Abby Mansolillo Visits Section 36!

Photo: Daniel Gagnon

Section 36 had another visitor! Abby Mansolillo is passionate about trusting your gut, a talented speaker, and the current Miss Rhode Island. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. 

So, let's see what happens when Abby Mansolillo visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Rhode Island crown?

I am so lucky to have an incredible support system behind me. When I won, I had family and a few close friends at my house for dinner (and cake, of course). After the competition however, I dove into studying for my law school finals, and began my year as Miss Rhode Island! 

 

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Rhode Island Competition that will help you at Miss America?

Photo: Daniel Gagnon

When we compete for any title, it’s easy to say that we’ve learned specific skill sets that’ll help us at the national level. The Miss Rhode Island Organization has definitely helped me with my interview skills that I have already used to further my career goals, it helped re-affirm stage presence and commanding an audience, and of course, advocating for a cause and organization that is important to me. However, at Miss Rhode Island, I really focused on myself and how I would put forth the best version of “Abby Mansolillo” - I asked myself what I wanted to get out of the whole experience; and worried about my own performance. That’s absolutely a message I want other young women to hear: stay in your lane and worry about the work and the performance you put out to the world. Don’t look at anyone else - be so busy watering your own garden to see if someone else’s grass is greener. When we get past those mental obstacles; that someone else is more intelligent, more talented, or has a better gown, even, that’s when we’re really able to tap into our fullest potential. 

 

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Rhode Island?

My biggest goal is to be the very first Miss America from Rhode Island! Our state has not had a top five placement at Miss America since Marilyn Cocozza Trillo, Miss Rhode Island 1967, who was Third - Runner Up at Miss America.  

 

I also hope to grow this organization. I think it’s important that we inform young women across the state about the benefits of becoming a candidate in the Miss Rhode Island Scholarship Organization - because that’s exactly what it is; a scholarship organization. Miss America is the largest scholarship provider for young women across the country; and women do not have to win the title to win scholarship money! It is also a great way to practice your interview skills that are helpful for career paths or for pursuing higher degrees, and of course, introduces young women to other like minded individuals who are devoted to bettering themselves and the community. 

 

Finally, I am so excited to grow my social impact initiative, “Trust Your Gut”. I am looking forward to partnering with health advocacy groups to achieve two goals; the first is to encourage patients to know that they have options when it comes to their health, and the importance of consulting doctors for multiple opinions to make informed decisions and to improve their quality of care! The second is to focus on future healthcare providers, and to encourage them to provide patients with the tools to make such informed decisions. Ultimately, improved communication between patents and healthcare providers means improved care. 

 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Trust Your Gut”?

My Social Impact Initiative is “Trust Your Gut: Be Your Own Health Advocate”, where I plan to continue encouraging young adults, especially young women, to listen to their bodies, know their family history, and maintain open and honest communication with their healthcare providers. My mother received a cancer diagnosis in 2019, and had a cancerous GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor) removed. It is because of her advocacy and push for medical testing that she is cancer - free; but still is under supervision of Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In honor of her, I created “Trust Your Gut” to increase access to tools to improve care from their healthcare providers. 

 

As a talented singer, what do you enjoy about performing on stage?

I haven’t sang in a VERY long time! My talent for Miss Rhode Island was performing a dramatic monologue from the movie “On the Basis of Sex” about the story of United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I love performing and being onstage - I think it’s a really beautiful thing to break down the third wall between myself and the audience and connect in that intimate way. It’s an adrenaline rush that absolutely cannot be replicated; taking on the role that I chose is exciting because I want to do it justice and bring the character that I channel to life. 

 

What is your personal fitness routine?

I’ve been practicing yoga for about six years, and I love hot power yoga! I’ve tried many different workouts - spin, kickboxing, running, but I’ve stuck with yoga and I still enjoy going to the gym. I definitely believe that fitness is not just exercise - it’s also taking care of yourself from the inside out. It’s making sure I drink more water than I do coffee (which I admittedly need to work on), getting outside and going for a walk, and making sure that I’m fueled appropriately. I love food - I even have an Instagram account called “Abbyssnacks” where I post about different restaurants that I frequent - and I have worked with a nutritionist since I was in high school!  

