2013 Miss Teen Princess Louisiana Pageant

Had a blast judging the 2013 Miss Teen Princess Louisiana pageant in Shreveport, Louisiana this past weekend!

LOVED the pageant theme, "Head over Heels"!

 

Partnered with the Historical Society of North Caddo, the Miss Teen Princess Louisiana Scholarship Organization is a non-profit, 501(c)organization that strives to empower young women to achieve their
personal and academic goals.

 

The Teen Princess Louisiana Scholarship Organization requires each contestant to choose a cause about which she is passionate and that is of significance to her.  During her reign, Miss Teen Princess Louisiana uses her title to address community and civic organizations throughout the state regarding her community service issue.

With fellow judges Mrs. Texas America 2010 and Mrs. Arkansas America 2013.

Together with an esteemed panel of pageant royalty and community leaders, I think we selected the best ladies to represent the organization!

Emily Elizabeth Dillon was crown Miss Teen Princess Louisiana 2013

 



Big, BIG congrats to the new titleholders! Pre-Teen Princess Louisiana Aryn Spikes, Junior Teen Princess Louisiana Mackenzie Hinderberger, and Teen Princess Louisiana Emiley Dillon. Special congratulations are in order for Courtney Rachal and McKenzie O'Neal, who were runners up in the teen division. You gave a spectacular performance!

Still Seeking Your Support!

Seeking corporate or personal sponsorships to cover (or contribute to) the following expenses! All levels of sponsorship will be published via social media. Thank you all for your support!

 

SILVER SPONSORS

*Pre-Departure Hair - $250

*Pre-Departure Beauty - $200

GOLD SPONSORS

*Hotel - $300

*Hair Styling Services/Makeup Application for Competition - $375

 

 

Alumna to represent state in Miss International pageant - lsureveille.com : Entertainment

Big thanks to Amber Mason of the Reveille for this great article! Proud to represent Louisiana and LSU at the pageant!

Alumna to represent state in Miss International pageant - lsureveille.com : Entertainment

Seeking Platinum Sponsors!

Seeking corporate or personal sponsorships to cover (or contribute to) the following expenses! All levels of sponsorship will be published via social media. Thank you all for your support!

 

SILVER SPONSORS

*Pre-Departure Hair - $250

*Pre-Departure Beauty - $200

*Opening Act Wardrobe (Mandatory) - $200

GOLD SPONSORS

*Airfare - $300

*Hotel - $300

*Hair Styling Services/Makeup Application for Competition - $375

PLATINUM SPONSOR

*Ad Page for NATIONAL PROGRAM - $800 - $1,000

This is mandatory for all contestants and can be either 1/2 page or 1 full page. This financial deadline is MAY 1, 2013

VOTE TODAY!

Online voting has begun for the 2013 Miss International contestants! The winners will receive half of all money raised from online voting, while the other half of the proceeds will be donated to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Movement! Be sure to vote for your favorite contestant (ME!!) TODAY!!

 

Here's the link: http://www.miss-international.us/voting.php?id=504

Miss Louisiana International 2013 Announces Platform

Every time I do a speaking engagement on education, I always start with this: "I am a first generation college graduation, and I am living, walking proof, that getting an education matters."

Why start with this?? I want people to truly understand they are not limited by history or by their circumstances. No, my parents did not go to college. Yes, they have careers, but it's definitely not where they would be had they been to college. With my Masters of Public Administration I work as a Legislative Analyst for the Louisiana House of Representatives. More importantly, I AM EXACTLY WHERE I WANT TO BE in my career.

As Miss Louisiana International 2013, it is my duty to promote the need for improving educational outcomes for young girls and women. Education is important for everyone, but it is especially significant for women. Educational achievements for women have ripple effects within the family and across generations. My platform was nationally published in USA Today last year, but this time around I've decided to fine tune it and focus on GIRLS:

1. Ensuring girls are enrolled in Pre-K, as research shows Pre-K enrollment leads to higher academic success well into adulthood.
2. Improving K-12 performance in young girls, as poor academic preparation is the #2 reason college freshman do not return their sophomore year.
3. Informing young women of the power they hold legislatively and ensuring they take part in the "politics of education" by becoming aware of how they affect education policy.

