F.E.E.L. Better Than Yesterday

By Sorrin Garcia

Despite living with a heart murmur, panic attacks, anxiety disorder, and depression, I am still living my best life everyday. The reason for this is : F.E.E.L. Better Than Yesterday, a platform dedicated to providing individuals the steps necessary to be their best self everyday. No one's health journey is a straight line. Rather it is a path with twists and turns and needs for adaptability. F.E.E.L Better Than Yesterday meets every Arizonan where they are and helps them to take the first steps towards greatness. 

I, like the majority of adolescents, never had any instruction on mental health and limited information on physical health during my early years. I am working to change that. Over the past few years I have created a health and wellness call to action plan to share with students, teachers, community members as well as social media platforms. This plan can benefit anyone struggling to take those first steps to better health. 

F.E.E.L. Better Than Yesterday: 

F = Find a cause 

E = Exercise 

E = Eat right 

L = Let someone know 

Find a Cause. Research shows that volunteering increases happiness while decreasing stress, thus improving your overall mental health. Both in person and digitally I promote local volunteer opportunities while challenging young people to find their cause. My “Find a cause Friday,” series highlights causes individuals, groups, and families and has reached 2,200 people and counting. 

Exercise. Only 30 minutes 5 times a week helps to manage or prevent numerous health problems while improving cognitive function. I always encourage people to find the activities they enjoy, which make it more likely they will continue. Through my senior workout classes, I expose residents to fun exercises to get them moving while improving their overall livelihood. 

Eat right. I encourage people to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, protein and added carbohydrates, and fats. I let people know food should be tasty and no food is off limits. Sharing books with young students about food is one of my favorite ways to teach about nutrition. I even published my own book “Delicious yet Nutritious” and share its message with classrooms and health fairs. 

Let someone know. Finding people you can trust is crucial to your physical and mental health. This is why I provide a list of possible supports and daily “FEEL Better Than Yesterday Cards” to everyone. Sharing feelings and thoughts can be scary and stressful. By providing ideas to help overcome difficulties, I am encouraging conversation starters, journaling or practicing conversations first. 

Ultimately, F.E.E.L. Better Than Yesterday provides a comprehensive outline for people of all ages to maximize their overall health and wellbeing. For more information on healthy living, follow @FeelBetterThanYesterday on Instagram.

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Sorrin Garcia is the current Miss Cactus Blossom (AZ). You can follow her on her title's Instagram as well as her CSI's Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

Fitted for Crowns at Sparkly Gowns: A Fabulous Visit with Fabiola

By Emily Kaelani Redling

PREFACE

In the heart of downtown Portland sits a family-owned business dedicated to making everyone who enters feel welcomed and beautiful. I got the privilege of meeting with Fabiola, the kind store owner and operator, twice a few weekends ago. My first visit was to gain insight on the business’s inventory, functions, and philanthropic pursuits. My second was to spend time with my sister county titleholders. Both visits consisted of trying on dresses from the most divine selection of gowns.

THE JOURNEY

If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that a typical Oregon weekend in March calls for snow storms, heavy rain, and gray skies. That was my experience on March 21st, 2025 when I traveled across the Cascade Range to get to Portland, Oregon through what seemed like ceaseless inclement weather. I’d describe myself as a novice when it comes to driving through the mountains and the big city alike, and having been at work since 5am prior to this drive, I think it goes without saying that I was not entirely eager for the three hours it would take me to get from one to the other.

But this post isn’t about the downpour I endured during my journey, nor my distaste for the dismal weather. In fact, it is about my destination that made the entire trip feel as if it was full of sunshine: my arrival at Sparkly Gowns.

THE EXPERIENCE

When I first arrived, Fabiola greeted me at the door with a warm smile and a hug. Having known Fabiola through my years as a local titleholder in the Miss Oregon Scholarship Program, a state preliminary to the Miss America Opportunity, we were no strangers. However, I noticed this is how she greeted every person that entered the store -regardless if they were returning customers or experiencing their first visit to Sparkly Gowns.

