3LINKEDINCOMMENTMORE
The Journal & Courier recently spoke with Miss Indiana USA Brittany Winchester to discuss a range of topics regarding the national competition and her campaigning platform. You can watch Winchester compete for the crown on May 14 on FOX. Here are some excerpts from the one-on-one.
Question: So, I understand you are a Purdue University alumna. What did you study during your time there?
Answer: I majored in interior design and graduated in 2013. I've been working full time since graduating, and now as Miss Indiana USA I am basically working another full-time job on top of that with traveling and raising awareness.
Q: That leads right into my next question. I understand you have battled carcinoma in the past, which has become your awareness platform. How has this shaped your views on skin care?
A: Yes, and my message this year has been that everyone should get with a dermatologist once a year so they can look you over from head to toe, so hopefully they may catch things at an early stage. That is how mine was caught, and they were able to cut it off without needing any further treatment. If you notice a new mole or something that has taken an odd shape, get to your dermatologist as soon as you can, because time is everything when it comes to things like this.
You should never use tanning beds. When you're in the sun, wear protective clothing and sunscreen. Burns increase the development of cancer. I still want to be tan, like a lot of people do. I use spray tans or self tanners and they really have improved over the last several years.
Q: What would you say to the younger generations that may worry about their skin tones or feel they need have a certain tone in order to fit in?
A: I don't think anyone should feel they need to tan, and society has kind of pushed that over the years, which is unfortunate. If you really feel that you are unhappy with your skin tone or believe you are too pale then I would encourage a self-tanner. If you know someone with a history of skin cancer, I urge you to talk to them. Look at their scars and hear their stories, because it will change your mind on tanning. I am only 27 and I have three scars that are pretty significant in size. The idea of skin cancer is not appealing or beautiful, so that should be considered before you climb into a tanning bed.
Q: How do you go about prepping for the Miss USA pageant leading up to the final days before the big show?
A: Well there is a fitness portion to the prepping for the swimsuit competition, which is incorporated into my everyday life. I work out twice a day and I meal prep all of my meals so that I'm not tempted by junk food. I keep it to a lot of protein and veggies. For the interview portion of the pageant, I have to keep up with news across the nation and the globe. I do a lot of mock interviews with questions that may come up. The rest of the competition is to practice walking in my gown and getting comfortable in it going up and down stairs to avoid tripping on national television.
Q: So you're from Monrovia. What do your parents think of all this?
A: Oh, they are very excited. I have been involved in pageantry since I was 18, so it's been a part of my life for my entire adulthood. They are really proud of how my confidence and public speaking have developed throughout it all.
http://www.jconline.com/story/life/2017/04/28/miss-indiana-talks-skin-cancer-national-competition/100846616/