Q&A: 2018 Miss Stanton Contestant #9 Zahria Womack
SERENE SHIBLY AND LILLIE DUNN | 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?
ZAHRIA WOMACK: When I was in elementary school, I actually did pageants and it was an experience that I was so grateful for. When I was in third grade, I won my first title as Miss Sunshine State and after that, I just fell in love with it. Honestly, if I could live my life over again, I would've done more pageants. But, after that, I just kind of stopped. So, being in Miss Stanton kind of revamped that energy I had.
DA: Is there a reason you stopped doing pageants?
ZW: Well, to do it on state levels, it's very expensive. After I started middle school I was busy so I just stopped.
DA: What is your response to the negative connotations of beauty pageants?
ZW: I honestly think it's all a matter on how it's portrayed on television, because from actually being in pageants, I know differently. Although it may seem demeaning to women, it's a great experience to get out and meet new people and build friendships and identify your strengths and weaknesses and become more comfortable with yourself and become more confident. I would honestly encourage more people to do pageants and not base everything they hear off of television.
DA: How do you think this experience differs from the other pageants you have participated in when you were younger?
ZW: I know for a fact that doing state pageants is a lot more competitive and is also very time consuming. You have to get these things ready months in advance and it's just a whole new level. You're not with people you go to school with, you're with people that are from different cities, and they usually last longer.
DA: What is a cause you're passionate about?
ZW: Something I'm passionate about would be volunteering and institutions that are geared towards helping children with illnesses. Growing up, I was always sick and was always in and out of the hospital. I think that it's great that we have these institutions children can go to, it releases the pressure off the parents and it's a great way for them to know that they don't have to go through this alone. I started volunteering at Nemours Children's Hospital last summer and I fell in love with it there, just being with the children and giving them a distraction from whatever they're going through.
DA: Were you ever sick during your pageants as a child?
ZW: Yes, when I used to do pageants, I had terrible allergies. I was allergic to a lot of things, like cats and dogs and dust mites. I couldn’t do anything, but I still managed to get out there and do different things, I didn't let that stop me.
DA: How will you make a difference as Miss Stanton?
ZW: I feel like Miss Stanton, because she is a representative of this school, should be more involved in what goes on around the school as far as pep rallies and getting more people involved into clubs. I'm the type of person that doesn't want to exclude anyone, so I would try to reach out to more people.
DA: What does the title of Miss Stanton mean to you?
ZW: It means representing the school and also a reminder of such a great time in my life because I know not a lot of girls get this opportunity to be in things like this. To be apart of it, it's something that I'm going to cherish for the rest of my life. I went from passing some of the girls in the hallways and now I have these friendships with them that I'd never thought I'd have. Like I said, it's something that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life.
DA: Who has been your biggest supporter throughout this process?
ZW: Definitely my mom, because she pushes me to do my best and she always reminds me of what it means to be a strong and independent woman. Going all the way back to before I was born, and when my father was in the military, she always found a way to make things work and that is what I aspire to do when I grow up. She instills that in me every day, especially in doing this pageant.
DA: Who do you consider your biggest role model?
ZW: I would say Alicia Keys because when I was five years and began playing piano I used to always see her on TV and she would be playing. My main goal at that time was 'I want to be better than Alicia Keys!' So, my mom, she put me in lessons and then it just grew from there, and I actually fell in love with classical music. That’s what I mostly play the piano, and I just fell in love, even though I might not be better than her, I love piano now! It’s a great way for me to relieve stress and express my emotions.
DA: What has been your biggest obstacle throughout this experience?
ZW: I feel like for anyone, just having the courage to put yourself out there in such a way. In middle school, of course, you're transitioning, you're trying to figure out who you are, it can be kind of difficult. There are some times where you may not be sure what you want to do, or what your self-worth is. So, for me to get involved in something like this, it does reaffirm what I want, and it's something that I enjoy doing.
DA: How have you been handling the obstacle of gaining courage?
ZW: Well, just to keep myself from overthinking and not getting too nervous. I've been practicing. Practice makes perfect! It's true, because if you don’t practice, how do you expect to do well? How do you expect to perform to your best ability if you don’t practice?
DA: How has your life changed since you have run for Miss Stanton?
ZW: I think I've become more grateful for the experiences in my life. Like I said, from going years without doing this, to being able to do it again and knowing that I probably won't have this experience ever again, it’s a very big deal for me.
DA: If you do win Miss Stanton, do you get to go to a higher-level pageant?
ZW: Yes! There is actually another pageant, the Miss Senior High Pageant.
DA: So, it's not the same experience, but it is similar?
ZW: Yeah, it would definitely be like a dream.
DA: How will you juggle the responsibilities that come with the title Miss Stanton?
ZW: Well, obviously I would have to work more on time management. I would definitely make time to fulfill my duties as Miss Stanton and also keep up with my schoolwork, and piano as well. I've been doing that for almost twelve years now. But doing pageants, and winning the title is a great way to incorporate the things in your life that you're so involved with.