Love the Skin You’re In:  Invest in Others and Win

In America, beauty is associated with being very thin and very tan. Other countries around the world perceive beauty quite differently.  In Kenya, intelligence is aligned with beauty and power.  My platform, Love the Skin You’re In: Invest in Others and Win, addresses both males and females, young and old, and all ethnicities in our country. No matter your height, weight, skin color, size, or socioeconomic level, every individual is valuable.  Being unique needs to be celebrated rather than feared.  Women frequently criticize themselves, because they feel they do not meet the set standard of beauty. Children should be encouraged from a young age to love who they distinctly are and, furthermore, everyone should be concerned with devoting quality time to impacting other peoples’ lives.

Society often dictates the way people believe they should look. The media is the influential force driving this mind-set and promoting unrealistic images of beauty. We tend to have short-sighted and flawed self-perceptions of what is physically appealing, due to the media leading us to believe that we should look virtually model-thin and “airbrush perfect.” It is impossible to be flawless every moment of the day and still have the time to reach out and invest in others.

One of the finest things about life is that there are endless opportunities for growth.  There are always going to be improvements that, as humans, we can make.  Embracing who we are, yet still working toward future goals that make progress and develop us, is necessary for living a happy, balanced life.  Goals may range from academic to social or physical to spiritual; nevertheless, devoting time to these areas is essential to loving oneself.

Love the Skin You’re In: Invest in Others and Win is centered on educating our diverse society to accept and celebrate all people. It also emphasizes who we are presently and how we can give back to others by using our individual strengths.  Our nation, in some aspects, has become such a narcissistic society. Focusing the attention on others’ needs and rendering service to those in our community accentuates the positive in our own lives.  Shifting the focus away from our faces, figures, and perceived flaws allows us to give back more efficiently. It is easier to become aware of our strengths when we recognize the innate qualities we have to offer and put our gifts to use. Coming together and working for a cause, we forget preconceived notions and realize we are more than the sum total of our outward appearance.  Studies show we are healthier and happier when focusing on others; it also helps conquer anxiety and depression.  It is enormously rewarding to be part of an organization with a meaningful purpose. The charities that are most meaningful to me are CMN, Pilots for Patients, Red Cross, Susan G. Komen, Cerebral Palsy, and Special Olympics.  Being connected with these groups has greatly enriched my life, humbled me more than words can express, and allowed me to further promote my timeless and important platform.

General Colin Powell once said, “We have no single ethnic, racial, spiritual or tribal tie that we all share.  What unites us as Americans is working toward common goals.  Our national motto is E pluribus Unum, which means, out of many, one.  If we don’t reach out to each other and ‘many’ by volunteering, it is difficult to see how we can long sustain our sense of being one nation, one people." We need to become a people and a nation who consistently and purposefully give back because it creates a stronger person, and a stronger, united nation.

Love the Skin You’re In is a valuable instrument that is applicable to everyone and can be presented to any age group, school system, and church, civic or charitable organization in our state or nation.  Promoting my platform began years before I became Miss Crescent City New Orleans, but having a title is an important tool in circulating my message because it gives me a voice. Possessing the voice of Miss Louisiana would magnify the outcome even more. Emphasizing that we all are unique, one of a kind, and irreplaceable, across the state of Louisiana, would be a privilege. I can sincerely tell you that I love the skin I’m in, for when I am investing in others, not only do they win but even more, I win!