2 minute read
MISS SPACE CITY
Hello! I am Dee Dee James Kong, Miss Space City! I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, SD and in August of 2018, I moved to Denton, TX to pursue a bachelor ' s degree at the University of North Texas. My parents immigrated to the United States in 1995 from South Sudan. South Sudan has experienced decades of war and conflict, causing my parents to seek refuge and raise a family elsewhere. I know my life could have looked very different had my parents chosen to raise a family overseas so every opportunity I am afforded, I never take for granted.
Education has become extremely important to me over the years, so much so, I changed my major from Fashion Merchandising to Human Development and Family Science to obtain a teacher ’ s certification in Family and Consumer Science. Having worked as a substitute teacher throughout college and experiencing difficulties through my journey in higher education, I recognize a need for representation in our education system. While my plan for now is to teach once I graduate, I have higher aspirations to work in policy so that the public school curriculum is representative of the diversity of our nation.
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One organization that has helped support my scholastic ambition is the Miss Texas Scholarship Organization. I competed in my very first pageant my Freshman year of college for the 2019 Miss Phi Beta Sigma Pageant hosted by the Zeta Beta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. I was crowned Miss White 2019 (2nd Runner-Up) and decided that I wanted to continue competing. Three years later, I held the title of Miss Aubrey 2020-2021 at the 2021 Miss Texas competition and competed again in 2022 representing Space City.
While I was initially drawn to the scholarship opportunities, what I gained in return was so much more. The greatest lesson I learned is selfrespect and self-love. I realized that I do not need anyone ’ s permission to be the woman God designed me to be, all I need is the faith to believe. I have also learned that my legacy precedes me. Whether I walk away with a crown or not, I am still a winner because I have the ability to inspire girls for generations to come. That alone is enough for me to want to become the best woman I can be.