 

You’re currently pursuing a law degree at Roger Williams University School of Law. What drew you to that field?

My mother went to law school, graduating from Southern New England School of Law (which is now UMass Dartmouth), and my grandfather (her father), Louis V. Jackvony, was an attorney in Rhode Island for many years. It was certainly their influence, but my mom knew I had to come to it on my own; and I did! 

 

I think people forget that by signing up to be an attorney, you are signing up to be a public servant. You are there to help those who are in need of legal assistance, and often, to represent your state’s legal system. I am a summer legal intern at the Department of the Attorney General in Rhode Island, in the Narcotics Division and my ultimate goal is to become the second female Attorney General of Rhode Island. Being there has taught me the importance of public service, keeping our state and our citizens safe, and the significance of maintaining the integrity of the legal field. 

 

If you had an extra ticket to see the Red Sox play at Fenway, who would you take with you? Why?

Definitely my dad! I remember him watching the Boston Red Sox play the Yankees when I was a little girl.  

 

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

My family will totally make fun of me because my throw is sub-par at best; but it would be SO much fun to throw the first pitch of the game! I just may need some help; are there practice throws? 

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Oh, I imagine she could get a practice toss or two in there! 

As always, I want to thank Abby for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Abby continues her time as Miss Rhode Island, I encourage you to check out her title's website and Instagram. You should also visit the Instagram for her SII. And, why not check out her snacks Instagram too! They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on! 

I also want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss America crown this winter. It would be wonderful to have another Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Abby, and good luck!

Kayla Myers Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Kayla Myers is passionate about health and wellness, a talented cheerleader, and the current Miss Kosciusko. I was so excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Kayla Myers visits Section 36! 

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Kosciusko crown?

My family lives 10 hours away as I grew up in Pennsylvania; however, I am fortunate enough to have a mother who would do anything for me and drove out to Indiana to watch me compete. It was so special to have her at the pageant as I was crowned Miss Kosciusko 2022. As soon as the competition was over, I gave my mom the tightest hug; I was just so full of gratitude. On the drive home I called my sister, friends, and previous pageant director from Pennsylvania to share the good news. Once I was finally home, my mom and I celebrated with some Ben and Jerry's ice cream and had a movie night so I could enjoy quality time with her before she had to return back to Pennsylvania. And of course, before going to bed I took the obligatory sleeping crown and sash picture!

What part of the upcoming Miss Indiana competition are you most nervous about?

Eireann Photo

I am most nervous about the talent portion of the Miss Indiana competition. While talent is one of my favorite portions of the competition it is also one of the most challenging phases due to the nature of my talent. I am a cheerleader and one of my primary goals in the talent phase is to defy stereotypes about cheerleading. Competitive cheerleading is not about popularity and does not align with the "flirts in skirts" stereotype. Instead, I use my talent to demonstrate the cardiovascular endurance, muscular power, technique, flexibility, energy, and enthusiasm necessary to be successful in the sport. My routine starts with a round-off handspring full. This skill requires a lot of space (which quickly becomes scary on small stages), power/energy, and excellent technique due to performing on a stage surface instead of mats. Sharing this routine and my love of cheerleading is a wonderful experience, but it is highly nerve-wracking due to the sheer amount of skills packed into just 90 seconds. Although it can be easy to worry about making a mistake in talent, I have learned through my education in sport psychology, that it is far more important to trust your preparation and to focus on being successful, rather than fearing a mistake.

You previously held a title in the Miss Pennsylvania Organization. Do you think that multi-state experience will help you compete at Miss Indiana?

