1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,560 Speaker 1: This is Kelly Henderson and you are listening to the 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: Velvet Edge podcast. My guest this week is Chestle Christ. 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: Chesley is the current reigning Miss USA and I have 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,800 Speaker 1: to be completely honest that before my chat with her, 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: I just had an assumption about pageant girls. I think 6 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: I associated it more with being beautiful than anything else, 7 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: and without really digging deeper, I just assumed I had 8 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: it all figured out. Well, we all know what people 9 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: say about assuming, and I truly now know that Chesle 10 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: Christ is much more than a pretty face. Along with 11 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: her Miss USA roles, she has a correspondent on Extra 12 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 1: TV and runs a fashion blog called White Color Glam 13 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: for the working girl looking to stay fashion forward. She 14 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: also practiced law until she won Miss USA, which completely 15 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: explains the brains and well spoken nature behind our conversation. 16 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: She gave the behind the scenes of pageant life, talked 17 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: to future plans, and really gave me a different view 18 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: of Miss USA. Here's our conversation. Okay, so I have 19 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,959 Speaker 1: to be completely honest here and just say that I 20 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: sort of have had this idea of pageant girls in 21 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: my head. I don't know why. I don't know what 22 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 1: that mentality was and I don't know, I just associated 23 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: maybe with like a beauty contest or makeup or just 24 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: you know, beautiful women, which felt sort of like this 25 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: digression from the women empowerment move And then I was 26 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: reading about you and I'm like, Okay, this girl is 27 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: the opposite of what I had in my mind. You 28 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: have so much going on and you are the quintessential 29 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: strong woman. Do you get that stereotype a lot? Thank? Yeah, 30 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: I think so. I think really, Um, I think what 31 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 1: happens is I think a lot of people have this 32 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: idea or the stereotype of what, um, the pageant girl 33 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: would look like because they've watched pageants for so long, 34 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: or maybe I had this idea because their friends or 35 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: family who had watched. But I think a lot of 36 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: people who actually pay attention to pageants and women who 37 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: compete nowadays and the structure of the pageants understand that 38 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: it's changed and it's just a lot different now. Right. 39 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: So I mean you, because you are the current Miss USA, 40 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: your correspondent for Extra TV, you are in its Pernie, 41 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: you have an m B A. I mean you have 42 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: a ton going on. So, um, when you decided to 43 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: start doing these pageants, what was your main motivation behind that? Yeah, 44 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: So my mom actually competed in pageants, um when I 45 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: was in elementary and middle school. So I remember when 46 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: I was about ten or eleven years old, my mom 47 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: was crowned Mrs North Carolina US two thousand two, and 48 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: so she wanted his pageant for married women. I remember 49 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: my brothers and my sister, we all attended and watched 50 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: her win, and I think that sort of shaped the 51 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 1: way that I looked at pageants. And I think many 52 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: other people may not have had somebody in their close 53 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: friend or family group. I had my mom, the person 54 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: who was a role model for me, and a person 55 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: I looked up to who was competing. And when I 56 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 1: got to the age of I think it was around 57 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: eighteen seventeen ish, um, I won my high school paget 58 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 1: and then continued competing after that. So can you explain 59 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,679 Speaker 1: the difference between Miss USA and Miss America, because I 60 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: think that I I honestly know the difference now, but 61 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: I think that is such a common misconception. Yeah, definitely 62 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:06,959 Speaker 1: is there's I mean there have been so many times, 63 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 1: even on interviews where an interviewer has called the Miss 64 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: America and I'm like really, yeah, yeah they are. So. 65 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: The Miss America organization runs the Miss American pageant and 66 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 1: it started, I believe somewhere in the nineteen twenties. They 67 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: compete in interview, evening gown, um, they do it on stage, question, 68 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: they do talent as well, um. And so I think 69 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: they've sort of renamed some of those categories as of weight. 