My Journey within the Miss America Opportunity

By McKenzie Hegarty

The Miss America Opportunity has helped shape me into the woman I am today. I received my very first title in 2019, almost seven years ago, and I have been impacted by this organization ever since. 

Pageantry was always something that interested me, especially growing up in the musical theatre world as a classically trained vocalist. After spending nine years as a competitive Irish step dancer, being on stage always felt like home. I also participated in forensic public speaking throughout much of my childhood, which further strengthened my confidence and love for communication. When I was introduced to the Miss America Opportunity and learned more about the talent competition, interview process, public speaking, and community service aspects, I immediately knew I had found where I belonged. Everything I loved was brought together within one organization.

Competing at Miss New Jersey’s Outstanding Teen 2020 was my very first pageant experience, where I placed 4th Runner-Up and won the talent competition. From that moment on, I truly caught the “pageant bug.” I later competed in the Miss division and became a Top 10 finalist at Miss New Jersey in both 2022 and 2023. While attending the University of Delaware, I was eligible to compete for Miss Delaware, where I placed 2nd Runner-Up overall in 2024.

In 2025, I decided to take a year away from competition for personal reasons. However, the life lessons and challenges I experienced during that time taught me so much about myself and strengthened me in ways I never expected. Today, I feel more prepared than ever to return to the Miss New Jersey stage.

One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been my community service initiative, “Check, Protect, and Inspect Your Heart,” which focuses on raising awareness about the importance of preventative heart screenings and cardiac health education. This cause became deeply personal to me after my father nearly lost his life to coronary artery disease. A heart scan ultimately detected the issue before he suffered a major heart attack, leading to a lifesaving quadruple bypass surgery at just 49 years old. He was healthy, active, and had no warning signs of heart disease. While my father’s story had a positive outcome, many others are not as fortunate.

Through this initiative, I launched my own podcast where I interview healthcare professionals, patients, and advocates to discuss the importance of heart screenings and overall heart health awareness. I have also partnered with organizations including the American Heart Association and, more recently, the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association of Denville, New Jersey.

My passion for this mission grew even stronger during my time as President of Alpha Phi at the University of Delaware. Alpha Phi’s philanthropy centers around women’s heart health and supporting the American Heart Association. During my leadership, our chapter raised over $100,000 through fundraising events, philanthropy initiatives, and volunteer work. Being able to lead those efforts was one of the greatest honors of my college experience.

Between my father’s story, Miss America’s partnership with the American Heart Association, and Alpha Phi’s longstanding commitment to heart health advocacy, I knew this was the path I was meant to pursue. Heart disease remains the number one killer in America, and I am committed to using my voice to advocate for education, prevention, and lifesaving screenings.
In 2025, I graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in professional selling and sales management. I am currently pursuing broadcast journalism while working as a reporter for The Pulse USA in Morristown, New Jersey, and as a vocal coach at Denville Music Academy.

As the Miss New Jersey competition approaches, I am grateful for the opportunity to return to this stage. I look forward to continuing to use my voice to inspire, advocate, and serve across the state of New Jersey.

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McKenzie Hegarty is the current Miss Bergen County (NJ). You can follow her on Instagram. 

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

Mind Over Movement: Where Strength Begins

By Isabella Iannuzzi

My name is Isabella Iannuzzi, and I am honored to serve as Miss Greenville County. As a professional ballerina and the founder of Mind Over Movement, I am passionate about empowering young athletes and artists to prioritize their mental health, build confidence, and discover that true strength begins in the mind.

There was a time when my body knew exactly what to do—but my mind didn’t trust it.

As a dancer, that disconnect is devastating.

Like many athletes and artists, I grew up in environments shaped by high expectations, comparison, and pressure to be perfect. Over time, those external voices became my own, and confidence slowly turned into self-doubt.

One of the clearest moments this surfaced was when I developed a mental block in my dancing. I had performed turns effortlessly for years, yet suddenly, I couldn’t. The issue wasn’t physical—it was mental. That experience taught me something I will never forget: mental health is not separate from performance—it is the foundation of it.

That realization led me to create Mind Over Movement.

