My Goals

My platform is my life. It effects every choice that I make on a daily basis and has completely altered the way I view my health. Had I not even become Miss Teen Arkansas International I would still be working just as passionately as I am now.

Heart disease effects everyone, big or small, young or old, male or female. Whether or not we realize it, every one of us know someone who has been directly effected by it. Heart disease is all around us, we just don’t always see it. Nor do we see how easily it can often be prevented.

So, my mission has always been the same: to educate, raise funds, and raise awareness. These are my three basic steps to helping others lead a heart healthy life.

I have already been working intimately with the American Heart Association and had the opportunity to work with the staff on some of the largest events in Arkansas for this organization. Now, I am working to join with events all across our nation and even over seas!

The American Heart Association has a goal: by 2020, to improve the cardiovascular healthy of all Americans by 20 percent, while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent.

How are we going to do this?

1. Education. About heart disease, how it can be prevented, and how to live a healthy lifestyle. Though schools, communities, businesses and families.

2.Raise Funds. For the American Heart Association so that they may be able to continue their research for the new treatments for heart disease, as well as continue their many programs aimed towards education and awareness.

3. Raise Awareness. Of the American Heart Association and its many programs and partnerships such as: Go Red For Women, Hoops For Heart, Jump Rope For Heart, NFL Play 60 Challenge, My Life Check and, my favorite, the Alliance For A Healthier Generation.

Obesity has been found to be one of the root causes of several diseases, including heart disease. It can cause not only heart disease and stroke, but high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and asthma as well as many other diseases.

In 2005 the Alliance for a Healthier Generation was founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation as a response to the growing rate of childhood obesity. It’s goal is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and to empower children to develop lifelong, healthy habits. The frightening reality is that this generation could be the first in history to live shorter lives than their parents because 1 in 3 children are overweight or obese. That’s a scary thought.

By working with schools, companies, communities, healthcare professionals and families the Alliance is transforming the conditions and systems that lead to healthier kids. Together we are leading the charge against childhood obesity.

With the title of Miss Teen International, my reach has been broadened and I now have the foothold I need to work on a national and international level with the American Heart Association. There is much to be done and not very much time to do it, so new events and ideas are still piling in! I’ll keep you posted on all of our progress so stay tuned!

Much love,

Haley Pontius

My Reign

Wearing a banner and a shiny tiara make people take notice. Little girls giggle, little boys smile, and even skeptical adults take a moment size you up. There is nothing more fun in those moments than to learn their names and pose for a picture to capture one life touching another!

If you consider the physical size and weight of the Mrs. International crown, which I would describe as large, heavy, and impressive, it could be argued that the responsibility of the title itself is in direct correlation. Therefore, it seems to me the goals and dreams for my reign this year should be ambitious, and reflective of the spirit of those who have worn the crown before me, as well as, the International Pageant Family.

Here are my goals and dreams for my reign as Mrs. International 2012:

1. To represent the International Pageant System and all that it stands for with an emphasis on the responsibility of truly touching lives around the world. Because I believe everything happens for a reason, it seems clear to me that the combination of current and former International Participants, connections through the Phoenix Society for burn survivors, and my personal relationships throughout the world with Harvard classmates create a network for which I feel compelled to utilize.

2.To promote my platform of Burn Awareness and Education, however, my focus can be as broad as sharing a message about overcoming adversity. More specifically, as a burn survivor myself, promoting the Phoenix Society and a message of “Dare to SOAR, your attitude in life almost always determines your altitude.”

3.To promote the Go Red for Women campaign on behalf of the American Heart Association, as I reach out to people both within and outside the United States. In my humble opinion, a message of thinking heart healthy should have no borders.

Whether it is a wave and a smile or a keynote address, I will do my best to leave a positive and lasting impression wherever I go. If you have read this blog, and our paths cross…please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with me, as my father always told me to trust how people behave, not what they say…and it is my hope you will find my actions match my words.

After my Tiara Magazine interview with Madi Cole

With love,

Sarah Bazey
Mrs. International 2012

Plans for 2012

The most common question I have been asked since returning to my hometown of Dothan, Alabama is: Has it finally set in that you won yet? Actually, I think it has! The past few weeks have been a whirl-wind of parties, photo shoots, and LOTS of unpacking. Now that I am finally settled back in, it’s time to get to “work”!

My plans as Miss Teen International 2012 are to continue my work with the Miracle League and Shane’s Inspiration. My big goal for the year is to create a promotional video for the Miracle League to show at speaking engagements and to send to news stations so that more children and families can learn about and enjoy the benefits of playing baseball! I hope to involve players, buddies, volunteers, directors, and family members so that I can capture the perspective of everyone involved in the program. I was also recently invited to visit the Miracle League National Headquarters, which I am extremely excited about! I will, of course, still continue to attend monthly Play Club sessions on Dothan’s Shane’s Inspiration playground. Also, baseball season begins in the spring, which means that Miracle League sign-ups are just around the corner. I encourage you all to find a Miracle League program or Shane’s Inspiration playground to become involved with. It has been, by far, the most rewarding experience of my life!

Also, I cannot wait to begin working with my local chapter of Go Red! Although the International system’s partnership with the American Heart Association focuses primarily on heart health for women, everyone is affected by heart disease! Over fifty percent of children with Down’s syndrome are born with various types of congenital heart disease.

While I am extremely excited about being able to wear the International crown, I am most excited about all of the doors my title has already opened for me! Thank you all for the support you have already shown me!

Love always,

Caroline Crowley