Dear Younger Me,

I hope this letter finds you full of dreams and excitement, imagining yourself stepping onto the Miss America stage. I know the vision feels far away, and the journey ahead seems daunting, but trust me when I say it’s worth it. Along the way, you’ll learn lessons that will shape not only your competition experience but also the person you’re becoming. Here’s what I want you to remember:  

Lesson One: Mindset is Everything.
You’re not competing against 50+ women, you’re only in competition with yourself. The real victory begins when you win yourself over, long before you step on stage or into an interview room. You must believe in your self-worth, no matter how the results unfold. At the same time, know you’re capable of winning if you’re willing to give it your all. Your mindset is a seed you plant months before the competition begins, and it grows through preparation, self-belief, and resilience. Cultivate it carefully, and it will carry you through.

Lesson Two: One Small Act of Kindness Can Cause Ripples That Change the World.
The competition isn’t about being perfect or solving every problem in one week. It’s about being present and intentional. A single act of kindness—whether it’s lending a hand, offering a word of encouragement, or just sharing a genuine smile—can transform the experience for yourself and others. These small gestures create ripples that extend far beyond the stage, leaving behind a legacy of sisterhood and cherished memories. Lead with kindness, and you’ll find the experience is about so much more than a crown.

Lesson Three: The Only Thing You Can Control Is Your Attitude, Not the Outcome.
Understand this: what is meant for you will find its way to you, and what isn’t meant for you will pass. Release yourself from the need to control the outcome, and you’ll discover the freedom to be your most authentic self. When you embrace the joy of the process whether it’s walking on stage, speaking your truth in an interview, it will radiate through every moment. The judges and audience will feel it too. Let go, have fun, and know that the right path will unfold in its time.

You have what it takes to achieve this dream, not because of any external recognition, but because of who you are and the impact you’re meant to make. Trust the journey, stay true to yourself, and lead with heart. I can promise you this: whether or not you wear the crown, the woman you become will make you proud.  

With love and faith in you,  
Stephanie Finoti, Miss Ohio 2024
Miss America 2025 4RU

----------------------------

Stephanie Finoti is the current Miss Ohio. You can find her on her title's Instagram and/or her personal Instagram. She is also the founder of "That STEM Girl", dedicated to empowering and preparing the next-generation of marginalized young women to enter the STEM-medical workforce.

To learn more about Stephanie, feel free to check out her Interview with Section 36.