My platform is "Mental health Awareness for adolescents (MHAA)."  I have two target populations:  1) primary school aged children and 2) middle school girls.

For primary school aged children, Community Involvement is crucial.  I would like to bridge the gap between local schools and businesses by inviting businesses into the schools to showcase their expertise.  For instance, I would like to invite local dentists to visit each classroom and teach about oral hygiene and the importance of starting now with the daily habits of brushing, rinsing and flossing twice a day.  They might end their visit by inviting the children to set a goal to brush everyday for a month.  As a tool, they would give every child a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash; along with a tracking calendar to hang up and color when they complete the task.  Through this technique of teaching and inviting, the children will learn the value of developing small and consistent daily habits that will enrich their lives.  

This same pattern can be used for local fitness and nutrition experts, finance or banking experts and social workers or therapists that specialize in growth mindset and goal setting.  I would even like to invite my sister queens into schools to speak about their platforms:  anti-bullying, literacy, being a good friend, etc.  Regardless of the platform, we are all working towards the same goal of changing the world, one child at a time.  The main focus is enriching the lives of children by teaching them how to set small daily healthful goals and achieve them!

When I was in first grade, my teacher, Mrs. Reichard, was really into fitness and a healthful lifestyle.  She taught us, by example, the importance of drinking water!  From that point forward, I decided to only drink water because it's good for my body and I like it.  To this day, I only drink water!  (and smoothies and milkshakes, of course haha!). But I don't drink soda or high sugar drinks!  This is just one personal example of how leaders can make such a huge imprint on children and possibly change their lives!

The second target population is middle-school aged girls.  Middle school is such a fluid time of change and growth in young girls' lives.  These young ladies are the focus of my non-profit organization, Born a Queen Foundation®.  We aim to help girls increase in resilience and confidence through pageantry by hosting an annual Queens' Academy & Pageant® for at-risk and underprivileged middle school girls.  During the week-long academy, a growth mindset-promoting environment is created as they learn the art of pageantry.  The week concludes with a Born a Queen Scholarship Pageant® where the girls showcase their newfound skills!

We insure each girl walks back into the world, armed with a new set of skills, confidence, increased resilience and a network of resources that will allow them to compete in future pageants... all in hopes that they will go out and change the world despite the adversities and trials they may face.

If you would like to support our efforts and to find out more, check out bornaqueen.org. 

"Adolescence is a crucial period for developing social and emotional habits important for mental well-being. These include adopting healthy sleep patterns; exercising regularly; developing coping, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills; and learning to manage emotions. Protective and supportive environments in the family, at school and in the wider community are important.

Multiple factors affect mental health. The more risk factors adolescents are exposed to, the greater the potential impact on their mental health. Factors that can contribute to stress during adolescence include exposure to adversity, pressure to conform with peers and exploration of identity. Media influence and gender norms can exacerbate the disparity between an adolescent’s lived reality and their perceptions or aspirations for the future. Other important determinants include the quality of their home life and relationships with peers. Violence (especially sexual violence and bullying), harsh parenting and severe and socioeconomic problems are recognized risks to mental health.

Some adolescents are at greater risk of mental health conditions due to their living conditions, stigma, discrimination or exclusion, or lack of access to quality support and services. These include adolescents living in humanitarian and fragile settings; adolescents with chronic illness, autism spectrum disorder, an intellectual disability or other neurological condition; pregnant adolescents, adolescent parents, or those in early or forced marriages; orphans; and adolescents from minority ethnic or sexual backgrounds or other discriminated groups. (WHO, 2021)