The Miss America Organization

There have been many experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today, but I think that the Miss America Organization is by far the experience that has shaped me the most in recent years. I'm not quite sure where I would be today had I not decided to compete four years ago. In fact, I don't even want to know where I would have been!

There are certainly a billion stereotypes about pageantry, and I want to address those stereotypes now because they are just that - stereotypes. First and foremost, I want to say that I am just talking about the Miss America Organization. There are thousands of pageant systems out there, but Miss America is the oldest and is the largest provider of scholarships for young women and of course the best in my eyes. The stereotype that I compete in "beauty" pageants bothers me the most. Miss America is NOT a beauty, nor will it ever be. It's a scholarship pageant, and is not based on looks. Saying that the Miss America pageant is a "beauty" pageant is degrading because the young women that you see compete on a local, state, or national Miss America stage have worked their butts of to make sure that they are the best person that they can be. They have spent countless hours volunteering because it's what they love to do, they have worked hard on a talent and genuinely love performing, and they go through training to make sure that they are emotionally and physically fit and healthy. I have never felt that I need to be perfect to win a pageant in the Miss America system. You don't need plastic surgery, lots of makeup, a pencil thin body shape, or big hair to win - you need a natural presence and an honest heart that is eager to give without expecting anything in return.

People who are spectators may disagree with me stating that Miss America is a "beauty" pageant because we make contestants compete in swimsuit. This bothers me even more because, unless you've competed, you have no idea why Miss America contestants compete in swimsuit. First, scoring on swimsuit is based on confidence NOT on six pack abs, thigh gaps, or a rib cage visible from thirty feet away. I, for one, am certainly not the skinniest person on stage nor will I ever be. I have a thick bone structure and I always will. I have never felt pressure to be stick thin. What I love about Miss America is that, at the Outstanding Teen level, they don't make teenagers compete in swimsuit but rather in fitness wear. As a former Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen, I can assure you I was not the skinniest person on stage but I won anyway. At the 2012 Miss Brainerd Lakes' Outstanding Teen pageant, I tied for fitness wear not because I was skinny or you could see huge muscle definition, but because I'm confident in my own body and I've accepted that I will never be a size 0. I'm proud of who I am and Miss America has laid the foundation for my thinking. Plus, knowing that I will be competing in fitness wear or swimsuit makes me want to workout and stay healthy!

Talent. I think a lot of people shy away from the Miss America pageant because they feel they don't have a good enough talent. I felt the same, but I didn't let that stop me from competing. I practiced and practiced and practiced and practiced some more. Scoring for talent is based on entertainment value not skill level - something I think not a lot of people fully understand. Anyone can entertain a crowd for ninety seconds, I promise. You just have to put the hard work into practicing. If you think you need to be talented to win, think again. So long as you are a real woman of integrity and have the drive for success, you will be successful.

Please visit www.missminnesota.org if you are interested in becoming a contestant in the Miss Minnesota or Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen scholarship pageant. Please email me bailey.wachholz@gmail.com if you have an questions as I would be happy to answer them.

Much love,
Bailey