Through this initiative, I support the mental health of young athletes and artists—because so many are struggling silently.

 

Through school and dance studio visits, I combine dance with interactive activities that spark conversations around confidence, anxiety, and self-worth. In my weekly teaching, I also create space for dancers to openly share their experiences, helping normalize conversations around mental health.

And in those moments, something powerful happens—they realize they’re not alone.

Looking ahead, I am committed to expanding this work through community workshops, school programs, and accessible resources. I plan to pursue mindset certification to better support those navigating performance pressure, anxiety, and burnout.

Studies show that over 35% of elite athletes experience anxiety or depression, and high-profile figures like Simone Biles, Alysa Liu, and Naomi Osaka have publicly shared how mindset challenges nearly ended their careers. These stories matter—not because they are famous, but because they validate what so many young performers are feeling in silence.

Because Mind Over Movement is not just about awareness—it’s about action.

At its core, this initiative is about helping young people understand that their minds are not obstacles, but powerful allies.

When we change the way we think, we change the way we move.

And when we change the way we move, we change the way we live.

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Isabella Iannuzzi is the current Miss Greenville County (SC). You can follow her on Instagram. 

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

My Miss America Opportunity Journey

By Leah Culbreth

If there is one thing I have learned through my Miss America Opportunity journey, it is this: dreams are worth chasing, but they often arrive in God’s timing, not our own. 

I have always loved pageants. Growing up, I looked up to the local high school queens in my area and to the women who wore the title of Miss North Carolina. One titleholder who especially inspired me was Kate Peacock Smith. She was from my hometown, and seeing someone from a small town like mine go on to win such a prestigious title made me believe that maybe one day, I could too. 

My own journey started in elementary school. I competed in my school pageant three times, placing first runner-up twice before finally winning the title of Junior Miss Midway on my third try. I loved everything that came with holding a title—the chance to represent my school, my community, and to share the experience with my sister queens. That was the moment I knew I was hooked.

Although I did not compete often after that, my love for pageantry never faded. The next pageant I entered was my high school pageant in 2022. Becoming Miss Midway High School had been a dream of mine for years. I started preparing long before the pageant even existed, buying my interview outfit in July of 2021 before I knew if there would be a competition that year. I took voice lessons, interview lessons, and truly believed I was ready.

When pageant night arrived in March of 2022, I walked in confident that I would leave with a crown. But I did not place at all.

To say I was heartbroken would be an understatement. But even disappointment could not take away my love for pageants.

My true Miss America Opportunity journey began in January of 2023 when I made a last-minute decision to compete in the Miss Johnston County/Cleveland pageant as a Teen contestant.

 

Kerrigan Brown had inspired me to compete. Once again, seeing someone from my hometown achieve success reminded me that dreams like this were possible.

There were around twenty teen contestants that year, including Hanley House, who later went on to win Miss North Carolina Teen and Miss America’s Teen. While I did not win that night, I walked away with something more important: a fire inside me to keep going.

The very next month, I entered my hometown pageant, Miss Spivey’s Corner/Dunn, as a Teen contestant. Winning that title and representing my hometown was all I had ever wanted. I performed much better than I had in the previous pageant, but once again, I did not walk away with a crown.

And strangely enough—I was okay.

Because I trusted that God’s plans were bigger than my disappointment.

That fall, I started college at Campbell University and believed my pageant chapter was over.

But in January of 2024, someone very special to me, Lindsay Creech, reached out and encouraged me to compete again because contestant numbers were low. It was the last day to submit paperwork, and with only two weeks to prepare, I signed up.

This time, I competed for the title I had dreamed of for years: Miss Spivey’s Corner.

My interview went beautifully. I felt confident onstage. Once
again, I just knew I would be crowned.

When awards were announced, my name was called for Evening Gown. I was thrilled. Then moments later, I was named first runner-up.

Although disappointed, I still had peace.

Because if something is meant for you, no setback can stop it.

Once again, I said I was “done” with pageants.

Then January of 2025 came.

I signed up for Miss Spivey’s Corner/Dunn again—this time with my best friend. I competed for Miss Dunn while she competed for Miss Spivey’s Corner. Truthfully, I wanted to support her dream just as much as I cared about my own.

