There are so many tragic stories in the field of addiction, and no shortage of onlookers who are drawn to the shock and awe of addicts’ war stories. It’s easy to lose sight of the brighter side of the story: Treatment works and people do recover. Hope matters in addiction recovery because put simply, without hope nothing changes.

According to Drugfree.org more than 23 million people (10% of adults) in the United States have recovered from drug and alcohol problems. Emily McLeod, who'll be competing for the crown of Miss Florida USA, would like to share a message of hope with others "For those struggling with substance abuse, recovery is possible. Addiction doesn’t discriminate and neither does recovery. We only compete one or two nights during our time as titleholders, the rest of the year is 363 opportunities to help someone else and create something amazing" - she explained.

Emily was employed as a counselor’s aid at Willingway Hospital. Willingway is a drug and alcohol treatment facility located in Statesboro, GA. Since 1974, Willingway has been loving others until they could love themselves again - "I saw people come in so sad, resentful, and hopeless and toward the end of their stay, the lights in their eyes would start to come back again. This journey is very near and dear to my heart. There was truly nothing more fulfilling than seeing that process and being able to offer hope to others in that situation."

If she wins the crown Emily will have the opportunity to represent the state of Florida in Miss USA 2018. While Florida has had runners-up, finalists, and semi-finalists, the state has never won the Miss USA pageant, although Cheryl Patton became Miss USA after Sylvia Hitchcock won Miss Universe.

The most recent finalist was Brittany Oldehoff who placed 4th runner-up in 2014.

Poverty affects a child’s development and educational outcomes beginning in the earliest years of life, both directly and indirectly. School readiness, or the child’s ability to use and profit from school, has been recognized as playing a unique role in escape from poverty in the United States and increasingly in developing countries.

The gorgeous Angelina Bianchi, who'll be competing for the crown of Miss Pennsylvania USA, does a lot of work with nonprofits focused on giving educational outcomes to underprivileged youth. As part of an organization Athletes C.A.R.E she gives presentations to kids in the Easton community on how to be leaders within their community. She helped to found a 501c3 organization Sweetlax city-lax initiative in which the aim was to utilize the game of lacrosse to help disadvantaged youth in the city or Rochester achieve higher educational outcomes though mentorship and the values that athletics instill.

She also organized a gala and raised over $10,000 to help build basketball courts and set up a mentorship program for troubled youth in the inner city of Philadelphia.

If she wins the crown Angelina will have the opportunity to represent the state of Pennsylvania in Miss USA 2018. Did you know ? Michele McDonald, Miss USA 1971, is the only woman from Pennsylvania to win the Miss USA title.  At only eighteen, she was the youngest competitor ever to win the crown. Their most recent placement came in 2014 when Valerie Gatto advanced to the top 20. 

One per cent of the population suffers from vitiligo, the skin condition that causes patches of skin to lose their pigmentation. The main symptom of vitiligo is flat, white spots or patches on your skin. Initially, the vitiligo may start as a patch of skin that is paler than the rest.

Problems with confidence and self-esteem are common in people with vitiligo, particularly if the condition affects areas of frequently exposed skin.

In 2014 the disease was thrust into the spotlight by Winnie Harlow, a model who appeared on the 21st season of America’s Next Top Model and has since been featured in many fashion campaigns.

The beautiful Asia Cymone Smith, who'll be competing for the crown of Miss California Teen USA 2018, would like to raise awareness of vitiligo because her mom has the condition and lives each day in fear of judgement and rejection - "I would like to inform people of this autoimmune disorder and help promote research for a cure, while helping those with vitiligo realize that their outward appearance does not define their true character" - she explained.

Asia is not a stereotypical pageant girl. She is extremely athletic, and because of this she is very muscular - "I have had many instances where I felt defeated because I didn't fit the image that society places on pageant queens. I even attended a modeling event, and I was unable to fit some of the clothing because of my broad, muscular shoulders. Because of this, my self-esteem was lowered. However, I have learned to be very proud of my body. I hope to make a difference in the pageant industry, and be an example that beauty is not solely on the surface; true beauty comes from within."

I had the opportunity to interview Asia on her preparation for the upcoming Miss California Teen USA Contest. If she wins the crown she will have the opportunity to represent her state at Miss Teen USA 2018. The most successful Miss California Teen USA was Shauna Gambill, who won the Miss Teen USA crown in 1994. She later became the only Californian teen to cross over to the Miss California USA crown. Recently, Cassidy Wolf became the second Miss Teen USA from the state of California, when she won the Miss Teen USA 2013 pageant on August 10, 2013 in the Bahamas.

