I had the opportunity to interview Xanessa; I appreciate her sharing her story. I hope you will enjoy this interview!
You won the title of Miss Hill Country USA. What does it entail ? What does it feel to it feel to be a beauty queen and wear a crown ?
Being Miss Hill Country is a honor. If you asked me about it a year ago, I would not have believed you because I have never participated in a pageant before! It is wonderful to represent the beautiful Hill Country. The next step is competing at the Miss Texas USA pageant and hopefully on to Miss USA.
What qualities a woman should have to represent a whole nation?
I think a woman should have resilience and perseverance. There are so many opinions in the world, and you can’t change that, but you have to be able to build yourself back up when you are knocked down and keep striving towards your goals. To me it's that ability to move through any situation, no matter how tough or long it takes, that makes someone a great inspiration and representation of a country.
What is your typical day as a pageant queen?
I still live a very normal life. I work and come home and play with my dog, take care of family and relax. One thing that has changed for me is my preparation for the Miss Texas USA pageant. It has inspired me to live an even more fulfilling life and I have to manage my time very well as there is so much to prepare for.
What inspired you to walk on the course of beauty pageants?
I think one of the great things about beauty pageants is the opportunities that come with them. Really the world is at your door because you could come from any background with a variety of interests and a pageant will only propel those dreams.
For me a pageant represents those dreams and it’s amazing that you can be an inspiration to others at the same time. Those are the reasons that I want to pursue pageantry.
Social media seem to play a major role in pageantry nowadays. Do you think this is advantageous to you? Why or why not?
I think it is advantageous. Social media has its downsides for sure, and sometimes I do wish for a day when it doesn’t mean as much as it does, but if you use it to your advantage, and for good, the possibilities are endless. Nowadays, social media can open up many doors for young women if done the right way. Say you have a charity or a business that you want to grow from the ground up, the way you market it on social media can do wonders for you, your brand, and your community and I think that combats the negative aspects of social media.
Your favorite beauty queen ?
Well there are so many amazing beauty queens, past and present, to choose from. I love Vanessa Williams, but right now I am obsessed with Olivia Culpo. I think her style is on point.
