My Journey: A Story of Strength, Resilience, and #KeepOnMoving

By Cara Mia Hogan

Growing up with a mother who has a disability has shaped who I am in countless ways. It’s a journey that has taught me the true meaning of perseverance, compassion, and the power of community. My mom has never let her disability define her but it has certainly influenced my journey and outlook on life. It has motivated me to become an advocate for those with MS through my CSI and my future profession as a Physical Therapist. 

One of the most defining moments of my life occurred when I had to call 911 after my mom fell in the middle of the night. I was uncertain of what was going to happen next, and it was one of the scariest moments I’ve ever experienced. My heart raced as I spoke on the phone with the 911 operator, feeling both helpless and terrified. My dad was there with her, doing everything he could to care for her until the ambulance arrived. I can still remember to this day answering the door with rollers in my hair and feeling so embarrassed that they had to come into my home like this. The fear I felt in that moment is something I’ll never forget. Through moments like these, I’ve learned how to remain calm when faced with fear and challenges and how to support others through the toughest of times.

This passion for advocacy led me to create #KeepOnMoving as my platform in the Miss America Organization. Through my platform, I aim to support MS Awareness, Research, and Support. I am the biggest cheerleader for those with ms and the families and communities effected. My mom’s journey and my own experiences growing up have fueled my desire to make a difference in the lives of others living with not only multiple sclerosis but also other disabilities.

March is MS Awareness Month, and I’m excited to share my story and my mom’s. I hope to anyone reading that our story resonates with you in some way or another. Through my journey as a titleholder and an ms advocate, I continue to honor my mom everyday because of her resilience and my own commitment to making a positive impact. I hope my story will inspire others to #KeepOnMoving. There is a world free of MS, let’s be the ones to do it!

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Cara Mia Hogan is the current Miss Luzerne County (PA). You can find her on her title's Instagram and Facebook.

This is her first blog for Section 36 Forevers.

Dear Younger Self: A Letter of Reflection and Hope

By Jenna Nickles

Dear Younger Self,

As I look back on my journey, I feel the need to reach out to the younger version of myself who faced the tough battles of anxiety and depression. I want you to know how proud I am of you for not just surviving but thriving. Graduating two years early is a huge achievement that shows your determination and resilience. Every step you took, even the small ones, has led you to this amazing moment. 

Your path has always been about more than just school; it’s about finding purpose. Choosing to pursue a career in the United States Coast Guard is a testament to your bravery and commitment to serving others. You’ve always had a heart for helping people, and this career will let you do just that while embracing adventure. 

The Miss America Organization has played a significant role in shaping who you are today. Through its emphasis on confidence, empowerment, and community service, you’ve learned to embrace your true self and advocate for mental health awareness. Participating in this organization has helped you overcome anxiety and depression, giving you a platform to share your story and inspire others. The skills you’ve gained in public speaking and leadership will serve you well as you continue your journey. 

Looking ahead, your dream of becoming an oncologist reflects your compassionate nature and your desire to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. The road to becoming a doctor will be challenging, but your experiences with anxiety and depression, along with the lessons from Miss America, have equipped you with a unique perspective to connect deeply with your future patients. Embrace the rigorous training ahead, knowing you have the strength to excel. 

As you move forward, cherish the lessons learned and the strength gained along the way. You are capable of achieving greatness, and the world is eager for your contributions. Embrace your journey, and never lose sight of the incredible person you are becoming. 

With love and support, 

Jenna today.

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Jenna Nickles is the current Miss Upstate New York's Teen. You can find her on her title's Instagram. 

This is her first blog for Section 36 Forevers.

The Journey to My CSI

By Ava Isabella Silver

I’ve never been a pageant girl, although I always admired the queens in my community. I also never thought I’d actually hold a title, but after competing in my first pageant last year and placing first runner-up, I began to think maybe this could be something I wanted to pursue. The next year, I went back and earned second runner-up, and from there, I was hooked. I decided to keep going, competing in two preliminaries, and then, on my third try, I won.

While pageantry has only just started to become my thing, my community service initiative has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my grandparents took me to their home on the coast of North Carolina. My grandfather would walk along the beach with me, each of us carrying two buckets. One was for trash we found, and the other was for all

the little creatures and seashells we discovered. My grandfather taught me the importance of keeping our beaches clean and protecting the natural treasures of Mother Nature. Because of that, I spent three summers volunteering at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital through Sea Turtle Camp in Topsail Island. There, I saw firsthand how pollution harms the creatures in our oceans.

That experience inspired me to earn my NAUI Scuba certification, which gave me the chance to witness ocean pollution up close. I’ve gone scuba diving on the North Carolina coast, and I've seen the pollution there too. I’ve also traveled around the world, and the problem is everywhere. My community service initiative does not only focus on our oceans, it's also about advocating for all of our waterways. I’ve hosted and participated in numerous cleanups because even small actions add up. My dad always tells me to “take one more piece than you came with”, and I’ve taken that advice to heart.

