Contestant 9: HanhLe McDaniel

JACKSONVILLE, FL (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 are you running for Miss Stanton? HANHLE MCDANIEL: I’m running it for the experience. My mom actually got me into it because she said, ‘you’re only seventeen once, so why not have fun while you’re at it.

DA: What are your hobbies? HM: I like to go to the beach, play golf, and I watch surgeries in my free time. I want to be a cardiothoracic surgeon.

DA: What do you think sets you apart from the other Miss Stanton candidates? HM: Something that sets me apart would be my positivity and optimism in everything that I do. Sometimes we are in a rut at practice and I just try to lighten the mood up.

DA: Who is your role model in life? HM: My mother. She was actually an immigrant from Vietnam and it was really hard to come over here, but she made it through and she has taught me to be a strong woman.

DA: What is something that you are passionate about? HM: I am passionate about volunteering. I believe that since some of us are really privileged we should give our time and volunteer to do something good.

DA: If you have any, what is your prior experience with pageants? HM: I don’t have any prior experience, this is my first time.

DA: How do you participate or play a role in your local community? HM: I volunteer at Five Star Veterans Center. We cook breakfast for the veterans there. I also volunteer at the hospital full time during the summer.

DA: What do you plan to do after high school? HM: After high school, I want to attend USF and get my bachelor’s in biomedical sciences.

DA: How do you feel regarding the negative opinions and views on pageants? HM: I believe that some people who have not participated in pageants don’t know what it’s really like and the rigor to go through it. It’s not something to show off how pretty you are, but more of an overall personality. It is more than about looks.

DA: How much preparation time have you spent for the Miss Stanton pageant? HM: Overall, I’d say about ten hours. There is a lot of work at home to do like rehearsing, getting papers together, such as baby pictures, and practicing the opening number. I have had a lot of fun. I’ve also made a lot of new friends.

DA: What has been your favorite part about preparing for the Miss Stanton pageant? HM: The rehearsals are so much fun because we just dance around and we have fun basically. I have made a lot of new friends and stronger bonds.

DA: What tips do you have for anyone considering to run for Miss Stanton next year? HM: Don’t change your talent or something that you’ve already established.

DA: Do you feel that there are a lot of requirements? HM: There are a lot of requirements, such as your GPA and keeping that up. Mainly your composure and keeping face.

DA: If you win Miss Stanton, what do you plan to do for the school? HM: I plan to help my peers and the students at the school with their workload and help them understand that at the end it’s the outcome.