70 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: When I competed, those were the different categories that we had, 71 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: and when I competed, they actually competed in swimsuit as well. 72 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: It simply remove this the swimsuit competition. On the other hand, 73 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: Miss USA, the competition is run by the Miss Universe organization, 74 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: so that whoever wins Miss USA compete at Miss Universe 75 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: and then we compete in swimsuit, evening gown, and interview, 76 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: and then if you make it to the top five 77 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: or top three, you'll do an on stage question with 78 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: the judges. That where the how that works? Uh? So 79 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: you compete in each of those phases in front of 80 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: the judges. Yet beyond safe question um is televised, whereas 81 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: the interview as a private the broadcast actually happens. Wow, okay, 82 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 1: is that so much pressure to do the the on 83 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: stage um question. Yeah, Yeah, it's definitely really nerve wracking. 84 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: It's probably, um one of the areas of competition I 85 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: dislike the most. Yeah, I can imagine. Yeah, yeah, I 86 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 1: think for me, I think it's it's really fun doing 87 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: interview because even though our interviews are really short, there 88 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 1: are three minutes um um each for two panels that 89 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: you do. For on stage question, you'll have a thirty 90 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: second time slot, and that is a really short amount 91 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: of time to answer like questions that end up being 92 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: really in depth and really political, really politically charged. And 93 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: so the questions that I had at this USA were 94 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: my thoughts on me too, and time's up and a 95 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 1: word to describe my generation. So you get this question 96 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: and you want to be able to sit and think 97 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 1: about it and chew it over a little bit and 98 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: deliver a profound answer. But you've got thirty seconds, that's all. 99 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: That's all the time my TV, and they're gonna move 100 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: you out of the way after thirty seconds is up, 101 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: So it can be really really nerve wracking. Well, and 102 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: I told you I wanted to talk a little bit 103 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: about all the preparation that goes into this for you guys, 104 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: But how do you prepare for that part because you 105 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 1: don't know the question ahead of time, right, that's correct. Yeah. 106 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 1: So what I did is I worked with a number 107 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: of different interview coaches. So when I was in undergrad 108 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: I ran track and deals and of course I had 109 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: coaches then. So I figured, you know, this is an 110 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: important competition. I want this really badly. I need coaches again. 111 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: Hired a few coaches that helped me. Uh, and we 112 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: just picked a ton of really timely relevant, uh politically 113 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: charged questions. UH. We picked a lot of different topics 114 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: and would just make up questions and hope that if 115 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: we practiced enough, we would either touched on one of 116 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: the topics that ended up being asked, or hope that 117 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: all of that practice would sharpen my skills in thinking 118 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,599 Speaker 1: and delivering a short, concise answer on the spot. And 119 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: I think we did a good job that I got 120 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: to the point where I could answer a question in 121 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,360 Speaker 1: twenty eight seconds. I just knew where twenty seconds was 122 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 1: and could just end there. And I came up with 123 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,679 Speaker 1: a certain structure to answering questions. I think that helps 124 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: the most who's just having an opinion and being knowledgeable 125 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 1: on a broad range of topics and issues and then 126 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: being able to deliver an answer in a concise way 127 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 1: so that I wouldn't run over time. You know, I 128 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: immediately think of that one famous person. I won't even 129 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: talk about the specifics of that, but that she kind 130 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: of went mind blank when she got asked the question 131 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: and she was saying and so on and such as 132 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: and all of these things. Is that a huge fear 133 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: that you guys have under the pressure of the lights. Yeah, 134 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: for sure, especially when there's some you know, we live 135 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: in in a day and age of cancel culture, so 136 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: you're really afraid to say something that might offend people, 137 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: but that might go viral, that might be fired from 138 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 1: your off for something that you said without you know, 139 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: being able to think very in depth about it. I 140 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: got asked about the incident that you're talking about, happened 141 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: years ago, and the person was answering was actually a 142 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: team and I don't think a lot of people know 143 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: that this is actually I think she was. I think 144 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: she was pretty young. She might have been like seventeen 145 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: or eighteen years So for me, thinking about having to 146 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: be on national television in front of thousands of people 147 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: in an auditorium and millions of people on TV. There's 148 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure there absolutely, you know, yeah, it's 149 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: it's really really scary. You don't want to end up 150 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: being in that place. And so I think because of that, 151 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: because of that fear, I just prepared as much as 152 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: I could and tried to make sure that I got 153 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: out my nerves beforehand and was as prepared as possible. 