Fabiola had a selection of dresses waiting for me to try on during our initial visit, which I will discuss in greater detail in the next section. When I arrived with my sister titleholders, we all got to examine the hundreds of gowns that painted the store’s walls and pick our most desired styles.

We began trying on various colors, styles, and fits in the dressing rooms while filling the shop with laughter, chatter, and gasps from how gorgeous everyone looked in their gowns. Being in such a comfortable environment, it was easy to become immersed in the experience as Fabiola worked hard in the background.

When she wasn’t helping to zip, lace, or clip our gowns, Fabiola was paying attention to the styles we chose and would pick other garments for us that she thought we might like to try on. Without fail, she picked a dress that each person looked amazing in, every single time.

THE GOWNS

Now’s for the fun part! In this blog, I will be reviewing three of the gowns that I tried on. These gowns, while impeccable, only represent a sliver of the options that Fabiola has in her store. I’ll address why I didn’t end up getting each gown for myself, but also what I loved most about them.

This first Jovani gown has to be one of my favorite dresses of all time.

Why I loved it: First of all, you wouldn’t guess by looking at it, but this gown is made from 100% recycled fabrics. I LOVE promoting sustainability, it’s a part of my style and my personal brand. In fact, half of my closet is either second hand or made from sustainable materials, so you could imagine my excitement when Fabiola told me that this gown would fit right in with the rest of my wardrobe. It also had a very nice fit, and I am a big fan of the vibrant color.

Why it didn’t end up going home with me: I really can’t think of anything wrong with the dress other than I already have one similar to it in my closet. Otherwise, I would’ve taken it immediately.

This next gown had all of my favorite aspects to it.

Why I loved it: The rhinestone embellishments on the bodice made the dress POP under the studio lights. The corset-style beading gave a really nice shape and structure to the top of the gown. Don’t even get me started on the couture pleating of the shimmery skirt which made the drape fall beautifully. Not to mention, I am a big fan of anything that sparkles!

Why it didn’t end up going home with me: I felt that the top was a tad bit big on me and I personally like a bit more coverage on the top. However, these are just personal preferences or would require minor alterations.

This final gown is unlike anything that I have ever tried on before.

Why I loved it: This fully beaded dress made me feel like an actual mermaid. The vibrant shades of blue had no difficulty sparkling underneath the light and the mesh cut out panels on the sides gave a very shaping silhouette. With its flawless design, you can tell that a lot of hard work went into crafting such a beautiful gown.

Why it didn’t end up going home with me: 

It was a touch too big in some areas and I personally prefer a lower slit on my dresses. Other than that, I felt incredible wearing it and I am eager to see the lucky person that gets to own this piece of art.

RECAP

I still think fondly of this weekend I got to spend at Sparkly Gowns. I live nowhere near a gown shop of this caliber and can say with full certainty that the trip to the city was worth it.

Fabiola showed my sister titleholders and I incredible kindness during our visit, and truly makes all who enter here feel at home. She never makes anyone feel rushed and always ensures that everyone is best taken care of when in her hands. From there, she always shows ample support of her clients or visitors, even after they depart from the store.

From the warm hospitality granted by Fabiola to the -what seemed like- endless choices of dresses, I would highly recommend that anyone in search of attire for an upcoming formal event pay this shop a visit.Thank you to Section 36 Forevers and Sparkly Gowns for inviting me to collaborate on this guest blog! It was so fun to get to play the part as a model, photographer, and journalist.

Others pictured in this blog are the following titleholders, representing local titles under the Miss Oregon Scholarship Program: Tessa Bonelli Sanquist, Miss Linn-Benton’s Teen 2025; Amari Young, Miss Marion-Polk’s Teen 2025; and Josephine Cartensen, Miss Marion-Polk 2025

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Emily Kaelani Redling is the current Miss Linn Benton (OR). You can follow her on her title's Instagram .

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

Be AWARE: Empowering the Next Generation Through Mental Wellness

By Leslie Kaiser

Hi friends! My name is Leslie Kaiser, and I’m honored to serve as Miss Lake Anna’s Teen 2025, a local titleholder within the Miss Virginia Organization. I’m a high school senior and recently committed to Regent University, where I’ll be studying Christian Ministry this fall! My heart for serving others is deeply connected to my Community Service Initiative (CSI): Be AWARE, which stands for Advocacy, Wellness, Awareness, Resources, and Education—a platform dedicated to assisting and empowering youth with their mental wellness. 

