“Crowns aren’t made of rhinestones. They are made of discipline, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called courage.”
—Deborah Epperson Galligan

I was never a pageant girl, but something changed drastically in the month of May 2019. Scrolling through Instagram, I was totally stunned by our new Miss. USA, Cheslie Kryst. Without any second thoughts, I instantly sent in my application and was enrolled within a week.

My journey began placing as a semifinalist in Miss. WA USA of 2019. Coming into that weekend, I had absolutely no idea what pageantry was all about. I felt like a bird out of her cage after competing my first time. I understood, I am capable of anything I put my mind to and decided to return to compete my second and final time in 2021. If anyone would have told me how exhilarating yet difficult the journey would be, I would probably back out. The kind of woman I have become was worth every step of the process. I placed 1st runner-up and launched into other avenues since then. Pageantry was the stepping stone and undeniably pivotal. I discovered parts of me I didn’t know about and tapped into immense potential hidden inside. This journey took me further than I ever envisioned, and I don’t regret it one single bit.

A true leader creates a space for other women to discover and tap into their potential, cheering them on every step of the way. ~ KK