Contestant 1: Courtney Harold

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, the Devil’s Advocate interviewed them and got their side of the story.

Devil's Advocate: What does winning the title “Miss Stanton” Mean to you? Courtney Harold: Winning the title of “Miss Stanton” means to me achieving a goal that I have always wanted to achieve and it means that I would be putting my best foot forward, and I feel that my optimistic and hopeful attitude will be a very good asset to the Miss Stanton platform.

DA: Is there anything that influenced you to run in the Miss Stanton pageant? CH: A family friend ran for Miss Raines when I was in my 8th grade school year and I realized how much of a great experience it was and also how it helped build me up as a young lady for the future so I wanted to experience that.

DA: What makes this event important to you? CH: What makes this event important to me right now is that my grandfather always taught me to fight for my dreams and on last Tuesday, he passed so I want to make sure I put my best foot forward and make him happy because he has always wanted me to achieve my dreams.

DA: Other than yourself, which contestant do you think should win the Miss Stanton pageant? CH: I would say HanLe McDaniel because she is very positive, loving, serving, and is very sociable and welcoming to others.

DA: How has this competitive event changed your point of view on the other contestants? CH: Before this competitive event, I did not have a viewpoint on them, but I have learned about and created something with the other 12 contestants which I hope will carry on in life.

DA: What is one important quality the winner of the title “Miss Stanton” should have and why? CH: Winning the Miss Stanton pageant is about being open to change and not be stuck on one view of doing things because they will be a leader of the school so they should be welcoming of others’ opinions regarding the school.

DA: Why did you decide to run? CH: I decided to run because it would be a great experience and I feel that I exemplify the 4 points of the crown – style, scholarship, success, and service. I exemplify these by my academic achievements like NHS and NSHSS and accomplishments by being a certified preparer, by the way I carry myself and my optimistic attitude, and for service, my volunteer work at Clear White Mission and other nonprofits. I feel that I am worth to be Miss Stanton and that is why I am running.

DA: What would you gain out of running in the pageant? CH: By running in the pageant, I gain encouragement, strength, hard work, and perseverance because getting on the stage in front of hundreds of people will open me up to conquer anything.

DA: Speaking as an upper-classmen, what advice do you have for people just coming into Stanton about balancing school life and other time-consuming events, like the pageant? CH: Make sure that they use their time wisely that they use small chunks of time, whether they have 20 minutes here or 20 minutes there, that they better not waste it because small chunks of time can add up to getting a lot done so you can have more time for things you love to do like competing in sports or pageants.

DA: What talent will you showcase? CH: I will be showcasing dance, a jazz piece, I chose to showcase this talent because it exemplifies my energetic and happy attitude.

DA: Finally, who is your biggest role model? CH: My biggest role model is my big brother because he has shown what hard work and dedication mean over my 17 years of living. My brother attended Stanton College Preparatory School while playing varsity basketball and having two jobs. He told me that nothing is too hard and to always reach for the stars.