My Story: From Struggle to Strength 

When I was just 11 years old, I transitioned from private school to public school—a massive shift for someone who had only ever known a small classroom setting. That change came with unexpected challenges, including relentless bullying from classmates. My self-esteem plummeted, and I soon found myself battling severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and even suicidal thoughts. 

For six years, mental illness had a tight grip on my life. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that everything changed. That year, I gave my life to Jesus and found true healing. From that point forward, I felt a calling to serve the next generation, to be a light for others so they wouldn’t have to endure the same darkness I once faced. 

The Birth of Be AWARE 

Be AWARE was born during a nine-hour drive back from visiting family in Tennessee. Around hour seven, I had what I call a “lightbulb moment.” I realized that my “why” was clear: I wanted to help youth overcome mental illness and equip them with the tools I wish I had.

Be AWARE is all about meeting young people where they are and providing real support. I believe that “weak mental health is unequivocally detrimental and debilitating to our youth and the next generation,” and that’s why I’m passionate about raising awareness. Mental wellness is just as important as physical health—they go hand in hand. You can’t thrive physically without being well mentally. 

Making an Impact 

My goal through Be AWARE is to reach as many youth as possible—to speak in schools, share my story, and be a source of hope. I’ve dedicated my crown to serving others and making sure young people know they’re not alone. If I could overcome six years of mental illness and stand strong in my purpose today, they can too. 

When I started this initiative, I set a goal of reaching 500 students. Today, I’m humbled to share that Be AWARE has impacted over 1,000 young people through school visits, social media outreach, and speaking engagements. While numbers are encouraging, my true focus is on lives changed. I often ask myself, “How many hearts can I touch through this platform?” and I pray the answer continues to grow. 

Follow the Journey 

As I prepare to compete for Miss Virginia’s Teen this June, my focus remains on spreading light and love through Be AWARE. If you’d like to follow along, I’d love to have your support! 

Together, let’s build a generation that’s stronger, healthier, and more aware.

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Leslie Kaiser is the current Miss Lake Anna’s Teen (VA). You can follow her on her title's Instagram as well as her CSI's Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

State Pageants

By Hannah Karki

Slay Your Moment Photography

Hi guys! Welcome back to another blog post! As you know, I went to Florida Petite, New England Petite, and Texas Petite all throughout this year. Today, I wanted to share the significance of going to every single pageant and what I have brought back with me from each pageant.

I went to Texas Petite first, with all 5 of the national titleholders being in Sunny TX. It was truly an amazing experience being a part of the judging process of a pageant, and I loved being able to give the girls advice before competing, and also listen to their stories and how they wanted to use the title. As I said numerous times and will say until I die, pageants are about the journey. We want to hear these women's stories and how they have changed their lives, but we also want to hear what they will do as the next titleholder. Hearing so many empowering and moving stories made me appreciate the system I am a part of and the ladies I represent.  

I also loved being able to bond with my sister queens. I felt an immediate bond with all four of my sister queens when we got crowned, and it felt like family. I feel like I was so nervous when I was crowned because I didn’t know who my sister queens were going to be, but the minute I was sent out on stage after I won to meet two of my sister queens, I knew for sure we would be linked forever. Having the opportunity to have 4 big sisters has opened my eyes to understanding what it feels like to be alive. The amount of unconditional love I feel everyday from those 4 ladies has helped me gain more self confidence, and also has given me more of a purpose. 

K Garcia Prod

Going to New England was heartbreaking for me, since it was the pageant that truly changed my life. Knowing my year was up was so hard for me to come to terms with, since this has truly been the best year of my life. My NEP family will always be my family. Just being in the atmosphere of my sister queens and my directors made me feel at home, and I wasn’t ready to leave as a former. Lucky for me, I had a second crown, but somehow I cried the most. Don’t ask me how. I think the most amazing part of my experience at New England Petite was being able to help all the girls competing and having those one on one person relationships where you truly get to find out about each of the beautiful women competing. I loved being able to speak with them and help them get ready for the pageant. I can’t wait for the New England Petite 2026 pageant, where a familiar face will be emceeing the pageant this year. 