This is my mission for my reign as queen and something I intend to continue as Miss International if crowned queen. I am proud to be a voice for something so important in Louisiana and nationwide.

The Cinderella Project of Baton Rouge

The 2013 Dress Giveaway is finally here! If you didn't know, I am the state spokesperson for The Cinderella Project and very proud of it! Every young lady deserves to attend their high school prom and create memories that will last a lifetime!

Throughout the year, the Cinderella Project collects donated evening gown from individuals and retailers in the Baton Rouge community in preparation for the giveaway.

We will host our Annual Dress Giveaway from 8:30am - 4:pm THIS SATURDAY at the Louisiana State Police Headquarters Cafeteria located at 7901 Independence Blvd in Baton Rouge.

Students must bring their high school ID and a female parent or guardian over the age of 18 with them. Students do not need to provide proof of financial need; eligibility for a free prom dress is on the honor system.

To ensure a respectful, organized shopping experience, each student will be paired with a volunteer personal shopper who will give her through the dress inventory....we have over a thousand dresses this year! We'll also have my favorite 225 Fashion Contributor and Poshactivity blogger Candra-Eloise Burges to help "wardrobe" the young ladies to ensure their gown is the perfect fit for them!

While students wait in line to enter the Dress Giveaway, they will have the opportunity to visit an "Empowerment Expo" of booths providing information on a range of relevant topics including healthy lifestyles and college planning.

Education is the dress that never goes out of style. Hosting this year's Empowerment Expo is part of out long-term goal of establishing The Cinderella Project as a trusted community resource - not just about free prom dresses, but so much more. We want to provide information that will empower high school women to make smart choices about their future.

The Baton Rouge Go Red For Women Luncheon

On February 22, 2013, I had the honor of attending my second Go Red For Women Luncheon in Baton Rouge and modeled in the Go Red Fashion Show with fashions from our amazing partner Macy's.

Aside from the fashion show, I am on the speaker's bureau of the Capital Area American Heart Association, so I spoke on their behalf to media and groups throughout the day about the fight to end heart disease and why it is so important to me to do my part to make a difference.



With the Baton Rouge General crew playing games!

WBRZ's Sylvia Weatherspoon

My amazing gown for the fashion show from Macy's

The luncheon was a phenomenal day jam-packed with stories of heart disease survival and ways women can do their part to end heart disease. If you've read by previous blog post about the American Heart Association being the top fundraiser for actual medical initiatives to end the disease, then here's another fact for you: The 2013 Go Red For Women Net Fundraising =  $342,000!! That is AFTER expenses!

I am beyond proud to be a voice for the American Heart Association Across the state of Louisiana and nationwide and I hope each of you take the time to familiarize yourself with the organization and what it stands for. Heart disease is the Number 1 killer of women nationwide, and we're fighting to end that!

See more pictures of the luncheon, the auction, and all the fun and games of the day on the Baton Rouge General Facebook page

Next Go Red Events for me?? The Capital Area Heart Walk on April 13! And the Southwest Louisiana Heart Ball in May! Get your heart walk team together now!

My Experience at HOPE Ministries Food Pantry

Like people many, I donate food every year in those large Baton Rouge Food Bank bins. And like many people, I don't know what happens to the food from there, or who my decision to donate will impact.

Yesterday I found out. Around Christmastime as I was looking for volunteer opportunities I came across HOPE Ministries online. I sent an email asking to volunteer in any capacity that week in their food pantry. Although there was nothing available that week, the Supervisor of Volunteer Services Joseph Sergio emailed me back with dates and volunteer hours, I finally was able to schedule a date to volunteer. The pantry operates 9am - Noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

When I arrived at HOPE Ministries and saw people waiting outside, I can say I was a little nervous about what Joseph would have me doing, but he showed me around and introduced me to his staff...who was great!....and gave a rundown of their daily operations.

