From Dream to Purpose: My Miss America Journey

By Angelique Cauterucci

I first experienced the magic of the Miss America Organization at 11 years old. I was sitting in the audience, watching Miss New Jersey 2017 (Kaitlyn Schoeffel) shine on the national stage, ultimately placing second runner-up. Something in that moment sparked a fire in me. I leaned over and whispered to my aunt, “I want to be just like her one day.” I didn’t know how or when, but I knew that someday, somehow, I’d find myself chasing that same dream. 

Two years later, at 13, my mom and aunt surprised me by signing me up for my first pageant. I was shy. Unsure of myself. I didn’t think I belonged, and I certainly didn’t think I was “good enough” to wear a crown. But something shifted that year. As I navigated the pageant experience, I discovered confidence. I discovered purpose. I found a community that celebrated strength, service, and authenticity. And I fell completely in love with the Miss America Opportunity. 

It was my aunt who encouraged me to be vulnerable. One day, she gently said, “Why don’t you talk about your body image struggles?” That single question changed everything. It gave me the courage to open up about something I had hidden for years. My battle with body dysmorphia and suffering with an eating disorder. And in that moment, I found my voice. That voice turned into a mission. 

I began speaking to students in schools, studios, and teams. I created my nonprofit, You Define Beauty, to help youth see their value beyond appearance. I handed out affirmation cards, launched a podcast, and built a platform where every young person could feel seen, heard, and empowered. To date, I’ve reached over 80,000 individuals. And I’m just getting started. 

Two years ago, after I stepped off the Miss New Jersey’s Teen stage, my aunt was waiting for me. She wrapped me in a hug and whispered, “You’ll get it next year. You’re not just competing for you, you’re competing for me, and for every student you’ve already touched.” That was the last time I saw her. And that moment has stayed with me ever since.

Now, in my fifth year competing within the Miss America Opportunity, this isn’t just a dream anymore, it’s a mission. A deeply personal one. I’ve placed in the top 5 for the last three years and I am so excited to see what happens in two weeks. I’ll walk onto the Miss New Jersey’s Teen stage once again. Not just as the girl who whispered a dream at 11 years old but as a young woman with a purpose. I’m showing up for every student who’s ever felt less than. For everyone who’s struggled in silence. And for my aunt, who believed in me long before I ever believed in myself.

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Angelique Cauterucci is the current Miss Cape Shores' Teen (NJ). You can find her at her title's Instagram or her personal Instagram. You can also check out the "You Define Beauty" website, Instagram, TikTok, and Podcast.

Find all her guest blogs for Section 36 Forevers here.

What is this Pageant for me?

By Ishtar D. Colón Vargas

Whatever outcomes I receive from this pageant if it’s winning the tittle or not this is a new opportunity for me to grow personally and professionally. For me this is more than a pageant, in my eyes this is a new challenge and opportunity to keep being  the voice of those who have been silenced or are too afraid of speaking up regarding diverse subjects. I want to be the voice that encourages the young women and children to speak, fight and never forget about their dreams. To embrace every single dare or opportunity that life gives them taking the challenge with a smile on their face. 

One of my many goals is to have this young generation that’s getting impacted deeply by mental health to accept and love themselves as they are and to let them know they’re not alone. Therefore, for me this is not just about a crown or a title but to make a positive contribution and impact towards the future generation. 

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Ishtar D. Colón Vargas is the current Miss Barceloneta’s Teen (PR). You can follow her on her title's Instagram.

You can find all her blogs for Section 36 Forevers here.

How Miss America Puerto Rico Inspired My Personal and Professional Growth

By Diann Reyes

When I first entered the world of Miss America Puerto Rico, I thought it would simply be a beautiful opportunity to represent my culture and values on stage. What I didn’t expect was the deep personal transformation it would spark. Also how much it would challenge me to grow, both personally and professionally.

Competing for this title has inspired me to reflect on the woman I am and the woman I aspire to become. It pushed me to create healthy routines. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I learned the power of discipline: waking up earlier to prioritize movement, choosing nutritious foods that fuel my energy, and making space for personal development.

But beyond the daily habits, Miss America Puerto Rico motivated me to set clear, intentional goals. I’ve started writing down my dreams, breaking them into steps, and holding myself accountable. Whether it’s improving my public speaking, deepening my community impact, or walking with more confidence during rehearsal. Everything now has purpose.

This journey has taught me that pageantry is not about perfection. It’s about growth. It’s about embracing the process, becoming more self-aware, and using your voice for something greater. I’ve become more organized, more focused, and more grounded in who I am and what I represent.

I’m beyond grateful to be part of an organization that believes in empowering women beyond the crown. And I hope that through my journey, others feel inspired to show up for themselves, set goals, and commit to their own personal evolution, because that’s what true queens do.