154 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: So what other kind of preparations do you go through? 155 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: I mean, are you on a strict like diet? Are 156 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: you working out all the time? How does that look? Yeah, 157 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: when I competed at Miss RSA at Miss Universe, I 158 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: was working out every day, sometimes twice a day if 159 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: I had the time and energy. My diet was pretty strict. 160 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: I just for me. I thought, you get to compete 161 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: at Miss USA once, am at Miss Universe once. You 162 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: want to make sure that you're in the best shape possible. 163 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: That's the mindset I had when I competed in track 164 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: and field, I wanted my body to be in tip 165 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: top shape. And here at Miss USA, either you compete 166 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: and swimsuit, people are going to see your body and 167 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: you want to be in tip top shape. So that's 168 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: I put everything I could all the effort um that 169 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: I had. I wanted to make sure that I left 170 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 1: no stone unturned and did everything that I could, and 171 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: I was pretty proud of what I did. What other 172 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: kind of preparing are easier? Is it similar to like 173 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: not a wedding planning, but I mean all of your outfits, 174 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: all of the glam like all that goes into that. 175 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: How much time did that take a fair amount of time? 176 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: I ended up. I was lucky after winning Miss USA 177 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: that we have so much support here because my full 178 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: time job is being Miss USA. Right, so then though 179 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,479 Speaker 1: you're still doing appearances and events. We have a stylist 180 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: at the Miss Universe organization who helped me put together 181 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: a ton of different outfits. We have a ton of 182 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: sponsors who provided things like eyelashes, who provided you know, 183 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: clothes and shoes and jewelry, and so that was a 184 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 1: huge help when I became Miss USA. When I was 185 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,719 Speaker 1: Miss North Carolina, USA, we still had some help from 186 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: our directors who secured sponsorships for us, but I definitely 187 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: used But other than that, you know, I was I 188 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: was a full time attorney, so I just had to 189 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: figure out shopping for clothes while I could find time 190 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: in my schedule. I ended up instead of going to 191 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: malls or shopping in person, I did a lot of 192 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: shopping online and would have clothes sent to my office 193 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: at my law firms so that if I could try 194 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: them on the bathroom really quickly, maybe during my lunch break, 195 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: and then if they didn't work out, put them back 196 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: in the mail room and have them return. And ended 197 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 1: up being pretty helpful and saving me a lot of 198 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: time because I didn't have writ Yeah, you're working a 199 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: full time job. It's a great point you bring up 200 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: to about that girl being so young. I was reading 201 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: about you and it said you were the oldest woman 202 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: to win Miss USA, and you were twenty eight, so 203 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: it's not like you're old. But I thought that was 204 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: such an interesting statement that you were the oldest. What 205 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: is the age range typically? So the ad range is 206 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 1: nineteen to twenty seven. I want to say, my miss 207 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get to stay wrong. There's a the one 208 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: who competed with me this year who was either nineteen 209 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: or twenties, so she was pretty yeah, and our our 210 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: ages sort of just ranged the cam and we had 211 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: her at like nineteen twenty is we had me at 212 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: twenty eight. So there was this huge age range of women. 213 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: But I thought it was cool. We had this interesting, 214 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 1: uh mix of people from different walks of life. I mean, 215 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: I was a full time attorney. We had my first 216 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: grinder up has their master's in accountancy. We had another 217 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: woman who um was in law school. Another woman who 218 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: just like me had just graduated from law school and 219 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: she was had just taken the bar. So I mean 220 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 1: we had like there were a ton of people there. Uh. 221 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: And it's really cool to be the oldest UM out 222 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: of all of them UM, or at least out of 223 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: all of the women who have won UM. But what's 224 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: funny is like, now that we're like locked in our houses, 225 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: I'm celebrating my birthday UM in April twenty eight, I'm 226 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: gonna be in my house celebrading the birthday. Last year, 227 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: I was ringing in age twenty eight at miss USA. 228 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: We actually like brought in a cake and celebrated like 229 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: my birthday and two other girls birthdays all at the 230 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,439 Speaker 1: same time. It's amazing what a year can do. Right. 