Shyama Bhatt Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Shyama Bhatt is passionate a healthy lifestyle, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Rockville. I was so glad she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. 

So, let's see what happens when Shyama Bhatt visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Rockville crown?
I went out to brunch with my friends the next day and FaceTimed my family since they live in Chicago!

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Rockville?
My biggest goal is encourage Indian American women to compete for Miss America and spread knowledge regarding my Community Service Initiative: Project Health which focuses around preventive medicine!

What part of the upcoming Miss Maryland competition are you most nervous about?
Fitness, it’s a new section so I don’t know what to expect.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Project Health”?
I am currently doing a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health under the Surgical Neurology Branch and I have noticed a lot of patients come in after severe disease progression. I hope to raise awareness about the resources available and healthy lifestyle practices.

You performa traditional garba dance. What is your favorite part about presenting that on stage?
I am so excited to showcase my culture and highlight the balance of being an Indian American female!

You are currently doing a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in the surgical neurosurgery branch. What drew you to that field?
Neurosurgical procedures allows patients to regain the ability to walk, talk and take charge of their lives. I’m absolutely fascinated by the brain and its mechanisms.

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?
I would want to be Jasmine. She is always the character I felt closest to growing up!

If you had an extra ticket to see the Red Sox play the Orioles, who would you take with you? Why?
I would take my grandpa! He loves baseball so I’m sure he would have a great time!

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?
I would love to throw the first pitch however, I’m not sure how good of a throw it would be!

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If you ask me, every first pitch is a good first pitch! 

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

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

I'm sure you'd like to follow along with Shyama during her journey as Miss River Valley. You should be sure to check out her title's Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on. 

Thanks again Shyama, and good luck!

Laura Dineen Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Laura Dineen is passionate about adaptive sports, a kinesiology student, and the current Miss Urbana. I was excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Laura Dineen visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Urbana crown?

 Winning the crown was such a special moment for not just myself, but for all of my family and friends that supported me throughout my journey in preparation for my competition! After my crowning moment, we all went to a local pizzeria called Pistarros and had dinner. I absolutely love vodka sauce and penne pasta, so I made sure to order that along with a tiramisu for dessert! Being a foodie, it was a great way to end the night and celebrate winning my scholarship and title. 

 

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

I genuinely enjoy each area of competition because every

Photo by Rebecca Mitchell

aspect prepares me in a different way, both as a person and as a candidate for Miss Maryland. Since I am not formally trained in the performing arts, I do get nervous at the idea of performing my talent in front of a large audience! However, I try to dispel those anxieties by remembering how privileged I am to showcase a unique talent on the Miss Maryland stage. One that empowers women of all ages and abilities to utilize fitness as a way to strengthen themselves intrinsically and extrinsically!

 

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

I hope to see my community service and involvement with my social impact initiative to have a lasting impact that far surpasses the last two years of service that I have had as Miss Urbana. I would love for my local and state community to continue to benefit from my virtual and in-person appearances that have sought to partner with, educate and assist in the lives of those with disabilities so that they can have greater access to better health and wellness. 

 

How did you select your social impact initiative?

My younger brother Ryan was the inspiration behind my social impact initiative: “ABLE to Achieve”. Growing up with a sibling that had cerebral palsy gave me so much insight and first hand experience with members of the disabled community and the struggles they often face when it comes to accessibility and inclusion in their local communities. Ryan has provided me with the lens to see many of these disparities and because of his voice, I hope to act as an ally and assist in bringing better equity so that all people can have access to physical activity and the benefits that exercise provides. 

 

You’re currently studying kinesiology. How do you become interested in that field?

Since I was in high school, I have always had a passion for

health, nutrition and exercise. When it came time for me to decide a STEM pathway for my pre-med major, I knew Kinesiology would be the perfect fit. It is such a practical field of study that teaches you how the body works and the best ways to train it for optimal health. I particularly love debunking myths that are popular in the fitness community! Whenever someone tells me about “spot reduction” or other gym-based myths, I love being able to educate them and help assist in their fitness goals so that they can achieve the results they are looking for without having to adhere to crazy recommendations, such as doing hundreds of sit-ups in the hopes of a six-pack. 

 

What is your personal fitness routine?

My goal in fitness is not a certain physique or aesthetic, but rather I aim to be able to do what is called function fitness--meaning that I prepare my body for all kinds of activities--such as weightlifting, cardio and everything in between! I never like feeling limited in my training so every week I try to incorporate stretching, heavy lifting, plyometrics and cardiovascular training into my schedule! Most recently, I decided to train for an Olympic Triathlon which has led me to include a lot of long bikes, swims and runs into my weekly gym sessions!  

 

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

Photo by Rebecca Mitchell

I would be Mulan! As a Puerto Rican woman, I strongly ally with her duty to family and loyalty to her country, two attributes that were heavily ingrained in me since I was a little girl from my mother and grandmother! Mulan is also a warrior and I have always admired her strength and fearlessness to fight for what she believes in. I would like to think that if I could be her for a week I could match her fiery spirit and go on some wild adventures! 

 

If you had an extra ticket to a Baltimore Orioles game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my younger brother Ryan! He is a huge sports fanatic and I know he would enjoy getting to experience Camden Yards stadium and see the athletes. It would definitely be a step above the Big Screen!

 

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

It has been such a long time since I have been to a baseball game in person! I think the last time I went was when I was twelve years old! I would love to experience an in-person game as an adult and have the American experience: grab a hot dog, be with friends, have good seats and maybe even get the opportunity to throw the first pitch!

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That sounds like a wonderful time! 

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

As Laura continues her time as Miss Rolling Plains, I encourage you to follow her official Instagram and Facebook accounts. They're great ways 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 Maryland title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!
 
Thanks again Laura, and good luck!

Lexie Metz Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Lexie Metz is passionate about breaking barriers to medicine, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Black Eyed Susan. I was excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. I am also excited that she is our first visitor from the state of Maryland!

So, let's see what happens when Lexie Metz visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Black Eyed Susan crown?

I was a special case in regard to receiving my title for the 2020 competition year. I was selected as a participant to compete for Miss Maryland as the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly halted our 2020 local competition season. Although my crowning was non-traditional, I was still incredibly honored to receive the title of Miss Black Eyed Susan 2020, and represent my home state of Maryland! I celebrated with family and friends in a socially distance manner, and it was very special to me!

What part of the upcoming Miss Maryland competition are you most nervous about?
Call me crazy, but I’m more so excited than nervous for all phases of competition! The Miss Maryland Organization does a phenomenal job ensuring that all of the contestants feel comfortable throughout the week and are able to express their “true selves” during the phases of competition. I enjoy and look forward to expressing who I am as an individual to the judges during all phases of competition! 

What has been the most pleasant surprise about your time as Miss Black Eyed Susan?
My most pleasant surprise thus far as Miss Black Eyed Susan

was the amount of money I was able to raise for Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at my first spirit night of the season. My local community, family, and friends were all hands-on-deck in ensuring a successful event for CMNH. It was wonderful to see them outreach a giving hand to a philanthropy that is so close to my heart as a MAO participant and Phi Mu alumni. I look forward to hosting more events for CMNH in the future as well!

How did you select your social impact, “A Medical Mission: Breaking the Barriers to Medicine”?
Choosing my social impact statement was very personal for me! As a student doctor and resident of rural Appalachia, it was easy for me to spot the noticeable void of sufficient healthcare access for my rural community members. My rural community has always put me first since I was a child whether that was through my athletic journey, my academic journey, or even my Miss America journey, and I wanted to give back to them in the best way I knew how, which is through medicine. I wanted to use my voice to bring awareness to the lack of healthcare access in rural communities in Maryland and eventually across the nation, especially in today’s world of the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to ensure my platform was being used to advocate for a need that is evident in my hometown. 

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

What I have always enjoyed most about performing on stage is the moment of true freedom from worry and stress. Dancing has always been one of those “safe spaces,” for me growing up where I can just let go and truly be myself. 

You’re a model for Gladys Magazine. What do you enjoy about being in front of the camera?
I love being in front of the camera for Gladys Magazine and representing my Gladys family. I enjoy being a role model for young girls in front of the camera. I strive to portray confidence and happiness in every shoot to demonstrate to young women everywhere that they can do whatever they put their minds to when they are being themselves! 

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why?
If I could be a Disney Character for a week, I would choose Rapunzel. First of all, we look alike with our blonde hair haha! I would also choose Rapunzel because I would love to see the world from her innocent point of view again. When she leaves the tower to find the floating lights, she gets to experience everything for the first time. I love the magic that comes with those types of moments and would love to experience everything the world has to offer for the “first time,” all over again!

If you had an extra ticket to an Orioles game, who would you bring with you? Why?
If I had an extra ticket to an Orioles game, I would probably bring my Dad! As a collegiate athlete my self (NCAA DIII Soccer), my Dad introduced me to my love for competitive athletics at a young age. It would be fun to attend a game together and reminisce on our love for sports together!

Is there a feature or activity at an Orioles game that you’d especially like to experience?
As a fan of the Orioles and a girl who has immense pride in the United States, I love the experience of the National Anthem at the Orioles games. There’s nothing like feeling the pride for your country during the National Anthem while simultaneously chanting “O!” for your Maryland pride as well. It’s always my favorite part of the game at Camden Yards.

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That’s wonderful!

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

As Lexie continues her time as Miss Black Eyed Susan, I encourage you to check out her 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 Maryland title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

 

Thanks again Lexie, and good luck!