A Deeper Look at...Mallory Hagan, former Miss America and Congressional cadidate, shares her journey and experiences in the pageant and political worlds. She discusses the scholarship opportunities and the importance of being the best version of oneself in competition. Mallory also highlights the strong bonds and friendships formed among Miss America contestants. She talks about the challenges she faced as Miss America, including the archaic rules and the negative treatment from the organization's CEO. Mallory shares how she found strength in focusing outward and working towards creating change. She emphasizes the importance of not taking other people's actions personally and understanding that they are a reflection of their own issues. Mallory discusses the rewarding aspects of shifting gears and saying yes to new opportunities, such as running for Congress. She emphasizes the importance of resilience and using her platform to amplify issues in her community. Mallory also draws parallels between pageantry and politics, highlighting the external opinions and scrutiny faced in both fields. She shares her toolbox for navigating external validation and staying true to herself. Mallory focuses on Alabama politics on social media to address the lack of media coverage and inform the public about important legislation. She encourages content creators to use their platforms for smart political gain. Mallory discusses her personal life, finding love and becoming a parent. She hopes to raise her children to be advocates for others and their community while also taking care of themselves. Mallory reflects on her journey as Miss America and the internal struggles she faced, emphasizing the importance of grace and self-compassion.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:01 Dreaming of Becoming Miss America

03:48 Support and Camaraderie Among Miss America Contestants

06:14 The Significance of the Talent Portion

08:12 Becoming Miss America and the Year-Long Experience

11:08 Exposing the Misogyny within the Miss America Organization

14:15 Finding Strength and Moving Forward

20:06 Advice for Dealing with Bullying and Backstabbing

22:32 Shifting Gears and Embracing New Opportunities

24:31 Similarities Between Pageantry and Politics

26:18 Navigating External Validation and Inner Voice

28:23 Using Social Media Platform for Advocacy

29:08 Future Political Aspirations

30:02 Choosing What to Share on the Internet

32:29 Focus on Young People and Voting

37:08 Finding Happiness in Personal Life

40:57 Parenting and Fierce Advocacy

43:15 Dealing with Personal Turmoil and Shame

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