The Miss Marin County crown – as well as the crown for Miss California and Miss America, has four points that each represent a trait that a winner should embody: scholarship, success, style, and service. On the morning of the pageant, and before the show begins, all contestants have an interview with the 7 judges. Miss Marin County contestants have 10 minutes, and the Miss Outstanding Teen contestants have 8 minutes to answer possibly up to a dozen questions– it all depends on how long our answers are. The questions are based on the resume we provide a week before the pageant, so that the interview can be personal to each girl. The judges may also ask general questions, like, “why do you want to win?” and, “how do you plan on managing your time as a titleholder?” Previous winners have made public appearances around Marin County to advocate for their platforms. During rehearsals we have also been practicing how we will represent the values symbolized by the pageant crown that will be given to the winner.
I will represent “scholarship” and “success” by using the scholarship money from the pageant to help pay for college, and hopefully earn a degree in journalism and communication. I will depict “style” by being confident and authentic to myself. My favorite song at the moment is “Scars To Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara. It is about how everyone is beautiful just the way they are, and instead of changing yourself, the world needs to be more accepting. Basically, everyone is perfect just being them! It has such a great message and inspires me to be myself and help others feel comfortable and beautiful in their own skin.
If I win, I will wear the crown with pride, and I hope I get that chance!