Interview with Miss Teen Global Darling Jasmine Pearce

Today I’ve interviewed Jasmine who is a finalist in Miss Teen Global Darling.

What made you enter pageants ?

During my last year of high school, I struggled massively with my anxiety which severely impacted my self confidence. My mum and I stumbled across a local charity pageant; we did some research into girls who compete in pageants and saw how massively pageants have helped improve their confidence and helped to create life-long friendships. After seeing so many uplifting stories from many different girls, I was sold on competing. After that charity pageant I haven’t looked back since – I’ve well and truly been bitten by the pageant bug!

Have you competed before ?

Global Darling will be my first National Pageant. Last year I competed in a charity pageant which made me absolutely fall in love with pageantry.

What made you decide to compete in Miss Teen Global Darling ?

I’d been following a handful of Global Darling finalists on social media for quite a few months, and saw how much of a family they are. For me, transparency is so important in pageantry and the system is so open and honest about every aspect of their competition, their chosen charity, etc. In addition to this, Annie Morrow, the Director, is so hands on and is always checking up on us – she can’t do enough for us which truly means the world.

What the best thing that pageants have taught you ?

Pageants have taught me to always be true to myself and that it’s okay to be you, and people will love you for it. During my schooling I have struggled with bullying, this impacted my self confidence and made me believe that I had to stop being me to try to please other people. However, I have found that isn’t the case at all and not staying true to yourself doesn’t help, and that there are people who will accept you – you just need to find them.

What’s your pageant platform and why ?

My platforms are meningitis awareness and also literacy promotion. I suffered with meningitis in 2005 which resulted in me becoming blind in my left eye – I feel so passionate and strongly about, one day, meningitis becoming a thing of the past; however, while it would be amazing for this awful disease to be eradicated, it also needs to be talked about more and people need to become more aware of the symptoms. I have been raising money for the Meningitis Research Foundation for approximately 3 years and, in total, have raised approximately £5,773. I also dedicate time to help promote literacy; I adore reading and it has helped me cope with my anxiety. When I learnt how few children and adults alike have the ability to read, I was absolutely gobsmacked and wanted to help change these statistics. Due to this, I now volunteer for the World Literacy Foundation – this means I give talks to children, give out books to those children who are unable to obtain them, and help educate parents/carer’s on the importance of reading. I also record myself reading books for Annie Morrow’s ‘Queens Read Books’; these recordings are for children who don’t have someone to read to them before they go to sleep.

What’s your dream title ?

My dream is to one day hold an international title – a Galaxy title would be absolutely incredible, or Miss International would be so amazing!

If you were to win Miss Teen Global Darling UK, what would it mean to you ?

It would mean the absolute world to me to win the title of Miss Teen Global Darling. I feel so strongly about what Miss Global Darling’s motto is, “Be the change you wish to see in the world and we will change the world, one sash at a time”, and would love the opportunity to represent that on a larger scale, and really show people that you can make an impact on the world by being yourself and accepting the help of others to help to spread your message. Equally, I would love the opportunity to use the title as a microphone to help further spread and promote my platforms, but also help to promote the pageant’s charity – the Owen McVeigh Foundation.

What’s the best advice you have for fellow pageant queens ?

My best advice comes from what I have learnt and it is to continue to be yourself and really understand that people will love you for it. It’s so easy to second guess yourself and feel as though you aren’t good enough, but you are so much more than you realise. Someone’s opinion of you doesn’t define who you are.

What have you been doing in the run up to the final of Miss Teen Global Darling?

I have been using my regional title to help promote my platforms and also help to promote local causes that don’t tend to get much publicity. I have also set up donation tops for plastic bottle tops to do my part in reducing plastic pollution – as a huge animal lover I think it is appalling we, as the human race, have let plastic have such a negative impact on animal’s habitats. In addition to this, I have also been promoting the system and it’s message via my Facebook page and also when talking to people at events.

What makes a good pageant role model ?

A good pageant role model is, in my opinion, someone who dedicates time to their causes and the system’s causes. I believe they should be informative about their system and also encourage and support others in their endeavours; they could do this by joining in with campaigns and giving advice (if they can) on how to make their endeavours even more successful. I truly believe in ‘cheering all women’ and that a good role model should be at the forefront of leading this.

What’s your favourite pageant round ?

I absolutely adore the fashion round! I love the chance to get to express my bubbly personality through my walk and the clothes that I choose.

How do you deal with pageant nerves ?

I remember why I’ve entered, and that’s because I truly want to help make a positive difference to the world. I also find that making check lists are very affecting to calming nerves regarding forgetting things (either forgetting to take them or forgetting to purchase them), it is also very satisfying to be able to tick things off!

Jasmine highlighting per platform

Thank you so much for having this interview with me today I love finding out about people’s pageant journeys and other systems ! Good luck at the final and please keep me posted ! Love Charlotte, Ms Diamond South Yorkshire 2020.