231 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: What have you been doing, speaking of the isolation, as 232 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: have you been able to do any of your miss 233 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: us A duties or how are you handling all of that, 234 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,719 Speaker 1: with all this coronavirus stuff going on. Yeah, a lot 235 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: of my events were either delayed or canceled because everybody 236 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 1: obviously wants to practice social distancing and keep people safe 237 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 1: and prevent the um exponential spread of the virus. So 238 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: a lot of those events were canceled or delayed, which obviously, 239 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: you know, it was unfortunate. I'm sad that they've they've 240 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: been moved, but it's for the greater good. Other than that, 241 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: we've been doing mostly virtual work. So I'm doing like 242 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 1: a virtual speaking engagement on Monday. We've been doing some 243 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: Instagram blobs this week. We've been able to connect with 244 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: some military families. I read a book to some children. 245 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,719 Speaker 1: Um Yes, with God was yesterday Sday, Thursday? All the 246 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: days started to blend together. They really did? They really do? 247 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:11,079 Speaker 1: And of Octoberville or something right bracket the days. Um 248 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: so so a lot of our It's been cool that 249 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,439 Speaker 1: people have been able to adjust some of the events 250 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: that we can help with, and we've still been able 251 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 1: to connect with our fans and supporters through social media 252 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 1: and through different online means. Okay, well I have to 253 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: ask this. We talked a little bit about that behind 254 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: the scenes, and you just told us the age range 255 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: of the girls, and anytime you put a bunch of 256 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,959 Speaker 1: girls in one space, there tends to be some cattiness 257 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 1: or you know, backstabbing and things like that. Um, your 258 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 1: predecessor was Kalin from The Bachelor? Was that right? Yes? 259 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 1: My she was a Miss North Carolina, USA from Okay? 260 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: So is that? I mean we saw on The Bachelor 261 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: that she and Hannah Brown just kind of would go 262 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: at each other a little bit, and they both competed 263 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: in pageants. What is it? What is the vibe? Like? 264 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,079 Speaker 1: Is it are there women's parading women? Is it cattiness? 265 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: Is it backstabbing or is it both? Or what's what's 266 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: the vibe? No under standing backstabbing? I think, Um, I 267 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 1: think there is a misconception that that women who could 268 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 1: pete and pageants or catty, or that we're so over 269 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: competitive that we poured bleach on each other's gowns or something. Um, 270 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:24,439 Speaker 1: but I've actually seen this was the most positively cliche 271 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: moment I've seen in a pageant I actually competed. I 272 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: think it was North Carolina, USA. Twenty nineteen was the 273 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:30,959 Speaker 1: year that I want. Yeah, I think it was the 274 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: year that I wont There was another girl was competing 275 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: with all of us who came to the competition but 276 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: didn't know how to do her makeup, and so it 277 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: was like a moment from miscongeniality where all the girls 278 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: would gather around her and like, here's how you put 279 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 1: on lipstick, this is how you're gonna apply your foundation. 280 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: It was literally this moment happened in real life, which 281 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: was so cliche, but cliche in the best possible way. 282 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: So a lot of it really is women supporting women. 283 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: And I tell people all the time that even though um, 284 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 1: we compete and pageant and we're high achieving women, there's 285 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: we're still people. And so you may go into a 286 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: workplace and find that you get along with most people 287 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: and there's one person who may be to themselves or um, 288 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,679 Speaker 1: you know, you don't get along with the best. We're 289 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: not immune from that. So that certainly happens sometimes, but 290 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: I think for the most parts, it really is just 291 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: women supporting women and being excited about competing together. One 292 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: of the coolest parts about your win when in two 293 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: thousand nineteen was that it was the first year that 294 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: all four major United States states the United States based 295 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: pageants