09/04/2026
Today, we celebrate International Pageant Day. A day to celebrate women that I consider beautiful and powerful sisters. When I tell people that I am 46 years old and compete in pageants, I often get a questioning look, and at times, they even roll their eyes. Yes, you heard me correct my friend. I compete in pageants as a plus-size, married mother of three adult children at 46 years old.
I competed in the Americas United States Pageant system for the first time in 2024. The woman who had heard from society her entire life, “you aren’t worthy”, “you aren’t valued, “don’t get in the way”, finally mattered.
I could write a book about the positive impacts. But to keep it simple, for the first time in my entire life, the group of women I encountered, in every shape, size, age, and nationality, supported me just as I was. I made connections with women all over the world that truly pushed me to be the absolute best version of myself. They applaud my accomplishments, and then ask, “What’s Next?”
They know that I’m on a journey to becoming authentically the woman that God designed me to be. They also know that my mission is to bring other women along, especially by building a nonprofit organization called RE that works behind the scenes to encourage middle-aged women to pursue their dreams.
Again, we don’t have time for the entire story… but pageants led me to my sorority sisters, who love and serve one another in the most ferocious way.
One of my Sorors launched Leading Lady Network, and she invited me to be part of the first-ever group of Ambassadors…
The ripple from the first pageant is still going….
In July, when I compete again…well, that is nothing more than a family reunion. What truly matters to this pageant queen is being surrounded by light, love, and positivity from the woman in the room that I celebrate today.
This day highlights the evolution of pageantry from simple beauty contests into platforms of empowerment, intelligence, talent, and social advocacy.
