Hi Warriors! I can’t believe that spooky season is here…one of the best times of the year with all of the fall vibes!
In the spirit (haha get it) of spooky things, do you want to know what spooks me out? It’s when women create their platform and do community work solely for the purpose of a competition or winning a title. It isn’t about the accolades or looking good for the judges. It is about making a real and true difference.
If you were to strip my crown and sash away and my involvement in the Miss America Organization, I guarantee with a great amount of certainty that I would be doing the exact same things I currently do. The blog, the campaign, the volunteer work, all of it. That is because my platform chose me. I didn’t choose it for pageant purposes. It chose me and led me to find this outlet.
Those who try to copy or make fun of my brand, my initiative, or my platform don’t realize that this is my life and my livelihood. It is what my career is based upon. It isn’t to look good for the judges or to have metrics to share during interview. Not to say that I don’t have cool stuff to talk about, but that is a plus to doing all that I do. I get to talk about all of those things because I am proud of them! I don’t do it because it makes me look good enough to win. My heart for service has always been there, but it’s the life changing bullying prevention work that I do that keeps me in it forever because of my own experience.
I don’t compete solely because I want the shiny hat and to represent my city, state, or country because I like the attention. It’s so much bigger than that. A lot of people ask why I still compete or why my ultimate goal is to be Miss America. It isn’t because I like the sound of my own voice (and we know I like to yap). It’s because I believe in my story. I know the lives it changes. I believe I am called to work for others, not for myself. I know I can inspire people across the nation with my story. I’ve already done it.
There will always be critics who say I compete because I have low self confidence, am self-centered or selfish, need money for school, or like feeling beautiful because in reality I’m not (all things I’ve heard IRL). I let them talk, because they don’t know me and my story like I do. I’m the only one who has to look at myself in the mirror and I’ve come to terms with the fact that some people will never allow themselves to know or see my heart and passion. But boy is it real and authentic.
Just felt like sharing a snippet of my “why” today.
Love you all!
Xoxo,
Kaycee
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