My Journey

Throughout my life I have learned that nothing comes easy and that no goal is ever met without hard work and a long journey toward it. “Your Miss Teen International 2010 is Juliana McKee.” Two years ago, I would never have even imagined hearing that sentence. However, a long journey over the past two years filled with self-discovery, support, advocacy, hard work, and perseverance truly paid off on Saturday, July 24th, 2010 when that sentence filled my ears, tears filled my eyes, and a crown was placed on my head.

I spent the week with an amazing group of almost 40 girls. We all decided that it was the most “real” and truly supportive and friendly group of “pageant girls” that we had ever been a part of. Learning each girl’s personal story and the journey that had brought her there was the most inspiring part of the week for me. I know that with these girls as the future leaders of our country and world, that we have a very bright future!

When I first ventured into pageantry a little over a year ago, I was welcomed into the International family so warmly that I knew that it was the place for me. International has inspired me to not only share my beliefs but to chase my dreams and to persevere through any situation. I was able to remove the stigma that often surrounds pageantry for everyone I met by sharing with them the amazing things that the International crown and sash gives me the ability to achieve, not only for myself, but for the betterment of everyone I reached out to.

I feel so blessed by God and thankful to Mary and Mel Richardson for the amazing opportunity to be Miss Teen International 2010 and I know that I will take full advantage of this chance to make my mark, create change, and touch the lives of others.

This year, I plan to continue my work with the American Heart Association’s Alliance for a Healthier Generation, sharing my story of losing my 12 year old cousin to heart disease and of struggling to overcome low self-esteem and eating disorders to achieve and maintain my own healthy lifestyle. I feel so lucky to have the power to show those who are experiencing the same struggles that they are not alone, as well as the power to transform the word “beautiful”. The word “beautiful” has become so warped by our media and the celebrities who are so unhealthy and dangerously thin who it hails as beautiful. I have made it my mission to share my story with everyone and change this misperception of beauty to show everyone that healthy is beautiful. I will travel far and wide with the help of my international corporate sponsor, Ricoh, to reach out to children and teens everywhere with my message.

I will also promote the AHA’s “Go Red for Women” and the go-green initiative. “Go Red for Women” is a movement which not only has an alliance with the International system, but is very close to my own heart because over the past year I had to re-evaluate my own lifestyle and chose to “go red” myself, defeating eating disorders, ending unhealthy eating habits, and working every day to maintain a balanced diet and regular exercise. Going Red has had a huge positive impact on all aspects of my life. Go green is an issue which is very important to Ricoh and very relevant in today’s world where so many of our natural resources are over-used and abused and we need to all be active in our every-day lives to preserve our Earth for future generations.

I cannot wait to get started promoting my platform, other relevant issues, and the International system, which I have come to love so dearly as a second family.

Juliana McKee