For as long as I have desired this title of Miss North Carolina and have been in countless pageants from ages 14-26 I really only wanted one thing. Confidence. When I would see the other contestants, I wanted that and I thought it was included in the crown that you received. I guess I just believed that confidence would, by osmosis, just drip into me and I could finally be who I was too scared and too insecure to become.
As I am reflecting, with pageant week in full affect, honestly I finally understand the whole idea of confidence and pageantry. When that crown is placed on your head it is not meant to give you confidence. Those gems and jewels are meant to reflect that light that is confidence. The essence of who you are. The essence of who I am. I am the light. I am the essence. I am confidence! I have never felt more confident than I do now.
Win or lose I feel like I truly and honestly have won. I FINALLY became who I always wanted. I was so broken then, shattered, in shambles. So decided to became the woman the little girl wanted to be so desperately. Now, I am greater than my greatest small dream back then because now I know I can’t be stopped. It took blood, sweat, pain, scars, and A LOT of tear, but I have arrived!
Every dream and vision I had for myself are just simply my to do list now. Like every checklist some things you accomplish and check off some don’t. I’m just aiming for another check off my list. Prayerfully next time I report I’ll be reporting live as your MISS NORTH CAROLINA USA 2021!!
See you on stage,
Alaisha Pratt
