World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to welcome amazing Queen Erika Ponce Mrs. Senora United States 2021-2022.
Full name: Erika Ponce
Title/Year: Mrs. Senora United States 2021-2022
Pageant System: Women empowerment
Age: 47 years old
Education Level: Master degree in Family Nurse Practitioner
Zodiac sign: Capricorn
Hobbies: Travel, crafts, interior design, archery
Platform: Encourage education for the Hispanic community
Years competed: 3 years
Countries visited: Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Eastern Caribbean
Likes: Music, Family time, my nursing career, being surrounded by positive people, my culture, being part of charity organizations, and new challenges. I enjoy participating in events that focus on encouraging and promoting education, helping with community needs, and bettering the lives of those less fortunate.
Dislikes: Injustice, human discrimination, racism and
Status: Married
Word Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Please tell us about yourself.
I was born in Mexico and moved to the USA when I was young with many dreams. I am thankful for this country which is open to so many opportunities for me to grow professionally and as a person. I am also a mother of three beautiful girls. I am a very lucky Nurse practitioner that works in an underserved area where I can help my community. I enjoy volunteering for events aimed at helping people in need. I love to spend time with my family and share my culture with the younger generation.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Please tell us about your education.
I obtained my Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Northern Colorado. I have been a nurse for 15 years. I Obtained a Master's Degree in Family Nurse Practitioner from Frontier Nursing University. I am currently working in a Family Practice Clinic where I serve people in my community.
World Class Beauty Queen Magazines: What does women empowerment mean to you?
Women empowerment to me means that women should not stereotype their position in this life. Women are capable to accomplish whatever goal that they set their mind and soul to achieve. The world has come a long way in enabling women these past several decades and I hope to see continued progress as women achieve and lead in the next generations to come. I strongly believe that the support of family also plays an important role in women's empowerment.
World Class Beauty Queen Magazines: Tell us about your pageant history.
My story began one day when I attended a Women’s fair hosted by the city of Greeley, Colorado. Colorado Productions was one of the vendors. They were inviting married women from their late 20s all the way to age 50 to participate in a beauty contest. That caught my attention because I thought beauty contests were only for younger girls. After several conversations with the director of Colorado Productions, I decided to challenge myself by participating in their contest. I represented the city of Greeley. I was awarded Mrs. Photogenic and ultimately won the crown and title “Señora Colorado” 2019-2020. I was fortunate to hold the title for two years since our country got hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, I was invited to participate in a national beauty pageant “Mrs. Señora United States” in the State of New Mexico. The contestants all participated in preparation activities for four days prior to the day of the competition. I was awarded “Mrs. Physique and ultimately won the crown and title “Mrs. Señora United States.”
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What inspired you to do your first pageant?
I decided to participate to be a role model for my daughters, young girls, and for all the women my age that think that competing in a beauty contest is only for misses or young girls. I wanted to be seen by other women as an example of no matter how old you are, opportunities can be presented in life at any time. I wanted to encourage my daughters and women to never stop dreaming and work hard to make their goals and wishes come true. I wanted to inspire others to believe in themselves with confidence and the determination to be successful.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Why did you choose to compete for your current title?
After I won “Senora Colorado” I knew that there was another opportunity to go to Nationals. I was encouraged by my state director to participate and take my title one more step up. I was presented with a new challenge that I was willing to take and get myself out of my comfort zone one more time.
In addition, I want to have a sense of fulfillment, I want to gain other experiences, memories, and expand my social horizon. World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: To those unfamiliar with your pageant system please tell us what is it about? What are you being judged on during the competition?
The pageant system of the organization that I represent:
-Judges and ranks by physical attributes, intelligence, talent, inner beauty, personality, modeling, personal interviews, and gowns.
-The rule is to be married with children or single with children.
-Awards of beauty contest include “Mrs. Senora United States” title, a crown, sash, bouquets, and the possibility to be invited to other beauty pageants as a judge.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about your experience during the competition.
I had mixed emotions upon my arrival at the hotel. I was nervous, anxious, scared, questioning why I put myself into such a stressful situation again. After I met all of the contestants, my anxiety escalated. They all had everything to win; they were talented, beautiful, and intelligent. Every time that I had to come to the stage, I felt that my chances of winning were far away. I had to challenge myself to give the best of myself and manage my emotions.
I walked out of the competition not just with a title, crown, and a sash, but with new friends, and a door was opened for new opportunities.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about your platform or what cause do you volunteer for.
