How did we get here?
In January of 2018 I saw a FaceBook ad for a local pageant in California. I had previously competed at Miss Teen USA back in 2013 as the first ever African American Miss Hawaii Teen USA. I loved pageants, but it had been almost five years since I competed and I didn't know if I could compete at the higher "Miss" level.
I agonized over the decision for a few days. My life was at a lull, I was unmotivated and thought pageantry was the spark I needed. I knew I had a dream of competing at Miss USA so I said yes to the local pageant, yes to competing at Miss California USA and yes to the possibility of competing at Miss USA!
I spent the next 13 months working towards what I would come to find was a toxic definition of success. Everything was defined by the crown. I focused on external factors I thought would get me there - my resume, my walk, my makeup - everything except who I was on the inside. After over a year of incredibly hard work, I placed 2nd Runner Up at Miss California USA. 2nd Runner Up out of over 70 women should have felt like an accomplishment but I was completely burned out. I felt like a crumbled up piece of scratch paper and was ready to throw myself out with the trash.
I felt like I had failed. Months went by and I still felt so broken. I knew I wanted a second chance but this time I was going to do it differently. In July of 2019, I decided to move home and compete for Miss Hawaii USA, I promised myself that this time I would focus on my own fulfillment. I was going to become the best version of myself in all aspects of life and that would be enough. I didn't care about winning the crown. Instead, I wanted to win myself!
I dedicated the next five months to my personal growth. I clarified my purpose, explored my why and discovered my strength. I implemented stress management practices, created self-care routines, and broke down self-limiting beliefs. Each step of the way I became more resilient and found power in my authenticity.
The morning of the Miss Hawaii USA Pageant, I woke up and knew that I. DID. IT. I had transformed into the best version of myself and whether I won the crown or not, it DID NOT MATTER because I had won what I had worked for - myself. That night, I not only walked away as the new Miss Hawaii USA 2020, but I also won the award for highest score in EVERY CATEGORY. Swimsuit. Interview. Evening Gown. I had radiated my best self from the inside-out and it impacted the judges. I stepped into my power and owned who I was. I was given a crown because I had become my own Queen.
That experience changed the way I view pageants, coaching, and everything in between. I am a mindset coach for women in pageantry. I empower my clients to step into their most confident, powerful, resilient selves so that they KNOW they are a Queen BEFORE they hit the stage!
Are you ready to transform into the Queen you are destined to be?
I agonized over the decision for a few days. My life was at a lull, I was unmotivated and thought pageantry was the spark I needed. I knew I had a dream of competing at Miss USA so I said yes to the local pageant, yes to competing at Miss California USA and yes to the possibility of competing at Miss USA!
I spent the next 13 months working towards what I would come to find was a toxic definition of success. Everything was defined by the crown. I focused on external factors I thought would get me there - my resume, my walk, my makeup - everything except who I was on the inside. After over a year of incredibly hard work, I placed 2nd Runner Up at Miss California USA. 2nd Runner Up out of over 70 women should have felt like an accomplishment but I was completely burned out. I felt like a crumbled up piece of scratch paper and was ready to throw myself out with the trash.
I felt like I had failed. Months went by and I still felt so broken. I knew I wanted a second chance but this time I was going to do it differently. In July of 2019, I decided to move home and compete for Miss Hawaii USA, I promised myself that this time I would focus on my own fulfillment. I was going to become the best version of myself in all aspects of life and that would be enough. I didn't care about winning the crown. Instead, I wanted to win myself!
I dedicated the next five months to my personal growth. I clarified my purpose, explored my why and discovered my strength. I implemented stress management practices, created self-care routines, and broke down self-limiting beliefs. Each step of the way I became more resilient and found power in my authenticity.
The morning of the Miss Hawaii USA Pageant, I woke up and knew that I. DID. IT. I had transformed into the best version of myself and whether I won the crown or not, it DID NOT MATTER because I had won what I had worked for - myself. That night, I not only walked away as the new Miss Hawaii USA 2020, but I also won the award for highest score in EVERY CATEGORY. Swimsuit. Interview. Evening Gown. I had radiated my best self from the inside-out and it impacted the judges. I stepped into my power and owned who I was. I was given a crown because I had become my own Queen.
That experience changed the way I view pageants, coaching, and everything in between. I am a mindset coach for women in pageantry. I empower my clients to step into their most confident, powerful, resilient selves so that they KNOW they are a Queen BEFORE they hit the stage!
Are you ready to transform into the Queen you are destined to be?