Committing to Confidence - a Blog Series by Katelyn Andrist

 Your soul is attracted to people the same way flowers are attracted to the sun - surround yourself only with those who want to see you grow. 

We have to start appreciating all that we bring to our own lives.

When you are living your life confidently, freely, and without restraint, your energy will glow. 

-Katelyn Andrist

Working Memory - A Disability Awareness Month post with Ginger Ragaishis

With Disability Awareness Month upon us, it seemed like a good time to talk about hidden disabilities. Miss Southern Vermont's Teen Ginger Ragaishis has been a fierce advocate for hidden disability awareness, through her Defying Limits website. She has advocated for people, like herself, with a hidden disability, urging them not to limit themselves.

To help with that goal, we wanted to share a video Ginger has made talking about working memory. This video does a great job explaining what may seem like an abstract concept. I know that after watching it, I certainly had a better understand of what Ginger talks about, and what she struggles with. I can't recommend the video enough.

 

As we go through Disability Awareness Month, or any month really, I encourage you to visit the Defying Limits website and Ginger's YouTube channel to learn more about hidden disabilities.

Committing to Confidence - a Blog Series by Katelyn Andrist

Let yourself heal - in your way and at your own pace.

Every step taken in mindfulness brings us one step closer to healing ourselves. 

Embrace.

Express.

Process. 

Heal. 

Grow.

Remember this, sometimes your wound is not your fault but your healing is your responsibility.  

-Katelyn Andrist

Hidden Disabilities - A Disability Awareness Month post with Ginger Ragaishis

With Disability Awareness Month upon us, it seemed like a good time to talk about hidden disabilities. Miss Southern Vermont's Teen Ginger Ragaishis has been a fierce advocate for hidden disability awareness, through her Defying Limits website. She has advocated for people, like herself, with a hidden disability, urging them not to limit themselves.

To help with that goal, we wanted to share a video Ginger has made talking about hidden disabilities. This is a video adaptation of a slide show presentation she gives to students, 3rd grade and above. It’s a great way for her to start a discussion on hidden disabilities and is definitely worth the watch.

As we go through Disability Awareness Month, or any month really, I encourage you to visit the Defying Limits website and Ginger's YouTube channel to learn more about hidden disabilities.

Committing to Confidence - a Blog Series by Katelyn Andrist

 Food for thought: 

Most people barely know themselves……. 

So, 

↓

Why does it matter what they think of you? 

Remember who YOU are and YOU will change the game.

-Katelyn Andrist

Gown Shopping - A Blog by Hannah Roque

Hello everyone! My name is Hannah Roque; I’m Miss Route 7 2023 and I’m competing for the title of Miss Vermont 2023. This will be my third time competing for the title of Miss Vermont, and to say that I’m excited is an understatement! When Section 36 asked me to do a guest feature on my journey to finding an evening gown for the 2023 competition, I was elated. Gown shopping has always been one of my favorite parts of preparing for competition, but it does come with a whole set of anxieties for me. As a plus sized woman, shopping for gowns is incredibly stressful - you could face fatphobic comments from your stylist, the gowns in the store are often several sizes too small, and ordering gowns in extended sizes can cost up to $200 more with additional fees factored in. I was so thankful to have some incredibly positive experiences while shopping this year, and I can’t wait to talk you through my journey!

I’m a person that loves to be prepared, so my evening gown search always starts on the internet and social media to get a sense of what I might be interested in bringing to the competition stage. There are common themes that always stay the same for me: I want my gown to accentuate my curves, have some sparkle, and for a long time, every gown I ever wore was green! Last year, I was caught up in an idea of what I thought was my dream dress, rather than gowns that made me look and feel my best. I still love the dress that I wore, but I always felt self conscious when I put the gown on. If I were to give one piece of advice about gown shopping, it would be to let go of all expectations! By being flexible, you’re opening yourself up to find what gowns make you look good and feel even better. It’s important to be flexible and willing to let go of your previous ideas, because that’s when the magic happens! This year was the first year that I truly went in without expectations. While this may have made things challenging for my stylists, I feel like I finally got to find a showstopping gown that made me feel like Miss America. 

