Isabel Skormin Visits Section 36 Forevers!

Photo: Kristen Weaver

We have a visitor! Isabel Skormin is passionate about domestic violence awareness, a talented writer, and the current Miss Orlando for America. I was so excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Isabel Skormin visits with us!

Why did you want the Miss Orlando for America title?

I moved to Orlando in 2018 from a small town in Upstate New York. I will never forget when I finally arrived into the city and saw the skyline framed by Universal Studios’ Volcano Bay, the Orlando Icon, and there were literal fireworks over the highway as I entered my new home. I am a big believer in signs and this could not have been any more clear, I had made the right choice in moving over a thousand miles away from home to experience a new adventure on my own. The chance to represent my chosen home has always been a goal because this city has given me so much. I have experienced some of the best years of my life in Orlando, met my best friends, and grown so much as a person. Orlando is literally filled with magic, and as Miss Orlando for America I knew I would get to be a small part of that magic. Having this title has enriched my life, allowed me to give back to a community I love, and has afforded me the chance to represent the City Beautiful on the Miss Florida for America stage this May!

As a former titleholder in the Miss America organization, what do you see as the biggest difference with your current title?

Miss America will always have a special place in my heart and I will forever be grateful for my two years of service with the organization. However, the Miss for America organization has awakened my love of pageantry. The obvious difference from MAO to MFA is the lack of talent competition. The format of Miss for America is closer to Miss America’s original format, which in my opinion was the true golden years of MAO. Overall, since switching to Miss for America, the organization really allows titleholders to make their year their own. There are a lot less stringent rules and regulations which allows us to take more opportunities as titleholders. 

What has been the most pleasant surprise about your time as Miss Orlando for America?

I have made incredible connections and friendships with the sponsors of Team Orlando as Miss Orlando for America. The individuals and businesses I have been able to meet and get to know will be a connection I will cherish and keep for life. 

How did you select your platform?

I am an advocate for domestic violence awareness. For me, my mission is so much more than a pageant platform, because I am a survivor of domestic violence myself. When I was 19 years old, I suffered through over a year of emotional and physical abuse at the hands of someone I thought loved me. My mission is to help educate teens and young adults on the signs of abuse in relationships and the resources available to help victims get out of a dangerous situation. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 9 men will experience violence at the hands of an intimate partner at some point in their life and this issue has become even more prevalent throughout the global pandemic. Through my work with organizations like Harbor House of Central Florida and the Red Tent Initiative, it is my goal to help decrease the stigma around speaking about domestic violence because the more survivors share the stories, the more victims may be inspired to make the step to choose themselves, seek help, and start a new chapter in their lives. 

You’re a writer for Beauty Queens Galore. What is that experience like?

I have loved pageantry and writing for as long as I can remember. So, to be able to combine those two passions as the lead writer for Beauty Queens Galore is truly my dream job. Our mission is to provide educational and fun tips, news, and trends going on in the pageant world to help new and current contestants stay prepared and connected. If you are looking for a platform to help you prepare for your next pageant that is 100% female owned and operated, we are here to support every queen! Visit our website and social platforms to find out more!

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

I have always been told that I look the most like Snow White, plus she can talk to animals which is pretty much my dream! As a huge animal lover and dog mom to my puppy, Pebbles, I would love to be Snow White just to be able to talk to all the animals for a  day and see what they think about throughout their days! 

---

Great choice!

I want to thank Isabel for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Isabel continues her time as Miss Orlando for America, I encourage you to check out her official and personal Instagram account. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on! You should also be sure to check out her writings at Beauty Queens Galore!

I also want to wish Isabel luck when she competes for Miss Florida for America! It would be fantastic to have the first Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

Thanks again Isabel, and good luck!

To the Person who Hasn’t Been Themselves Lately - a Guest Blog by Katelyn Andrist

This is a guest blog from Katelyn Andrist, embracing her SII: Commit to Confidence: Envisioning A More Confident You! I hope you enjoy it.

“Until you step into the unknown, you don’t know what you’re made of.” - unknown

Dear person who hasn’t been themselves lately,

Your spark will return and you will shine bright just like you were meant to be. I understand life is draining and can be a lot to handle sometimes. You  are strong and these tough times are testing you to become a stronger person. You may feel lost, confused and not you.... it’s okay. Honestly it’s okay to lose yourself because you will find yourself one day again. You will find love, faith, hope and so much more. You will find the best version of yourself. Good things take time (: Your day is coming soon and your light will shine though. What you are feeling right now will pass because it’s just a phase. Phases will pass, they do not last forever. What does last forever is you. Focus and love you. The day you realize how much you have grown and healed is the day you have found yourself. I understand completely it is so hard and painful to look in the mirror and not recognize the face staring back at you. I see and feel your pain. I understand what it is to be lost, confused and honestly give up hope. 