The pantry at HOPE Ministries is a "Client Choice Food Pantry", meaning those in need are allowed to come through the pantry and "shop" the shelves, instead of just being handed a box of food at the door and sent on their way. Those living in the 70805 zip code must provide proof of income and the names and birth dates of all members of the household to determine eligibility and each client is allowed to shop only once a month. The pantry serves the first 30 people in line.....explaining the line I saw out front....Giving clients the opportunity to select their own items based on what they know they need in the household not only reduces waste, creates an atmosphere of dignity for clients by enabling them to shop in a grocery store-like setting.

Stocking the shelves 

After meeting my fellow volunteers...several college students (two of which drive over an hour to volunteer)....we stocked the shelves with the food items that were to be given away and then we selected the part of the pantry we wanted to work. With the pantry set up like a grocery store, produce, meat (frozen), bread, canned vegetables, we were each able to chose a section. Because I had stocked the canned green beans and new potatoes, I chose that section. As a client came around with their basket, I helped them select and bag their items. They were given choices like canned pork or tuna, green beans, soups, and peas or red beans. 

The pantry also had a large selection of pastry items and chips to give as well.....this was also the part that troubled me. Each client was given a choice of ONE can of vegetables from each of the four shelves I was working, but they were also given four pastry items....large items, like a dozen cupcakes or cookies. So clients were indeed given their four cans of veggies, but also could leave with four dozen cupcakes. As I walked clients through the pantry and helped them make selections, you could not help noticing MOST were Black and many were in poor health. Although these were people who have little income, I feel that shouldn't equate to poor diet or nutrition. I just felt helpless....like we could and should be doing more for them... 

With 75% of the food at the pantry coming from the Baton Rouge Food Bank, the remaining comes from donations from individuals and area churches. The pantry is forced to give what they have, when they have it, and clients must make their monthly selection from that. I want to find new ways to help the pantry continue to give more food to clients....but more of the right food.

Volunteers and Pantry Staff

How can you help?? Donating to the food bank or directly to the pantry is not just important throughout the holiday season! You know those Baton Rouge Food Bank bins??? Why can't we see more of them year round?? I know at the Capitol ours pops up only around the holidays. I want everyone to take the time once a month to donate, and think about what you're going to give...veggies, produce, rice, bread, cereals, etc. The pantry even accepts toiletry items and BABY FOOD...which they have a shortage of.

My experience yesterday was truly humbling and allowed me to experience what many in Baton Rouge face daily: wondering where their next meal may come from. I hope to continue my work with the pantry and helping those in need, I hope you all would take the time to do the same.

Contact HOPE Ministries today and see how you can get involved!

HOPE Ministries

 4643 Winbourne Avenue

Baton Rouge, La 70805

225.355.0702

Queens Fighting For A Cure

This past weekend I had the honor to serve as a judge for the Miss Louisiana Queen of Hope Pageant. Founded in 2005 by Allison Ravare-Augustine after she lost her aunt and husband to cancer, the pageant is a major fundraiser for the local American Cancer Society.

I traveled to Marksville, La and stayed the night at Paragon Casino where the pageant was to be held. After an early morning start with interviews we began the on-stage portion of the competition sometime after lunch. I can honestly say I have never been part of a more organized organization/pageant as Miss Louisiana Queen of Hope!

The newly crown Miss, Ms, Teen, & Grandma Louisiana Queen of Hope with the traveling queens



Miss Louisiana Queen of Hope 2012 Sheena Long with the Miss contestants

It was also great to see more than 75 traveling festival and pageant queens that came out to support the event!

I had a blast and was glad to lend my pageant expertise to select the queen! Check out their website here!

The Countdown Is On!

The countdown to National Wear Red Day is on! This year The American Heart Association celebrates 10 YEARS of going red!

In 2003, the American Heart Association faced a challenge; ardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an “older man's disease.” To dispel these myths of heart disease as the No. 1 killer of women, the American Heart Association, along with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute created National Wear Red Day® to raise awareness of this critical issue. Each year, on the first Friday in February, millions of women and men come together to wear red, take action and commit to fighting this deadly disease.

One year later, in 2004, the AHA also created Go Red For Women - a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health as well as band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges women to know their risk for heart disease and use the tools that that Go Red For Women provides to take action to reduce their personal risk.

 

Tell me, how will you Go Red this year?!

