Changing the Conversation by Meagan Bilodeau

Every nine minutes, a child under the age of 18 experiences sexual assault in the United States. I was once part of that statistic, but I firmly believe it's my life's mission to empower children and families with awareness about the prevalence of this issue. What follows isn't a tale of defeat, but rather a narrative of resilience and triumph.

At a tender age, I found myself among the 30% of children subjected to abuse by family members. At 13, during a routine trip to the store with my mom, I mustered the courage to disclose the assault I endured between ages three and six. To my dismay, it resurfaced at 13, initiated by the same perpetrator. I recall my mother pulling over, promptly contacting the child advocacy center in our county. The following day, I found myself seated in their office, sharing my story with the department head and forensic team, shielded behind a two-way mirror. It was then I encountered my guardian angel, my victim advocate, whom I view as a divine blessing. She remains my unwavering beacon of hope to this day. 

During my high school years, I endured a taxing court process that dragged on for what felt like an eternity. While my peers enjoyed the normalcy of school life, I was repeatedly yanked out of classes to attend courtroom sessions or meet with lawyers. The relentless cycle of legal proceedings cast a shadow over my teenage years.

Finally, at 16, after the trial had been escalated to the superior court, I found myself confronting my family member in court. It was a moment of reckoning, a chance to stand tall and reclaim my power. On the day of the verdict, I seized the opportunity to deliver a statement, pouring out my heart in an essay's worth of words. It was a cathartic release, a culmination of the physical and emotional turmoil I had endured throughout those challenging years in the court's grasp.

I aim to pay forward the kindness I received throughout my journey as a survivor, which led me to establish my nonprofit organization, "Changing the Conversation: One Child At A Time," in February 2022. Since its inception, I've spearheaded various fundraisers, authored a children's book, and engaged in numerous interviews, including a recent feature on the WMTW News Station in Portland, Maine. 

During my senior year of college, I obtained my peer wellness education certification, which opened doors for me to join a team of student leaders on campus. This experience not only expanded my knowledge but also provided me with valuable expertise in sexual assault advocacy, extending beyond my personal journey. I actively contributed to organizing impactful events such as Take Back The Night and The ClothesLine Project, alongside participating in smaller initiatives like Letters to Self, where I adorned campus with inspirational sticky notes ahead of midterms week.

One program that deeply resonated with me and now influences my work as a child advocate is "Wellness Wednesdays." Here, I invite titleholders from across the nation to collaborate on Instagram Live sessions, offering them a leverage to discuss their respective platforms. My overarching aim is to ensure that my audience isn't just educated on sexual assault advocacy but also on broader mental and general health topics. Through these endeavors, I strive to foster holistic wellness and empowerment within my community.

My aspirations in the advocacy realm extend far into the future. I'm currently venturing into public speaking, with a long-term aim of delivering a TEDx Talk to share my story and inspire others to find their voice. Alongside my Bachelor's degrees in English Communications and Pre-Law, I'm planning on pursuing a Master's degree in Forensic Science from Florida International University. Ultimately, I envision myself as a crime reporter in the state of Florida. 

While my career path may evolve, my passion for advocacy will remain steadfast. I'm committed to collaborating with like-minded individuals to effect meaningful change in our communities.

About Me: Hey there, Section 36! I'm Meagan Bilodeau, proudly representing as Miss Maine Volunteer and gearing up for nationals in Jackson, Tennessee, just around the corner. It's an exhilarating time for me as I'm breaking ground by showcasing martial arts on the national stage as a first-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. 

Beyond my pageant endeavors, I lead a life as a full-time chief stewardess on a luxury yacht, navigating the scenic East Coast from the Exumas to Nova Scotia, Canada. Come join me on my adventures by following along on my social media pages: @meag_bilodeau and @missmevol. Let's connect!  

Why Equitable Higher Education Matters to Me by Ashley Wells

I’ve always really loved school. I was always a bit of a bookworm, preferring the routine of studying, research, and reading to more social endeavors. But a question that I’ve been getting asked more often is, “why are you still even in school? Aren’t you sick of it?” My honest answer is “no”, but for a very particular reason. 

