Take A Break
I’ve been competing in pageants for over ten years. Knowing I needed to take a break from competing in pageants was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made. Now that I am in one of the most pivotal times of my life, deciding what to do after graduation, recently aging into the “Miss” division in competition, and gradually growing into my adulthood, my priorities are always fluctuating. Finding that balance between work, education, social life, and pageant preparation has never been easy. A couple of months ago, I was asked a question, “What are some of your smaller hobbies?” and for about ten seconds, I thought to myself about what makes me, Emilia. The only thing I could think of was competing and pageant preparation, and without that, I didn’t know who I was. The issue is, I know pageants aren’t my forever hobby, I age out of competing at 28.
Taking this most recent competition season off from competing gave me the opportunity to grow in my career, gain connections, become closer to my new friends in college, spend more time at home, and figure out who I want to be and the impact I want to make. Although this time off was much needed, it also made me realize how much I love the training, community service, competition, and being a part of a pronominal group of women. I can’t wait to return to the stage this coming season, knowing exactly who I am stepping into the interviews and on that stage. This past season has taught me that taking a step back does not mean that I have given up. Taking a break has shown me why I fell in love with competing, not to get a shiny crown or tell people about my success, but to share my story with others and encourage them to go for their dreams. During my time away, I was able to invest in experiences that challenged me in new ways. I focused on my professional development, built meaningful relationships, and discovered strengths outside of the pageant world. For the first time in years, I wasn't constantly thinking about the next competition.
As controversial as it may sound, winning a pageant is never an end goal, but a portion of my life that shapes the trajectory of my future. Before this past year, I had no idea what was next for myself, but after temporarily removing the stress of competition preparation, I was able to focus on my future career and set it into motion. One of the greatest lessons I learned is that our identities should never be tied to just one accomplishment, hobby, or role. We are constantly evolving, especially during our college years and early adulthood. This has reminded me that the qualities that pageantry teaches young women, like determination, leadership, resilience, interview skills, public speaking, and communal outreach, are qualities that I carry with me whether I'm up on that stage or not.