My platform consists of encouraging the new generations to pursue higher education. In my community, there is a high incidence of high school drop-out. I have been in collaboration with organizations in the area that offer educational seminars for students. In addition, I have partnered with immigrant organizations to deliver toys, clothes, and meals to immigrant families and their children.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What appearances have you done with your title?
I have participated as a judge in a pageant in Connecticut and New York, I have been special guest and volunteer in charity events in my community here in Colorado. My title hasn't done yet so I will be traveling to Washington in August, New Mexico in June and September and other States and events in the next months.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are some of your achievements?
· Obtained the State title “Señora Colorado”
· Obtained the National title of “Mrs. Señora United States”
· Advanced career as a Family Nurse Practitioner
· Various excellence awards during my nursing career
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What makes you stand out from all those other beautiful girls?
My determination, persistence, personality, my personal values, my motivation are directed to help others, and my desire to excel and bring the crown to my home state.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about the moment your name was called out as the winner.
Disbelief, shock, surprise, excitement, and joy!!!!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What does it mean to you to be a Beauty Queen?
A role model that represents not just the women’s physical beauty but also their intelligence, compassion to others, and an advocate for my community.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: How did compete in pageants helped your life?
Competing in pageants has encouraged me to achieve a healthier lifestyle, gain more self-confidence, and to become a role model for my fellow women. It also allowed me to grow professionally and to incorporate myself into community activities.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: How did pageants help your self-esteem and body image?
Since I joined the pageant world, I have become more confident within my own self and believe in the power of my physical and inner beauty.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: You are an inspiration to all the girls out there. How does it feel?
It is an honor for me to be an inspiration and be able to encourage women and younger generations to become confident with themselves, to believe that dreams can come true when you are persistent and confident and that women are ready to lead in the future.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What is your onstage strategy to win the judges over?
My goal and focus were to be myself, be direct, be honest, be confident, and allow my inner beauty to shine. I was determined to keep a clear mind and allow my intelligence to manifest.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: How did you prepare for your competition?
In addition to the previous preparation for the State competition, I took classes on runway walking and posture and watched pageant competitions to learn from those as much as possible. I also worked on my public speaking abilities.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your tips for learning better pageant walk?
It is important to find a trainer who has been successful in training past queen winners. Graceful stage presence, your walk, and confidence are critical for the pageant.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your tips for choosing the right pageant dress?
The dress has to reflect who you are. It also needs to be something that makes you feel comfortable and pretty to wear. If you don’t feel comfortable, your confidence will not show through!!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your tips for winning interviews?
Interviewing is an art and improves with practice!! Listen carefully, think before speaking, then make your point concise and with clear words. Answer with confidence!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What is one mistake that you've done during competing you wish you could redo and fix it?
I had more than one mistake. One mistake was to feel intimidated and insecure by other contestants. Second, I could practice more unexpected questions, and lastly, be more prepared and selective with my dresses.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What other mistakes are made by girls during the contest?
Other mistakes that I noticed from the other contestants were uncontrollable anxiety, fear to speak in public, not enough stage practice, and unable to enjoy the process of the contest.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Any modeling or acting experience?
I have no modeling or acting experience.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your plans for 2022 as a Queen?
· Continue to empower women to get out of their comfort zone and explore new challenges.
· Continue to be a role model for my daughters and younger generations.
· Continue to encourage women to participate in beauty contests to expand their friendships, gain self-confidence, and reach new horizons.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
I want to be remembered as a woman that had the courage to put behind insecurities, poor self-esteem, fears that stop the older women stereotype from participating in beauty pageants. I want to be remembered as an advocate for my community and encourage women to grow and succeed in life by pursuing their education, goals, and dreams.
National Director: Patricia Montoya
Your Local Director: Candy Vasquez
Pageant website: http://www.senoraunitedstates.com
Photographer: Jovani Soto
Make up and hair: Erika Ponce
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to say thank you for this amazing interview! Interview by Derek Tokarzewski Owner/Editor in Chief of World Class Beauty Queens Magazine.
Erika Ponce Mrs. Senora United States 2021-2022, World Class Beauty Queens Magazine, Photographer: Jovani Soto
Interview by Derek Tokarzewski Owner/Editor in Chief Mr United Nations 2018 Platform: Women Empowerment Ambassador to International Foundation for Orphans iffocares.org
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