 

Miss Louisiana International 2013 Is Looking For Sponsors!

I'm so proud to say that I have a tremendous support base helping me get ready for the 2013 Miss International Pageant in July 2013! Now that I am almost done raising my initial pageant fees, it's time to focus on what I need for the actual pageant itself.

I would be honored if you or your business will assist me through sponsorship. I am seeking donations of any amount, whether the sponsorship is monetary or services rendered, such as fitness training or beauty services.

Getting your business to sponsor me does have perks! Speaking engagements, event appearances, or advertising! Shoot me an email to chat about this!

Here's the breakdown:

• Flight Accommodations to Chicago, IL (Valued at $350)
• Hotel Accommodations for Pageant Week, July 21-27, 2013 (Valued at $550)
• Fitness or Opening Outfit Wardrobe (Each valued at $250)
• 2013 Miss International Souvenir Program Ad ($800 for half-page, $1000 for full-page)

Please email or comment below to receive my official sponsorship packet. It's simple and easy! You have the option of making a donation for your desired amount, or sponsoring something more specific from the options above!

Checks/Money Orders can be mailed to my pageant mailbox at P.O. Box 44453, Capitol Station, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.

Secure online payments can also be sent here (subject to small Paypal transaction fee). Or I can issue you a secure Paypal invoice (No fees).

Thank you all so much for your continued support of my goal to become Miss International 2013!

Know Your Heart Organizations!

Many national pageants have a platform they also require contestants, and ultimately the queen, to promote. As a pageant queen it is important to know the difference between organizations, including their mission statements, funding sources, and target audiences! Make sure you're promoting the right organization that your national pageant is affiliated with!

I have had the honor to be apart of two national pageant organizations, both choosing to focus on heart health for women: The Heart Truth Campaign of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and Go Red For Women of the American Heart Association.

As Miss Black Louisiana USA 2012, I was the voice of The Heart Truth Campaign of The National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).  The institute is part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). To make women more aware of the danger of heart disease, the (NHLBI) and partner organizations have formed this campaign to give women a personal and urgent wake up call about their risk of heart disease. The campaign is especially aimed at women ages 40 to 60, the age when a woman's risk of heart disease starts to rise. But its messages are also important for younger women, since heart disease develops gradually and can start at a young age-even in the teenage years. Older women have an interest too—it's never too late to take action to prevent and control the risk factors for heart disease. Even those who have heart disease can improve their heart health and quality of life. The Heart Truth Campaign leads the nation in a landmark heart health AWARENESS movement which is embraced by millions with the common goal of improving heart health for women.

Now, as Miss Louisiana International 2013, it is my duty to promote and partner with the Go Red For Women movement of the American Heart Association (AHA). To dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of women, the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women – a passionate, emotional, social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health in 2004. Go Red For Women encourages awareness of the issue of women and heart disease, and also action to save more lives. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power women have to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. In 2010, the American Heart Association set a strategic goal of reducing death and disability from cardiovascular disease and strokes by 20% while improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% by the year 2020.

So what's the difference between the two??

Scientific research is and always has been the cornerstone of the American Heart Association's mission. Research provides knowledge that leads to lifesaving treatments and cures, thus making the organization a leading FUNDING source for advances in heart health. The organization has funded more than $3.3 billion in lifesaving cardiovascular research, second only to the federal government. The American Heart Association's scientific statements, guidelines, and medical publications are the most authoritative sources in the field.

A united front...By working together to advance this important cause, the American Heart Association, NHLBI, and other women’s health groups will have a greater impact than any one group could have alone. The NHLBI introduced the red dress as a national symbol for women and heart disease awareness and the American Heart Association adopted this symbol to create synergy among all organizations committed to fighting this

cause.

I am honored to serve the American Heart Association throughout the state of Louisiana on their Speaker's Bureau. Today I met with the capital area events coordinator to begin planning appearances throughout my reign as Miss Louisiana International 2013, including the National Wear Red Day ad that I posed for today! Look for it soon in a mailbox near you! Want me to speak at your event about heart health?? Shoot me an email.

The American Heart Association celebrates 10 years of Going Red by Wearing Red on February 1, 2013!

