From First Crown to a Powerful Cause: My Journey to Miss Texas Teen and the Mission Behind My Platform

By Sophia-Rose Centurioni

My name is Sophia-Rose Centurioni, and I am honored to say that I’ve officially won my first-ever pageant title! This victory is not only a personal milestone, but also the beginning of a larger mission using my voice and my story to create positive change. With the crown comes the opportunity to compete for Miss Texas Teen, and even more importantly, to amplify a message I am incredibly passionate about: empowering survivors and preventing sexual assault through my Community Service Initiative (CSI) — R.I.S.E. 

My passion for this cause comes from my own experience. At 16, I was sexually assaulted. In the aftermath, I was overwhelmed by fear, shame, and confusion, struggling to understand what had happened and unsure if I would ever feel whole again. For a long time, I felt isolated and silenced. But as I began to heal, I realized my story could have power not just for me, but for others who felt just like I did. 

That’s how R.I.S.E. was born a platform dedicated to helping young people recognize their right to safety and boundaries, while also providing support and hope to survivors.R.I.S.E. stands for (Resilience, Inspiration, Support, and Empowerment), four pillars that shaped my own healing journey and now form the foundation of my advocacy work. 

As a pageant titleholder, I have a powerful platform to spread this message across my community and beyond. Through R.I.S.E., I’m committed to teaching teens and young adults how to set boundaries, recognize unhealthy relationship behaviors, and stay safe especially in a world where social media makes it easier than ever for predators to find and manipulate vulnerable young people. I plan to visit schools, youth organizations, and community centers to share safety tips, boundary-setting tools, and digital safety education. I’m also working to form partnerships with advocacy organizations and self-defense programs to bring life-saving knowledge and skills to more young people. 

But my work isn’t just about prevention, it’s about healing too. Far too many survivors feel like their experiences define them, or that they are somehow to blame. Through my personal story, I want to show that survivors are never responsible for their trauma and that healing, while difficult, is possible. Whether it’s through mentorship, community outreach, or even creative outlets like dance and artistic expression, I want every survivor to know they are not alone and that they have the strength to rise. 

Winning my first pageant is an incredible honor, but the real victory is turning my pain into purpose. As I prepare for Miss Texas Teen, I’m ready to stand strong, speak out, and help others do the same. Together, we can create a world where every teen knows their worth and every survivor has the strength to R.I.S.E. As well if you are struggling with anything related to sexual assault my Instagram DMs are always open, or you can call the 24/7 sexual assault hotline 1-800-886-7273.

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

Sophia-Rose Centurioni is the current Miss Highland Park's Teen (TX). You can find her on her title's Instagram and website.

This is her first blog for Section 36 Forevers.