All eyes are on her as junior Jora Miller walks onto stage at the Miss Kansas City preliminary competition to the Miss Missouri Teen competition on Sept. 2. Miller may be new to Kansas City, however, she’s not new to pageantry.
Pageants have been around for decades, rising in popularity in the 1950’s after the establishment of Miss. America. The success of the Miss America organization paved the way for a multitude of other organizations. Pageants are an opportunity for female students to earn scholarships and make a difference in their community. Students like Jora Miller and Lexi Jines are only two
of the girls at LHS to compete in these pageants.
“Pageantry is a scholarship opportunity, not just a beauty contest. It is not really about looks or how you walk; it is about who you are, what you stand for, and how you use your voice. For someone who feels stuck or in a rut, it can be an amazing way to open doors,” Miller said.
According to the Miss America Organization, “Each year Miss America, the 100+ year old iconic brand and competition event awards more than five million dollars in tuition scholarships to young women nationwide and millions more in-kind through local/state and national events.”
Jora is not the only girl in the running for have a chance to compete for a scholarship through various pageant organizations, sophomore Lexi Jines competes with the National American Miss organization.
“I’ve met so many new people and have made an impact to many younger generations through pageantry,” sophomore Lexi Jines said.
Pageants are not only a competition and scholarship opportunity, they can be a life changing opportunity for some girls who compete.
“I grew up in Montana, which is a huge state with a small population and not a lot to do. Over time, my mental health really declined and I now recognize that I was dealing with depression and anxiety. I turned to substances to try to cope, which led to one of the darkest periods of my life because I was damaging my body just to feel better,” Miller said.
Many contestants use the platform a title comes with to advocate for their experiences, Miller uses hers to advocate for Seatbelt Safety in honor of her late friend, Gavin McCombs. As well as advocating for Seatbelt Safety, Miller uses her talent “HER Story” to share stories of inspiring women and to prove that she is capable of anything if she sets her mind to it.
“The Miss America Opportunity is a big reason I got sober. I was introduced to it while I was actively struggling with addiction. A friend encouraged me to try it, and I went to an appearance where, for the first time in a long time, I had fun without substances. That moment helped me decide it was time to get sober so I could fully commit to this opportunity.”
Through pageants girls learn valuable life skills such as, public speaking, confidence and resilance, as well as social skills, disciple and goal setting.
“Pageantry has made a difference by simply just the girls, you definitely make lifelong friendships and it’s super awesome to have met friends from something both of you love. Another thing is speaking out for what I support and try to bring awareness to which is people who are less fortunate. I strive to make self care bags for those in need and go around supporting and helping others. This has made a huge difference in my life as I get to see tears, laughs, and love through just giving and helping people,” Jines said.
Pageants also provide a source of networking, opportunities and community involvement that span the entirety of their lives beyond pageantry.
“You’re not only signing up for the chance to win that crown and sash, but you’re signing up for life long friendships, new opportunities, and something that no matter the end results you should be proud of what you’ve accomplished on your way. Which is something a lot of the younger pageant girls I work with don’t quite understand,” liberty alumni Ava Shaw said.
According to Miss Collegiate USA, “participants develop a sense of self-assurance through preparation and performance, learn to handle both winning and losing, and may form lasting friendships with other contestants. Pageants can also foster community involvement and provide opportunities in related fields like modeling or acting”
https://missamerica.org/ (Miss America)
https://www.namiss.com/ (National American Miss)
