Shaped My Aspirations

In “I Want to Be Miss America”, the defining moment came late for the two girls. Every year they would watch the Miss America beauty pageant with their parents and strive and wish to look american. “So we painstakingly rolled our long, curly hair round and round, using our heads as giant roller, ironing it until we had long, shining hanks, like our classmates and the contestants, only darker.” (92) They just wanted to fit in and to them that meant they needed to

Life is a never ending sequence of problems. Every person has to learn to overcome them throughout his or her life to better themselves. In the story, I Want to be Miss America, by Julia Alvarez, she tells the story of how she and her sisters adapted to American style and culture. Her family came from the Dominican Republic. At a young age, they watched the Miss America Beauty Pageant, which show portrayed the ideal woman. So, the sisters changed their looks to appear like the women on the show. It was not until the 1960’s that their previous Dominican style, became the new trend in America. In the story, A Choice of Weapons, by Gordon Parks, talks about when he was a journalist/photographer going to Washington D.C. for a job at a local newspaper.

The essay “I want to be Miss America” is narrated by Julia Alvarez, a hispanic teenager who was willing to change the way she looked just so that she looked more like an "American" girl. When watching the Pageant with her sisters, Julia’s thoughts were: “I knew I would never be one of those girls ever... she was - An American- and we were not" ( Alvarez 22). They started complaining about their height, the texture of their hair, their body, and even their style, They started making changes to their way of clothing, and all of a sudden The colorful outfits that mom would pick for them like “fuchsia skirts with matching vests, flowered dresses with bows at the neck” (Alvarez 13) were described by Julia as “something someone might wear in a foreign country”(Alvarez 13). When Julia realizes that being an American girl isn’t the only definition of beauty, and sees that the ethnic looks, that she once used to have, became more popular is when she finally realized that she could’ve stayed beautiful in her own way. She felt “a gratifying sense of

Miss America is a yearly pageant that goes on for any girl between the age of 17 to 24. There is a lot of people that enter this every year. Six beautiful and wonderful women have won from Oklahoma. Their life was so amazing when they found out they have won, some of them didn’t even know what to do. There is so much stuff they have to go through to get to enter in the pageant. After they do enter they are very busy with everything trying get to get ready for the big day. Miss America is a pageant that has been going on since 1921. It is something that some girls look forward to for when they are in High School or just got out of High School.

Of all the ways you could succeed in your life, why have you chosen to succeed in the Miss America Pageant?

My childhood was split over two different and unique cultures. This special upbringing presented me with challenges that lead me to continually reflect on my life and identity throughout my childhood. I had to adapt to different educational systems as my family moved back and forth between Syria and the United States. However, that only motivated me to work harder and seize the opportunities that surrounded me at every point of my life. I learned to treat obstacles and hardships as chances for growth and development.

The caliber of young women is astonishing. These women excel in the top of their classes, student body presidents, authors, traveled performers and founders of organizations. Each of them remain true leaders in their society, and part of the reason for this is from the standards that the Miss America Organization sets. What sets apart

Aside from being a beauty queen and a ballerina, Lee is also an outspoken activist. She raves how the Miss Black USA pageant helps serve women of color by helping them achieve their education and academic goals. The real reason many women join pageants is not really because they want to achieve a beauty status but it is actually to gain money for scholarship. Most are trying to finish college while others are pursuing a master’s degree.

The Miss America Organization is giving me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and experience something I never thought I would; all while being able to get involved in the community and support the Children’s Miracle Network. I believe that the title of Miss Greater Waterbury will give me the chance to bring awareness to my platform of anaphylactic allergies. The Miss America Program allows strong women to raise awareness of something they are passionate about, as well as other important social and political issues in America.

I am originally from Devils Lake, North Dakota which is located in the central eastern part of the state. I grew up with two older brothers and one older sister, and my family has grown to including two in-laws, three nieces and one nephew. Family is a major aspect in my life and I visit them as often as I can. Without my family I wouldn’t have the courage to pursue what I want in life, even when it’s a terrifying change or challenge. They support me in reaching my goals in life, and are with me every step of the way.

I came from a wonderful and big family, I have seven brothers and sisters. Everyone helps each other whenever we need help, like if I go to College they will support me. I live in a great city called Salinas, CA. Salinas is a great place to live because the big cities are nearby, like San Jose, San Francisco, etc. The weather is awesome in the summer it does not get too hot and during the winter it gets around the 30’s. Also the beaches are near like Monterey or Santa Cruz. Salinas have a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits, in that way we could have a healthy life. Some people might think that Salinas is a gang city where many shootings happen, but it depends in the neighborhood where you live. I went to a great school which is Everett Alvarez

No one get’s to choose what environment in which they were raised. I grew up in a very difficult environment that has affected me in various ways. Although it has left some very scaring memories, it has made me who I am today.

My family influences me to make the right shows in my life. I am strong because I have seen my family struggler. I learned from my experience to be strong to reach my goals. I am confident because I can't let people use me and walk over me and brave during difficult times. My family has dreams for me which coincide with mine. Their sacrifices are my motivation.

The 2016 Miss America Contest allowed fifty two women to compete for the honor of being crowned as the most tantalizingly beautiful woman in America. However, unlike previous years this pageant featured a contestant who exemplifies compassion and intelligence on and off of the stage in addition to being physically stunning. She galvanized a social movement that brought awareness to a profession within our nation that has been misinterpreted and underappreciated by the public for decades. Kelly Johnson, Miss Colorado, stood in front of millions of viewers during the televised talent portion of the contest wearing navy blue scrubs, and a stethoscope draped around her neck. Johnson waved to the cheering audience, and began her monologue with:

On another note, I would say my life is very similar in terms of culture to the members of my family. Most of my family is white and middle class, besides one uncle who married into the family who is Ghanaian. My parents both had siblings like me, some type of religious influence, and both received a college education. I inherited many of my skills and hobbies from them as well.