t o h ave t h is oppor t u n it y. It m ean s so m u ch t o m e. M y am bit ion is t o be a r ole m odel an d m ak e a dif f er en ce in t h eir lives. I w an t t o be able t o h elp r edef in e t h e sen ior w om an . Th is pagean t h as m ade m e f eel lik e a r ecycled t een ager . I also f eel w in n in g t h e covet ed t it le of M s Sen ior Wor ld h as been su ch an h on or , bu t it isn?t abou t t h e cr ow n or t h e ban n er . It is an obligat ion t o m ak e appear an ces an d t o pr om ot e t h e pagean t du r in g m y r eign . I am a self -st ar t er , ver y det er m in ed, an d I m ak e t h in gs h appen . I w ou ld t r y t o m ak e a dif f er en ce in t h e lives of sen ior w om en by en cou r agin g, em pow er in g, an d m ot ivat in g t h em . I em br ace each day w it h a sm ile an d a posit ive at t it u de. I h ave been a car egiver m ost of m y lif e. I h ad t w o beau t if u l special-n eeds ch ildr en f r om t h e Agen t Or an ge t h at w as spr ayed in t h e Viet n am War . M y h u sban d passed on e-an d-a-h alf year s ago. Get t in g m y lif e in or der , I m et t h is m ost in cr edible, posit ive, an d lovin g per son , Sh er r y St r ot h er w h o h as been a f abu lou s dir ect or . We developed su ch a special bon d bet w een u s an d I h ave a good f r ien d. Sh e h as been m y r ock , m y in spir at ion , an d m y r ole m odel. Sh er r y h as h elped m e in so m an y w ays. A t r u e f r ien d t o all of u s. It w as a gr eat exper ien ce t h at w ill develop in t o a lon g-last in g f r ien dsh ip. M y goal in lif e is t o be t h e best in w h at ever I do t o h elp an ot h er per son . I am blessed.
Renee Adcock As m y m in d goes back t o t h at Tu esday even in g on t h e beau t if u l M ississippi Gu lf Coast , I can h ear t h e em cee an n ou n ce t h e w in n er s of t h e M s Sen ior Wor ld Tit les f or t h e 50s, 60s, an d 70s division s. Sh er ee, Dr eisa, an d Pau la ar e all so beau t if u l, t alen t ed, an d w ell-spoken . Th ese ladies capt u r ed t h e spot ligh t an d t h e cr ow n s. How ever , w h en t h e em cee an n ou n ced t h e t it le of M s Sen ior Wor ld Leader sh ip 2021 an d called m y n am e; t h e su r pr ise, joy, gr at it u de, an d sen se of sh eer appr eciat ion t h at I f elt w as over w h elm in g! I en t er ed t h e M s Sen ior Wor ld Pagean t becau se t h e pagean t or gan izat ion as a w h ole align s w it h m y cor e valu es an d su ppor t s m in ist r y. Th is year , t h e pagean t r aised appr oxim at ely $3,000 t o sen d Bibles t o Th ir d-w or ld cou n t r ies- a w or t h y cau se t h at I em br ace. Du r in g t h e spr in g an d su m m er m on t h s of 2020 leadin g u p t o t h e n at ion al f in als in Biloxi, M S, t h e f ou r M s Sen ior Wor ld M ississippi qu een s t r aveled all over t h e st at e t oget h er pr om ot in g t h e M s Sen ior Wor ld Pagean t , sh ar in g ou r plat f or m s, par t icipat in g in com m u n it y ser vice pr oject s, visit in g w it h elect ed of f icials, an d volu n t eer in g. Th e f r ien dsh ips w e m ade t h is su m m er ar e f or ever et ch ed in m y h ear t . Th e door s t h e M s Sen ior Wor ld or gan izat ion h as open ed so f ar h ave been in cr edible. I can?t w ait t o see w h at is in st or e f or m e as t h e 2021 M s Sen ior Wor ld leader sh ip. Th e t ag lin e ?Wom en Su ppor t in g Wom en? is m or e t h an ju st a cat ch y ph r ase, it ?s a w ay of lif e in t h e M s Sen ior Wor ld cir cle of f r ien ds!
Congr atulations to Judy Shumaker for taking home the Ms Senior Wor ld Pageant Char m Cr own sponsor ed by Cr owns Magazine.
Alyssa Hagan Nat ion al USA Royal M iss Teen
" I w ish you all a ver y M er r y Ch r ist m as an d a t r u ly h appy an d h ealt h y New Year ."
Kat ia Ger r y Teen M iss Calif or n ia Ear t h " On e of t h e best gif t s w e h ave been given by God is t h e ear t h an d all of it s beau t y! So as you celebr at e you r gif t s, r em em ber t o k eep t h e ear t h clean . I w an t t o w ish ever yon e a M er r y Ch r ist m as.? Photo by Carlos Velez
WWW,CROWNSM AGAZINE.COM