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Diann Reyes is the current Miss San Juan (PR). You can follow her on her title's Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

About My Journey

By Ishtar D. Colón Vargas

Greetings. My name is Ishtar D. Colón Vargas, current Miss Barceloneta’s Teen. Today I want to talk about my journey to Miss Puerto Rico’s Teen. My journey began in the month of January of 2025 when I got interviewed by the host of said Pageant. That’s when me and my mother took the graceful decision to incorporate me in this pageant. Therefore, here we are beginning my journey into another beautiful experience God blessed me with. It’s a decision we collectively made that I’m sure we won’t ever regret. 

I assure myself that this is going to be a fun and nourishing experience no matter what outcome I get from it. As in my eyes this is going to be another opened door and challenge that I’m going to embrace with a smile on my face. 

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Ishtar D. Colón Vargas is the current Miss Barceloneta’s Teen (PR). You can follow her on her title's Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

The Power Of Persevering

By Lexy Rayhill

K. Garcia Prod

When we’re young girls, we all have a desire to become a queen in some way. In most instances, young girls want to play dress up or get their nails done - for me, it was something that lied much deeper. I didn’t know it then, but I would become surrounded by thousands of likeminded queens later in my life. 

My journey through pageantry has led me into directions I would’ve never expected. Funny enough, I have admired pageants since I was 7 years old. I was so hooked, that I dressed as an “Ultimate Grand Supreme” for Halloween in 2011. Though I wouldn’t begin competing until shortly after I turned 18, pageantry has remained at the forefront of my mind for over a decade. 

As middle school and high school came around, I felt like I was having a harder time making genuine friends and my mindset shifted in a more negative way. Once senior year came around, I was ready to leave the self doubt behind me. Pageantry became my focus, and slowly I stopped thinking about myself. 

New England Petite became more than just a pageant and a title to work towards. After my first competition in 2022, I realized I needed to find a system that aligned with me. I did plenty of research before finding out there was a pageant that was truly designed for me - New England Petite. Created for hardworking women 5’6 and under, this pageant organization has brought me opportunities I never could’ve imagined. 

My first year at the pageant was definitely a little nerve

Chris Dupre

wracking, but I was able to put my fears aside and bond with my new sisters. I managed to place top 5 and leave as 4th runner up that year!  After I made top 5, I knew I needed to make a return. I got another pageant under my belt 6 months later and before leaving the venue that day, I was already applying for the next New England Petite Pageant that was set to happen in a few months. My biggest dream was to compete at Petite USA. I attended our workshop, started becoming more active in my volunteer work, and left with 2nd runner up my second year. I took my preparation very seriously, but I still hadn’t achieved my true goal. I had to wait another year for just a chance at my dream job. 

When you persevere, you’re showing yourself you can. My placement my second year only made me want to come back stronger. I worked with numerous new coaches, photographers, and even participated in a national pageant which only helped my preparation! I began taking better care of myself and my mind, told myself to focus, and eventually put in my final application. 

The difference between winning and placing for me was simple, but also one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do in a long time. We all hear “be yourself” in the interview room, but I finally listened. In my private interview, I even responded by saying the first thing I’d do if I won was go get fries before getting to work with my title! All of my answers flowed and I left that room feeling like I had finally showed a judges panel who I am. 

Chris Dupre

My stage presence also improved dramatically and each performance felt like my best that day. Once crowning came, so did the nerves. They announced our runner ups and once we got to the top 2, my name was not called as 1st runner up. I was finally announced Miss New England Petite! Since January 20th, I’ve worked with sponsors and photographers, volunteered with nonprofits, mentored young women, appeared in front of over 1 million people, walked in a fashion show, helped plan community events, and so much more. 

My days have gotten much brighter since I’ve been crowned. They say it’s what a queen does with her crown that’s important, but I can’t help but recognize the ways the crown is healing me. If I hadn’t filled out that first application, my life would look a lot different. You have the power to make your life what you want it to be, and that’s the power of persevering. 

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K. Garcia Prod

Lexy Rayhill is the current Miss New England Petite. You can follow her on her title's Instagram.

This is her first guest blog for Section 36 Forevers.

My Pageant Journey

By AshLyn Sterling

For as long as I can remember, pageantry has been a part of my life. But for most of that time, it wasn’t something I celebrated, rather something I ran from. My earliest experiences in the industry came from the spotlight I was given on Toddlers & Tiaras, where my twin sister and I competed against each other under the pressure of the big screens, reality TV fans, and all the glitz and glam that came along with it. While the show gave me a glimpse of what it meant to be on stage, it also came with a stigma that followed me for years. A stigma that for a long time kept me from competing again. But now, standing here with my first local Miss America Organization title, I can finally say: I am reclaiming my story. 

