Q: What is the benefit of pageantry in this day and age?
A: The benefit of pageantry is that it helps a woman to gain confidence and exposure. Pageantry creates change agents. It takes a woman who may have endured a hardship and helps her find her voice to encourage and inspire others. And for those women who may have already found their voice, it amplifies their voice by creating new opportunities for them to be invited to promote their cause. Pageantry also helps with presentation, polishing, and personal branding.
Q: What is a Platform?
A: A platform is the cause that a delegate (pageant contestant) promotes during her reign. Platforms should be chosen wisely to maximize efficacy. Most women chose a platform based on something they have personally experienced that they would like to bring awareness to. For instance, a woman with a child on the Autistic spectrum may choose Autism or an organization that works with Autistic children as their platform. Choose whatever platform is dear to your heart.
Q: What are Appearances?
A: Appearances are those events that a delegate may attend to promote their platform. Like a Breast Cancer walk for a woman who has chosen Breast Cancer as her platform. The Miss New York Plus America pageant obligates delegates to make at least one platform-related appearance a month. So choose wisely!
Q: What are the size requirements for entering the Miss New York Plus America pageant?
A: Because this pageant exclusively caters to women who would traditionally be too voluptuous for a mainstream pageant, the minimum dress size is a size 14W.
Q: So does that mean that the Miss Plus America Pageant promotes obesity?
A: The Miss Plus America Pageant doesn't crown a woman *because* of her size, or else every year the largest woman in attendance would automatically win. The Miss Plus America Pageant simply crowns a woman who is working to make a difference in the world, whose accomplishments would not be recognized by the *mainstream* because of her size. Many women in this pageant system live a healthy lifestyle, and there are many more who are aspiring to.
Pictured above are notable examples, including Miss Plus America Elite 2013, CeCe Harris. Her platform, "Matters of the Heart", spread awareness about heart health and even allowed her to partner with First Lady Michelle Obama's "Get Moving" campaign. Ms Florida Plus America 2014, Angel Myers, just completed a half triathlon this year, and Miss North Carolina Plus America 2014, Hope McFarland, just completed a half marathon. The founder of the Miss Plus America Pageant, Melissa Stamper, has lost over 130lbs. Our State Director, Emicia Parker, has lost 170lbs. Mrs. Florida Plus America 2014, Niesha Mack-Freeman, has lost 300lbs and counting! Miss Plus America 2013, Alexandria Houston, and Ms Plus America 2014, Nicole Hayden, are both certified Zumba instructors. Being Plus-sized and being proactive about your health are not two non-overlapping magesteria. Trust that we want our Queens to live long lives. You cannot do that without good health.
Q: If I am unable to fulfill my reign or must drop out, can I get a refund?
A: Unfortunately not. The Miss New York Plus America pageant is completely self-managed. We depend on the integrity of our delegates. Sashes and crowns must be ordered, venues must be booked, prizes must be allotted for. This is a commitment that we make to our delegates. It is only fair that our delegates also commit.
A: Unfortunately not. The Miss New York Plus America pageant is completely self-managed. We depend on the integrity of our delegates. Sashes and crowns must be ordered, venues must be booked, prizes must be allotted for. This is a commitment that we make to our delegates. It is only fair that our delegates also commit.