Last weekend, one of our very own students of the University of Maine was crowned Miss Maine USA 2020. Julia Van Steenberghe, a senior studying elementary education at the University of Maine, was crowned after only her second year competing in pageants. Van Steenberghe says she originally started competing for a few reasons. “Originally, because I wanted to challenge myself to be the best version of myself both mentally and physically. After competing last year and placing 1st Runner Up I realized it was so much more than that. I wanted to be a voice and an inspiration to others proving that a person can achieve personal goals.” She has already been very involved in her community, being a part of the UMaine cheer team her first few years of college, an active member of Team Maine, and involved in one of our very own sororities, Alpha Phi.
This year, she decided to compete in the pageant again, motivated to strive to be the best for herself and for others. When asked what motivated her to compete again, she said, “Placing 1st Runner Up in the 2019 pageant lit a fire inside me I never knew could exist. The Miss Universe Organization is full of inspiring and inspirational women who have been my role models for many years. I wanted to return and give it my all and improve myself every step of the way.” Julia is an amazing inspiration for anyone who’s considering competing in a pageant themselves. She encourages people to do whatever they feel their passion is with their whole heart, and to let absolutely nothing stop them. “The biggest thing I have learned has been that your only competition in life truly is yourself. I have learned that being my authentic self is the most important thing!” UMaine couldn’t have asked for a better representative to become Miss Maine USA 2020, and we wish her the best of luck competing in the Miss USA 2020 pageant.