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This episode is a real, unfiltered look at resilience and authenticity... the kind that's forged through life's hardest seasons. In the past year, I've walked through grief, pregnancy loss, medical emergencies, and stepping into the role of caregiver after my dad's stroke. Those moments completely shifted my perspective, not just on pageantry, but on life as a whole.

Stepping back forced me to ask myself why this work matters and what makes it meaningful. And through hundreds of conversations with contestants who are navigating their own storms, I kept hearing the same themes come up, themes I want to unpack with you as we head into this competition season.

We'll talk about how setbacks can actually become your strongest assets when you know how to frame them, why competition fatigue and the infamous "first runner-up club" can mess with your mindset, and how freeing it is to define success on your own terms instead of chasing crowns out of obligation.

One of the biggest shifts? Treating competition like a celebration instead of a test. When you walk into pageant week ready to celebrate your growth, your journey, and the sisterhood around you, you show up from a place of joy - not fear. And that joy doesn’t just feel better, it changes the way you perform.

So many women I coach are hesitant to name what they really want, lowering the bar to avoid disappointment. But I'll never forget a coach once telling me: "Don't set the bar for what you think you can accomplish. Set it for everything you'd ever want to accomplish." Owning your deepest ambitions creates space for you to surprise yourself.

As Miss America week unfolds, these reminders feel more important than ever. Whether you're competing this season or navigating challenges in your own life, know this: your worth has nothing to do with results. Let your nerves come along for the ride, but they don’t get to take the wheel.

I'd love to hear what resonates with you. Come connect with me on Instagram @SashandSoul and tell me what themes you'd like to dive deeper into on future episodes.

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Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
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If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep—and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts—I’d love to be part of your process.

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