Pageant day came, and while I felt strong in interview and onstage, my name was not called as the winner.

Again.

And surprisingly, I was okay.

Because each loss had taught me confidence, resilience, grace, and trust.

Then came January of 2026.

My best friend and I attended another pageant, and like always, the pageant bug bit us again. We signed up one more time.

This year was different.

I no longer competed with desperation. I competed with gratitude.

I told myself that I would do my best, speak passionately, be confident in who Leah Culbreth is, and most importantly—have fun.

I left interview feeling amazing. After onstage competition, I felt relaxed and proud. For the first time, I knew that no matter what happened, I had already won because I was proud of myself.

Then crowning arrived.

“The new Miss Dunn is… contestant number two, Leah Culbreth!”

I immediately burst into tears.

After years of hoping, praying, losing, learning, and growing, my dream had finally come true. I was going to compete at Miss North Carolina representing my hometown.

And suddenly, every “no” made sense.

Every loss had prepared me for the right yes.

For the past two months as Miss Dunn, life has been nonstop.

 

Between nursing school, friendships, responsibilities, appearances, and preparing for Miss North Carolina, I have stayed busy—but I would not trade it for anything.

I am determined to give Dunn everything I have. I want to be present in my community, serve with purpose, and show people exactly who is representing them on the Miss North Carolina stage. My sister queens have made this experience even sweeter, and I am so grateful for each of them.

If my journey has taught me anything, it is this:

Never give up on a dream that truly matters to you.

There may be delays. There may be disappointment. There may be moments where you feel overlooked or forgotten.

But what is meant for you will come in the right season.

Trust God’s timing. Trust His plan. Keep working. Keep believing. Keep showing up.

Because your time will come too.

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Leah Culbreth is the current Miss Dunn (NC). You can follow her on Instagram. 

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

My Journey, and My Hair

By Anaya Harrison

Every woman or girl who participates in pageants has their own specific crowing moment, before they ever win a title. Mine is related to my hair! As I entered the world of pageants, I was frequently asked by my family and friends what prompted my desire to compete. When asked I often paused, it’s difficult to express in a short conversation why one would decide to put themselves out there and be judged by a panel. It absolutely brings about the possibility of self doubt and can promote self conscious thoughts about your appearance, talent, and ultimately every aspect of yourself. My why goes beyond this, pageants for me have become a culmination of my journey towards self-expression and confidence. When asked why, my answer was always simple: I’m doing it to make young Anaya proud. 

I have always been proud of my roots, and my family. As a child, I recall a constant admiration for my mother’s curly hair. She would tell me that her grandmother taught her how to style her hair, and eventually mine. So naturally, I grew up with stories about the beauty of curly hair and hair care tips passed down through generations. With three heads of hair to style between my sisters and I, my mom typically kept our hair in beautiful and intricate braids (decorated with colorful beads in our younger years). Being able to style my own hair was a marker of being grown up that I constantly looked forward to with excitement as a child. I am forever grateful to my mother for instilling this pride in my hair at a young age, because I’ve come to understand that I would need to call back to this feeling as I grew older. As my environments changed through my childhood, I often found myself in spaces where those around me didn’t always look like me. Without being represented, my pride in my naturally curly hair began to slowly shrink. I began to think that braided styles looked childish or that my hair was too unruly for school, not defined enough for everyday wear, or in general not pretty. 

