
I feel like at every point in a girl's childhood, she imagines what it would be like to be a Disney princess and wear the big gown and the tiara because in the movies it is so pretty. I too felt this way.. I wanted so badly to be the princess - the beauty, the grace, all of it. A friend of mine growing up would do beauty pageants and I secretly so desperately wanted to be like her, but little did I know my destiny at such a young age.
I was very involved with different sports and academic clubs in middle and high school. My parents told me I needed to choose what I wanted to do because there was no way to do it all. I chose sports and academic clubs because I thought of the opportunities it would bring me for college and beyond. On the weekends and at night I would sit in my playroom and watch YouTube videos of beauty pageants, put markers on the floor, and line up my stuffed animal collection to judge me as I would just walk and walk and walk - I would put make up on and do my hair and even dress up in junior bridesmaid dresses from the depths of my closet. I always thought one day, just maybe I would do it.
Fast forward to college, I was busy once again, but with sorority life, academics, and work. In the back of my mind, my dream stayed afloat and would come to the forefront every once in a while - usually when I was by myself because I was nervous about what people would think if they knew. I would look up local county fair pageants and local prelim pageants and budget to see if I could afford to pay my way without telling anyone what I was doing in case I didn’t win I wouldn’t have the embarrassment.
Fast forward yet again to post-college, I was living in Washington, DC in a studio apartment with my little dog working my first big girl job (one that was everything I wanted coming out of college). I was living and working the dream life I built for myself, I was SO proud of myself! There was something still missing… I still found myself spending hours researching everything pageants.
I got married while we lived in DC and I thought for sure pageants would be out of the picture because I never saw a married pageant queen. I thought my dream had ended before it ever really began.

One day after I moved to Texas with my husband, I spent the majority of my free time at the local dog rescue - doing anything and everything. One night when I couldn't sleep… you know where I am about to go… I found myself down the pageant rabbit hole again - except this time it was because I wanted to help raise more awareness for the poor animals of the Texas streets. I woke up the next day and I told my husband all about my idea, thinking fully he would say “What in the actual world?” Instead, I was met with smiles and full support telling me that he thought it was an amazing idea to try something new that I always wanted to do.
Many times throughout the process I suffered from imposter syndrome because “pageant girl” wasn’t who I was, but someone I always dreamt of being. Little did I know little Emily was deep down inside ready to be pageant girl. I would be lying if I told you that going into my first pageant I was totally confident and putting my best foot forward. I went in terrified - terrified I wouldn't make friends or the other girls wouldn't like me, terrified that I wouldn’t win, and even more terrified I would have to sulk back home knowing how much money I spent.

The pageant comes and goes. I didn’t win.
Not winning was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I learned how to be a GREAT friend, support other women, and stop making a dream just a dream and actually doing the dang thing! I never thought in a million years my dream would come true, after hard work and determination I get to say that I am the 2024 American Women of Service Mrs. - I MEAN WHAT!
The moral of my long story - a quote I always held dear to my heart since I read a book about Walt Disney in middle school, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Instead of just liking that quote and sitting on the sidelines dreaming, I took life by the horns and decided today was the day. No one else will make that decision for you, but it is never too late to take action on your dreams - there is always a way to make it happen.
I support you. I see you. I want you to succeed. Follow your dream, try something new, make the younger you proud, and make the memories that will last you a lifetime.
Emily Walker
American Women of Service Mrs. 2024
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