Growing up in the child pageant circuit, I was constantly compared to my twin. Who had the better smile? Who had the better walk? Who would win? It didn’t matter that we were sisters, the competition between us was inevitable. At such a young age, I was learning to tie my win to a crown, and when I didn’t win, it felt like I wasn’t good enough. Then came the public perception and the dramatized version of what reality TV chose to show them. By the time I was old enough to make my own choices, I wanted nothing to do with pageants. I was done with the assumptions, the judgement, and most of all, the feeling that I had to be perfect to be worthy. 

For years, I stayed away from pageantry, choosing instead to focus on school, sports, and personal growth. I wanted to be known for my intelligence, my work ethic, and my ability to make a difference. Not just as another girl who once wore a crown on TV. But then, I discovered the Miss America Organization. Unlike the child pageants I had once competed in, MAO wasn’t about who had the biggest hair or the sparkliest dress. It was about scholarship, leadership, and community impact. It was a system that valued intellect as much as stage presence, and for the first time, I saw pageantry as something that could help me grow instead of just defining me.

So, after years of saying I’d never return, I did something I never thought I would, I stepped back onto the stage. Competing again after so many years was terrifying. The little girl who had been judged on her beauty and presence was still inside me, worried that she wouldn’t measure up. But this time, I wasn’t competing to be perfect, I was competing to be me. I poured my heart into my talent, spoke passionately about my community service initiative, and walked across the stage knowing that I had something meaningful to offer. And when my name was called as the new Miss Tri-County, it wasn’t just a victory, it was a moment of redemption to my little self and reclaiming the world of pageantry in a different light. 

Now, as a titleholder in the MIss America Organization, I want to use my story to challenge the way people see pageantry and the women who compete in it. I want to show others that just because you come from a certain background, whether reality TV, childhood pageants, or a place of self doubt, it doesn’t mean you can't redefine yourself. For years, I let my past dictate my future. I let the assumptions of others keep me from doing what I loved. But today, I stand here as proof that you don’t have to be who the world expects you to be. You can take control of your own narrative. 

During my local interview, I said something that I’ve come to live by: You are your biggest competitor, and you can only be better than you were yesterday. That mindset has guided me through this journey and now, as I wear my first local title, I hope to inspire young girls to believe the same. You don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to fit into anyone’s mold, just work toward being the best version of yourself. 

I am not just a former Toddlers & Tiaras contestant. 

I am not just a girl who once competed against her twin. 

I am a titleholder, a leader, and a woman who is proud to be a part of the Miss America Organization. And this is only the beginning.

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AshLyn Sterling is the current Miss Tri-County. You can find her on her title's Instagram and/or her personal Instagram. 

This is her first blog for Section 36 Forevers.

My Journey to Miss San Francisco: Part One

By Inika Mehra

The Validation Was Always In the Grit of the Hard Work

Becoming Miss San Francisco gave me validation— and not the kind I spent my adolescent years chasing after. Nor was it proof I was finally “good enough.” 

What it did show me was what was possible to achieve in a short amount of time, in an unfamiliar territory, with no prior experience— with a little passion in my heart, courage in my blood, and purpose in my soul.

I never expected myself to be courageous and daring enough to do something like this— in fact, my first hundred thoughts were filled with hesitancy.  

When I searched up the competition requirements I thought to myself: “There’s no way I am doing this, and there is no way I could pull this off”—but I am so glad that I did it anyway.

 It made me realize that it is actually the continuous and intentional act of pushing back against fear, exhaustion, insecurity, and self-doubt, looking it in its face, and choosing to persevere without the confirmation that it will pay off. 

I didn’t feel ready to add another failure to my life trajectory. And I knew going into it that this was a very real possibility. What were the chances that I could prepare for a five-part competition in less than a month, with no prior experience, and actually win a title? It felt like I was deliberately walking a tightrope with no safety net.

I may have won the title with less than a month of preparatory time, but the reality? The relentless work, the setbacks, and the lessons that made this win possible have been years in the making.

Failure has been my greatest training ground. I have stumbled in leadership roles, faced ridicule from peers, and struggled to speak publicly. While I have felt the raw vulnerability of shame, I have been shaped and refined by the very feeling.

It is the persistent act of pulling myself out of such depths that has grown me into a strong, compassionate, and purpose-driven leader—one who can speak to audiences and show up proudly in public.

It is only through my failures and sorrow that I have built the resilience and empathy I carry in my heart every day.

I am not ashamed of my failures,

I wear them like a badge.

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Photos By Augus Raj Photography

Inika Mehra is the current Miss San Francisco. You can find her on her title's Instagram and/or her personal Instagram. 

This is her first blog for Section 36 Forevers.