More Than a Pageant

Let's define an IAM Girl. Together, let’s  break society's stereotypes of pageantry. I'll go first. A little seven-year-old girl, shy as could be, steps on stage and proudly does her introduction. Her now late father is in awe of her confidence and bravery. This little girl embarks on a journey of a lifetime. From walks to talks, the once shy little girl grows up to be a confident, brave 19-year-old young woman. But that's just the start of her story. 

It's said, her family hasn't seen a Thanksgiving at home since she first embarked on the national stage. She begins finds herself through the system that believed in her as a young girl. But don't be fooled; through COVID-19, societal pressures, and anxiety struggles, she questioned if her time was ever coming.  But, chapters later, she realized that just Samantha had always been enough.

It's said that persistence beams brightly through the top five placements year after year. Her future journalism career has already been paved by the communication skills NAM has taught her. And lastly, her activism goes far beyond community service initiatives, but reaches younger generations, battling youth mental illness.  

So, let's define an IAM girl. She writes a story of a bright future.  She knows that the stereotypes of pageantry don’t define her but rather, the story she courageously writes. Because we are more than just girls who chase after crowns. We are women, chasing after dreams.