You must remember and keep telling yourself “my day is coming”. The days of the smallest things making you smile and laugh uncontrollably. The day when you can’t stop loving yourself and others. The day where everything falls into place. To make a masterpiece you must fail again and again until it’s beautiful. I promise you will have new friends, people, adventures, love and more(: What is meant to be will be. God knows what you need. This world can be an ugly place and it’s up to you to find the beauty every single day.. trust me it’s hard I understand. I find myself struggling every single day. You are not alone. We all put on a face for others but sometimes it’s just too much. Stop trying to impress and beg for people. if they can’t see your worth from day one then they don’t deserve you. Times like this change us for the better. Everyday we are growing and healing. Your happiness will return. You will return a better person. This phase is almost over. You are enough. You are loved. You are not lost but on a journey.

-Katelyn Andrist, Miss Walnut Valley 

I want to thank Katelyn for sharing this story. 

Answering Your Miss America 100 Questions - Part 2 of A Guest Blog by Elle Mark

On Instagram, I asked what questions people would ask a Miss America 100 candidate. Several wonderful questions were submitted. Elle Mark, Miss Minnesota 2021, was kind enough to take a crack at answering them for us. This is the second of a two part post. I hope you enjoy it!

Photo Courtesy Miss MN Org

When you’re crowned as a state titleholder, people love to ask you “Has it hit you that you’re going to Miss America yet?” and you respond with a polite variation of “no”. My favorite response to the question was, “I don’t think it will hit me until I’m on the flight home!” and frankly, I wasn’t wrong. The flight home from Miss America was the hardest of my life - processing everything that had happened and realizing that the event I had worked towards for so long was over. 

Now that a few weeks have passed and the many emotions have been processed (well, partially processed that is), I’m having a lot of fun reliving my Miss America experience by doing some Q+A! When Section 36 offered me the chance to answer a few of the fans’ questions, I couldn’t resist! 

Without further ado, let’s chat Miss America 100! 

What was it like backstage during the competition?

Photo Courtesy Miss MN Org

It depended on where you were! If you were in the dressing room, the vibe was fun, chatty and supportive! If you were in the general backstage area where candidates were rehearsing and getting in the zone, it was a little more quiet and intense. If you were in the wings ready to go on, it was surreal. Everyone was just in awe of what was happening around us. It’s hard to describe! But it wasn’t like the movies with the cattiness or drama - the vibes were always positive. 

 

What goes through your mind as you’re standing on the Miss America stage?

“Wow - I can’t believe I’m here.” 

 

I never competed in pageants as a kid, but I watched Miss America every single year. Back then, I never knew how to get to the Miss America stage or even how to become Miss Minnesota - yet there I was! It was so surreal, and I was just awe-struck. It was very emotional! 

 

How did you select your gown?

They say “you know when you know” - and golly, I just knew! I went to our gown sponsor, Regalia Magnificent Apparel, and saw the dress on the hanger. I loved the fringey sleeves, but I thought I “didn’t want a black gown”. When I put it on and it zipped up, I instantly started crying. That’s when they told me it was a one-of-a-kind Jovani that had arrived two days earlier and I was the first to try it on. And get this - NO ALTERATIONS NEEDED (which is pretty amazing, if you didn’t know). It was meant to be! 

Photo Courtesy Miss MN Org

What were your first thoughts after it was all over?

“I wish I could go back and do it all again” - and no, not because I had regrets. I wouldn’t change a thing about my performance. I wanted to do it all again because it truly was the time of my life. People tell you how life-changing the experience is, but nothing prepares you for just how empowering it is to be around so many like-minded, motivated, and kind-hearted women. Nothing prepares you for the realization that you are a part of such an incredible legacy. I am humbled beyond belief to have been part of the 100th anniversary class of Miss America. 

I can't thank Elle enough for answering these questions for us. I hope you enjoy both of her posts. 

Answering Your Miss America 100 Questions - A Guest Blog by Elle Mark

On Instagram, I asked what questions people would ask a Miss America 100 candidate. Several wonderful questions were submitted. Elle Mark, Miss Minnesota 2021, was kind enough to take a crack at answering them for us. This is the first of a two part post. I hope you enjoy it!

