Isabella Williams Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Isabella Williams is passionate about empowering young girls, loves to travel, and is the current Miss Lake Champlain. 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 Isabella Williams visits Section 36!

What made you decide to try for the Miss Vermont crown as Miss Lake Champlain?

I've been waiting for years to step onto this stage and compete for the title of Miss Vermont. This is my last opportunity before I age out, and I truly believe every challenge, lesson, and moment of preparation has led me to this moment. I’m ready to bring my full self to the job and to the Miss America Organization.

You previously served as Miss Vermont Earth. What did you learn from that experience that will help you when you compete for Miss Vermont?

Serving as Miss Vermont Earth taught me so much about my own strength and resilience. It empowered me to unapologetically pursue my dreams and gave me the confidence to speak passionately about my platform and advocacy work. Those experiences have helped shape me into a confident, purpose-driven woman who’s ready to take on this new title. 

You recently had the opportunity to tour schools in South Africa. What do you remember from that experience?

The school visits in South Africa were unforgettable, especially the teenage girls who welcomed me with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. At each school, their giggles filled the air as I stood before them. When I confidently asked, “Are we ready to begin?” something amazing happened—those giggles turned into cheers. It was a powerful moment to see their respect and encouragement for a woman stepping into a leadership role, something they were not accustomed to seeing. It reminded me of the strength and unity women can inspire, even across cultural divides.

How did you select your community service initiative “Strong Girls Will Change The World”?

Choosing Strong Girls was a no brainer for me. I have been working on this concept, brand, and nonprofit for a couple years now! It started with my first book, Strong Girls, a youth empowerment book filling the space in the education system that should be used to empower young learners. Strong girls is dedicated to empowering the next generation of women to chose themselves, their education, and their individuality. My goal is by empowering a group of students that don’t feel academically secure to keep pushing and trying! 

What can you tell me about your new book, Garden ABCs?

Garden ABCs is designed to make learning fun while teachingchildren where their food comes from and how it grows. In a world where instant food is the norm, I wanted to inspire curiosity about nature and cultivate a deeper connection to the food we eat.

What is your personal fitness routine?

My fitness routine is all about balance—it supports both my mental health and managing my autoimmune condition. Most days, I go for a run with Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter as my soundtrack. To keep things exciting, I also ride horses and join fun dance or workout classes with friends. Staying active is my way of taking care of my body and mind. Eating healthy is just as important to my workout routine! I even have a big garden where I harvest all my ingredients for year round sauces and pickles. 

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

I would choose Belle! Not only because our names are so similar, but also because I admire her values. She embodies intelligence, kindness, and the belief that inner beauty and character matter more than appearances. Plus, I’d love to spend a week surrounded by enchanted objects and an incredible library!

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

I would take my sisters. As we get older, it’s harder to find time to be together, so I treasure every chance we get to strengthen our bond. Moments like that remind me how lucky I am to have them in my life.

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

I’m a sucker for a corn dog. I’m not sure if stadiums usually have them but I would skip the entire game looking for one! 

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Hopefully she can quickly find one between innings!

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

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with her during her journey. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account, as well as her personal Instagram. They're both great ways to keep track of everything she has going on. 

Thanks again Isabella, and good luck at the Miss Vermont competition! Would love to have another visitor wear that crown!

Caroline Trennepohl Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Caroline Trennepohl is passionate about inspiring young women, a talented singer, and the current Miss Apple Valley. 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 Caroline Trennepohl visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Apple Valley crown?

Honestly, It was my first pageant ever. I totally did not expect to win. I didn’t really celebrate all too much just because I was  totally not expecting a win. 

I remember calling my mom and telling her I won, she said “What’s an Apple Valley?” 

The next day I volunteered, worked, and then got to work on planning my upcoming year. I think the heightened platform I have now with the crown is a celebration in and of itself to be able to continue and increase my volunteering to an even larger platform. 

I can’t wait to see all the experiences I have over the year!

What portion of the Miss Washington competition are you most nervous about?

Oh gosh, I think it is all so new to me that I am much more excited than I am nervous.

I really have trained my brain to try to look at experiences (as long as they are positive and not harmful) as instead of being nervous instead change that emotion to excitement. 

I know that I am doing something that so many others don’t have the opportunity to do and am so incredibly blessed. I look at the outcome of Miss Washington as not a win or loss, but instead a learning experience. 

When I think about it that way I don’t think I am nervous, but instead just super excited to prepare to do the best I can and meet so many amazing new friends. 

As a first time titleholder, what has been the most pleasant surprise about your short time as Miss Apple Valley?

I really mean it that when people say the sisterhood is real, it really is. It has been amazing to meet so many young women from all over in my short time as Miss Apple Valley. 

It is amazing to hear about all the great things women are doing in the Miss America Organization and feeling inspired myself as well and knowing that I am a part of something much greater than just me and my title. 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Girls C.A.N.”?

I like to say that even though I have graduated college and am going back to school in the Spring, I STILL don’t know what I am going to do forever. So many young men and women do not know the potential career options that are out there for them. I want young women to be inspired to hear about a variety of careers at a young age so that they can find passion and purpose in whatever they decide to pursue long term. It is okay for this to change with time, but every child deserves to know options that they have that they can be inspired about and strive for. I want to provide girls with relatable mentors to learn about potential careers that they could have someday. 

