I've Finally Found It!

June 6, 2014

I competed last year in the Miss Utah USA pageant for my very first time. I thought I would only do it the one time, and then I would just call it good. Well, after I did the pageant I realized how life changing it is. It's not about dressing up and looking pretty. It's about the preparation beforehand. It gives you practice on your interview skills, it helps you manage your time, talking to strangers becomes a breeze, your confidence increases tremendously, and you become the healthiest version of yourself. It was an experience that I could never replace. I don't think there is anything in this world that challenges you quite like a pageant. It really was a very rewarding experience for me. I debated for months after the pageant if I would compete again, and I just felt like I should. I knew I needed a goal for this year, and I have finally decided what it is. I couldn't be more excited!

This year I will have my insulin pump and I plan on wearing it the entire competition. I will be wearing it on stage in swimwear, and evening gown. This year my goal is not to win the pageant, it's to merely be on the stage with my pump. Let me tell you why this is so important to me.

Diabetes is not a glamorous disease by any means. You have to give yourself shots, check your blood sugar by pricking your finger, and changing the site of your insulin pump. You can get bruises from your shots. You get little red marks from every shot you take, at least for a little while. Your fingers are callused from all of the finger pricks, and you can see the marks from the lancet. When you change the site for your insulin pump you will have scars (Not something I know firsthand, yet). There is tubing attached to your pump that is your new favorite accessory. To sum it up for you, diabetes is far from a glamorous disease. Being someone who has diabetes, and is involved in pageantry it makes sense to me that I should proudly showcase both of them.

My goal this year is to make such an ugly disease as glamorous as I possibly can. To bring awareness to all that you deal with as a diabetic, and hopefully open some eyes to the disease.

The statement I'd like to make with my insulin pump, is that you are beautiful no matter the disease, no matter the shape, no matter the terminal illness. No matter who you are, you are a beautiful person, inside and out.

I'm embracing this disease that I was given. It's going to be one of my strongest passions, and the best way of living. I am going to do something to help others. To help little girls who might not find themselves appealing simply because of the pump they wear that keeps them alive. Actually, to help anyone who struggles with their image based on something that's attached to them.

There's no cure for type 1 diabetes. There is a cure for the insecurities attached to it.


If you'd like to follow my journey with the pageant this year I'll be posting more to my Facebook page.


If you'd like to help support me this year I am asking for donations for the fees of the venue, and my dress you can go here: http://www.gofundme.com/KarrieForMissUT2015

Everything that is donated, and all of the sponsors I gain, I plan on paying it forward 100%. There will be more to come on how in a few weeks. Thank you in advance for all of your support.