Interview with Miss Idaho Teen USA 2010

I am here in one of my favorite places in the world, historic Washington D.C. where I am participating in the CARE Conference on Global Poverty and Women's Issues. Participants include Sec of State Hilari Clinton, First Lady of Sierra Leone, Sia Nyama Koroma.

We have been discussing issues ranging from child marriage, to postnatal mortality rates in developing nations, to education for girl children.

Never before have I been so aware of how absolutely BLESSED I am to live in a country where I am free to make my own choices and get an education. Never again, will I complain about homework or the fact that my dad interrogates every male who comes within 100 yards of me! lol!

About an hour ago, I was interviewed by Girl Scouts of Georgia regarding why, as a National Discover Scholar, Girl-Child activist and journalist, I chose to participate in the Miss Idaho Teen USA Pageant.

I thought you would enjoy reading my responses so here are they for you below!

1. When did you start doing pageants?
The Miss Idaho Teen USA pageant was my very first pageant experience. I hadn’t ever even considered doing a pageant because I had so many false ideas about what pageants were all about. I considered myself way too smart and serious to get involved in a beauty pageant! Since I won Miss Idaho Teen USA, I am proud to say that I have met and befriended some of the brightest, educated, and most compassionate women I have met anywhere. I realized not too long ago that I had my own prejudices toward beautiful women, and that my preconceptions were as hurtful to them as other’s preconceptions of me as a mixed race girl had been.

2. Why do you do them?
As I stated earlier, I dont, “Do THEM.” I entered the Miss Idaho USA Pageant for a number of reasons, with the foremost being that the Miss Universe Organization and its state pageants offer tremendous scholarship and employment opportunities to participants. I earned a $45,000. Scholarship at the state level and was noticed by the staff at our local CBS affiliate here because of my visible profile! Another reason I entered the pageant was because a friend advised me that with my Senate Page experience, Jefferson Award, Prudential Medal and Congressional Gold Medal experiences listed, I came across as not knowing how to relax and have fun. I spoke with my parents and when the opportunity to compete in the pageant came up, we all agreed it would be a fun, challenging way to gain interview experience and meet people outside my comfort zone.

3. What do you like to do on your free time?
Free time? What’s that? As one of ten Girl Scout National Young Women of Distinction, I’m privileged to serve on three different committees, where I advise and help formulate strategies to address the many challenges confronting young women today. In addition to my regular schoolwork, I work as an On-Air announcer for Fox-Radio KLIX and intern at Southern Idaho’s CBS affiliate, KMVT, where I work in the News Department and train as a reporter. If that doesn’t keep me busy, I am still very active in my foundation, 2-Way Street, which addresses the needs of relocated and at-risk immigrant youth by enabling and empowering them to acclimate through education, public service and youth organizations. Any time I have left after all that, is spent SLEEPING!

4. What has been the hardest thing that you have done getting ready for Miss Teen USA (nationals)?
I haven’t really done anything different, except cut almost all fat out of my diet. NO MORE TATER TOTS and FRY SAUCE for this girl! My goal for the Miss Teen USA Pageant is to be who I really am, day to day. Because of my public service, high profile and dual nationality, I already serve as a role model for countless young women around the world. I take that role seriously and believe it is so important that I not pretend to be anything I am not. I represent YOU so if I land the job of Miss Teen USA, I want to fulfill my duties with integrity. That means being who I am regardless of whether I wear a crown or not.

5. What is something that you want teens to know about you that most do not know?
Wow! I want teens to know that every choice we make matters! Success and solutions don’t just happen. They are the result of careful planning and precise decision making. I think a lot of young people tend to think that we have plenty of time to prepare for the future, but the reality is that our futures are NOW! The choices we make about how to spend our time, whether to date or not in high school, and what type of image we present to the world, are all setting the standard for the rest of our lives. I hope more teens will step back and make choices for themselves rather than allowing the media, celebrities or their peers to do it for them. One choice I made that has really helped me succeed academically and professionally, was deciding not to date while I was in high school. I didnt date until I graduated. No boyfriend. No drama. No tears. No breakup. No broken heart! I had many guys who were friends, but I set a standard of not dating and they respected it. Now I am more mature and know what I want in a relationship so I am better equipped to meet the right guy. I wont bring a bunch of baggaaage into any future relationships either! I hope other teens will consider the NO DATING policy and try it for themselves. I had a terrific group of friends, males amd females, and we had tons of fun...without the drama!