#2021intlcountdown

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Hi Tennessee, it is nice to finally meet you 🤩 It feels so incredibly surreal to be here today. What an absolute honor and privilege it is to share about the heart of my platform, 1 in 5: From Bullied to Healed, with a panel of the most outstanding and prestigious judges in just a few days. It has been such a treat arriving in Tennessee early to support my gorgeous sister queens, @mrsnjintl and @mrseastcoastintl2021 this weekend in the Mrs. International 2021 Pageant. I am over the moon to have already met several of my Miss International Class of 2021 sister queens, some of which I would have originally met last year. I cannot wait to spend the best week ever with these beautiful, resilient, kind, accomplished, faith-driven, and community-minded women. After making the very difficult decision in 2020 to defer competing in the Miss International Pageant to this year, I feel truly content that I made the right choice for the safety of my elderly grandparents during the peak of COVID-19. My family has and always will come first in my life right after God. Of course, with this spectacular glam by my magnificent hair and makeup artist for the week, @constantine_james, it is worth skipping ahead once again in the #2021IntlCountdown 👑🧡 (at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRwpWWuLM9-/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Jumping to Day 22 of the #2021IntlCountdown for good reason: This girl has hit the road to Kingsport, Tennessee!!!!! 👑🚗 As you can see, I am notorious for overpacking and thank my Mom, @lloubell22, for passing that trait to me. As an ambassador for the International Pageants system, it is critically important to me that I always exemplify readiness to influence our rising generations of empowered women. Preparing for this special week was the most amazing and unique journey that I would not change for the world. Through every interview and walking session with my outstanding coach, @next_paige_productions, I have felt more internal growth as a person. Thank you @jillianpaigespano for believing in me and for being such a wonderful mentor. I am so grateful to have the best pageant directors who have given everything of themselves to help me shine. @happylittlebeast and @kimmeeandu: You are my favorite blonde bombshell twins who quickly became my family. You saw a light in me as Miss Ocean County International 2020 and gave me the resources I needed to improve as Miss New Jersey International 2020, and now as Miss Garden State International 2021. Through Mary and Kim, I have been embraced with warm and welcoming arms by our @njinternationalpageant family, and I could not be more thankful to have them all in my village for mock interviews, interview coaching, walking coaching, fashion consulting, and platform development. Most importantly, they have faith in me, and that means the world to me. Above all, my family and friends have been my rocks since the very beginning of this journey to the crown in October 2019. They have poured out enough love to fill a lake, attended every special appearance, assisted with interview and walking practice, and were my source of calm on the craziest of days. Finally, Jesus has directed my steps my entire life to bring me to this point. He was with me when I felt broken from being bullied in school, and will be with me as I share my #1in5 story for every person who has experienced the same pain as I have. My heart truly feels so full and content that this is where He wants me to be. This is for you, my #1in5ers 👑💙 (at Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRrzA4qLW6T/?utm_medium=tumblr

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We are interrupting this #2021IntlCountdown to wish Mom of Miss Garden State International 2021, @lloubell222, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎉🎂🥳♥️ Mom, you are everything I want to be as a future mother, and so much more. Your selflessness is unmatched, and you have such a fierce love for your family and friends. You wear your heart on your sleeve and are never afraid to share how you feel. You simply light up the room and the hearts of everyone you meet. You and Grammie (my Mom’s mother for those who do not know) are the reason why I am about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime on the Miss International 2021 stage. You have always believed in me, especially during the times when I felt that I had lost faith in myself. You (and our family) stood beside me when I felt alone as a victim of bullying, and still do as I share my #1in5 story daily. You gave me the extra push I needed to start sharing my #1in5 story in 2012, and the extra push I needed to join the @intlpageants family in October 2019 as Miss Ocean County International 2020. You are my best friend in the world, the big sister I never had, and the most beautiful Mom - both inside and out. God bless you on this next amazing year of life for you. I cannot wait what the Lord has in store for His special plan for you. I love you with all of my heart…to Heaven and back! (at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRjerR3nINn/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Same face, different levels of self-confidence. Let’s talk #TransformationTuesday on Day 13 of the #2021IntlCountdown! The shy and timid, yet happy little girl in the photo on the left was about to go through years of being bullied by classmates for her faith in Jesus, petite appearance, and excelling in school. She did not know how much she would need to lean on God and her family in order to believe in herself, and not to tear herself down for the qualities that make her who she is. The brave, empowered, and resilient 28-year-old woman in the photo on the right is the result of those 11+ years of being targeted. She is proud to shout from the rooftops about being a Daughter of God, standing a “tall” 5 feet and 4 inches, and her accomplishments in her career and schooling. My 1-in-5er’s: Let this transformation serve as a reminder to never allow the opinions of others to dull your uniquely special shine, no matter how difficult this may be. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). As sang in one of my favorite @cimorelli songs, “You’re Worth It,” “[You are] not a copy, [and] can't be replaced.” You are loved, valued, and beautifully you. Right Picture: 📸: @kingaaronphotography 💇🏻‍♀️💄: @glamlab_by_paola 🧥: @kohls (at New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRe7rIXLkOQ/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Day 12 of the #2021intlcountdown is titled, “These are a Few of My Favorite Things,” and I cannot help but initially think of Julie Andrews’ rendition of the song “My Favorite Things” from the musical, The Sound of Music. All jokes aside, I praise God for creating so many beautiful experiences that I love so dearly. Among those creations are singing worship songs in church on Sunday’s, laughing until my ribs hurt with my family and friends, and the sounds of the ocean and seagulls at the beach. Singing worship songs in church alongside my parents, little brother, and brothers and sisters in Christ is such a euphoric experience every Sunday. As we are praising the Lord together, I tear up over the incredible amount of comfort, joy, love, and acceptance I feel as me - a Daughter of God. "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away" (John 6:37). Some of my favorite moments in life are those when I am being goofy and laughing hysterically with my family and friends. I genuinely feel like I am on top of the world when I hear them laugh…especially if it is because of one of my (very few) funny jokes. Laughter sure is a strong medicine, as it naturally produces endorphins and positively contributes to our mental health! Soaking in the sounds of the waves crashing and the seagulls squawking always brings me home - whether I am ‘at home’ at my beach or 607 miles away at @meadowviewtn! The sounds remind me of the warmth of the sun, the feeling of the sand between my toes, and the sweet fragrance of sunscreen. Most importantly, they make me think back to being 5 years old running along the shoreline and jumping over the waves with my cousins. (at New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRab0PHLQ6W/?utm_medium=tumblr