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Miss USA

Miss California Teen USA Candidate Alana Morgan Raises Awareness About Teen Suicide

Depression and suicidal thoughts are two of the most frightening things a person can face in their lifetime. Unfortunately, acting on those suicidal thoughts is a far too common scenario for many across the world, including young people. In fact, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for those between the ages of 15 and 24.

Each year, more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, leaving behind their friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of loss. In many cases, friends and families affected by a suicide loss (often called “suicide loss survivors”) are left in the dark. Too often the feelings of shame and stigma prevent them from talking openly.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. Alana Morgan, who'll be competing for the title of Miss California Teen USA later this year, closely works in teen suicide prevention and saving lives through mental health advocacy. She volunteers regularly in her school and with the Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation - "I was chosen to be  on a suicide prevention nonprofit as a teen board member for The weRpossible Project. There we battle teen suicide with the most powerful teenager thing there is-there phones. We work on YouTube and Instagram and other platforms. We recently partnered with Ainsley Hutto, owner of Teen Music Insider, so we can interview teen influencers and help teens everywhere know that everyone is battling something." she explained

I had the opportunity to interview the beautiful Alana a few weeks before the Miss California Teen USA Pageant. Check it below!

Did you know ? The Miss California Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss Teen USA pageant. This pageant is part of the Miss Universe Organization, owned by William Morris Endeavor (also known as WME).

The state won the Miss Teen USA Pageant two times : In 1994 with Shauna Gambill and in 2013 with Cassidy Wolf.


You will compete at the Miss California Teen USA Pageant. How will you prepare for the contest?

The Miss California Teen USA pageant is something that I take very seriously. There's a lot of hard work and preparation that goes into capturing the crown. I like to start by eating healthy, which I am not trying to switch to plant-based food only. We'll see how that goes! Also, I put in countless hours of training, which ranges from practicing my walk and my questions.

Would you like to compete in the Miss USA System when you'll be older?

Yes, I would love to compete in the Miss USA system when I'm older. I want to keep spreading awareness on how we can help others as well as ending teen suicide.

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What inspired you to walk on the course of beauty pageants?

My mom is my best friend and she really inspired my to do beauty pageants. I have always watched pageants on television but I never really thought anything of them. Until one day, I was watching Miss Teen USA and seeing other young girls going through similar events that I was going through inspired me to turn when I was bullied into something positive. 

Did you face any moment of disappointment with yourself during the pageant journey, and how did you overcome it?

Yes, most definitely. There are some days that I get down or discouraged because I didn't feel like I showed my full potential onstage or if I didn't answer a question correctly. I've overcame these obstacles by just realizing that I'm only 14 years old. I told myself the fact that I can get up on this stage and help others is what's most important. I gave myself positive reinforcement.

alana

How would you inspire those who are deemed not beautiful or not perfectly shaped?

I would inspire those other young girls by telling them that being ugly or not perfectly shaped doesn't exist to me. I would let them know that you should be comfortable in our own skin because everyone is beautiful inside and out. I would tell them that what matters is having a brain. You could be absolutely stunning with a gorgeous body but if you don't have the brains people will overlook how beautiful you are because you can't back it up.

Your favorite beauty queen?

Our current Miss USA Kára McCullough. The reason behind this is because Kára McCullough breaks the stereotypes of what women should do. She represents girl power! She represents that girls can do anything that they put their mind to considering that she is a physical scientist. The most important reason why Kára McCullough is my favorite queen is because she inspires other young girls as well as myself to achieve anything they put their mind to. She is honestly the best representation of how a true queen should act!

kara miss

Thanks to Alana for the interview. Pageants News wishes you all the very best for Miss California Teen USA pageant.