One of my biggest goals is to teach kids how they can make a difference too. I wrote and illustrated a children’s book called A Turtle's Trash Troubles, which is published on Amazon. I’m also working on my second book, A River’s Rubbish Rescue. I’ve already read my book to my classmates, and during Read Across America Week in 2025, I’ll be reading it to four different schools and after-school programs.

My community service work isn’t just about me, it's abouteveryone and how working together we can create change. Anyone can make a difference, no matter where they are. It doesn’t have to be a huge act. You can pick up a few pieces of trash on your own, even if you’re just walking around. You don’t need a group of people to get started. One small spark can lead to a big flame. So, if you go out and pick up litter to reduce pollution, use my hashtag #onemorepieceproject to help spread the word! Every piece of litter you pick up helps protect our waterways. Even if there’s no water near you, trash will eventually find its way to a water source.

Remember: Without Clean Water, There is No Life. Protect and Advocate for our Waterways! 

Throughout this journey, my biggest inspiration has always been my mom. Back in her day, she competed in Miss North Carolina’s Teen and placed third runner-up. She’s so well-spoken and eloquent, and I strive to be just like her in my pageant journey.

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Ava Isabella Silver is the current Miss Dunn's Teen (NC). You can find her on her title's Instagram and Facebook.

This is her first blog for Section 36 Forevers.

Picking My Wardrobe

By Hannah Karki

K. Garcia Productions

Hi everyone! I know you missed me. If you haven’t read one of my blogs, let me introduce myself. My name is Hannah Karki, and I am your Teen Petite USA 2024, and former Teen New England Petite 2024. Today, I'm going to talk with you about my choices in clothing for pageants, including an interview, evening gown, and swimsuit. 

A lot of the things I pick have to do with the color, style, and how age appropriate the style of the clothing is. One of my main focuses as a national title holder is to look at the age of the group that I am representing. Since I represent 13-year-olds to 18-year-olds, I try to mix up my outfits with cuter teen styles and also a little more flirtatious look for older teens. I tend to go for styles that are off the shoulder or have small cutouts in them to represent my age since I am on the older side of teen. Each of my outfits for the New England pageant and the national pageant were picked on the basis of making sure I looked my age, but the color and the style represented who I am as a person and what I would bring to the national office if I were to win. 

Because I am a brown skin girl, I tend to pick brighter colors that work well with my skin. Let's look into a few of my outfits from the national pageant! 

First, I picked my outfit for the interview because I loved the color of it. I thought it was super eye-catching and I love the style of bandage dresses for teens. I feel like it is super easy to wear, it's comfortable, and the style of the bandage dress can really match with any simple heel which I really liked. I also like the ruffle on the side with the one shoulder. If you know me super well, I am super picky about what I wear.This dress was an immediate yes for me, and I think this is the best I ever felt in an interview. Wearing something you love makes an impact on the way you show your personality and connect with the judges, because you already feel confident and some of the nerves that you feel are washed away because you are confident and how you look. 

The second outfit I picked is my swimsuit! Everyone really loved this one, so I’d thought I would share the reasons why I picked it! One, I loved the color and how bright it is. I feel like with the tan I was in the summer, it perfectly matched the vibe I was going for. I also loved how the color matched my personality super well, sunshiny and yellow! I loved the flowers on the top and the bottom, and I liked how it was a more teen swimsuit. I feel like when we are told to walk, we immediately think we have to look super old or mature. But as a teen, we are looking for a more teen style, not a thong. We want style, but we also want to represent the age group we are supposed to represent. Overall, I loved this swimsuit and I can’t wait to find something like it for internationals. 

And finally, the long awaited gown. Now, I LOVED this gown, but I originally got a lot of push back about my gown. I think people thought it would not give the couture look, but I think it turned out just the way I wanted it to. As I said before, I am very picky with what I wear, so when people tried to change my mind, I did not budge on this dress. I knew if I was going to win, it was going to be because I felt beautiful in what I was wearing. This dress was made by Yubin Couture, and I loved the end result. I had never done purple before, so this was definitely new territory for me. I loved the v-neck, and the beading around the v-neck. My favorite part was definitely the see-through sides, and being able to show it without showing it. Overall, this dress captured my heart, and the judges' hearts too. 

Overall, the key to being successful in your dress choices is finding out what dresses and colors suit you, and what you want to wear. The most confident you will feel is when you wear something that you picked yourself!

This was a short one, but you’ll hear from me again soon!
Have a good day and tell someone you love them!

Your friend,
Han

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Wardrobe Photos by Magic Dreams Productions

K. Garcia Prod

Hannah Karki is the current Miss Teen Petite USA. You can follow her on her title's Instagram and website. 

Hannah has been kind enough to write several submissions for us. Follow the link for her other Section 36 Forevers Guest Blogs.