Elizabeth Hadley is a junior studying broadcast journalism and creative writing at Suffolk University and she has BIG dreams. In July 2017, she won the title of Miss Massachusetts at the National American Miss state competition, and, in November 2017, she traveled to Anaheim, California and competed at Nationals. Although she did not win the national title, she was awarded Miss Spirit by the choreographers and Miss Personality by her fellow state queens. Liz is my neighbor back home, and I recently got the chance to meet with her and find out more about her pageant experience.
When and why did you start doing pageants?
I always had this idea in my mind of being a princess. I always wanted to marry a prince, but that’s not going to happen unless you’re born into a royal family. That was just an idea I had when I was 13 but I realized that it wasn’t going to happen. So, I was like, “What’s another way I can have a tiara?”
Then I looked into pageants, and my mom used to do pageants. She told me about National American Miss (NAM). I looked it up and it sounded like something that I would like. There’s no swimsuit competition, and I really like that because I don’t agree with that at all. I have no problem with being in shape, but that shouldn’t be the criteria to win. I signed up to go to an open call, which is when you go and have a little interview to see if you’re what they’re looking for to compete. Then, I was qualified as a state finalist for the state of Massachusetts. I started when I was 15, but I had no idea what I was getting into.
What makes NAM different from other pageants?
Well, it focuses more on who you are as a person as opposed to what you look like. They want poise and presentation but it’s not like your hair has to be a certain color and you have to have blue eyes and not wear glasses – it’s not about that. You can have dark hair and wear glasses and still be very professional and they like that. It’s also about being who you are and trying to help people and make a difference in the world even if it’s in a little way.
Photo by Barbara Allen Hill Photography
Can you describe your experience at Nationals?
Ooh—it was so fun! It was very scheduled – there was no downtime at all – and I did three optionals (extra nonobligatory contests). So, you have to schedule in time for that, and there were all the required competitions. On top of that, one of the days, all the girls had to go to Disneyland, but we all went together so it was so fun. Then, one of the days, we went on a Hollywood tour and I had never been there so I was seeing everything for the first time.
All the girls were so nice and everyone was just very genuine and really trying their best. It was such a once-in-a-lifetime experience—you wanted to get to know each other—and we still talk all the time. My favorite part though…we did two opening dance numbers. There’s a final pageant and it starts out with one of our opening dance numbers and then we do our second one. Then, we go and change back into our formal wear and that’s when they crown the winner.
How has NAM impacted your life?
I feel like I’ve always known who I was—I’ve always been outgoing and energetic and I love life and I’ve been really hardworking. But I feel like there’s also been a part of me that’s wondered if I was good enough to succeed. NAM has shown me that if you work hard and don’t give up, you’ll get there and you don’t need to have those worries because everything happens for a reason. It’s really helped me grow into who I am.
What is it like to be Miss Massachusetts?
It’s pretty fun. A big part of it is giving back to the community. At first, I wanted to do everything—I wanted to give myself to all these organizations—but I’ve really thought about it and you have to find your specific organization that you’re super passionate about. I think my main calling in life is to enhance the lives of children because I feel like children are the future. So, I had a school supply drive for homeless children and little things like that show them that people believe in them.
What are your hopes and dreams or the future?
I want to be a news anchor and someday I’m going to be the host of Good Morning America. That’s the goal. I definitely want to live in a city and I just want to wake up the world! I love the morning.
Some people are morally against pageants, especially with the aspect of girls competing against each other. What’s your opinion?
I have no problem with pageants. I don’t like the swimsuit part because some people aren’t going to be as skinny as other people – that’s just the way it is. But, what I’ve learned from my experience is that women need to lift each other up; we need to encourage each other; we need to be on each other’s side. From my experience in pageants, that’s how it’s been. When we’re backstage, waiting to go out for the finale, it’s just all of us encouraging each other. “You know what? You did your best. You put yourself out there. You took a risk. And I am going to support whoever wins.” That’s how it was when they crowned the girl at Nationals. We were so happy that it was her—she worked so hard. I think sometimes people are too quick to judge things that they don’t have experience in. I’m not saying all pageants are like that, but my experience has been that everyone supports each other.
Liz has focused her life on setting goals and working tirelessly to reach them, and winning the title of National American Miss Massachusetts is just one example of her doing that. She believes that pageants help young women gain more confidence in themselves, which can never be a bad thing. Her title has also helped her give back to her community and inspire others to set goals and follow their dreams. Right now, she’s known as Miss Massachusetts, but one day, if she continues to chase her goals, you might know her as the host of Good Morning America.
Cover by Barbara Allen Hill Photography
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