Each contestant has a platform of her choice to promote and bring awareness through within the community. My platform is “Together We Rise – An innovation in Foster Care”. Foster children have a special place in my heart. People would be shocked at how many children are in the foster care system just in our own communities.
What is even more heartbreaking is some literally grow up in the system and at a certain age are faced with encountering the real world when they have not been given the chance to have someone to help them and guide them in the way I, and so many others, have been blessed to receive. This is why I am so passionate about my platform. Everyone deserves a mentor. Someone to look up to. Someone to love them.
One of my missions this past month was to sponsor as many foster and homeless children as I could for the holidays. With help from donations and wonderful hospitality of others, I was able to personally sponsor two foster children in Limestone county and help multiple others in Lauderdale county through the “Stuff A Bus” toy drive.
I donated, distributed, and even was able to deliver gifts to the families through Stuff A Bus. It was by far the most heartwarming and humbling experience I have encountered thus far.
Another portion of the competition is talent. For my talent, I will be performing a clogging routine to the song “Wings” by Little Mix. Like the chorus of this song states, “Spread your wings my little butterfly”, I hope my story and actions motivate someone else to venture out and “spread their wings”.
As many of you have already seen, each contestant also designs a ring with the help of Creative Jewelers in Florence. Creative Jewelers sponsors the pageant and in return gives a special gift to the winner with the most likes on her picture with her ring design, which is posted on their facebook page. Not only does the person with the most likes get a prize, but the new Miss UNA 2017 receives her custom design ring for FREE compliments of Creative Jewelers!
Aside from the jewelry, pampering, and scholarships the Miss UNA pageant brings, the best reward of all has to be the experience. I have been able to learn new things and challenge myself in ways I would have never been able to before.
So many doors have been opened and new people to call my friends, but seeing all the wonderful support back home brings a tear to my eye. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Love you all! Go Red Devils and Roar Lions!
LINK TO VOTE FOR BRIANNE'S RING
*When you get there "like" her ring design photo to help her win the ring contest.
Join us Saturday January 21st at 7:00p.m. at Norton Auditorium for the 43rd Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant Sponsored by SGA and Creative Jewelers. Tickets are on-sale now at www.una.edu/boxoffice! $12 Online, and $15 at the door. Students may redeem a complimentary ticket from the Office of Student Engagement from January 9th until January 20th.
PAGEANT INFORMATION:
The Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant is
an official preliminary for the Miss Alabama/Miss America Pageant. The Miss UNA
Scholarship pageant has been a UNA tradition for over 40 years.
Each young woman is encouraged and
mentored to develop skills that will enrich her personal and professional life
beyond her university experience. Miss University of North Alabama spends her
year in service to the university and Shoals Area community promoting the
platform of her choice, makes official appearances as a university
representative, and represents the university at the Miss Alabama Scholarship
Pageant.
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