2012 LSU Holiday Celebration

I had the honor of attending the 2012 LSU Holiday Celebration at the URec. Following the annual tree lighting ceremony in front of the clock-tower, the URec was packed with children and family ready to meet Santa. Here are a few pictures!

Was excited to tell the Marines my birthday is the same as the USMC anniversary! Looking forward to doing some work with the local Toys For Tots campaign with the Marines!

The lovely LSU Gammas!

With LSU Student Government President and newly crowned Homecoming King, Taylor Cox

With Santa! Hope I'm in the good book this year! (Fingers crossed)

Our Fixation With the "Princess" Genre



At 28 years old, I can say I grew up with Disney princesses. We were first in line to see Jasmine, Ariel, and Belle, and I of course I wanted to be just like them. I was even elated when Disney had it's first African-American princess Tiana.

The Disney Princesses have come under a lot of scrutiny for being lovely but helpless (with the exception of who?? Mulan maybe?) lasses waiting for princes in shiny armor to free them from some form of oppression showing how these women can only become who they're destined to be with the help of a man. This Princess culture is so dominant that the bridal boutique Alfred Angelo even has a line of Disney wedding gowns for those wishing for their special day to really look like a fairytale.

With Disney slowly bowing out of the prince-saving-the-princess-while-singing-a-great-song-genre, enter Pixar with it's amazing visuals and story lines with the likes of Toy Story and Cars.

Seventeen years in the game and Pixar finally has a female protagonist and her name is Merida from the movie Brave.

The film's overall theme is Changing Your Fate, that's true enough and stated pretty much throughout the film, but Merida also learns how to accept responsibility and the consequences her actions as an underlying theme to the story...which I'm all in favor of! I love that Brave shows that a girl's value is not in her femininity and having a man "save" her, but in the choices she makes for herself. Young girls need a role model that shows they don't have to live with the cards that are dealt by someone else and can make a positive change in their lives by their own actions, something little boys have grown to see on TV quite often.

Being the first, the movie has opened itself up to a slew of feminist stances. Why??? Because it's still a princess-y genre.  Set in medieval Scotland, where Merida has just come of age and her mother is preparing to marry her off to any of three candidates from the other clans, this movie is not a fairy tale romance. The story is about the tradition intended to keep the peace among clans with a history of warfare, and therefore making it’s Merida’s duty to marry, which she outright objects. Although this is the first movie to acknowledge the political ramifications of marriage...this is also the part I'm not too crazy about.

Are we failing girls by continuing to make heroines princesses?? Even though many would think, it's just a cartoon movie for children, it's obviously so much more. Looking back at Pixar's track record of heroes we have a cowboy (Toy Story), a rat (Ratatouille), a green ogre (Shrek), and a fish (Finding Nemo). With Brave being the first movie to have a female lead just shows us that movie makers are still struggling to tell a story about a girl without making her a princess....and a human at that.

Please don't think I'm hating. I don't think the movie is a failure at female empowerment...I LOVE the movie and what it stands for with its constructive message of leading your own journey. With positive female role models in the media being hard to come by, this film is a step in the right direction to leveling the gender disparity in the media. I just want to see more Mulans and Meridas in cartoons going forward without them being princesses from far away lands.

How Brave measures up against Disney princess culture...I'll let you decide if these are good or bad traits:

1. Merida has both parents in her life. So many Disney princess only have one.
2. Unlike many Disney princesses, Merida struggles with the relationship with her Mother, instead of her Father as is the case with Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Jasmin (Aladdin), and Mulan (Mulan).
3. The character of Merida is already confident, brave, and sure of herself. So instead of spending the movie "finding" herself and coming to the realization of how amazing she is, she spends the movie working to convince others of this, not herself.
4. Like Mulan, Merida is an "action princess"...sword wielding, cliff jumping, arrow throwing, you get my point.
5. Like many fairy tales, Brave also has an evil witch character that the protagonist makes a deal with. Unlike Ariel (The Little Mermaid), who makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula for her own soul, Merida makes the deal with her Mother's soul, changing her into a grizzly bear. Shaking off responsibility much???

