HHS grad is Miss Minnesota International
A Hastings High School graduate, Sabrina Astar, 19, won the crown and title of 2016 Miss Minnesota at a pageant April 30 in St. Paul. The pageant is part of the Miss International Pageant System.
Astar’s path to the Minnesota crown started when she was a sophomore at Hastings High School. Her go-to hairdresser here worked for a different pageant and, while working on Astar’s hair, suggested she enter a pageant. At the time, Astar flat-out refused, saying “that’s not me, not at all,” she said.
But over the years, as her hairdresser continued to suggest the idea, Astar decided to at least explore the idea. She met with a pageant coach, wondering what it would take to compete.
“I was worried they would want me to be something I’m not,” she said.
As it turned out, that wasn’t at all what her new pageant coach wanted. In fact, Astar’s real presence and personality is just what the coach wanted. They found a pageant that fit with Astar’s preferences and got started.
At first, Astar intended to compete for the Miss Teen USA crown, but as an active athlete and college student, she found she didn’t have the time to devote to it. Her next target was the Miss International pageant, which is for single women age 19 to 30 years old.
To reach the state pageant, Astar first had to become her city’s representative. Because Hastings doesn’t have its own pageant, she earned the title of Miss Hastings through an application and interview with the state pageant director.
Her competition at Miss Minnesota International was her first pageant, she said.
“I loved every bit of it,” she said.
A former Hastings Riverside Company and theater performer, being on stage wasn’t anything new to her, but what was new was performing as herself. In both show choir and theater, she always played a part, she explained. At the pageant, the only persona on stage was her own.
The competition included an interview, evening gown, fitness wear and fun fashion wear elements.
Astar competed with the platform “Invest in Today’s Youth,” partnering with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America.
Astar volunteers for several organizations, and as she tried to pick one to represent with her platform, she realized that most of the organizations she worked with dealt with the aftermath of problems that leave people struggling. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, she said, works to get at the root cause of some of those issues. Plus, she said, she loves volunteering for the organization. She has been a volunteer for about two years, and a Big Sister for about one year.
“If everyone could do it, it’d be so amazing,” she said.
As Miss Minnesota International, Astar will spend the next year promoting the organization, speaking to groups and reaching out on social media to help get more people involved in her chosen cause.
“The main focus of the year is promoting your platform,” she said.
A major part of her new responsibilities is competing again at the Miss International pageant, which will be held July 30 in Jacksonville, Florida. There, she will compete with 50 other state winners.
She said she’s most excited to meet the other pageant winners, learn about their platforms and hear the stories of why they picked their cause. And, she’s excited to meet this year’s Miss International.
At the Miss Minnesota International pageant, Astar earned the People’s Choice Award. She earned the crown in a field of six in her division.
Astar gave a “shout-out” to her parents, Dave and Debbie Astar, for the support they’ve given her through all her activities.
“I like to give them shout-outs because they’re pretty fabulous,” she said.
http://www.hastingsstargazette.com/news/4032229-hhs-grad-miss-minnesota-international
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário