World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to welcome amazing Queen Mikayla Eaton Miss Indiana for America 2019.
Full name: Mikayla Eaton
Title/Year: Miss Indiana for America 2019
Pageant System: Miss for America
Age: 21
Zodiac sign: Aries
Hobbies: Pageantry, weight lifting, boxing, group fitness trainer
Platform: Mental Health Awareness
Years competed: 4 years
Countries visited: Just USA
Likes: I like genuine, candid people who are not afraid to dream big. I love being an entrepreneur and having creative control of my brand.
Dislikes: I dislike when people underestimate me.
Status: Single
World Class Beauty Queens: Please tell us about yourself.
I’m a 21-year-old from a small, farm town in Northwest Indiana. I graduated with honors from Butler University with a degree in Marketing and emphasis in Entrepreneurship in just 3 years. In college I was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and Best Buddies. I am currently in the Sales Leadership Development Program with Johnson & Johnson.
World Class Beauty Queens: What does women Empowerment means to you?
Women empowerment is something I am very passionate about. To me, it means building up the women around you and not seeing them as competition or a threat. Women supporting other women is my favorite thing because in today’s world – we base our first impressions on someone’s social media pages, not the initial live connection with that person. At the end of the day, I think every woman has the right to their opinions and their passions, so if there is anything I can do to amplify that for her – I would love to try!
World Class Beauty Queens: Tell us about your pageant history.
I started competing in pageants when I was 17-years-old. It was a small, local festival and I didn’t even place. My next pageant was a year later for my county fair, and I ended up winning and becoming Miss LaPorte County Fair Queen 2016. From there, I went on to compete at the Miss Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant. I came back from that pageant with amazing memories and great friends, so that only ignited my desire to keep doing pageants. I competed for Miss Indiana USA 2019 and made Top 12. After competing in that pageant, I was invited to compete in the first ever Miss Indiana for America pageant in May of 2019. After winning that pageant, I had the amazing opportunity to spend 10 days in Las Vegas competing at Miss for America. I did not place at nationals, but I don’t plan to stop competing.
World Class Beauty Queens: What inspired you to do your first pageant?
One of my good friends in high school competed in the local pageant, and she encouraged me to compete the following year. As a 3-sport athlete for 14 years of my life, I had a natural competitive side and pageants seemed like a great outlet for that. It also pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I think that really helped me grow as a person.
World Class Beauty Queens: Why did you choose to compete for your current title?
I was fresh out of competing for Miss Indiana USA 2019 and I was asked by the director of Miss Indiana for America to compete in the pageant the following spring. I didn’t hesitate in applying because pageants have been the best channel for personal growth for me.
World Class Beauty Queens: To those unfamiliar with your pageant system please tell us what is it about?
This is the first class of Miss for America contestants. It is a sister pageant to the Mrs. America Pageant. It is a pageant for unattached women (single, divorced, or widowed) who are above the age of 18-years-old, and a US citizen. Each state has local titleholders compete for the state title, and the winner goes to Las Vegas to compete for Miss for America.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are you being judged on during the competition?
Prior to the on-stage competition, a personal interview takes place (50% of total score). Then on-stage there is the swimsuit and evening rounds (both 25% of total score). And then there is an on-stage question for the Top Finalists.
World Class Beauty Queens: Tell us about your experience during the competition.
Competing for Miss Indiana for America was the most relax pageant I’ve ever competed in. It was properly choreographed and beautifully ran that I never had to worry about what I had to do or where I needed to go. The girls were beyond sweet and genuine! I couldn’t have asked for a better group of women to share that experience with.
World Class Beauty Queens: Tell us about your platform or what cause do you volunteer for.
My platform is Mental Health Awareness and I chose this because of my personal experience with anxiety and depression. I know first-hand the negative effects of mental health problems and I want to help those so they don’t have to go through those dark times alone. My message is that “it is okay to not be okay, and it is okay to ask for help.”
World Class Beauty Queens: What appearances have you done with your title?
I was in the Indy 500 Festival Parade, riding the A Kid Again float, which was a huge honor. I was also a grand marshal for my home county 4th of July parade. I’ve appeared at my hometown fair to help sell a guitar to fund the fair queen pageant. In 2020, I am making it a goal to appear in more schools and community events. I also want to get involved with Out of the Darkness Walks that take place at colleges across Indiana.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are some of your achievements?
In high school, I was Salutatorian, Class President, and a 2-sport Varsity athlete. I graduated from Butler University with Honors in 3 years. I’ve been CEO of three different businesses before the age of 20. I was Miss LaPorte County Fair Queen 2016, first runner-up at Miss Relay for Life LaPorte County 2018, made Top 12 at Miss Indiana USA 2019, and crowned Miss Indiana for America 2019.
World Class Beauty Queens: What makes you stand out from all those other beautiful girls?
Each girl has something unique they bring to the competition with them. Beauty is just one thing we all have in common. I think what makes me stand out is my business mindset. I compete with the mindset that my interview is the “sales pitch” and the on stage part is the “model demonstration.” The whole time I am building/selling my brand to the judges and wanting them to invest in me as the next titleholder. I consider the pageant like a job interview, and winning means that I get to have the coolest job that allows me to do what I love and share my passions with others.
