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Learn more about Katie's story and find out what our students are doing. |
Student Stories
Will UMBC Students Keep the Crown?
Amanda Fernandez '11
Double Major in Biological Sciences and Psychology (Minor in Mathematics)
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Amanda Fernandez ‘11 won the 2008 Miss Potomac pageant and will compete for the title of Miss Maryland 2009 on June 27. The crown is currently held by Louise Schlegel ’09. We had the change to speak with Amanda before the big event and found out more about her pageant life, why she came to UMBC and what she hopes to do in the future.
How long have you been competing in pageants?
I have been competing in pageants since the age of 11 and have held many smaller titles.
How did you find out about the Miss Potomac pageant?
The Miss Potomac pageant is one of the many local preliminaries to the Miss Maryland and subsequently Miss America pageant. I became interested in competing for the Miss America system in general because of a family friend who suggested this particular system and encouraged that I give it a closer look. Many people are under the impression that there is only one pageant system, one "Miss Maryland," but in reality, there are many. Two of the biggest pageant
systems are the Miss America system and the Miss USA system.
What do you think of the Miss America system?
I am a huge advocate for the Miss America system because I believe firmly in all
that it stands for. The Miss America system gives young women the opportunity to develop into well-rounded leaders in both word and action in their community and gives them the confidence to know that they can make a difference in the world. It has a concrete mission of on-going community service, most noted by its recent partnership with the Children's Miracle Network, to raise funds and awareness for issues that are close to the hearts of the titleholders and contestants. Although I have been competing in the Miss America system now for two years, Miss Potomac is the first title that I have held in this system.
Now that you’ve won the title of Miss Potomac, how do you feel about competing for the title of Miss Maryland?
Every time I think about it, I get butterflies in my stomach, but I am far from nervous! I am so excited to be able to spend a week with such a dynamic group of young women and perform my best for an even bigger crowd! I just can't wait!
Do you know Louise Schlegel, the 2008 Miss Maryland and another UMBC student?
Although Louise and I have both competed in the Miss America system for
a while, as fate would have it, we have never competed in the same pageant before. I did know of Louise before she held her title of Miss Maryland because of some friends who had told me that there were other UMBC students that competed in the Miss America system, including Louise. After she was crowned Miss Maryland, I became much more familiar with Louise. At the Miss Potomac pageant, I was able to finally meet Louise in person, and I even had the honor of being crowned by her when I won my title. Since being crowned Miss Potomac, I have found a great friend and mentor in Louise as well as an exceptional role model. I look forward to getting to know her even more in the upcoming months and during Miss Maryland Week in June.
What’s your talent at competitions?
For my talent, I usually sing. Though I am the co-captain of UMBC's Varsity Cheerleading team and most people think I could dance as a talent. But I have a real passion for singing! Before UMBC, I was always involved in a choir or vocal group. With such a busy school schedule now, I just can't seem to find time to be a part of such a group anymore. Competing in these pageants and singing as my talent is my way of still showing my deep love for singing and sharing it with others. For the Miss Potomac pageant, I sang "Think of Me" from The Phantom of the Opera. I am in the process now of choosing a new song that I will sing for the Miss Maryland pageant.
What is your platform?
My platform is very near and dear to my heart: Encouraging Extracurricular Activities. No matter what your age or grade level, being involved in activities outside of the classroom is extremely important. There are so many important benefits to being involved that it is not even possible to list all of them. The following are just a few of these important benefits:
- it looks excellent on any resume or CV
- it gives you an opportunity to make new friends with similar interests as yourself and to excel in something that you enjoy even if you are not the best student academically
- it helps to cut down on idle time that may result in unproductive or even detrimental actions and decisions
I encourage everyone to take a look at all of the many extracurricular activities that UMBC has to offer and seriously consider taking part in at least one. Some programs such as the PAL program, run by members of the Premedical Society, are even a great way to help others stay involved as well. This innovative group of UMBC students runs a program once a month at the Police Athletic League in Baltimore City where local students can come to stay off the streets, do Homework and play games and other activities with each other.
So, why did you decide to come to UMBC?
I was actually introduced to UMBC at a young age when my aunt started working here in the Financial Services Department. She was my main influence for really taking a close look at UMBC, and once I actually did, I fell in love with everything about it. From the renowned faculty and staff to the diverse and highly ambitious students here, I just loved everything about the campus. I knew that of all of the universities I had applied to that UMBC was the place where I would be able to develop into a highly competitive student, both academically and personally. Since coming in as a freshman, I have found all of my expectations about UMBC to be true and so much more, which is why I stay at UMBC and encourage everyone I know to come to UMBC.
What are you future plans?
After graduating from UMBC in 2011, I am planning to attend a prestigious medical school, hopefully in Maryland, to pursue my dream of being a pediatrician. I love children, and I've always wanted to be a doctor since the age of two and a half when I underwent a new type of brain surgery, which ultimately saved my life.
What advice would you give to anyone who’d like to be involved in pageants?
For anyone who has even considered the idea of entering a pageant, I
say this: Go for it! Pageants give so many young women a chance to be heard and make a difference in the world. Besides the fact that you also get scholarships, an experience of a lifetime and a great self-esteem boost, you meet so many inspirational and truly vibrant young women who become a network for you of support and friendship. You also learn a countless number of skills that will help you for the rest of your life. If you'd like more information about how to enter, visit http://www.missmd.info.
Thanks, Amanda. And good luck at the 2009 Miss Maryland competition!
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