A new era has begun for young ladies across Mississippi who are wanting to make an impact through volunteering. The Miss Volunteer America program kicked off its inaugural pageant in Tupelo, landing two new state titleholders.Brandon’s Mary Kate Nelson now holds the first-ever Miss Mississippi Teen Volunteer crown. Pontotoc’s Rachel Shumaker has become the first-ever Miss Mississippi Volunteer.“I was in pure, genuine shock,” Nelson said. “It was the most amazing moment of my life.”“There was just no way to describe what it feels like to have your name called. It’s not just ‘Oh my gosh I just won this pageant’. It’s ‘oh my gosh my life just changed forever,'” Shumaker said.The volunteer program was established from the Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant. In June 2019, the organization decided to expand its program to a national level.Each contestant participates in a 10 to 12 minute private interview with the judges, talent, lifestyle and wellness, evening gown and onstage questions.Shumaker said the outline of this program is different than others because interview holds the largest percentage of competition. In addition, judges are strictly told that the lifestyle portion is purely on confidence, not size or shape of the contestant. She also said that talent is not just for performing arts people.“We had a woman perform a karate routine. We want people to understand that they can mold their life experiences into a 90-second talent,” Shumaker said.Both Shumaker and Nelson hold very special platforms to their hearts.Nelson devotes her service to show Mississippi how to live heart-healthy through her platform "Hearts of Hope."“My little brother John Thomas has a heart defect. He was 6 months old when diagnosed. He’s now 5. He’s had to undergo different heart surgeries,” Nelson said. “I also want to empower girls like me whether it people women my age or younger. One of the five points of the volunteer crown is empowerment. That’s what I want to stick out this year is letting girls know no matter what you are going through you can always know you are loved, you are special, and you are empowered.”Shumaker’s used her battle with scoliosis as her platform "I am Titanium."“I underwent spinal fusion surgery to treat scoliosis. I have 18 screws and two rods made of titanium in my spine. This began my scoliosis advocacy and medical research,” Shumaker said.In addition to their platforms, the Mississippi Volunteer program has partnered with the Mississippi Highway Patrol’s D.R.I.V.E campaign where they will advocate for teen driving safety.“Mississippi ranks in the top 5 for the most number of teen fatalities. Last year alone, 70 Mississippi teens lost their lives in driving accidents,” Shumaker said. “I think having both of us involved in the program and talking about our driving experiences, this will be something special for teens to say ‘this is not some adult telling us the same thing over and over; these are kids who’ve actually been in our shoes and understand what it’s like,'” Nelson said.Both Nelson and Shumaker won scholarships at the pageant. Nelson was awarded a $3,000 scholarship in addition to an interview award scholarship. Shumaker was also awarded a $400 talent award scholarship on top of her $10,000 scholarship for Miss Mississippi Volunteer. “I could have never imagined in the first year of this pageant the winner would receive a $10,000 scholarship,” said Shumaker. “If this is what they made available in the first year I can only imagine how that will continue to grow.”Both queens are excited to see where their year takes them. Shumaker said without their board of trustees and dozens of people taking a leap of faith into a new system, this would not be possible.“We are thankful for the people for giving us a chance to prove what we are about. We believe in the mission of Miss Volunteer America and are so thrilled this opportunity has come to Mississippi. This is not a north Mississippi thing or central Mississippi thing, this is a Mississippi thing for young women for ages of 13-25 to get involved in. There is something here for you to get involved in at Miss Volunteer America,” Shumaker said.Nelson and Shumaker will go on to compete in the national Miss America Volunteer and Teen Volunteer pageant next May in Jackson, Tennessee.
JACKSON, Miss. —
A new era has begun for young ladies across Mississippi who are wanting to make an impact through volunteering.
The Miss Volunteer America program kicked off its inaugural pageant in Tupelo, landing two new state titleholders.
Brandon’s Mary Kate Nelson now holds the first-ever Miss Mississippi Teen Volunteer crown. Pontotoc’s Rachel Shumaker has become the first-ever Miss Mississippi Volunteer.
“I was in pure, genuine shock,” Nelson said. “It was the most amazing moment of my life.”
“There was just no way to describe what it feels like to have your name called. It’s not just ‘Oh my gosh I just won this pageant’. It’s ‘oh my gosh my life just changed forever,'” Shumaker said.
The volunteer program was established from the Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant. In June 2019, the organization decided to expand its program to a national level.
Each contestant participates in a 10 to 12 minute private interview with the judges, talent, lifestyle and wellness, evening gown and onstage questions.
Shumaker said the outline of this program is different than others because interview holds the largest percentage of competition. In addition, judges are strictly told that the lifestyle portion is purely on confidence, not size or shape of the contestant. She also said that talent is not just for performing arts people.
“We had a woman perform a karate routine. We want people to understand that they can mold their life experiences into a 90-second talent,” Shumaker said.
Both Shumaker and Nelson hold very special platforms to their hearts.
Nelson devotes her service to show Mississippi how to live heart-healthy through her platform "Hearts of Hope."
“My little brother John Thomas has a heart defect. He was 6 months old when diagnosed. He’s now 5. He’s had to undergo different heart surgeries,” Nelson said. “I also want to empower girls like me whether it people women my age or younger. One of the five points of the volunteer crown is empowerment. That’s what I want to stick out this year is letting girls know no matter what you are going through you can always know you are loved, you are special, and you are empowered.”
Shumaker’s used her battle with scoliosis as her platform "I am Titanium."
“I underwent spinal fusion surgery to treat scoliosis. I have 18 screws and two rods made of titanium in my spine. This began my scoliosis advocacy and medical research,” Shumaker said.
In addition to their platforms, the Mississippi Volunteer program has partnered with the Mississippi Highway Patrol’s D.R.I.V.E campaign where they will advocate for teen driving safety.
“Mississippi ranks in the top 5 for the most number of teen fatalities. Last year alone, 70 Mississippi teens lost their lives in driving accidents,” Shumaker said.
“I think having both of us involved in the program and talking about our driving experiences, this will be something special for teens to say ‘this is not some adult telling us the same thing over and over; these are kids who’ve actually been in our shoes and understand what it’s like,'” Nelson said.
Both Nelson and Shumaker won scholarships at the pageant. Nelson was awarded a $3,000 scholarship in addition to an interview award scholarship. Shumaker was also awarded a $400 talent award scholarship on top of her $10,000 scholarship for Miss Mississippi Volunteer.
“I could have never imagined in the first year of this pageant the winner would receive a $10,000 scholarship,” said Shumaker. “If this is what they made available in the first year I can only imagine how that will continue to grow.”
Both queens are excited to see where their year takes them. Shumaker said without their board of trustees and dozens of people taking a leap of faith into a new system, this would not be possible.
“We are thankful for the people for giving us a chance to prove what we are about. We believe in the mission of Miss Volunteer America and are so thrilled this opportunity has come to Mississippi. This is not a north Mississippi thing or central Mississippi thing, this is a Mississippi thing for young women for ages of 13-25 to get involved in. There is something here for you to get involved in at Miss Volunteer America,” Shumaker said.
Nelson and Shumaker will go on to compete in the national Miss America Volunteer and Teen Volunteer pageant next May in Jackson, Tennessee.