Eireann Photo

As a previous titleholder in Pennsylvania, I was exposed to candidates, directors, judges, and audience members as I competed at Miss Pennsylvania and other local competitions. These experiences have developed me into the candidate I am today. Coming into the Miss Indiana Organization, I am bringing these experiences with me and while they are different, the framework of competition both at the local and state level is similar. Therefore, I believe that my previous experiences are no more beneficial or detrimental than if I had always been competing in the state of Indiana. 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “#ChooseHealth”?

Photo: Holly Mead

Growing up I struggled with depression and anxiety due to an abusive home life and bullying in school. At the time, I felt as if my voice did not matter and I had lost all hope for my future. One day I heard an announcement about upcoming cheerleading tryouts. This piqued my interest as it sparked a childhood passion for gymnastics so I decided to tryout. Despite lacking talent, one of the judges noticed my work ethic and potential, earning me a spot on the JV team. I relentlessly worked to better myself inside and outside of practice and in doing so, I developed a passion for health and wellness. This newfound passion saved my life as I found hope, purpose, and began to love myself. The once shy and insecure girl broke out of her shell and flourished into a confident leader. After experiencing the power health has to transform lives, I was determined to help others improve their quality of life. As I furthered my education, I quickly realized there was an undeniable link between healthy living and factors such as disease prevention, preventing premature death, and improving quality of life. As a result of this knowledge, I created #ChooseHealth and the 5 pillars of healthy living: physical activity, adequate nutrition, restorative sleep, mental health maintenance, and the avoidance of risk behaviors. 

You’re currently majoring in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Where do you see that field taking you?

Eireann Photo

After graduating from Ball State University, I intend to seek out a job working with the military as a Master Resilience Trainer – Performance Expert (MRT-PE). After working for the military getting applied experience, I intend to go back to school to obtain a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology where I will conduct research. My long-term goal is to become a professor so I can share knowledge, continue to conduct research, and will have the ability to mentor students and inspire them to make a difference in the world. 

What is your personal fitness routine?

My fitness routine varies depending on the season of the year and my personal goals. Typically in summer I take advantage of the beautiful weather and run 5-10 miles most mornings. My favorite place to run is at the beach! As winter approaches, I typically emphasize lifting weights. My current goal is muscle growth and to increase my upper body strength. Lifting weights at the gym makes me feel powerful, relieves stress, and results in an unbeatable feeling when I hit a new personal record. Throughout the year I also train for Spartan Races which consists of resistance training, running, HIIT workouts, and a lot of grip strength training. This past year I earned my Spartan Trifecta, meaning I completed the 5k, 10k, and 21k distance races in one calendar year. Despite my love for working out, even I understand life gets busy and I can't always go for a run or lift at the gym. However, I always make sure I stay active every day--primarily just by ensuring I walk to campus from my apartment whenever possible and always take stairs instead of the elevator. 

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

Eireann Photo

Tangled is one of my all-time favorite Disney movies so I would choose to be Rapunzel before her hair was cut! As Rapunzel, I would have Pascal as my companion, I would have a beautiful singing voice, and I would have the power to heal the sick and wounded with my hair. I would be able to check attending a lantern festival off of my bucket list!  

If you had an extra ticket to an Indianapolis Indians baseball game, who would you take with you? Why?

As someone in the Sport and Exercise Psychology major, I know all of my friends would be fighting over the extra ticket, but I would invite my Uncle Jay. He has always been a huge baseball fan as a former athlete and has been such an influential person in my life. He was always the fun uncle who played backyard sports with my siblings and I. I also grew up watching my uncle play baseball in a local church league, so it would be a wonderful experience to watch the Indianapolis Indians baseball game with him.

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

I have always wanted to throw the first pitch at a baseball game! I have witnessed former Miss Pennsylvania's and Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen's throw the first pitch at the York Revolution Game and always hoped I would have the opportunity to throw the first pitch at a baseball game one day! I certainly will need to do some practice pitching if I ever do have this opportunity!

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That would definitely be a lot of fun!