And Florida. I think this was the pageant that made me realize one, I had nothing ready for internationals, and two, that our journey as USA titleholders was coming to a close so soon. Watching the girls give up their titles had me gasping for air on the floor, but also reminded me how in 3 short months, I would be doing the same thing. It was an amazing experience to see my sister queens again, but also see all my amazing friends that I made through Petite USA at the Florida Petite pageant, strengthening my bond with them. 

Being able to travel has truly rounded out my year, establishing that as a USA titleholder, the USA is your stomping ground. I wanted to ensure every contestant knew that I was willing to go the extra mile to make them feel supported and seen. But, there was also a little voice inside of me that pushed me to go, because I knew how fast a year would go by. I can’t believe my reign is almost up, and as I look back on it, I want to say thank you to every single person I have met for sharing who they are with me and letting me listen and discover more of who they are.

We do it to represent, and I am honored to say that I represent this system and I can’t wait to see where this journey will lead me with the last few months I have left. It has truly been a dream.

Stay tuned for another guest blog!

Go tell someone you love them today, remember to always spread joy!

I love you,

Han

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K Garcia Prod

Hannah Karki is the current Miss Teen Petite USA and Former Teen New England Petite 2024 . 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.

My Story

By Hannah Alexander

Despair. Despair was what my brother experienced twenty-three years ago, when I at two years old watched my brother walk away from a puppet show crying, and asking why he was not allowed to be there. The staff of the event told my parents that he was not allowed to attend children’s activities at a family camp that we had signed up to be a part of because he was “being too distracting,” by pacing and having a hard time sitting in one place. Unfortunately, this was only one instance of many that we experienced as a family. We belonged to numerous play groups in the El Dorado County area, to which all the parents loved my brother before he received his diagnosis of being on the autism spectrum, which was not widely understood at the time. Because of the ignorance of what autism spectrum disorder is, these parents believed that autism would “rub off” on their children. Children who loved to play with my brother were told “do not play with that boy. There is something wrong with him.” 

Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a developmental condition that affects how a person experiences the world, interacts with others, and communicates. It is called a "spectrum" because it encompasses a wide range of symptoms and abilities, varying from person to person. People with ASD may have may have unique strengths, like exceptional focus or talent in specific areas. My brother is now a radio technician for the state of California and creates, builds, and repairs radios for first responders that are needed immediately all over the state. This means, that our first responders would not be able to respond or communicate during emergencies without the radios that he works on. What if the Los Angeles fires were unable to be managed without proper, immediate, communication between first responders? What if paramedics could not communicate with dispatch or hospitals to give people in need of emergency services care? Can you imagine how that would affect the nation, and even the world?

As an aspiring special education teacher, my goal is to inspire and empower the education system and other teachers to nurture the abilities of every student, no matter how their abilities appear. As educators, we have the responsibility to either enable or crush the next generation’s future. While I accomplished winning two pageant titles and numerous awards for various things throughout my life, I consider teaching a nonverbal student to communicate in full spoken sentences my life’s greatest accomplishment. If I accomplish nothing else in life, I hope to be able to give more students the gift of words, because that is what I consider success. I am currently your Miss West Coast Petite USA, which is a pageant that empowers petite women 5’6 and under to achieve a national USA title just like our taller counterparts. Our system transforms women into confident competitors and national level pageants queens through sisterhood and women’s empowerment. Becoming your Miss West Coast Petite USA has given me the platform to advocate for disability training throughout the education field as well as for lawmakers to continue to fund special education programs and resources. My platform operates by the belief that you can accomplish anything you want, if you believe that you can. And winning the national title of Miss Petite USA would mean that I would expand my outreach to a global level, (with a little West Coast flair!). 

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Photo by Natalie Vell

Hannah Alexander is the current Miss West Coast Petite USA. You can follow her on Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.