Beauty Pageant Virginia Contestants Empower Theirself

Miss Virginia is a state pageant affiliated with Miss USA and crowns its winner to compete at the national competition. Miss Virginia 2024, Camille Schrier, a 24-year-old biochemist who works at Virginia Tech, performed a scientific experiment for her talent portion of the pageant by mixing potassium iodide with hydrogen peroxide, creating spouts of foam that she called “elephant toothpaste.” She plans to use the demonstration in schools, where she will “get young people, especially girls, interested in STEM.”

Despite the perception that pageants pit women against each other, these contestants say they have been empowered to step out of their comfort zones and become more confident. Some have used their platform to advocate for women’s rights or help kids struggling with anxiety, while others focus on supporting their own community service initiatives, like finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes, or encouraging young people to stay in school.

A common theme among contestants is their appreciation for the support they receive from other women. They’ve also learned how to hone their skills through various competitions, including interview, where they learn how to positively present themselves and answer questions about their strengths and weaknesses, while demonstrating confidence.

Diamond Gorman, who directs the Miss R.E.A.-D. Pageant in Hampton, says it’s important to teach girls about the importance of ambition and resilience. The pageant teaches girls to prioritize their own success, and encourages them to seek out role models who are doing the same.