Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Sept. 27, 2017, edition 1 / Page 11
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27,2D17 | PAGE 11 llaSSma iss Teen to Bon scene Michaela Jacobs began entering pageants at the age of 17. Now, the Elen Univerisy Freshman is continuing to pursue her dreams as a member ot the Music Theatre ciass of 2021. Emily Harrison Breaking News Manager! (Seharrisonjin Michaela Jacobs is reign ing Miss Florida 2017, a past Miss Teen USA 2016 and as of this year is a member of Elon University’s class of 2021. With such major accom plishments in the pageantry world, it may seem like Ja cobs is experienced in par ticipating in beauty pageants. But that isn’t the case. Jacobs NATIONAL WIN Freshman Michaela Jacobs became Miss Teen USA 2016 after competing in her first pageant and is the reigning Miss Florida 2017. first entered a beauty pageant on a whim at 17 and pro ceeded to win on a na tional level. Jacobs still de scribes the event as a surreal mo ment. “There is that initial moment where you are like, ‘OMG, is this me?”’ Jacobs said. “‘Did this really just happen?’ Just utter elation. And sheer joy. I still can’t believe it.” At her first pageant, when Jacobs became Miss Teen USA 2016, her career as a beauty pageant queen took off. She traveled across the United States where she met other important figures in the pageantry world. From there Jacobs added to her growing resume the title of Miss Florida 2017, which she still holds. Jacobs said the pageantry world changed her life for the better. “I was so pleasantly sur prised,” Jacobs said. “It really has shaped my path, who I am and the choices that I’ve made. I am just so honored to be involved in a community of women who are so driven, so passionate and so commit ted to their platform topics — whatever they may be.” Jacobs acts as an ambas sador for beauty pageant queens across the United States, and platform topics is one of the requirements of being a contestant. Plat form topics are causes that Michaela Jacobs holds the title of Miss Florida 2017, after winning Miss Teen USA last year. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY MICHAEW JACOBS contestants choose to stand for and represent while competing. Throughout her years competing, Jacobs has represented two causes, one of which being The Crown Cares. The Crown Cares, or otherwise known as Creat ing A Respectful Environ ment in School, is specifi cally designed to promote awareness about bullying in schools in students of every grade. Through social clubs, anti-bullying books, and various craft activi ties, Jacobs says there is so much more to being a beau lA I LIKE TO SAY THERE ARE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS’AND I KNOW THAT DEFINES MY STORY. MICHAELA JACOBS FRESHMAN ty queen than meets the eye. It’s about being a role model. “I like to say there are ‘tri als and triumphs,’ and I know that defines my story. I’ve had so many trials in my life lead ing up to this point,” Jacobs said. “That the triumph that I have to now hold the title of Miss Florida and to encour age young girls who are going through trials of their own, that there’s hope for them.” Jacobs has faced many trials throughout her life in cluding scoliosis. She was first diagnosed during her freshman year of high school, and was told to not dance during the talent competi tions. “When I was diagnosed, I was initially told that I shouldn’t dance. That it wasn’t healthy for me. That it wasn’t recommended,” Jacobs said. “But it was my passion, and how could I walk away from that?” Instead, Jacobs uses her scoliosis as her strength, us ing it to connect with chil dren who also live with the condition. She is an ambas sador of Scoliosis Aware ness and uses her position as a beauty pageant queen to gain more awareness for the cause. For Jacobs, the point of being a beauty pageant queen is so she can help encour age younger girls all over the country. “Now I can encourage other girls who are facing issues of their own whether it is with a health issue like scoliosis, a mental issue that they are facing, or whatever it might be. That there is hope for them, and that they can overcome it,” Jacobs said. “They can be the best ver sions of themselves, too.” But being a beauty pag eant queen isn’t just about bettering others, but also herself. Jacobs suffered from insecurity all throughout her middle school and high school years, and being a beauty pageant queen gave her the confidence boost she needed to hold her head up high. “It really just taught me that the only thing holding me back is myself. That my fears can’t stifle my passions,” Jacobs said. “And once I was able to overcome those and then win that national title, the sky was truly the limit.” For now, Jacobs has decid ed to take a short break from the pageant world to focus on her education in Musical Theatre at Elon, which cur rently has one of the most prestigious Musical Theatre programs in the country with more than 800 applicants applying and only 20 accept ed. As a member of this elite group, Jacobs said she is hap py to be here, but will not for get her pageant roots as it is a part of her now.
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