Beyond the Crown: How Pageantry Made Me A Stronger Leader
How pageantry transformed my confidence and redefined what winning means as a leader.
When people think of pageantry, they think of crowns, gowns, and winning moments. Sometimes these women are stereotyped as being nothing more than a pretty face that pays to be judged by strangers. What people don't see are the hours of preparation, the vulnerability of walking into an interview room knowing you’re being evaluated, the resilience required when the outcome isn't what you hoped for, and the confidence it takes to continue showing up anyway.
Before I had ever stepped on a pageant stage, leadership was already a part of my life. Throughout my career in hospitality, I’ve progressed from frontline roles into management, and eventually into leading teams of hundreds of employees, and now working in leadership for MGM Resorts International. My career has required me to make difficult decisions, manage high-pressure operations, develop employees, address conflict, and be someone my team can depend on. Even with this experience, self-doubt still exists.
Pageantry challenged me to become comfortable taking up space and owning my accomplishments. In the interview room, I can’t hide behind my team, my job title, or the operation I manage. I have to communicate who I am, what I believe in, and why my experiences matter. Preparing for the competition forces me to reflect on my accomplishments and recognize that being proud of what I have achieved is not arrogance; it’s confidence. This has followed me into my professional life.
I've become more intentional with how I communicate, how I present myself, and how I respond when I feel underestimated. Pageantry reinforced something that has become increasingly important to me as a leader: confidence does not mean being the loudest person in the room. It means knowing your value while remaining willing to listen, learn, and grow.
Just taking the stage, walking away a finalist, and even being called for first runner-up can seem discouraging, but I've stepped away with important lessons about success. Some of the most meaningful moments had nothing to do with my placement. They came from standing alongside accomplished women, celebrating their successes, learning their stories, and realizing that another woman's achievement does not diminish my own. This directly influences the way I want to lead.
Women's empowerment cannot simply mean encouraging women to believe in themselves. It also means creating environments where they have opportunities to succeed. As a leader, I have the ability to mentor someone who does not yet recognize their potential, encourage someone to apply for the position they may not think they're ready for, give someone an opportunity to lead, and celebrate when they succeed.
As I continue to prepare for my next title, I've learned what the definition of winning is. Winning is the confidence to walk into a room and know that I belong there. It's also the responsibility to make sure the women coming behind me know they belong there, too.
I am not defined by the pageant stereotypes because I am a strong, empowered woman and a leader who's determined to use my voice, influence, and experience to create spaces for others to rise.
