Culturally Speaking: The South Florida Sunday Podcast

Episode Title: 13th Annual Miss Arc Broward Pageant
Release Date: April 7, 2026
Host: Hubbard Radio
Guest: Julie Price, President & CEO, Arc Broward

Episode Overview

This episode shines a spotlight on the 13th Annual Miss Arc Broward Pageant, an empowering community event that supports young women across South Florida. Host Hubbard Radio interviews Julie Price, President and CEO of Arc Broward, to discuss the spirit of the pageant, its impact on participants, its unique approach to fostering confidence, and how the broader community can get involved.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

What is the Miss Arc Broward Pageant?

• Non-traditional "Pageant":
  • Focuses on girls ages 6–17.
  • Designed to build confidence and self-expression, rather than traditional notions of beauty or competition ([00:24]).
  • Julie Price: “Though it’s often coined a pageant, it really isn’t traditional in that pageant sense. It’s really focused more on the girls’ abilities, their personality and their growth.” ([00:31])
• Celebrates Individuality:
  • Every contestant is recognized for her unique strengths, talents, and achievements.
  • No focus on physical appearance or one-upmanship ([01:09]).

Building Confidence & Lasting Impact

• Empowerment Through Experience:

  • Participants experience significant growth in confidence, independence, and communication skills ([01:42]).
  • The pageant encourages stepping out of comfort zones—such as shy girls performing on stage.
  • Forms lifelong friendships and builds a sense of community for participants and their families.

• Long-term Benefits:

  • Alumni have gone on to pursue college, employment, entrepreneurship, and other passions.
  • Julie Price: “To see girls who have been in the pageant ten years ago, who are now living out their dreams… it’s got lots of short-term and long-term benefits.” ([02:08])

• Valuing Community and Inclusion:

  • The program fosters an environment where girls celebrate each other's talents.
  • