Contestant 3: Isabelle Delosreyes

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 the contestants and got their side of the story.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: Why do you want to be Miss Stanton? ISABELLE DELOSREYES: The reason I want to be Miss Stanton is because I want to show an example to the underclassmen of our school how it does not matter what you look like or where you are from and that its okay to showcase yourself and be proud of yourself. It is important to emphasize confidence amongst other girls because people are to focused on the physicality but should focus on the inner confidence which brings up the inner beauty of Miss Stanton.

DA: Who is your biggest role model? Has this person influenced you to run for Miss Stanton in anyway? ID: My biggest role model, it sounds cliche, but it’s my mom. Because when we first came to America, she made a lot of sacrifices for us. At first it was just my dad here in America. She sacrificed being with him for my education and my future. Her example really showed me what love is truly like and that includes sacrifices. which is why I do Miss Stanton. I sacrifice a lot of time to my community; I always volunteer a lot, especially with my church. I volunteer to spread love around the world especially here in Jacksonville.

DA: What are your thoughts about the atmosphere here at Stanton? ID: I believe it’s a good atmosphere because we are very fortunate for the educational system we have here. We are very fortunate to have adults, guidance counselors and other students who help us strive to do our best academically and fundamentally.

DA: What is some advice or key points you have taken from your previous years at Stanton? ID: One of my key points of advice is to be yourself. It sounds cliche but from my experience of having older relatives who went to Stanton, there’s always a burden of a legacy they leave behind and the feeling that you need to follow it. Through my experience, I have realized in order to truly embrace your four years at Stanton, it is important to get to know yourself rather than trying to follow someone’s footsteps. Because you are responsible for what you leave behind here and the examples you set upon underclassmen. Especially since I have two younger sisters, they will be following after me and I need to set good examples and morals as they embark on future challenges in life.

DA: What makes you unique from other contestants? ID: What makes me unique is that I was born in a different country and I moved here when I was little. I still remember events of my life where moving as an immigrant is not as fortunate as my life now. I know what it is like, especially since my trip about two years ago when I went back to the Philippines i was able to see how fortunate I was to move to America. Especially with the given education I have that my parents were able to provide for me. I feel like I am different because I am able to experience different worlds.

DA: What is the most rewarding part about running for this pageant? ID: The most rewarding part is the experience that is taken from Miss Stanton. No matter what happens the night of the patent, It doesn't matter if you win or loose. The only thing that matters is if you had a good time because I know not only me but all the other contestant have invested so much time and effort into this pageant. It would be a waste if we saw it as a competition but rather it is more of a bonding experience between all of us to try to get to know each other better since we are all on different part of the school.

DA: What kind of difference will you make if you win the “Miss Stanton” title? ID: A difference I would make is embracing diversity and culture at Stanton. I am very active in the Multicultural club here at school and I want for people of color to embrace themselves more. The issues of equality have really improved over time especially back in the civil war eras. There is still some discrimination in America especially with the issue we have today.

DA: What makes you qualified to run for Miss Stanton? ID: I believe what makes me qualified to make me run for Miss Stanton is of how much people look up to me here at school. I have lot of friends who are younger than me and I am always known as the one who sets the example for them. They always know me because I am so involved in school especially through Multi, Honor Society, Club Unity and I am in the Kind Project. Which is a club one of the other contestants started here at school and it’s helps with the Ronald McDonald children who have illnesses from other countries.

DA: How would you describe your relationship with the other contestants? ID: My relationships with the other contestants, we have quite a sisterly bond. We don’t see each other as competition at all because we always encouraging each other to do out best. Whenever we mess up during rehearsal, we always try to help each other spirits and encourage them not to give up. There are times where you're not having a good day but when it comes to rehearsals, we are always there to open up to each other and to tell each other that it’s going to be okay.

DA: How do you plan to act as a role model to underclassmen thinking about running for Miss Stanton?
ID: I am plan to be a role model to other students who are younger than me through by simply just being who I am. I want to show them that, it doesn't matter what you look like, your academic standpoint, or where you are from. Anyone can be Miss Stanton, as long as you are confident in yourself and you are brave to do what you believe to do. I want to show them that you shouldn't be scared to say what they want to say. My issue or my platform, will be quite a sensitive topic but I want to know that it is okay to speak out on things like that rather than hiding behind other voices because the smallest things can make a big difference in the world. The topic of my platform is racism and diversity. It mainly touches on xenophobia, which is the fear of other cultures.