Breaking the Stereotypes on Pageantry

April 3, 2019

Elaine Ficarra

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Prepare great women for the world. Prepare the world for great women. - Miss America 2.0 Mission

Pageantry has given me confidence, poise, and the camaraderie of wonderful young women. The Miss America organization has also aided me in my successes at the STEM Academy. I am able to network, stay up-to-date on current events, improve my public speaking skills, grow in my singing abilities, and win scholarship money for college. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program has even aided me in my successes within pageantry, seeing that I have been able to utilize what I have learned in Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and my other classes and apply that learning to questions I answer during onstage pageant interviews. Similar to the ideas of Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), the Miss America organization highlights the importance of being active within our communities, volunteering, and aiding the less fortunate. Moreover, pageants are not archaic or against the feminist movement. Rather, pageants empower women.

As the reigning Miss Greater Reading 2019, I strive to represent what the Miss America organization tries to instill within young women: inclusiveness, confidence, intelligence, talent, and selflessness. Additionally, I have given the opportunity to promote a platform: Youth Empowerment and Spreading Awareness on Adolescent Depression (Suicide Prevention), as I believe in the importance of spreading awareness and the need for more research, support, and a more caring society.

Being a titleholder within the Miss America organization for the past couple of years, I have done my best to share the message of my platform and be of service to my community. I gathered 15 bags of winter clothing and accessories and donated them to a Philadelphia foster care last year. I sing at retirement homes in my area in hopes of putting a smile on as many faces as possible. I worked with a young girl named Gigi during the Pennsylvania Miss Amazing pageant (a pageant that provides opportunities for girls and women with disabilities to build confidence and self-esteem in a supportive environment). I was lucky enough to be Gigi’s buddy and help her and others see how beauty has no limits. As an instructor at United Sports Taekwondo, we teach the students the tenants of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. I work to help the kids obtain these qualities, and I get immense gratification to watch them become both physically and mentally stronger. I also became a part of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia by raising funds through hosting spaghetti dinner fundraisers. I even took a step in carrying out my platform in the Philippines. I visited Pugo Central National High School and Batad Elementary School, schools residing in some of the poorer areas of the country. I donated necessary school supplies and made an empowering speech.

Ultimately, with my title, I am able to share my aspirations, showcase my talents, and improve my abilities. Pageantry sets a positive precedent for young students all over the world on how to discover the best version of themselves. As I continue to grow as a person, setting my own goals to achieve my dreams, I hope to encourage other youth to pursue their own goals and their own dreams. As gratifying as it is to have my own successes, it is even more satisfying and special to help others do the same.