Summer Series: Rachel Tripp

Today's post is all about Tri Delta's very own beauty queen, Rachel Tripp, and her journey to become Miss South Carolina.  We couldn't be more proud to have such a strong, well-rounded and talented woman represent our state and our chapter.  Take a minute to read about her journey and see how you can help support Rachel in her philanthropic pageant efforts.  We're all cheering for you, Rachel!

"In January, I started a journey that has changed my life…I became a part of the Miss America Organization and started to prepare to win the title of Miss South Carolina. This adventure began when a good family friend encouraged me to compete in the Miss Hilton Head Island Pageant. I became very interested in the competition, because talent was the largest percentage of a contestant’s final score. I’ve being singing since the age of three and have a lot of musical accomplishments, so I thought a pageant would be a piece of cake. I had never done a pageant before and figured why not try something new. I was definitely wrong about a pageant being easy, because it has been one of the biggest challenges but most rewarding experiences I could have asked for.

The pageant world was definitely a new experience to say the least. I arrived in Hilton Head as the only contestant without any pageant experience. I felt like a fish out of water among a sea of pros. Pageants were full of crazy things I could not have imagined, like a weird thing called firm grip. Firm grip is a sticky spray that baseball catchers use to have their mitts stick to their hands… pageants girls use it to make sure their bathing suit stays stuck to their booty. I have to say it is quite innovative, and it works. To this day I still crack up about the idea.

The pageant weekend came to a close and it was time for the winner to be crowned. They announced the runner-ups and I figured I was just going to walk off the stage, but I heard “Your 2014 Miss Hilton Head Island is…Rachel Tripp.” I could have died right there! I was so shocked and my mother was as well; as I later found out that she hadn’t picked me as the winner. What a great #1 fan. I had competed against several contestants, who had been in the top 15 at Miss South Carolina, and now I was headed to that stage.

Rachel being crowned Miss Hilton Head Island 2014

As soon as that crown was put on my head, the hard work began. I found myself traveling to Atlanta and all over the Palmetto state for interview training, appearances, fittings, and work with a personal trainer and talent coach. I had a talent song and routine customized just for me, which is what I’m the most excited for during the competition. My talent song is “The Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston. The song was written by a woman who was in the midst of her struggle with breast cancer. The words describe her feelings about coping with great challenges that one must face in life, being strong during those challenges whether you succeed or fail, and passing that strength on to children to carry with them into their adult lives. I picked the song because it went perfectly with my personal platform, which is Legacy of Hope: Children Co-Survivors of Cancer. Every contestant has to pick a personal platform where they would like to make a difference. I selected my platform because when I was thirteen my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I am a co-survivor. I want to increase awareness and help co-survivors, because they are a large group that goes unnoticed.

Rachel singing at Saint Baldrick's Cancer Benefit in Hilton Head

I met with a USC nursing professor, Dr. Sue Heiney, whose research focuses on co-survivors. She introduced me to a program called CLIMB, which helps children cope with their parent’s cancer. I fell in love with the program and its mission, so I traveled to the program’s summer training in Baltimore this May. I was the first college student to become CLIMB certified. As the next Miss South Carolina, I plan to bring the program to South Carolina and make it a part of The Children’s Miracle Network. I want to help these co-survivors, because I would have loved to have access to this program when I was struggling with my mom’s cancer.

CLIMB training in Baltimore

Community service is also a huge part of the equation. The Children’s Miracle Network is the Miss America Organization’s national platform, so as a contestant we are encouraged to raise funds while preparing for Miss South Carolina. I held multiple fundraisers at restaurants and used my talents to help raise money. I am determined to be one of the top fundraisers among the contestants, because helping the children across our state is more rewarding than winning the crown. I am currently in seventh place out of fifty-two contestants and only have three more days to donate! Please please help me by donating to my fund, and do it FOR THE KIDS!!

Children's Miracle Network fundraiser

http://www.missamericaforkids.org/Donate/RachelTripp

Interview is also a huge part of the competition. Since January, I have been working with former Miss America, Marjorie Vincent-Tripp, and no we aren’t related. Interview is the largest percentage of a contestant’s score and the most important. I have never read so many current events in my life to prepare! I wake up with over twenty emails from FOX, CNN, and the Huffington Post. The interview is ten minutes with a panel of five judges, and they can ask you just about any question under the sun. So think of it as a shooting range and you are the only target. It is very intimidating, but I have never felt more intelligent in my life. I’ve learned so much, and it’s exciting to have a deeper understanding of current events and educated opinions. Win or lose, I have learned so much about pop culture, government, and foreign affairs. I’ve become a significantly more well-rounded, experienced, and educated young woman.

Rachel with Miss Hilton Head Island Teen

Rachel in Pittsburgh for the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant

The two Princesses Rachel chose to walk with her during the evening gown competition

Throughout this whole experience I have grown a new appreciation for the world of pageants. Before, I was very closed minded and thought it was just gowns and makeup. I could not have been more wrong. This experience has helped me learn more about myself and has given me so many opportunities. I have been able to impact others lives in so many different ways and be a part of something bigger than myself. I’ve become an ambassador, leader and server, and I will continue to embody these qualities because of what this organization has taught me.

The pageant will be televised across the state of South Carolina on June 28^th on all the Fox affiliate stations and preliminaries will be web streamed live on www.miss-sc.org June 21^st-23^rd. I will compete in talent, evening gown, on-stage question, interview, and swimsuit. I hope to bring the crown home to the Delta castle at USC!

DL,

Rachel Tripp"