It's Queen Saturday and this time we bring you international queens!!! The British queens who won the international crowns in Texas back in June. Macie, Atlanta and Sara were part of team YEMI (Young European International Pageant) who took the YAMI titles (Young American Miss International) and has been making waves with those amazing crowns ever since! They may hand over their European crowns in November but they have paved the way for British girls in American pageants, with next year's winner having a chance to compete in the Young Miss International, ran by Sabrina Hubbard! We asked them about their American journey and their advice to others looking to follow in their footsteps! (We haven't forgot our little YAMI winner Mia, look out for her feature soon!).
Young American International Teen Macie
How did you feel winning in America and how did you prepare?
For years I’d wanted to compete internationally and this was my big chance. I wanted to do well, so I knew I needed to try hard and focus, so I could achieve bigger and better, learning more as I go along. It helps that I’ve got such an amazing support network!My family sponsor me and are really supportive, and my directors are so helpful. They are there every day without fail, and always happy to help. The official crowning moment was extremely intense. After months of build-up and hard work, it all came down to this one moment. It was narrowed down to two finalists and when they called my name I was star struck. I was shaking with excitement and happiness. This was all very exciting, I felt really proud to have accomplished something, whilst helping people within my community knowing that without a lot of peoples help I’d never be the person I am today. My family are so proud, and we’re all really excited to return to America next year to compete in Young Miss International.
What is your platform and plans for this year?
This year’s platform is working closely with the Ronald Mc Donald house Charities! To be able to inspire others is something very close to my heart and so the organisation which I choose to work, The Ronald Mc Donald house in Cardiff. At Ronald McDonald House Charities, they provide free ‘home away from home’ accommodation at specialist children's hospitals across the UK, enabling families to stay close to their child and maintain a degree of normal family life, while their child is undergoing medical treatment in partnered specialist children's hospital across the UK!
This is just one of the many charities which I will be choosing to help, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and my many other chosen charities
What advice would you give to girls looking to competing internationally ?
The best peace of advice I can give to anyone who is looking to compete internationally is, although we may need a lot of preparation you must always remember to never forget the reason you wanted to start this journey. Always smiling and just being you will be the best preparation you can give yourself, making your personality shine on and off stage.
Young American Miss International- Atlanta
How did
it feel winning in America and how did you prepare?
Everybody has a feeling/sense of what they will feel when their
name is called as the winner of any pageant, and they’re usually the same, or
run along the lines of bursting into tears of joy! However, when I won I
couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for our YEMI team! At the Young
American Miss International pageant winners are called by the age groups taking
to the stage then announcing side awards and the lucky top 2, shortly before my
winning moment my teen sister queen Macie was called into the top 2 and I
completely lost my sense of worry for my stage moment and began cheering on for
Macie to be our winner, and luckily enough she was! I was barely over her
winning moment and sense of joy that I knew 2 International crowns were coming
home when I was re-called to the stage to determine my placing in the pageant.
I was called into the top 2 and the outcome no longer seemed so
daunting knowing some of my girls had done it was enough for me! When it was
announced that I was the new Young American Miss International I thanked the
judges and hugged my runner-up having known what that positioned had felt like
many times, I was so happy I accomplished my goal of being an international
winner.
I prepared nearly every night after winning Young European Miss International
by constantly bombarding the queen group chat with dress ideas and constant
updates on how I was answering my application, it’s fair to say I think I was
often muted after debating the same dress in several different colours on a
weekly basis. Once all my outfits where decided, I began practicing over and
over on how I would step up to the stage with my dresses and in which way to
stand when answering my on-stage question. I also made a checklist which helped
me remember every little thing I may need, which is why my suitcase was over
the weight limit there and back!
There are a few things you cannot prepare for, like your winning
moment or how to handle a loss, but when your moment comes you will feel many
emotions which eventually turn into those tears we love to see on a winner
face!
What is
your platform and your plans for your year?
I have been working with CHECT since 2015 when I won my first
national pageant title, they are a children’s eye cancer charity fighting Retinoblastoma,
Retinoblastoma is a rare form of eye cancer that affects babies and young
children, usually under the age of six. Around one child a week is diagnosed in
the UK. I often run charity tombola stalls with my mum (also a YEMI finalist)
to raise funds for this charity I have also held online photo competitions and
used JustGiving to raise funds.
I plan to use my title for more appearances in the pageant
community and promote the YAMI title in the UK, my local area knows me now as a
pageant girl and all about my international travels, so I hope to spread the
word about the Young American International pageant in the UK pageant community
by attending pageant events and fundraisers whilst meeting new contestants in
other systems!
What advice would you
give to girls looking to compete internationally?
My advice would be to thoroughly check that the pageant system
is right for you and that you trust where your entry fee and charity money is
going, lately I have seen so many discrepancies in the pageant community which
I am shocked at and even more shocked that people do not do their research or
still enter/support a number of these systems.
Too often I am seeing heartbroken girls who’s trips to compete
internationally have been snatched away from them and I often think how much
misery could have been avoided if more research and planning had been put into
there international hopes rather than entering any system that offer a free
trip.
If you are wanting to compete internationally, know in which way
you want to do this. A big “trend” in the UK pageant scene at the moment are
pageants adding ‘World’ or ‘International’ to the systems name whilst you are
still competing in the UK against girls from across the UK, if your dream is to
compete in another country against girls from across the globe, ask directors more
questions and more about where the pageant leads or will take you as a
contestant.
On a more positive note anyone wanting to compete
internationally, from children’s pageants to male, take every moment seriously,
from your application to how you portray yourself on social media, it ALL
counts, remember how you are conducting your self not only on stage but at
appearances, all of this will make you a well rounded queen ready to take the
international stage, which ever that one maybe! Your moment will come you just
have to find the right director, ethos and system to represent, there is a lot
more to it then how much your gown costs and how many titles you’ve held in
your pageant career, this is a forever developing fast paced hobby, take your
time and enjoy it while you can!
Young American Miss International Beauty Supreme Sara
How did it feel winning in America and how did you prepare?
Winning in America was incredible! I felt so proud to have won an international title at YAMI and it really means a lot to me. After years of dreaming of being an international title holder I was determined to find the right system and make it happen! I couldn’t believe it when my name was called as a YAMI Supreme Beauty Queen and I was so happy that I could prove to myself that if you have goals and aspirations, you should keep working towards them as you can make it happen!
In order for me to feel prepared for a pageant I will always make a list of everything I need to do in the months leading up to the pageant weather it be appearances, sorting out outfits, practicing, or anything else pageant related. I believe that Preperation is key and by doing so means that I can relax and be myself without worrying I’ve forgotten anything!
What is your platform and your plans for your year?
I have many plans for my year as a YAMI Queen and I am greatful that I have had the chance to work with so many causes and charities and will continue to do so.
My platform is working with and helping NICU units.
I have been working on a project to knit blankets for babies in my local NICU and getting others involved with this also. This has been great to be involved with as I can directly see how much this is helping. The NICU I first arranged this with was for the one that looked after me.
As a premature baby myself and after needing so much care when I was in the NICU and hearing about what my family went through I really wanted to be able to do something to help and support babies and their families during the time at the NICU .
As there is not enough funding for NICU units to be able to receive all the resources that are needed I wanted to do what I could to help. I will be continuing to support NICU units by collecting/ delivering donations, helping out and taking part in events. September and November are important months for NICU and Premature babies as these are the awareness months with many events happening to help NICU Units, premature babies and their families.
What advice would you give to girls looking to compete internationally?
To never give up! I competed twice at YAMI and walked away with an international crown, proving that sticking to a system that I believed in truly does pay off. Research and keep going!
If you would like the chance to be able to compete in YAMI next June in Texas, enter the European Heat at www.yemipageants.co.uk or if you are outside Europe then visit www.youngamerican,iss.com
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