By Natalie Scott Gonzalez
When you picture a “pageant girl,” what do you see?
For a long time, pageantry had a very specific image and if you didn’t fit that mold, you probably felt like you didn’t belong. But guess what? The world is changing. And so is pageantry. And I'm happy to say that the Miss America system is part of that change!
Today, pageants are becoming more inclusive, more representative, and more open to celebrating every kind of beauty every skin tone, every hair texture, every story. That’s why diversity in pageantry isn’t just important it’s essential.
As Miss Vega Alta’s Teen, I walk proudly in my culture and my darker skin tone as a proud Puerto Rican teen with Caribbean roots and a voice that doesn’t shrink in the face of stereotypes. And when I step on that stage, I carry more than just a sash and a smile. I carry my community. My heritage. My truth.
That’s also why I created E.M.B.R.A.C.E. my Community Service Initiative that stands for:
Emotional, Mental, Behavioral Resources All Communities Enjoy.
At its core, E.M.B.R.A.C.E. is all about representation and access, making sure that ALL communities, especially the ones often left behind, have the support and resources they need for mental wellness.Because mental health doesn’t discriminate and neither should help.
So whether you’re Afro-Latina, Asian-American, proudly Indigenous, mixed-race, or anything in between you BELONG here. Your story belongs here. Your voice matters. And your mental health matters too.
Let’s continue to build a pageant world where every girl can say: “She looks like me… so I can shine too.”
With every E.M.B.R.A.C.E. resource I share, every teen I reach, and every step I take in this crown, I’m not just representing a title. I’m representing a new generation thats here for change!
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This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.
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