Photo Courtesy Miss MN Org

When you’re crowned as a state titleholder, people love to ask you “Has it hit you that you’re going to Miss America yet?” and you respond with a polite variation of “no”. My favorite response to the question was, “I don’t think it will hit me until I’m on the flight home!” and frankly, I wasn’t wrong. The flight home from Miss America was the hardest of my life - processing everything that had happened and realizing that the event I had worked towards for so long was over. 

Now that a few weeks have passed and the many emotions have been processed (well, partially processed that is), I’m having a lot of fun reliving my Miss America experience by doing some Q+A! When Section 36 offered me the chance to answer a few of the fans’ questions, I couldn’t resist! 
Without further ado, let’s chat Miss America 100! 

Photo Courtesy Miss MN Org

How did your arrival in Connecticut go?
From the moment I arrived, I felt like a celebrity! We were greeted at the airport by our security team and shuttled (in big black SUVs!!!) to the Mohegan Sun where we checked-in in their beautiful Aspire lobby. From there, we were escorted to our rooms via the private elevators (and yes, I confirmed that J-Lo had used the same elevators) and got to enjoy our beautiful rooms in the Sky Tower. We never went anywhere alone and I truly felt like I was a star. 
 
What kept you grounded during the week?
Alone time! Though I’m an extrovert, I made it a priority to let myself process / relax every night over a cup of tea and a Christmas movie (which was harder than it sounds given how much I wanted to spend time with the other candidates). I also journaled quite a bit and was sure to check-in with my support team before bed. 
 
Did you have a favorite fan/friend/family encounter of the week?
Honestly, I have so many stories about impactful moments with “fans” and friends - from unexpected cards to meeting people who have followed my journey that I didn’t know - it’s hard to pick just one! But if I had to pick JUST one…
 
We had a break in the day on Saturday, and a small group of us wanted to walk around the Mohegan and visit their different stores. There were strict rules on being able to see family / friends during non-visitation hours, but my family decided to try and “catch a glance” of me from the lobby. When I saw them, I freaked out and (because we were in such a small group) one of the security guards said I could go hug them if I was “really quick”. I sprinted over, gave them hugs, and ran back. It seemed so silly and small, but after several days without seeing them during this high stress time, it meant everything to me. 
 
What was the favorite interview question you were asked?

Photo Courtesy Miss MN Org

Gosh - I can barely remember them! I’m one of those people who tends to “black out” a little in interview. What I can remember is that every question was purposeful and it was evident that the judges were prepared / had done their research! I appreciated that a lot. 
 
How did you spend your down time? What were some of your favorite activities with the other candidates? 
There was surprisingly a lot of down time that I spent one of two ways… Napping, or laughing! While we got plenty of sleep, the week is very emotionally exhausting and I knew if I didn’t sleep whenever I felt the need that exhaustion would catch up to me! But when I wasn’t sleeping, I was hanging out with the other candidates. We made a lot of TikToks, sang many random songs, and just bonded over our shared experiences. The job of a state titleholder is unlike any other, so it was empowering to be around so many women who knew exactly what it was like and had gone through the things I was going through. 

I can't thank Elle enough for answering these questions for us. I hope you'll enjoy part two when it comes out. 

Ending Summer With a Sale!

Summer is just about over. Is that cause to celebrate? Or, to buy something fun to cheer you up? Time to put away your Section 36 tank top? Time to pull out your Section 36 sweatshirt? 

Wait, what's that? You don't have a Section 36 shirt? Well, you'd better hurry up and get one! As luck would have it, I'm here to help. Because there's a sale!

Today through Monday, the Section 36 will be on sale! Don't miss this opportunity to show your support for the blog all year long! 

So, head over right now and select something that you like. But, don't delay. The sale only runs through Monday! That's right only a few days before prices go back to their regular levels.

Click Here Now!

And, as always, when you do get an item, send me a picture wearing it for me to share with the world! The blog, Facebook, and even Instagram!

Like Bridget did! (With some help from K. Garcia Productions)

Sweatshirts like this are on sale!

Like Kylee did to show off her amazing new tank top.

Tank tops like this are on sale!

Or like Erin did with her tank!

Tank tops like this are on sale!

(Yeah, that tank top is my best seller!)

Or Nicolette, who went with a great t-shirt!

T-Shirts like this are on sale!

Or like Allison did!

T-Shirts like this are on sale!

Or, like Emily did!

Mugs like this are on sale!

But, first you need to buy something you like. There's a lot to choose from.

What will you get?

The available style and color combinations are practically endless!

Which is your favorite?

The Gastonia Honey Hunters Opening Night - a Guest Blog by Julia DeSerio

This guest blog from Julia DeSerio chronicles her appearance as Miss Gastonia at the inaugural opening day for the independent baseball team the Gastonia Honey Hunters. I hope you enjoy it.