What is your favorite part about performing your talent on stage?

I love to preform. It is a sense of home when I am away from home. At the end of the day I have learned that no matter where you go you have yourself, your mind, and your talents. I am always at ease when I sing. Musical theatre was a big part of my youth so being able to continue to do that on stage just makes me smile. 

As an avid traveler, what is your favorite place you’ve visited?

I love to travel so this is hard. I do love the Boston area (so excited to come this Summer for a wedding), I also love Disney Wold, Seattle where I live now is beautiful, Cincy will always be home……ugh so hard so many options. 

I would probably have to go with Malibu. Such a stunning part of Cali,  I also love the Grand canyons, but hen scottsdale is amazing too.. simply too hard to choose just one.

 It really just depends on what the mood of the trip is, travel, work, leisure, hiking. So many amazing places to see in the United States and all over the world. 

Adventure really is out there. Traveling is such a gift and provides you an incredible amount of perspective. 

The sheer action on moving across the country last year was such an eye opener to see how even within the United States how vastly different things are from one region to another both geographically and culturally. It is really a cool experience.

 My long term travel goals would be to live out of the country at some point and really get depth and perspective on a new area. I will channel my inner “Emily in Paris” (it may be a cheesy show, but I still love it)!

I really do believe that personally I can be happy anywhere, it is just your perspective. 

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

Tinkerbell! I remember I got this idea as a girl that I would be a Disney princess at Disney one day.

 My parents wanted to try to get that idea out of my head so they told me that the princesses all had to be a certain height! Anddd… I am only 4”11 so I was like super upset. So, I clearly didn’t believe my parents and decided to look up the qualifications myself. To my disappointment it was true about the height requirement, but I saw that I was a PERFECT height for Tinkerbell. Since then I have had my heart set on Tink. 

Who knows, I might still go after it one day :) 

You used to work for the Cincinnati Reds. What did you enjoy about that experience?

Wow, what a fun organization. The Reds gave me my first internship in college and I just kept coming back. 

I really think I learned what working in sports was like and was exposed to a type of career I had never heard of before. 

I never was introduced to working in sports prior or even thought of that as a possible career. 

The Reds I attribute to my sports career thus far, which has been fun. I am extremely thankful for them. I worked long days, long weeks, met so many new people, found mentors, and most importantly found career aspirations.

Is there a feature or activity at a Red Sox - Mariners game that you’d especially like to experience?

I would love to sing the national anthem! Singing is my talent and I have always loved to listen to the national anthem. 

Additionally, I do love the experience at the Red Sox when they play Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”. That is always a fun one for me, I have fond memories of attending my first Red Sox game and being surprised with hearing “my” song. 

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That must have been quite a surprise!

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

As Caroline continues her time as Miss Apple Valley, I encourage you to check out her title's Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on! 

I also want to wish Caroline luck when she competes for Miss Washington! It would be fantastic to have the first Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

Thanks again Caroline, and good luck!

Jordan Carraway Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Jordan Carraway is passionate about providing role models for girls, a talented twirler, and the current Miss Hoover. I was thrilled that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more!

So, let's see what happens when Jordan Carraway visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Hoover crown?

I called my parents and talked to them (they couldn't come to Miss Hoover), and then I drove 2 hours back to Auburn because I had a 6 am class the next day. It's boring, I know, but so goes the life of an engineering student/ROTC cadet. 

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

I'm most nervous about talent because I'm now without a baton coach. She passed away 4 days before Miss Hoover and I just hope I'm making her proud. 

Do you have a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Hoover?

As Miss Hoover, I hope to get lots of time with young women

spreading the ideals of my social impact initiative. If I can touch the life of even one girl, I will consider my time as Miss Hoover as a success, but I want to reach as far as I possibly can.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Girls Can!”?

As a hopeful future astronaut, engineering student, and contracted Air Force ROTC cadet, there are not many people who look like me in any of those workforces. I realized that developing a program that provided young girls with a woman they could look up to in male-dominated career fields may increase interest in these fields. 

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

I love doing the flashy fast performances because they always get audiences excited, and I feed off the crowd's energy.

At Auburn, you’re a cadet in the Air Force ROTC. What led you down that path?

I thought that maybe the military could be the career path I could take to one day become an astronaut when I was in middle school, so I gave Air Force JROTC a shot in high school. I fell in love with the program and the Air Force and knew from there that I wanted to do AFROTC in college. 

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would

you choose? Why?

I would be Remy from Ratatouille because he's living his best life in France and also because I am a huge foodie and love cooking good food that makes others happy. 

If you had an extra ticket to see the Birmingham Barons play the Rocket City Trash Pandas, who would you take with you? Why?

Definitely a little cheesy, but I would take my boyfriend. We met in Huntsville and had it on our date bucket list to watch a Trash Pandas game but never got to in the time we lived and worked at the US Space and Rocket Center. 

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

I think getting to throw the first pitch one day at a baseball game would be a really cool experience, and it's on my bucket list. 

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I would love to do that!

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

As Jordan continues her time as Miss Hoover, I encourage you to check out her official and personal Instagram accounts. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on!

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

Thanks again Jordan, and good luck!