Q&A: 2018 Miss Stanton Contestant #13 Sampada Nyalapatla
BROOKE DAVIS AND JAELYN BROWNE | FEB. 22, 2018 | Q&A
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — With the Miss Stanton Pageant around the corner, the pressure is on for all the young women who are participating to represent Stanton. To understand their hopes for the pageant and what they have taken away from it, Devil’s Advocate interviewed them and got their side of the story.
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: Why did you decide to run for Miss Stanton?
SAMPADA NYALAPATLA: It was a good opportunity to do something that I have never done before. I wanted to get closer with all of the other girls and participate in something fun, new and interesting for me.
DA: How do you respond to the negative connotation that often comes with beauty pageants?
SN: I would say that it is not all about how you look, talent is a big part of it. Pageants are about trying to show that you are a well rounded person and that you are not just standing up there and getting an award for being pretty. It is also about the way that you speak and present yourself. There is so much preparation you have to put into it besides just putting some makeup on and going on stage.
DA: How will you make a difference in our school if you become Miss Stanton?
SN: I honestly do not think it would make that much of a difference to the everyday life of the school and it is not like people’s lives are going to change, but I would definitely bring more awareness to things that I think are important and be a friend people can come to for help if they need anything. I want to be a positive person people know is here for them when they are going through things at home and need someone to help them out or talk to them.
DA: What does the title of Miss Stanton mean to you?
SN: Well it is not just a popularity label, I think it means that you are a well rounded person who can stand up for yourself and present yourself well in front of groups of people. It also means you get to showcase your talent and share who you are with people and your school.
DA: Who is your biggest role model and why?
SN: I would definitely say that my biggest role model is my mom- I know that it sounds kind of cliche to say your mom- but in the past few years I have truly realized that she really is the strongest person that I know. I have never heard my mom say “oh, I’m tired, I don’t want to do this,” because she is so energetic and on top of things all the time. She has even gone back to school recently to get a new degree and I think it is amazing how she can balance so many things so well.
DA: What is a cause that you are passionate about?
SN: My speech [for the pageant] is about ending childhood marriage and honestly I have gotten even more passionate about it since I began preparing for the pageant. As I have been researching this issue, I have realized just how prominent it is especially where I am from because [in India], everyone gets married young. My mom told me that my grandma got married when she was only 14 years old and it is crazy to me that so many people are forced into a life that they don’t want so early.. There is not enough awareness about this topic and I think that just because we are having a good life does not mean we shouldn’t go out and try to help other people.
DA: What makes you qualified to become Miss Stanton?
SN: I think I am qualified to become the next Miss Stanton because I am outgoing and when I feel passionate about something I make sure to speak up about it and let my feelings about it out. I am always there for people when they need someone and people always ask me why I am always smiling and happy. I am aware that people go through their own things at home so I see school as a place where I can spread some positivity to people who are stressed and going through hard things.
DA: How do you juggle preparing for the pageant with your schoolwork?
SN: Well, it has been a little hard because I sometimes procrastinate as it is and adding this on top of it can get difficult but I have realized that doing the pageant has made me better at planning things out because it is so important to me. Every step of the way leads up to the big night, so I try to always get my homework done and rehearse every day which has forced me to become more organized.
DA: If you had the chance, would you participate in the pageant again? Why?
SN: I would definitely say yes! I do not regret participating in the pageant one bit because I love it and have gotten the chance to become so much closer with all of the girls. I feel like it has been a really good experience and everything has felt so natural. It is definitely something I would want to do again.
DA: What led you to choose Bollywood dance as your talent?
SN: I have been dancing since I was a little girl. I first did classical dance, then I took a little break, and ever since then I have been into Bollywood dancing and performances. I also teach kids Bollywood dance; in fact, basically all I do over the weekend is teach kids dance and I get paid for it, which I have been putting toward the pageant as well. Bollywood dance is a part of my culture that I would not want to drift away from. The songs and dances are so upbeat and I love the colorful costumes, too.
DA: To what extent has your culture influenced who you are as a person?
SN: I would definitely say that my culture is not just a small aspect of my life; it is who I am. I am proud to be who I am and every day I try to get to know my culture better. Living in a different country, it is hard to really know the roots of where you are from, especially being from India which has such a rich history and culture that I probably wouldn’t know much about if I did not try to learn about it on my own.
DA: One last question- what has been the most rewarding part about the pageant so far?
SN: Probably getting so close with all the other girls. Before, I was close with them and I did talk to them but now we all have a mutual thing to bond over and stress out about together and we have all gotten very close.