What's your take on this?? And where do you see the future of cartoon heroines going??
P.S. I'm so glad that some pageant systems like Miss International and Miss Black USA are doing their part to showcase women with brains AND beauty...I think this is also a step in the right direction!

Miss Representation

I am so excited to announce that I am a Louisiana Social Action Rep for MissRepresentation.org! What is Miss Representation?? 

Miss Representation is the award-winning documentary film that exposes how mainstream media contributes to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman or girl to feel powerful herself.

Here's the trailer!

MissRepresentation.org is the social action campaign of the documentary film. Its mission is to shift people’s consciousness, inspire individual and community action, and ultimately, transform culture so everyone, regardless of gender, can fulfill their potential.

As a Rep for Louisiana, it is my duty to not only use social media to help girls tell their story, but to be active in the community to influence change.

MissRepresentation.org is a call-to-action campaign that seeks to empower women and girls to challenge limiting labels in order to realize their potential, and to encourage men and boys to stand up to sexism.

Right now, I am working to organize a screening of the film, hopefully at LSU. I have reached out to It Only Takes A Girl activist Gabriella Runnels for her take on how/where I can get this done...there's some licensing to be done to show the film publicly...

Sooooo my work begins! I'm thankful to this campaign for adding new dynamic to my platform! Originally I just wanted to educate women, which is what we're aiming to do with The Cinderella Project, but with Miss Representation I can also help them understand why they need to be leaders, and why they should speak about disparities in education, leadership roles, and the workplace and how the MEDIA affects this. I love these two groups and glad to be working with them both!

Want to get involved in Louisiana?? Shoot me an email and let's chat it up about how you can help me make a community impact! There's much to do! MissLAIntl2013@gmail.com 


Ash

Blanket Brooklyn!

Team Happy Foundation and I encourage everyone to send warmth, comfort and love - from the Big Easy to the Big Apple. For more information:http://BlanketBrooklyn.org

The Politics of Education

As your Miss Louisiana International 2013, it is my

responsibility to inform citizens of The Politics of Education. 

Many constituents are unaware that laws made at the state 

level greatly affect educational programs. As part of my 

platform, I would like to convey the need of voter 

participation in the community. Please join me on my 

journey to the crown by helping me promote my platform 

throughout the state. Please DONATE TODAY to help me 

make an impact! http://fnd.us/c/bMps9

Want to improve education? Start with WOMEN. Here's my approach...

I am more than just a pageant queen. I am on a mission to improve education in the state of Louisiana.

As Queen I Intend to Lead The Fight:
Education is important for everyone, but it is especially significant for young girls and women. Educational achievements for women can have ripple effects within the family and across generations.

The Correct Approach:
A woman’s progression toward a college degree starts long before she steps on a college campus.

1. Pre-K: High quality pre-school programs have long lasting effects by improving student outcomes well into adulthood. I will strive to inform mothers of the importance of early childhood development for their daughters.
   
2. The need for sustained support throughout a child’s K-12 years is imperative to their future higher educational success. I will focus on finding ways to ensure our young girls are prepared for college through mentoring programs & college-prep courses.

3. The Politics of Education: Many constituents are unaware that laws made at the state level greatly affect educational programs. As part of my platform, I would like to convey the need of voter participation in the community.

The Impact

As Miss Louisiana International 2013, I:

Serve as a spokesperson for The Cinderella Project to promote educational outreach and community projects designed to empower young women.

Work with Stand For Children Louisiana as their spokesperson to educate and empower parents, teachers, and community members to demand excellent public schools.

As Miss International 2013, I will:

Expand my efforts with Stand for Children nationwide, as our nation’s future depends on providing all children with access to excellent schools and educators regardless of where they live.

Continue to support the Miss International Organization by serving as the voice of the Go Red for Women campaign of the American Heart Association.

Please help me maximize my reign as queen and get to the national pageant! I won't be able to compete unless I raise the funds to get there! PLEASE help me get to the national pageant by making a donation by January 1!

DONATE TODAY!

The Perks

....for your contribution!

Please help me get to the 2013 Miss International Pageant, and I could help you in return! Want more info? Then visit my indiegogo page TODAY!

The PERKS of supporting a queen!