This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Maine chapter.
In the spirit of the upcoming Miss Maine USA and Miss Maine Teen USA pageants, we spoke to UMaine Alum and Miss Maine USA 2013 Ali Clair.
Name – Ali Clair
Hometown – China, Maine
Current town – Portland, Maine
Occupation – Director of External Relations
Major – Journalism, Dance Minor
Fun fact – My parallel parking skills are out of this world.
Instagram– @aliclair
Advice for seniors who are graduating – Keep all of your work! Graduating
with a portfolio of your best work to present to potential employers, especially in
Journalism/Communications, is key to landing a dream job.
Favorite UMaine memory – Participating in the 2011 Maine Day flash mob!
Campus involvement – Dance Club, Lambda Pi Eta, WMEB radio DJ
Advice for current Black Bears – You’ll never be as young as you are now – so
have the time of your life.
Favorite spot in Orono – 1944 Dance Studio and The Bear Brew, obviously.
Tell us about your year as Miss Maine:
My year as Miss Maine USA 2013 was a complete whirlwind. As soon as I was
crowned I spent the year volunteering, doing appearances, flying all over the
country for modeling jobs and of course preparing for the Miss USA pageant! The
experiences I had were such once in a lifetime opportunities, I feel eternally
blessed, grateful and honored to have held the title. My biggest take away from
the year as Miss Maine was how much it changed my life, I wouldn’t be the
woman I am today without it.
Most exciting moment as a titleholder: Aside from competing at Miss USA in
Las Vegas live on NBC, one of the most exciting moments I had as a title holder
was being awarded a Legislative Sentiment by Senator Katz at the Maine State
House in May of 2013.
How are you still involved in pageants? I maintain an involvement in pageants
by being a pageant coach! It’s a wonderful way to keep a connection with the
organization that changed by life by coaching girls in their own personal journeys
for titles and crowns.
Most valuable lesson you learned from competing (or your year as a title
holder):
My most valuable lesson is for the females of the world-
Ladies, learn to be independent. That’s my most valuable take away from
competing in pageants and living a year in the limelight. Being independent
doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help, or learn from others – to me it means you
don’t rely on anyone else for your own happiness and confidence. Pure
happiness can only come from within and it will radiate out to those around you