My parents are immigrants from the Caribbean, and they both grew up with very little money and with little means to better themselves. My mother grew up on the farmland of Antigua (an island in the Lesser Antilles set along the English harbor). Similarly, my father often spoke to me about how he shared a bed with four of his cousins and that he lacked money for shoes while he lived on the island of St. Kitts & Nevis. However, it was my father’s educational pursuits that allowed him to come to the United States to complete his bachelor’s degree, go on to obtain his master’s degree, and lay a solid foundation for his family. My grandmother made a promise to him that she would work as hard as she needed to so that he could graduate with both his master’s and his bachelor’s degree debt free – an incredible feat for a woman with almost no formal education. But she made it work. She valued education and the future that it could bring my father so much that she worked 12 hour shifts 6 days a week for years, cleaning houses so that my father could focus on his studies. 

It is the determination of both my father and of my grandmother that is the root of why I believe that every person – regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic background – has the right to an affordable and equitable higher education experience. Today, I am a Ph.D. student at Washington State University studying American Studies and Culture. I truly believe that having the option  to go to college or trade school can be life changing, and that individuals who want to be educated should not have to go into massive amounts of debt to receive their degrees. 

While working on my master’s degree four years ago, I met my future non-profit co-founder at my institution, and we began talking about the sacrifices that we knew we'd need to make in order to eventually pay off the student loan debt that we had accumulated. Three months into the COVID-19 pandemic which shut down the world, we hatched the idea for our non-profit organization, The Prosp(a)rity Project. Our organization is dedicated to leveling the socioeconomic playing field for populations most susceptible to and impacted by predatory lending and student loan debt. We are guided by a vision of furthering our presence as a nonprofit dedicated specifically to nurturing, uplifting, and advancing members of this demographic and positioning them to pay it forward to their communities. That is why our main program – The 35*2 Free Initiative –  tackles two of the most prominent detriments to financial freedom: the student loan debt crisis and a lack of access to financial education. 

Our program provides retroactive scholarships of $10,000 to qualified college-educated women combined with a year-long program of financial literacy education and career coaching to help them move measurably toward financial freedom. With women holding 66% of the student loan debt in the United States, we recognize that women are at an increased risk for being burdened down by predatory lending (Education Data Initiative). Aside from our main program, we also host an annual conference – The 35*2 Free Conference –  where we have different speakers and workshops that cater to women and their quest for financial literacy. So far, we have educated more than 150 young women around the country through workshops and training so that they can be empowered to improve their lives and the lives of future generations.

My vision is that any student – regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status – who wishes to attend college and pursue their educational ambitions, will have the resources and support to thrive in their academic environment. And I firmly believe that we can get there, as long as we work together to improve these institutions from the ground up. That is why my CSI revolves around both my non-profit organization and my personal commitment to equitable higher education opportunities. I am so proud to be a part of the Miss America Opportunity, who is already championing scholarship disbursals to young women in order to make their educational dreams come true! 

Ashley Wells

Miss Eastside 2024

The Prosp(a)rity Project

Welcome Miss Wyoming Organization's New Board of Directors!

For the first time, the Miss Wyoming Organization board is made up entirely of former local and state titleholders! Having been on both sides of the crown, this gives us a unique understanding of the roles and the forward-focused perspective necessary to successfully relaunch our program.

Since taking leadership in the fall of 2023, we have made history with the youngest state Executive Director in the history of Miss America, Cheyenne Brown. We are now a board made up of dedicated members who span the entire state + even other states and have relocated our annual state competition to Laramie in order to bring fresh awareness to the program. We have also welcomed several new sponsors to the Miss Wyoming family in order to better support our titleholders through their year of service, increased scholarship awards for contestants, and established the Miss Wyoming Scholarship Fund; a separately registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for the fulfillment of scholarships.

We have chosen to center our branding around our “Sisterhood Era,” as we celebrate and honor the legacies of the women who have shaped our program and communities in our state while simultaneously amplifying opportunities for the young women currently competing who will become our future 👑

We are immensely grateful for your support and are excited for all that is to come!
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To learn more about each of our board members, check out their bios in our Instagram highlights section!

If you are interested in volunteering or joining our board, please email misswyoming@gmail.com or visit www.misswyoming.org ✨

*It is not necessary to be a former titleholder to become a member of our board - we invite you to join us in crafting the legacy of Miss Wyoming for the decades to come!*