World Class Beauty Queens: Tell us about the moment your name was called out as the winner.
The moment I was named Miss Indiana for America, it did not register in my head immediately. I don’t think I was able to fully comprehend the me winning until I was out of my dress and having a celebratory dinner with my family after the pageant. Looking back at it, it was a life-changing moment for me.
World Class Beauty Queens: What does it mean to you to be a Beauty Queen?
Truth be told, I don’t like being referred to as a Beauty Queen. I think it belittles what pageants really stand for. Yes, beauty is a big part of pageants, but inner beauty is just as important. Also, I compete in pageant because it allows you to highlight your accomplishments and goals in life and having a title gives you the opportunity to promote your cause of choice and share your passions with a grander audience.
World Class Beauty Queens: How did competing in pageants helped your life?
I am a firm believer that I was able to land my dream job with a Fortune 500 Company at the age of 19 because of the confidence and strong work ethic pageants have instilled on me. I love interviews, both pageant and job interviews. I also have a passion for public speaking and thrive when giving presentations. I believe being a title holder has helped me develop those skills.
World Class Beauty Queens: How did pageants helped your selfesteem and body image?
When I was little, I use to struggle with my self esteem due to the poor body image I had of myself. After competing in pageants, I’ve been able to overcome my insecurities towards my body and embrace the way I look. I know I will never be the size zero girl on stage, but I can bet I’ll always be the strongest girl on stage.
World Class Beauty Queens: You are an inspiration to all the girls out there. How does it feel?
It feels like a big responsibility that I love owning. I know that all eyes are on me because I am a title holder and I represent my town and state. Because of that I want to cherish the moments when I inspire women around me to be whoever they want to be in this world.
World Class Beauty Queens: What is your on stage strategy to win the judges over?
This is so cliché, but confidence is how I win judges over. I like to stand out when I am on stage. I want to show the judges I am already competing like a titleholder and that I can take on the next year as a memorable queen.
World Class Beauty Queens: How did you prepare for your competition?
I’ve been competing in pageants for four years now, so I am always preparing in one way or another. But I really amplified the gym sessions in the months leading up to the pageant and did a lot of modeling in my apartment.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are your tips for learning better pageant walk?
I learned my pageant walk by watching Miss USA/Miss Universe pageants from the past years. After watching and making mental notes, I would put on my 6-inch Tippy Tops heels and practice in the mirror for hours everyday. I am a firm believer that this is something you cannot learn overnight. You really have to condition your body to heels like that, and perfect the walk so it looks as smooth and elegant as possible.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are your tips for choosing right pageant dress?
Pick the dress that makes YOU feel the most beautiful. It is so hard to model a dress that you do not feel 100% confident in. You need to love the color, style and fit of the dress in order for that poise and confidence to translate on stage. I always take my mom with me when picking my gowns, but I always get an unbiased opinion from someone who works at the gown store.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are your tips for winning interview?
Interview is, by far, my favorite part of the competition. The keys to winning interview is to be the #1 expert in yourself. Your strengths, your weaknesses, your dreams, your failures, and most importantly – what you want to do with the title. Knowing these things will aid in the success of one’s pageant interview. I think it is always a good rule of thumb to practive interviews prior to competition. Because responding out loud is completely different than answering those questions in your head.
World Class Beauty Queens: What other mistakes are made by girls during the contest?
I think the biggest mistake a girl competing can do is think she has lost before the competition is over. I’ve been back in the dressing room after opening number and see girls hang their heads in defeat. Once that confidence is gone, you can’t get it back.
World Class Beauty Queens: Any modeling or acting experience?
No acting experience, but I’ve been into modeling since I started competing in pageants. It is something I want to take more serious in the year 2020.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are your plans for 2020 as a Queen?
In 2020, I really want to focus on my platform and getting into the communities to support my cause of mental health awareness. I also aspire to partner with the high school I graduated from to host business prep workshops for the juniors & seniors. Business is a huge part of my everyday life, and I think there is extreme value in mastering the art of resume building and interviews at a young age. I only have my title until mid-April, but I plan to accomplish as much as possible in those four months.
World Class Beauty Queens: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
It’s important to me to leave the legacy of being a genuine, confident woman. I aspire to be a role model to young children that setting goals (however big or small) are attainable with determination and self confidence. I like to lead by example, and I think my story of being the girl who came from a small, farm town in Indiana went on to become the first ever Miss Indiana for America, and a week later graduate from Butler University after completing her business degree in 3 years. She now works for a Fortune 500 company at the age of 21. I want my legacy to show people that anything is possible.
International Director: David & Elaine Marmel
National Director: David & Elaine Marmel
Your Local Director: Julie Dilorenzo
Pageant website: https://www.mrsindianaamerica.com/
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to say thank you for this amazing interview.
Mikayla Eaton Miss Indiana for America 2019, World Class Beauty Queens Magazine, Photo by Meagan Gilbert Photography
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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