As usual, I want to thank Kayla for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Kayla continues her time as Miss Kosciusko, I encourage you to check out her title's Instagram account! You can also follow her personal and fitness accounts. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on! 

I also want to wish Kayla luck when she competes for Miss Indiana! It would be fantastic to have another Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

Thanks again Kayla, and good luck!

Wish Read Visits Section 36!

Photo by Ferell Ann Photography

Section 36 has another visitor! Wish Read is passionate about wellness, a talented singer, and the current Miss Paradise. I was thrilled that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Wish Read visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Paradise crown?

I was so excited to finally become a Miss! This is finally the big leagues of pageantry, to be really going for Miss America, so I was so happy to get my title. Miss Paradise was the title of my best friend when we were teen queens, so I told her first when I got my title, and she was so excited that I got to share that title with her.

What part of the upcoming Miss Nevada competition are you most nervous about? 

Is it cocky to say I am not nervous? This year I have really been looking for something that made me feel like myself again. The only thing I felt would give me that feeling would be completing again, as well as having the sisterhood surrounding me and the ability to better myself.  That is exactly what I love doing and being with people who are all there for each other for more than a crown and a sash, but a sisterhood.

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Paradise?

I would love to have videos out by the end of my reign that
teachers can send to students as resources for mental health. I feel like especially after the pandemic and going back to school, it is going to be a real shock to the system. I hope to be a video guide/friend to handling that shock and that experience. I plan on working on that series after Miss Nevada and before school starts, so it can be in the first week of school link for students in Nevada!

Photo by Ferell Ann Photography

How did you select your social impact initiative “Wishing For Wellness”?

Wishing for Wellness is the dream 6-year-old Wish had to have someone to look up to who made having a mental illness not so isolating. I just had this idea that I was the only one going through it, and the reality is I was not. No one, especially a child, should have to feel that isolation. If you have followed me throughout my pageant journey you may have seen my other social impact initiatives change, but truly I was so passionate about causes that did not affect me because I was not comfortable in helping myself. Now that I truly can look in the mirror and have a high level of self-awareness, I know this is the initiative that I will work on until my kids and grandkids know that experiencing mental health is a part of what makes us human.

What do you enjoy the most about performing your talent on stage?

My talent has such a special place in my heart. I will be singing Yesterday by The Beatles because my mother and grandmother are such big fans of the Beatles and when I was in high school I saw this heartwarming mother-daughter dance to the song that emphasized the relationship between mother and daughter and that always touched my heart and reminded me of them. I am beyond blessed to be able to tell my truth through this song. I have been working on it forever, so I am so excited to share it with everyone!

How would you complete the sentence, “I get great satisfaction when ___”?

I get great satisfaction when I mentor someone/inspires someone to be greater and better. In my life I was always my biggest motivator, I just wanted to impress myself and make myself proud as well as the Big Man Upstairs, but honestly, some of my greatest victories have come from my princesses going on to do amazing things with the things I taught them or even my mentees within the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society doing well in Students of the Year! I know it is truly my place on this Earth to inspire greatness in everyone I meet and I try to do that as often as possible.

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

Photo by Ferell Ann Photography

Not to play into my name, but I would love to be the Fairy Godmother, so I can grant wishes for people and truly make their dreams come true. I always admired her and just loved her attitude about life, that there is nothing in life that you can not turn around and that is how I try to look at life.

If you had an extra ticket to a Red Sox - Dodgers game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my dad because he can always find a life lesson in anything around us, so I would love to hear what he says. Also, I do not know why this happens, but crazy cool stuff happens when I am with my dad, so I know something awesome would happen at that game.

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

'Take me Out to the Ball Game' is always playing on repeat in my head, so I will have to get some peanuts and Cracker Jacks while I am there. Truly not a baseball game without that!

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I completely agree!

As always, I want to thank Wish for visiting with us, and for sending along the fantastic pictures to go with the interview.

I encourage you to follow Wish on her title's  Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss Nevada title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!
 
Thanks again Wish, and good luck!