were won by black women. So what do you 296 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: feel like this means for black women? Like, what has 297 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: that brought up for you personally? I think what was 298 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: important was that I think it was important for not 299 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: only black women, but people in general to see that 300 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: we don't have to have just one black person be 301 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: successful at a time. There's oftentimes this notion of tokenism 302 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: that exists with a lot of people Black women, especially 303 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: because you may oftentimes be in room where you are 304 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: the only person of color or the only woman, or 305 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: the only black person or the only black woman, um, 306 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: And so I think you so you sort of get 307 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: used to thinking that there's only one of me that 308 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 1: that that's ever going to be in these rooms together, 309 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: and if there's another black woman, we're gonna be competing 310 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: against each other for one spot. But I think it 311 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: was important for people to see that not only can 312 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: there be more than one successful Black woman at a time, 313 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: we can have four out of four. You know, you 314 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: can cover all the bases if you just end up 315 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: being the most um deserving person of that role or 316 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: title at that point in time. Did that feel like 317 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 1: a very empowering moment for you and especially to communicate 318 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: to young black girls even that this can happen. Did 319 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: you feel very empowered by that? I did feel empowered 320 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: by it. But to be candid, I think there are 321 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: sometimes where I feel like I'm sort of watching from 322 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: the outside. I think there's so many times, um, when 323 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: people will talk about the four Wins, and I'm just 324 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: happy that it happened, and sometimes I'm almost surprised. Might 325 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: be like my picture or my favorite fixed in with 326 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: with the other women of color. Um. So I think 327 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: it's just something that all of us can celebrate that 328 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: that can empower all of us, not just you know, 329 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: the woman, the women who end up being in those roles. Yeah, 330 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: what would you tell a young girl about competing in 331 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 1: beauty pageants? Are that's thinking about that? What's been the 332 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 1: biggest takeaway for you? The biggest takeaway? I don't know. 333 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: It's hard to It's hard to really settle on just 334 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: one because I think there's so many things that pregnants 335 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: can teach you. UM. You know, I've while competing, I've 336 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: learned to balance a number of different roles and jobs 337 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: all at the same time. UM. I've learned how to 338 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: better handle stress and pressure. UM. I've learned how to 339 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: you know, be graceful under fire. Um, I've learned how 340 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: to you know, handle bullies who may not think that 341 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: you should have won that year. I think there there's 342 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: just so many lessons to learn. I think if there's 343 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: going to be one main takeaway that that should be 344 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: it that compete and pageants teaches you so many things 345 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: about life, and it's not just winning that teaches you that. 346 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: It really is the process in competing that can sharpen 347 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 1: a lot of your skills in many different areas of life. Well, 348 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 1: you just mentioned bullies, and I have not really thought 349 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: about that in your world. But can you talk a 350 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: little bit about that and you feel it? Do you 351 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 1: get that a lot on social media? Yeah? Yeah, And 352 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: that's the thing, you know, my fellow pageant competitors and 353 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: I have talked about this frequently, and that I think 354 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:30,919 Speaker 1: there are some days or sometimes where you may think 355 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: it's just you there there. For example, right after I 356 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: want obviously I had an overwhelmingly positive response. There were 357 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 1: so many people who sent me messages of support or 358 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,159 Speaker 1: congratulations or were excited for me, or sent me gifts 359 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: or whatever on social media. Um. But on the other hand, 360 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: there are also some people who would put throw up 361 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 1: faces underneath my pictures on Instagram or send me curse 362 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: words or death threats on my on my Instagram account, 363 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: and that was just strange. Yeah. UM, so you know, 364 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: I think there were there were time where I thought, 365 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 1: do I do something wrong? Is it's just me? But 366 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: I've been told over and over again by former miss 367 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:09,239 Speaker 1: usas or by former state title holders that everybody has 368 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 1: experienced this. One of the things that a lot of 369 