While I’m not going to show you the gown I will be wearing on the Miss Vermont stage (yet), I do want to show you gowns that were major turning points for me when I was shopping. It took me three appointments and about 25 gowns to find my dress, and several of those gowns proved to be instrumental in my journey to finding my dream dress. The first gown that I tried on was chosen by my stylist. It was this white gown with puffed sleeves and feathers. You can see by my face how much this dress took me by surprise! This sample dress was several sizes too small, but despite this, I was able to envision what this dress would look like on my body. This dress wholeheartedly took me by surprise, and it started off my gown shopping journey with so much joy.  This dress showed me a few things: first, to keep an open mind. Going into the day, I told my mom that I didn’t want a white dress and that I hated feathers - this dress had both, and I actually liked it. Second, this gown showed me that I loved sleeves - the puffed sleeves on this gown were to die for. There are certain “rules” that plus sized women are told to follow in order to flatter their bodies - wearing sleeves is a common suggestion for women who want to hide their arms. This gown made me want sleeves because I loved the detail it added to the dress, rather than to hide my arms. And third, I realized the beauty of simple, classic dresses. I’ve never worn dresses without some kind of sparkle, but this gown opened my eyes to the world of gorgeous, non-sparkly dresses. 

The second gown that made a big impact on me was this lovely, one shoulder green gown with a bow on the shoulder. I really did love the drama of the dress, and the bow on my shoulder made me feel like a movie star, but this gown showed me that I didn’t want to wear green this year. As I mentioned before, every gown I’ve ever worn has been a shade of green. At one point, I owned three gowns that were all this same shade of forest green! This is my go-to color both onstage and in real life, but as soon as I put on this gown, I knew I would be going in a different direction this year. 

With the new realization that I was not going to wear a green gown this year, I moved on to another gown that was a turning point. I was absolutely obsessed with this blue Sherri Hill gown. This was the first gown by Sherri Hill that I’ve ever been able to fit into. Formal gowns always run small, and Sherri Hill is no exception; for so long, Sherri Hill has been synonymous with prom and pageant gowns, and I’ve always wanted to wear one. When I put on this gown, the dress hugged my curves in all the right ways. I felt so beautiful and confident. It’s amazing how little things, even trying on a gown in a size that perfectly fits, can boost your confidence so much! I didn’t choose this gown ultimately because it didn’t feel like my competition dress. Sometimes you just know that the gown you are wearing would be an amazing dress to wear to an appearance, but not the one you want to win in. For me, this was that dress!

The last gown I tried on was this blue velvet gown with a cape. This was the first gown I tried on that was from a collection made specifically for plus size women. This gown didn’t fit perfectly, but I instantly felt more validated and comfortable knowing this dress was made for bodies like mine. I also felt comforted knowing that there were no hidden costs associated with this dress; yes, I would have to pay to get the gown altered if I bought it, but I knew I wouldn’t have to face an additional $150 fee when I tried to purchase the dress in my size. This dress further showed me why representation in fashion is so important: for people who are larger than me, formal options are even more inaccessible. As a relatively small plus size person, I acknowledge that I have a lot of privileges when looking for formal wear. That being said, regardless of dress size, all people deserve to feel beautiful and validated by the gowns they choose to wear. Though I didn’t choose this particular dress, my gown is actually from a similar collection made specifically for plus size bodies!

When shopping for your gown, pick your team wisely. I had my mom and best friend Katherine with me as I shopped, and I felt so supported and loved through the process. Especially as a plus sized gal, having a supportive group of people at your side can make all the difference. It’s important to have people that can help you drown out the criticism of others. As women competing for a state title, we face an unending amount of criticism from anonymous message boards or even well-intending friends. Having people that help you shut out the haters, feel loved, and be your most confident self by your side when gown shopping can make all the difference. When you put on the right dress, it just feels like magic. As soon as I put on the gown that I will be wearing to Miss Vermont 2023, I knew it was the one. I cannot wait to show it to everyone on April 16th! 

Thank you all for reading about my journey to finding my evening gown! I feel so incredibly grateful to have worked with wonderful stylists and had an amazing support system while I was shopping. I was lucky enough to work with incredible stylists at both Infusion Boutique in Warwick, RI and at Alexandra’s Boutique in Fall River, MA. Trying to find a gown is hard enough, but plus size gals have a whole slew of other challenges that they face as they shop. My stylists at both boutiques helped me feel like Miss America as I was shopping! I also want to thank Section 36 for asking me to write this blog. I absolutely love dress shopping, but I also felt that it was important to shine a light on the challenges and joys that plus sized women face while trying to find The Gown. And if you want to see what gown I ended up choosing, check out my Instagram @missroute7vt, after April 16th! :) 

Committing to Confidence - a Blog Series by Katelyn Andrist

 A new month, a new mindset: 

“Interrupt Worry with Gratitude.”

Sometimes in life, the plan does not work or go to plan. Before starting to worry and become anxious, interrupt worry with gratitude. 

Change the plan. But never the goal. 

No matter how many detours or delays we encounter, we will always be led back to where we are meant to be. 

“Interrupt Worry with Gratitude.”

-Katelyn Andrist