When it comes to becoming successful and achieving our big goals, it is important that we believe in ourselves. But it’s also important that we help others believes in themselves, too . Helping others believe in and achieve their goal can accelerate the manifesting of our own.

As Theodore Roosevelt said, “Believe you can, and you are halfway there.” The gorgeous Gina Marie Campagna, who'll be competing for the crown of Miss Texas Teen USA in a few days, considers her style of leading however, as leading others through encouragement. She wants to be a light to everyone and encourages everyone she meets to be confidently beautiful in their own skim and to go for their wildest dreams - "I strive to lead by example and the way I plan to encourage others to pursue their dreams is by living a confidently beautiful lifestyle and accomplishing my dreams as well" - she explained.

Gina has worked with many children in an effort to make a difference in her community. She has started a chapter of the organization Girls of Greatness in her hometown of Midland, Texas. Girls of Greatness is a program which truly teaches girls the meaning of being confidently beautiful on the inside and out. Through this program, Gina teaches middle school girls about celebrating their unique beauty on the inside through group talks about confidence and self esteem.

She also teaches them about beauty on the outside by giving different makeup tips to help them feel their best on the outside as well - "I believe that a person must feel confident on the inside and out to achieve their dreams, and once they love who they are, they can be unstoppable!"

I had the opportunity to interview Gina on her preparation for the Miss Texas Teen USA Contest. Did you know ? Texas is one of the most successful states across all twenty-seven years of competition at Miss Teen USA. They have had seventeen semi-finalists, three more than any other state. They have won the crown three times, in 1996 when Christie Lee Woods took the title (Woods later went on to star in The Amazing Race 5) and 15 years later in 2011 when Danielle Doty won. Karlie Hay became the third Texan entrant to win the crown in 2016

In 2016 Deshauna Barber (former Miss USA and Miss District Of Columbia USA) used the pageant's spotlight and her title to support veteran's causes and tackle the issue of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder among military members. The gorgeous Morgan Witkop, who'll be competing for the crown of Miss California Teen USA 2018, would like to follow her footsteps as she hopes to extend her charity work to Veteran’s causes.

Aside from being involved in her community Morgan is a competitive swimmer, she excels in backstroke. She has worked as a model and actress - "Pageantry opened many doors in the world of fashion and entertainment. I have already had some amazing modeling opportunities just from my regional win and it’s exposure for me" - she explained.

If she wins the crown she will have the opportunity to represent the state of California at Miss Teen USA 2018. Did you know ? The most successful Miss California Teen USA was Shauna Gambill, who won the Miss Teen USA crown in 1994. She later became the only Californian teen to cross over to the Miss California USA crown. At Miss USA 1998, Gambill placed first-runner up to Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts, in what is widely considered to be one of the closest and most controversial decisions in recent years. She was later named Miss World USA 1998 and was a semi-finalist at the 1998 Miss World pageant.

Cassidy Wolf became the second Miss Teen USA from the state of California, when she won the Miss Teen USA 2013 pageant on August 10, 2013 in the Bahamas.

I had the opportunity to interview the beautiful Morgan on her preparation for the upcoming Miss California Teen USA Contest. Check it below!

One of the things Jenna Donovan finds most inspiring is women openly supporting and lifting each other up. With so many obstacles on the road to gender equality, we don't need to create another one by getting in our own way  — despite the stereotype of pageant girls and the nasty habit of trying to pit us against each other. 

It’s time to raise awareness around initiatives women are taking to help their female counterparts achieve their goals and feel empowered. The concept of women helping other women benefits both parties, while demonstrating just how powerful a force females can be when they support one another. 

Jenna thinks that integrity, grace, and kindness are the qualities of a true queen, one who supports other women and does not tear others down to get ahead - "If you strive to live your life as if you already are a queen, if you exude beauty from your heart and soul- others will see that. Others will respect it. That is what will carry you far in life, more than a beautiful face or a perfect body ever could. Even if  you don't win a crown of your own- you will know your worth, and you will know you are already a queen because you have the heart of one."

I had the opportunity to interview the gorgeous Jenna on her preparation for the upcoming Miss Kansas USA Pageant. Did you know ? Kansas did not place at Miss USA until 1973, the third-to-last state to make their first placement. From then, no delegate from Kansas made the cut until 1991, when Kelli McCarty won the crown. McCarty's win makes Wichita, Kansas the only state to host one Miss USA and Miss Teen USA to win in their home state.

In 1992, the state joined the Vanbros group, which led to a surge in placements in the 1990s and early 2000s. This included two first runners-up, one second runner-up, one third runner-up, and one fourth runner-up, among others. All but three of Kansas's ten placements have been runners-up.