I can’t even begin to describe the sense of energy, excitement and community our very first Gastonia Honey Hunters game brought to the City of Gastonia. The culmination of nearly a decade's worth of diligent and intentional work from our community leaders finally came to fruition as we gathered and celebrated the opening game for our brand new professional baseball team.

Affiliated with the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, The Gastonia Honey Hunters are owned by Brandon Bellamy, the only Black majority owner in baseball. The name pays homage to a famous figure in Gaston County’s past: Ransom Hunter. Mr. Hunter is believed to be the county’s first freed slave and the first to own property there. “Honey Hunters was chosen to reflect the shared traits between the City of Gastonia and those of the world’s most fearless animal: fearless, determined, and resilient,” Bellamy said in a statement.

The FUSE Stadium, now named Caromont Health Park,

proved to be a wonderful place to make memories and mingle, all while enjoying America's greatest pastime. This was the most “normal” event I’ve attended in my year and a half of serving as Miss Gastonia, and it felt SO GOOD to interact with community members safely with my COVID vaccine. I ran into Andrea Jasper, who serves as the executive director of the Miss Taste of Charlotte Organization. It was so good to see her and briefly catch up, sharing our excitement for the upcoming Miss North Carolina Competition.

Mayor Walker Reid, Councilwoman Jennifer Stepp, and Councilman Robert Kellogg were among several community leaders in attendance that I also got to celebrate with. Even my family got to join in on the fun and drove from South Carolina to attend the event. This was their first time tagging along with me as Miss Gastonia, and it was a blast to show them a small part of my job and the wonderful people I get to represent.

These moments were made all the more special by the phenomenal Honey Hunters staff, many of whom are Gastonia community members.

This is Reginald, who is now a retiredGaston County Schools teacher and active musician, working at the park for fun this season. 

Stacey Malker is a force within the Gastonia community, and I am so thankful to know her and have seen her adorned in Honey Hunters gear and serving during the game. We are so thankful for your service and appreciate your hospitable spirits.

Now for the most star-studded moment of the evening…Ervin "Magic" Johnson of the LA Lakers flew in to throw the opening pitch for the game! I was bound and determined to say hello, and I got even better…I GOT A PICTURE! It was at this moment I understood a whole new level of “the power of the crown…” What a priceless memory and privilege! 
I am often asked what my favorite thing about Gastonia is, and I always answer with pride and confidence:

“C O M M U N I T Y.”

These photos represent just a handful of the kind, enthusiastic, friendly and accepting community members I got to interact with on opening day, and I am so grateful for how lovingly they have welcomed me as their representative. Serving this city and its people during such a tumultuous, triumphant and historic year has truly been the greatest honor of my lifetime, and the people of Gastonia never cease to amaze me.

Gastonia: I carry your huge heart with me every single day, and I cannot wait to wear our city’s name across my sash at the 83rd Miss North Carolina Competition!

I want to thank Julia for sharing this story. 

New Name. Same Section 36!

When I first started a Pageants blog, I admitted that it took me by surprise. I was writing a Red Sox fan blog. How did that branch into Pageants? But, I realized that as I conducted more interviews with titleholders on the Red Sox blog, they needed their own space to be properly celebrated. I said it would evolve as I went and found its true focus.

And, evolve it has.

To the point where the name didn't even make sense anymore. I realized I wasn't "covering" pageants. I didn't make predictions on pageant winners. I didn't report on winners of each pageant. In all the articles I posted about the actual Miss America competition, for instance, I don't think I mentioned the winner once. (And, I mean, Miss America isn't even a "pageant" anymore.) Who did I mention? The titleholders who had interviewed previously with Section 36. I talked about how they did. That was my focus. This is a true spin-off from the Red Sox blog, celebrating the amazing titleholders who have already been interviewed and just can use more space to share their story. A place to talk about their events. A place to post guest blogs about topics important to them. A place for the amazing women who will forever be part of the Section 36 family. Hmm...forever. I like that...

Introducing "Section 36 Forevers".

A new name, for a new focus. Hopefully that will let people know we're still dealing with titleholders, but the focus is on the women, not the organizations. Forever titleholders, and forever a part of Section 36. 

What else will change? Hopefully not so much of a change as an expansion. I've been honored to be able to post some amazing guest blogs from titleholders in the Section 36 family. (Those have all been transferred over to the new name.) I hope that will continue and grow. I still plan on posting announcements from the forevers when they come up, along with any number of things that come my way. But, I want to simply emphasize the titleholders themselves...who they are, what they do, what is important to them. This is all about them.

Forever.