With that background, let’s jump to high school where I was always a more reserved student. As a proud introvert, I was more comfortable with academics than with social settings. Because of that, I always strived to sit in the front of the class. Mostly because it was easier to see the board with my glasses from the front, but also because I wanted my teachers to know me and know how deeply I cared about my education. By my junior year, I had developed a comfortability with my surroundings that allowed me to be more experimental with my hair. One particular day, I gathered the courage to wear my hair “out” and not care so much about which pieces may be sticking up or where my curls decided to fall. I was excited, and woke up an hour early to style my curls before the bus arrived. The day went on as usual, and as the bell rang in one of my final classes of the day, I gathered my books and went to the door. I recall my teacher calling my name in an almost timid voice. “Anaya, would you mind holding back for a second” and my heart dropped as I turned to address my teacher. In a brief and quiet explanation he told me that one of my classmates complained that they couldn’t see the board over my hair and requested that I be seated towards the back of the class. He assured me that my participation in class was helpful for the flow of our lectures, and admitted to feeling bad about even asking me to move. But he also wanted to acknowledge the other student’s attempt to access class material easier. Neither of us quite knew what to say. We stood in silence for a moment and for me the weight of the complaint felt extremely heavy. At the end of the conversation, I apologized and agreed to avoid the front row in the future to be fair to my fellow classmates. I left feeling confused and insecure. See, the front row wasn’t just a seat to me, and my carefully curated natural hair wasn’t a style I selected without hesitation. I should add, my teacher couldn’t have possibly known my internal self-consciousness with my hair journey and I sincerely don’t believe he had any bad intentions. Still with that one interaction the negative connotations I had about my hair that I had worked so long to dismantle took center stage. Internally, I knew I loved my hair, but this conversation reinforced my doubts that wearing my hair out to school was a huge mistake. I recall riding home and thinking to myself that I should’ve known better than to take up so much space.

Coming home, I was able to confide in my parents about what happened in class. I am so blessed to have parents that will lift my spirits and help me come to a solution for any problem- and they did just that. The next week, my teacher apologized and decided to resolve the “issue” by redirecting the student who made the complaint. I continued to sit in the front row, but this story remains as one of the most formative moments of high school for me. 

The rest of my high school years were marked with “safe” hairstyles and a more frequent visit to the drawer with my heat styling tools. Internally, I still loved my curly hair, but I began to associate straight styles as easier, more manageable, or even worse - more polished. Unfortunately, I didn’t come up with these ideas on my own, nor was it the sole fault of my environment at school. Scholars have documented stigmas around Black women’s hair in educational settings and in the workplace. Duke University’s School of Business found that Black women with natural styles are often perceived as less professional in the workplace. Finding a place in society when stigmas such as these exist is simply hard. Rebuilding the admiration I had for curly hair as when I was young is a journey that I hold close to my heart. My personal crowning moment was long before I considered competing in pageants because it came when I fell in love with my natural hair again. Breaking through years of self doubt and external influences, I am finally able to say today that I proudly accept my hair in every form. 

In my first pageant, I wore my curls out proudly. I realized that for the few moments I had to occupy the stage, there was no room to question whether or not I should take up space - it was mandatory. In every part of the competition I stepped with intention and pride in myself and my accomplishments. This moment felt like a celebration of my chapter towards self-acceptance, and a promise to myself to never let external influences determine my confidence. 

I’ve always believed that as you grow older, every version yourself stays with you. It wouldn’t be possible for me to be the woman I am today without the little girl admiring her mother’s curls or the highschooler who dared (though timidly) to wear her hair out in class. Now in this latest chapter of my life, I am conscious of this and work to make sure that every version of myself would be proud of who I am today. I step into spaces that the younger versions of me could have never imagined, and I do so with confidence and pride in who I am. My decision to enter the Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization is no different. There’s one common rule in pageants that’s stood the test of time, when it comes to hair, bigger is better! Volume is commonplace and every version of womanhood is celebrated loudly. What I love about the Miss America Organization is that there is a strong emphasis on the mission to advance in service, scholarship, style and success. Rather than keeping outdated connotations about beauty pageants alive, the Miss America Organization breaks those boundaries by emphasizing beauty can be found in academic excellence and meaningful community impact. 

Everyday I look in the mirror, I have a unique crown of my own: my hair! While I can now say I believe my curls are beautiful, I’ve learned that believing in your own beauty goes beyond physical appearance. Confidence and style can be cultivated and built through time, and if done correctly, I’ve found that it’s possible to develop an internal beauty unshaken by outside opinion. I am proud of who I am because of my immense and continuous personal growth, because I’m an actively engaged member of my community, because I have a platform to give voice to historically silenced groups, because I’ve earned two degrees in the field I love, and most importantly, because I wouldn’t dare to shrink myself ever again.

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Anaya Harrison is the current Miss Claymont (DE). You can follow her on Instagram. 

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.