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 1: former miss usas, it's almost a slogan that we've passed 370 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,120 Speaker 1: from one miss USA to another, is that with love 371 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: comes hate. With this, you know, positive thing that happened 372 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,520 Speaker 1: for you and winning miss USA comes hate from other 373 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 1: people who UM themselves may be supporting another contestant, may 374 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: just be sad that the person they were rooting for 375 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,479 Speaker 1: different didn't win. UM, or, on the other hand, may 376 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: just be sad people in and of themselves because there 377 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,680 Speaker 1: are so many bullies and trolls that UM are going 378 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 1: through painful experiences and rather than being able to emerge 379 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: from that and be a positive person or just spreading hatred. 380 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: And so I just had to understand that and not 381 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: take it personally and so that every title holder has 382 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: experienced this in one form or another. I think that's 383 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: huge what you just said, not take it personally. Did 384 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: you have days where it kind of affected your self 385 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: esteem or were pretty or of yourself to where that 386 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: didn't really bother you. I think by the time I 387 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: got to competing at this USA, I was sure enough 388 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,640 Speaker 1: that it didn't bother me. Um as far as damaging 389 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: my self esteem. But you know, I'm still I'm a lawyer, 390 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,360 Speaker 1: and I became a lawyer because I can be confrontational 391 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: and argumentive, and so it is very difficult at times 392 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,719 Speaker 1: to see negative comments and ignore them. So there are 393 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: certain times where, like, you know, I just drop it. 394 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: I can't, I can't do it. I can't not respond. 395 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: I have to respond to some people, and um, you know, 396 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 1: I try to make my responses positive if I am 397 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: going to respond, but you know, there there are certainly 398 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 1: times where I'm just like, I'm not going to take 399 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: this lame down and I'm not going to leave your 400 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: comments that I'm just correspond to it. I think the 401 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 1: hardest part about that, the more I've learned about that, 402 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: is when you respond, it actually becomes a bigger story. 403 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 1: Most of the time, and if you don't, it goes away. 404 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: But that is really hard, right, Like what you're saying, 405 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: you want to argue with it, and you're like, this 406 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 1: is not true for me. So it's super difficult to 407 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: not defend herself. Yeah, for especially an't I mean I 408 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: love arguing. I love Yeah. You get paid to argue, Yeah, exactly, 409 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:08,880 Speaker 1: I get paid to advocate for other people. Why would 410 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: I not advocate for myself. For the most part, I 411 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: end up it comments get really really nasty, end up 412 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,640 Speaker 1: just like bleeding them and then usually blocking people who 413 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: spread really nasty or threatening comments. But on the other hand, 414 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: or sometimes where I'll go back and forth with people 415 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: every now and then. Yes, Well, I want to talk 416 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: of a little bit about your work. I've mentioned earlier 417 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: that you are a correspondent for Extra and you have 418 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: had some pretty big interviews. I was reading the list 419 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: of celebrities that you've interviewed. Um it includes Oprah, Lizzos 420 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: and Zendia, Michael B. Jordan's, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey. So 421 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:43,440 Speaker 1: is that intimidating for you or do you feel like 422 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,399 Speaker 1: that is just a natural habitat for you? It is 423 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 1: absolutely intimidating. Especially um, I think for me when I 424 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: started doing interviews, not conducting interviews, but going on my 425 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,440 Speaker 1: media tour after I want miss you, I say, there's 426 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: so many times where I thought, you know, I would 427 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 1: they would have asked this question, or I really wanted 428 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:03,639 Speaker 1: to talk about this. I wish they would have asked this. 429 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: Being on the other side, you realize how difficult it 430 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,119 Speaker 1: actually is to conduct an interview. Um, when you have 431 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,200 Speaker 1: to worry about timing, when you have to make sure 432 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: that you get in the questions that your producers asked for, 433 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: when you want to make sure to get out certain 434 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 1: points or make sure that the person you're interviewing feels comfortable. 435 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: It is a really difficult job. And to add on 436 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: an extra intimidation factor, You've got this with some of 437 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: the most famous people in the world that anybody would 438 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: be intimidated just to meet around. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, So 439 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 1: it's definitely very it can be very intimidating, but you 440 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: just you put your game face on. Yeah exactly. I 441 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: was looking, I mean at the list. It's like Oprah 442 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 1: is the mecca of interviewers, right, Like She's nobody is 443 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: better than Oprah. So how do you interview Oprah? I 444 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: mean I always wanted to ask her for notes afterwards, 445 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: just like it was that, Okay, could I just do 446 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 1: something better? I mean, not only have I interviewed Oprah 447 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: and ife Gail king to Gail about me? Would Gil 448 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: saying before I did this interview? Um, so you know 449 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: it'll like be walking into the interview, it just felt 450 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: like another Miss us A moment, and that when I 451 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: was at Miss USA, I was super nervous, but you 452 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: just had to go out there and make things more 453 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: tangible and compartmentalize things in your mind. So rather than 454 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: thinking about this is a huge stage and there are 455 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 1: so many people, and there are cameras and there are 456 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,200 Speaker 1: millions of people, I just had to think, I'm just 457 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:24,959 Speaker 1: gonna go out there and have fun. And so when 458 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:26,639 Speaker 1: Oprah walked in the room, I just thought, there are 459 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 1: some questions I need to ask this lady. She happens 460 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: to be pretty famous, But I just want to focus 461 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: on the things I have to learn from her. And 462 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: I think that made things a little less nerve wracking. 463 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 1: So how did it go with Oprah? Now I need 464 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,439 Speaker 1: all the details. It went pretty well. She walks up 465 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:41,679 Speaker 1: to me, and she was like, I love your hair, 466 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,160 Speaker 1: and I just thought, oh my god, I love you. Yes, 467 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: to be complimented about Oprah, there you go. Yeah, yeah, 468 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: you just feel this, Yeah, exactly, just feel this Oprah effect. 469 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: She's just going around taking pictures and hugging everybody. I 470 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: just feel like she's your really cool aunt once she 471 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:59,440 Speaker 1: walks up. Yes. Well, you also have a blog which 472 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: we mentioned for as well. It's called White Color Glad, 473 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 1: which is a great idea. I've not seen a fashion blog. 474 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: There's a million fashion blogs out there, but I've not 475 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:10,719 Speaker 1: seen one that it's specific to white, white color fashion. 476 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: And that's so great because women go to work every 477 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 1: day and you want to look your best so that 478 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: you feel your best, that you do your best. Um, 479 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 1: but it can get kind of monotonous. So is that 480 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: what made you want to start this blog? Yeah? Absolutely? 481 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: What what maybe you want to start it was going 482 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 1: through law school and um, I had an experience where 483 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 1: I competed at a national trial and brought a few 484 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 1: suits with me and ran out of suits while I 485 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: was there because one they hadn't have air conditioning in 486 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: the courtrooms, and so I sweat all the way through 487 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,359 Speaker 1: one of the suits. Another one of them I ripped 488 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 1: because it was kind of a cheap suit, and then 489 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: the third one is too big for me. And so 490 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,440 Speaker 1: here I am about to compete against Harvard and you know, 491 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 1: law schools from across the nation and represent my law 492 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: school without a suit. Wow. I remember. I remember being 493 00:23:58,200 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: in that place and just thinking, where do you even 494 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: buy a suit? I don't even know how I got 495 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 1: the suits that I had. I think it's got a 496 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: good will. So when I graduated and had a budget 497 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: and could buy suits and started learning a little bit 498 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: more about where to buy, you know what suits fit 499 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: you the best? Um, you know what styles are appropriate 500 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: from the courtroom and which ones just aren't. I wanted 501 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:17,920 Speaker 1: to start this blog so that other women wouldn't have 502 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: to go through that same awkward and uncomfortable experience. It's amazing. 503 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 1: So um, you're still doing that. What do you have 504 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,640 Speaker 1: next on the journey for Miss USA? Once? Maybe, once 505 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: this isolation is over. It's hard to say right now, 506 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: right well, we don't have any of us, yeah exactly. 507 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: I mean we've had some um, some awards presentations and 508 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 1: some luncheons and dinner. Galis that I was supposed to attend. 