So with at least two of my friends competing in Miss New York next weekend, and me starting to fundraise for National American Miss nationals this week, I figured a pageant related article was a great one for the week. When you hear the words "beauty pageant," what do you think of? Toddlers and Tiaras, makeup, fake tans and hairpieces, right? Well I’m going to change that. For the past four years, I’ve competed in a pageant called National American Miss, or NAM. Now I know some of you might be thinking “but she doesn’t look like a pageant girl!” and those of you who know me are probably like “but… she hates makeup!” Well, that’s just it. Not every pageant is the same and many of them, especially the natural pageants are nothing like what you see on tv shows and have very different values. When I first attended an open call five years ago, the first thing the director said was “this is nothing like Toddlers and Tiaras”.

On the NAM website, all you see are encouraging messages. Right next to the logo, (which is the first thing you see) are the words “growing confidence”. A slideshow right underneath has quotes that say “I Am…A girl with dreams,’ ‘friendly’, ‘hopeful’, ‘caring,’ etc.” Also, NAM only has three mandatory components. Formal wear, personal introduction and interview. No swimsuit, and other events like talent are purely optional. The younger girls are not allowed to wear any makeup at all. In the oldest competing division of teens are only allowed to wear light, natural looking makeup. Additionally, we have girls of all shapes, sizes and colors in NAM. Three years ago, one of the national queens had a disease that caused her legs not to work properly, and she had to use a walker. Regardless, she won not only the teen division in her state, but also a national title. This proves the fact that there is no such thing as a typical pageant girl in the NAM system. NAM is more focused on our inner beauty than what we look like on the outside, and that is one of my favorite things about it.

When I first started competing in NAM, I was extremely introverted. Over the past four years, I’ve gained confidence, interview skills, lifelong friendships, and learned that being myself is the best thing that I can do. I’ve always wanted to be in pageants, for as long as I could remember. Now that I’ve been competing in NAM and my confidence has grown, I plan on possibly even competing in Miss New York one day. I would have never believed I could seriously consider competing in such a large scale pageant if it weren’t for NAM.

Through NAM, I’ve learned that anything is possible if you keep trying and putting in the effort. During my first two years competing all I won were participation trophies. In 2014, I won Miss Personality for my division, as well as 4^th runner up in the Top Model optional contest, and ended up in the top 10 overall for my division. Last year, in my last year in the teen division, I won the top model and actress optional contests, second runner up for the Spokesmodel optional contest, and made the top 10. I later found out that I placed eighth overall, which is amazing. I’ve learned that hard work and determination will eventually pay off. This year, I applied for the miss division. I recently found out that I didn’t win the title, but I was one of the top five for my state, and therefore won a city queen title at nationals. As long as I can fundraise the money for a trip to California over Thanksgiving week, I will be competing for the title of National All-American Miss at NAM nationals 2016.

I found a quote on Pinterest that says “I AM, 2 of the most powerful words, for what you put after them shapes your reality.” I am a girl with dreams. I am confident, friendly, loyal and unique. I am a pageant girl.” No words could better sum up my experience with and passion for NAM.