WS Chronicle

By Busta Brown

“Big is not always unhealthy and small is not always healthy. But society has conditioned us to believe so. When I work with plus-size women, I don’t ask if they want to get smaller. I ask if you want to be your best. And their best is not necessarily small. It’s about managing your diet. The plus-size women in our pageant are confident and happy with who they see in the mirror.  When you’re happy, you make sure everyone else around you is happy as well. That’s the magic and beauty of this pageant,” shared Stephania Hurt. 

Hurt is the director of the North Carolina Plus, which is a preliminary pageant to the National Miss Plus America.  You must be 18 and older to participate in the pageant. “Married, single, and no matter your ethnic background, you’re eligible. The women that are representing these crowns have an awesome spirit! When I became the director and they received me, it was an amazing feeling. Our contestants aren’t in it for themselves and they don’t forsake each other. It’s a real sisterhood, Busta,” said Pastor Stephanie. 

Each woman has to be promoting a cause as well. “You don’t have to be a certain size to have a cause,” shared one delegate. During the recent crowning of the pageant’s first four delegates, one of the ladies demonstrated true sisterhood. “It was so beautiful! One of the Queens noticed another Queen did not have a necklace. She said, my sister needs a necklace. Then she went to her car, got a necklace and then put on the other Queen. And Busta, they’re competing! But if they’re at their best, they make sure the other Queens are at their best,” shared a very excited and proud Director Hurt. 

The National Miss Plus America Pageant was founded by Melissa Stamper 20 years ago and has gained national recognition on CBS Network’s OMG Insider and Entertainment Tonight. Stamper told the network, “Just because I’m plus size doesn’t mean I’m lazy or a couch potato. But it also doesn’t mean I’m gonna stay in my closet. All of these women at some point or another wanted to be Miss America. I thought how wonderful it would be to create a pageant exclusively for plus-size women.” 

As I watched videos of previous National Miss Plus America Pageants, these intelligent, beautiful and talented ladies proved that plus is a plus in more than just size. The journey for a lot of plus-size women hasn’t been an easy one. Director Hurt shared how bullying and body shaming can affect plus-size girls at a very young age. 

“When I was in the 3^rd grade, my best friend was bullied and body shamed because of her weight and no one would ask her to come to play. When I asked her why she didn’t come play kick ball with us, she said because I don’t want anyone picking on me and I can’t really run that fast. All I can think about is, she hasn’t tried. But her stepfather had made comments about her size as well, so her self-esteem was already challenged. 

“So many other plus-size women’s and children’s self-esteem are challenged daily. Words have power and the effects can carry into your adulthood and it becomes who you are. A pageant such as this can help plus-size young ladies and girls realize that their purpose is bigger than who they are and what they look like. When we identify with our purpose, tap into it and then nourish it, then that becomes who we are. Beauty is from the inside out,”  said an emotional Hurt.   

The pageant has been held throughout the country, but your chance to become Miss North Carolina Plus America 2022 is coming March 11at the Hawthorne Inn in Winston-Salem at 7 p.m. You have until Feb. 28 to register at  www.ncplusamerica.com.

 “It is going to be an elegant thing! It is going to be so awesome! Getting to know these women and their heart for the community was the best part of becoming the director. They are some community-driven women! They truly want to help make our communities better. To bring women into this is amazing. I want plus-size women to know that there is a forum and platform that has been set up right here in their state and city where you can start speaking out loud about how they love who they are. And let other plus-size women know that they are loved, appreciated and can be heard as well in a positive way,” said Hurt. 

You can purchase tickets beginning Feb. 15 on the pageant’s website www.ncplusamerica.com.