509 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 1: Some of them have been, like I said, either canceled 510 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 1: or delayed, some even like through August or September. So 511 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: it's really hard to say what I'll be able to do. 512 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: And I think that we'll be able to figure that 513 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 1: out and have a more concrete plan once the world 514 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: figures out when this has been a will over and 515 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: when we're going to emerge past it, And do you 516 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: plan to go back to law practice whenever you're finished 517 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: with your reign? You know, my my law firm has 518 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: told me that the doors always open and I'm able 519 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: to return there. I also have opportunities with EXTRA, and 520 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 1: I've loved the interviewing that I've done with them, So 521 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 1: I hope to stay in New York and continue interviewing 522 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 1: with EXTRA, and if I'm able to continue practicing law 523 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: as well, I think that'd be great. Um. But but 524 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: right now, you know, my career with EXTRA has been 525 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 1: so exciting that that's really what I want to focus on. 526 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 1: So you can find Chestle at White Collar glam dot com. 527 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: Where else can people find you? Can you give us 528 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: your social media handles? Yeah? Yeah, so I'm just Chestlee 529 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 1: crist on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok has been making 530 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 1: so many TikTok's this has been the the total rage 531 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: during this isolation, I feel like, yeah, it really has 532 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: for sure. What are your favorite kind of tiktoks to make? Um? 533 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: I don't know. I wish I have like a niche, 534 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,640 Speaker 1: but I don't. I made a video the other day 535 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 1: that I posted a couple of pictures in this video 536 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:07,399 Speaker 1: of my mom when she won Mrs North Carolina, USA, 537 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 1: and put on the caption said, you know, I wanted 538 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:11,720 Speaker 1: to be just like her when I grew up. And 539 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: then afterwards I put you know, my crowning moment and 540 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: pictures of me and my mom going to appearances together, 541 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 1: and that one got a lot of buzz, which is 542 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: really really fun. But other than that, like that, you know, 543 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: there's so many dancing videos videos that's like I'm going 544 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: a big dancer. So I'm like, I'm like, do I 545 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:31,879 Speaker 1: do makeup videos or hair videos? I'm still figuring that 546 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 1: out right now. It's just like a bunch of me 547 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 1: like clowning around on TikTok. So hopefully someday I figure 548 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:38,880 Speaker 1: out what I'm supposed to actually do. Yeah, I think 549 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: people would really like the makeup and hairsup to. I 550 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: mean it's like, where do we have to go? I 551 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,320 Speaker 1: don't know, but we have a lot of time to 552 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 1: watch those kind of things right now, So maybe we 553 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 1: can learn some tricks from you. Yeah, it'd be fun. 554 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 1: I think whatever the ones people asked us for, I 555 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,199 Speaker 1: say us, Me and my my roommate Zozie. This university've been. 556 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: We've done a couple of videos where we were talking 557 00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:59,959 Speaker 1: about our different accents and now we've pronounced different work 558 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 1: because she's from South Africa and so she pronounced a 559 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: lot of very differently than I pronounced this. So we 560 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: have a couple of videos on there we talk about 561 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:09,400 Speaker 1: our speech one on one class. What was the main 562 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: word that y'all pronounced differently? Um? There a few. So 563 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: I say broccoli, she says broccoli. Oh my god. I 564 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 1: say lingerie. She says injury. Yeah, it's really it's really 565 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 1: really interesting. It's been fun. I think it's been cool 566 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: sort of learning about not only how how she pronounces words, 567 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 1: which is different aspects of her culture that I had 568 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: no idea about. Yeah, well that sounds amazing. Well, so 569 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,440 Speaker 1: everyone go check out Chastlie on TikTok and I thank 570 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:36,879 Speaker 1: you so much for being here. It was such a 571 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:39,440 Speaker 1: pleasure to talk to you. Absolutely great to talk to 572 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: you too. Thanks for having me on. Thank you guys 573 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 1: for listening by. This is Kelly Henderson and you've been 574 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:48,879 Speaker 1: listening to the Velvet's Edge podcast. I truly believe that 575 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:51,119 Speaker 1: every one of us has a little velvet and a 576 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 1: little edge, so it's so important to remember that to 577 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: be strong, you must be soft too. Thank you so 578 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: much for sharing in those stories with me. You can 579 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 1: follow Velvet's Edge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, as well 580 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: as velvet's Edge dot com. If you haven't yet, go 581 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,919 Speaker 1: to Apple Podcasts and subscribe, rate and review this podcast. 582 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:14,359 Speaker 1: Join me every Wednesday for more conversations on lifestyle, beauty, 583 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:16,679 Speaker 1: and relationships. Thanks for listening.