New Miss West Virginia has a lion in her heart
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Posted: Monday, July 4, 2016 5:45 pm
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Morgan Hope Breeden, who recently was crowned Miss West Virginia 2016, said she is looking forward to using her new title to carry her fight against bullying to students across West Virginia.
Breeden, 21, of Charles Town was a victim of bullying in middle school and during her freshman year in high school.
“I weighed 200 pounds in ninth grade,” she said. “I was ridiculed and tormented about my weight every day. Some days I was afraid to go to school. Self-esteem is the key to rising above bullying because bullies prey on the weak.”
She said she lost weight through exercise and healthy eating, but never forgot the pain of being victimized by bullies among her peers.
She plans to use her standing as Miss West Virginia to promote her new slogan of “Bullies Beware, I Have a Lion in My Heart,” an idea based on the Cowardly Lion from "The Wizard of Oz.”
“I’m hoping to illustrate the pain of being bullied, as well as the dangers of bullying others to students,” she said.
One of Miss West Virginia’s official duties is visiting schools across the state.
“I’m hoping to bring my message on bullying to more than 100 schools in West Virginia,” she said. “I found people can relate to someone who has been through similar experiences.”
During the pageant, Breeden played the piano during the talent portion of the competition. She performed “From Hurt to Heart,” which she composed in recognition of her own experiences at the hands of bullies, she said.
Breeden is majoring in clinical psychology/child psychology at Shepherd University with a goal of earning a doctorate in the field.
“I want to work with children,” she said. “This one-year break from my studies will give me an opportunity to solidify my thoughts that this is what I want to do with my life.”
Breeden was elected senior class president for the upcoming school year, a job she has to give up along with postponing her senior year of studies because being Miss Virginia is a full-time job.
One of the perks of winning the title is having a new car during her reign.
Breeden earned scholarships worth about $10,000 for winning the Miss West Virginia and Miss Jefferson County crowns.
Life as the newest Miss West Virginia has been a whirlwind of meetings with pageant committees, orientations about the responsibilities that go with the title, contacts with the Miss America prep teams, measurements for wardrobes, promotional and video shoots for "glamor stuff," she said.
She will spend four days in South Carolina this week followed by several more days in Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress from West Virginia, including U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
Breeden is the daughter of Nathan and Ann Breeden. She has four sisters, Jamey, 31, Ashley, 29, Brittany, 27, and Jenna, 12.
http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/tri_state/west_virginia/new-miss-west-virginia-has-a-lion-in-her-heart/article_0a35449e-088e-5864-89c0-1dce984a47bb.html
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