Rowena Karmy has everything you’d expect a pageant queen to embody: beauty, grace, and a killer smile. But she has much more than that—She is is ambitious and she could be a role model to all the young girls out there who want to be a queen.

In her junior year, Rowena started to become more involved with humanitarian causes around her. She became deeply involved in initiatives to aid refugees, orphans and foster children. For example, she designed her senior project to help kids in orphanages learn about eating a balanced diet by performing cooking lessons -  "I now know I have the power to change lives" - she added. She also traveled to Sri Lanka where she helped build homes, bathrooms and gardens for unprivileged families for 3 weeks. 

Rowena would like to be the next Miss New York USA to gain an even greater leadership role in her community and is hoping to become a reference point for young, courageous women - "Being a beauty queen is not just a walk to show off your body or your face or what you have on, it is a walk towards an influential position of responsibility, to have a louder voice and a larger role to play in the world. It was the perfect combination for me."

If she wins the crown she will have the opportunity to represent her state at Miss USA 2018. New York is one of the most successful states at Miss USA, and is ranked third in terms of number and value of placement across all years of competition. New York's strongest run was an unbroken string of placements from 1957 to 1966. New York also had a streak of 3 consecutive 1st runner-up placements from 1972 to 1974. If Shanna Moakler is counted, New York has the third (equal) highest number of Miss USA victories. They also have the third highest number of semi-finalist (or better) placings (33).

I had the opportunity to interview the beautiful Rowena a few days before the Miss New York USA Pageant. Lets know a little more about her below!

One of the most common criticisms of philanthropy is that it is dominated by older, white men giving away their cash. In fact, women do give. Every day they are demonstrating greater leadership across the not-for-profit sector as decision makers on boards, active participants in nonprofit missions, and donate to support causes that help improve and save lives. Women are active change agents in their communities and expect to see the impact of their dollars where they live. 

The gorgeous Ashton Theiss, who'll be competing for the crown of Miss Texas USA 2018, truly has a heart for giving back. She has been a foster for DFW Labrador Retriever Rescue Club for 3 years and has successfully adopted out 15 dogs personally. She was a chair for Susan G Komen Greater Fort Worth's largest event, Kick Up Your Heels for the Cure in 2015.  

This year she also travelled to Peru and Costa Rica with Roma Boots, a one-for-one company that gives rain boots to kiddos in need in third world countries.

Being originally from the Houston area, her family and many friends were seriously effected by Hurricane Harvey this fall. "My parent's business was flooded with over 3.5 feet of water, so I first hand saw the devastation as it happened. As I was watching this horrible event unfold from Fort Worth, I couldn't sit and do nothing" - she explained.

"On the Tuesday before Labor Day (when miss Texas was originally scheduled), I posted on Facebook that I was going to be heading down with all the supplies my truck could hold to donate to the relief effort. Well, my small plan exploded into more than I could have ever imagined. By Thursday when I left, I had over $14,000 in supplies, 4 trucks, 2 trailers and a boat in tow to Houston. I stayed for 5 days volunteering with water rescues, supply deliveries and post-flood house demo. I was in awe of seeing the devastation with my own eyes and so glad I could add some aid in my own small way."

If she wins the crown Ashton will have the opportunity to represent the state of Texas at Miss USA 2018. Did you know ? Nine Miss Texas USA titleholders have won the Miss USA title and one, Chelsi Smith, has been crowned Miss Universe. In the 1980s Texas won the Miss USA title five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989, a streak known as the "Texas Aces"

Here we bring you the untold facts about Ashton’s life and also her ideas, objectives and opinions… Have a look!

Tens of millions of women have used the #MeToo hashtag to share long held secrets of sexual harassment and assault. The movement is worldwide and includes women from all races, religions, and social classes. It started with movie stars, but also encompassed Senators, Congresswomen, business leaders, athletes, and most importantly Everywoman everywhere. Self-defense training can help women survive violent attack. Training builds self-confidence, reduces the risk of attack, and conquers fear. 

The gorgeous Antonia Okafor, who'll be competing for the crown of Miss Texas USA, founded just this year, an organization called emPOWERed. EmPOWERedhelps young women on college campuses equip and empower themselves through self-defense. Antonia is currently on a nationwide speaking tour where she is talking to college students about their right to defend themselves - "I’m a very passionate advocate that all people, but especially women, should be able protect their bodies with the tools they need to do so. As we see with the news reports of sexual assault on college campuses, I believe that women, need to hear this message more than anyone. My motto is to take our #MeToo and make them into a #NotMe" - she explained.

In addition to being involved in her organization Antonia is a political commentator. So you will regular see her on Fox News, CNN, BBC and the like, discussing the current and pressing issues of the moment.

If she wins the crown Antonia will have the opportunity to represent the state of Texas at Miss USA 2018. Did you know ? Nine Miss Texas USA titleholders have won the Miss USA title and one, Chelsi Smith, has been crowned Miss Universe. In the 1980s Texas won the Miss USA title five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989, a streak known as the "Texas Aces"

Here we bring you the untold facts about Antonia’s life and also her ideas, objectives and opinions… Have a look!

Success doesn’t come easily to some, but it comes for sure to those who never give up. The beautiful Rica Charleston, who'll be competing for the crown of Miss Nevada USA 2018, was told at a young age that she would never accomplish anything - "I've literally had people laugh in my face, but it didn't stop me. That became my fuel to strive and now I am a business owner and about to interview for Miss Nevada USA. I think if you have a dream take it one step higher and lets see how far you can really go" - she explained.

Rica would like to encourage every young woman and man to leave their mark, strive for their wildest dreams and never stop until they reach their biggest goals. Through many aspects in life as well as pageantry she wants to influence them to be the best version of themselves - "This pageant isn't just for me; it is for every young woman and man that have been told that they were less."

If she wins the crown Rica will have the opportunity to represent the state of Nevada at Miss USA 2018. While Nevada did well in the early years of the Miss USA pageant, they only placed once from 1987 to 2000. This streak was broken by Gina Giacinto's finalist placing in Miss USA 2001.

Many Miss Nevada USA titleholders previously competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss America pageants. Six titleholders previously held the Miss Nevada Teen USA title and three held the Miss Nevada Crown in the Miss America Pageant. Nia Sanchez of Las Vegas became the first Miss USA ever from the state of Nevada when she was crowned Miss USA 2014.

Here we bring you the untold facts about Rica’s life and also her ideas, objectives and opinions… Have a look!

Miss Belgium 2018 will be crowned on January 13, 2018 at Plopsa Theater de Panne. The winner will have the opportunity to represent her country at Miss World 2018 while her first runner-up will go at Miss Universe 2018.

The winner of Miss Belgium 2018 will succeed the reigning Miss World 2017 Romanie Schotte from West Flanders.

Below is the list of the beautiful 30 contenders of Miss Belgium 2018 :

Alexia Coussement  Britany Thiry  Gaëlle Debruyne  Didem Celebi  Aloysi Desnouck   Caroline Delforge   Jasmien Mollekens  Julia Griffi  Lotte Vanlingen  Kimberley Hallaert  Hélène Frederiks Thiers  Olivia Simmons  Judy Van de Vyver  Els Salvé  Angeline Flor Pua  Daphné Fanon  Laura Smeyers  Cassi Bellavia  Xenia Goysens  Giovanna Verolla  Justine Willemse  Zoe Brunet  Emilie Van Ooteghem  Barbara Bierlier  Alycia Vandenabeele  Laurianne Delestinne  Dhenia Covens  Shakila Allahyar  Vanille Seurs  Magali Hadji

Genesis Davila of Miami Beach was, for the second time, crowned Miss Florida USA ! She will have the opportunity to represent her state at the 2018 Miss USA Competition.