Beauty, spirit and community service

SELKIRK —Community service can be a beautiful thing.

Competing in pageants is not all about shiny crowns, sashes, prizes and scholarships. Selkirk resident Emma Hughes, 19, the daughter of Scott and Denise Hughes, has been competing in beauty pageants for the past three years. She started out competing at National American Miss New York pageant in 2016 and 2017, and made it to the top 10.

In January of 2017, Hughes traveled to Purchase College to compete in the Miss New York Teen USA Pageant, which she said was a great experience, fast paced and very competitive.

After doing some research, Hughes found a local pageant system based on community service and sisterhood — the Miss Spirit Organization. Director Amanda Daley, who is a local elementary teacher, started this pageant organization three years ago.

The pageant system is nationally recognized as a certifying organization for the Presidential Award for Service. To compete in this pageant you must be prepared to work hard in your community and raise awareness for your platform, and support your other “sisters” within the organization.

There are small holiday pageants, like Halloween and Christmas, for fun, and if you want to try competing, this is a great place to start. The Spirit pageant has two larger pageants, the national pageants, Miss Spirit of the USA and the Miss Spirit of New York, that were held July 27-29, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy.

Last July 2017, at the Hilton, Hughes walked away with the title of Teen Spirit of New York 2018. With her title, she brought awareness to her platform, which focused on health issues, specifically Lyme disease and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

As part of her community service, Hughes coordinated fundraisers for both causes and raised over $3,000 combined. Hughes started the Spirit of Awareness Pageant this past spring and plans to continue this year, bringing awareness to lung cancer.

In addition to raising funds for her causes of choice, Hughes was also chosen to be a feature in the World Class Beauty Queen magazine, walked in local fashion shows for the Ronald McDonald House, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and during the past May for local designer Daniel Mozzes during Albany Fashion Week.

This summer, Hughes was crowned Teen Spirit of the USA 2018 at the Hilton Garden Inn. The competition consisted of a 20-minute interview where four judges question competitors on their platform, community service and how they can make a difference in their community.

The interview is conducted in addition to the swim suit, gown and outfit of choice contests, where candidates are judged on poise, confidence and eye contact. As outgoing Teen Spirit of New York, Hughes competed in state costume — she modeled her bluebird costume, taking best overall, and also won in the outfit of choice category, role model, photogenic and Miss Congeniality.

But Hughes’ biggest award of the night was being awarded the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award for volunteering over 250 hours of community service in her community.

As winner of Teen Spirit of the USA, Hughes will have to make 12 appearances, continue with her community service with the food pantry and Mohawk Humane Society. She will continue to in raise awareness and funds for Lyme disease and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Her first appearance will be at the New York State Fair in Syracuse for Queen’s Day, riding on a float for the daily parade.

For information on the Spirit Organization go on the Miss Spirit of New York or Miss Spirit of the USA Facebook page.