Tiffany Parker is Ms. Maryland 2011. As she moves toward competing in the Ms. United States pageant, she has included Washington Area Women’s Foundation in her platform. Read on to find out why women’s empowerment is so important to her and why she chose The Women’s Foundation.
There are many misconceptions about beauty pageants and what they truly mean to our society. Many people develop their impressions from watching weekly reality shows with overbearing mothers and miserable participants being forced to perform like circus animals, but the truth is, adult pageantry is a different realm all together. Gone are the days when a beauty queen was only expected to show up and wave with a smile on her face. Today many state delegates are activists within their communities, advocating for those who don’t have a voice, and many of them have taken on the role of state and local ambassadors. My goal is to use my voice and crown for great things this year, not only for myself, but for other women in my community.
One of my first tasks as Ms. Maryland was to find and partner with an organization that shares my beliefs and platform, the empowerment of women. A Google search led me to the Washington Area Women’s Foundation. So many times as women we forget our power, and we give up our voice so easily. An old proverb says that “a home’s foundation does not lie on concrete, but on women.” We are the foundation of homes, communities, and nations, and it’s important to instill that belief in every little girl. When I read The Women’s Foundation’s mission statement, I knew my search for a foundation to partner with for my reigning year was over. I humbly submitted my request to partner with The Women’s Foundation to continue to spread the message, and it was accepted. I am so proud to say that I am affiliated with an organization that is fighting for women and making a daily impact.
My Great Grandmother lived to be 103 years old. Born in 1900, she would tell us stories of how she wasn’t allow to vote and other injustices we couldn’t imagine taking place today. So to live in time where I have freedom of speech and can actually make an impact, I believe that it would be a disservice to any woman that came before me, to not use this opportunity or to take it lightly. So with this I say “Thank You” to Washington Area Women’s Foundation for this opportunity, and I say “Chello” (my version of Hello) to the readers of this blog and the supporters of the Foundation…. This is going to be wonderful year, and I can’t think of anyone else I would rather share it with, than you.
Check back for updates about Ms. Maryland’s reigning year. And if you’d like to meet Ms. Maryland, her next public event will be her inaugural cocktail party on Thursday, March 24th, from 5:30-9:00 p.m. at Jin — 2017 14th Street, NW. RSVP on Facebook by clicking here.
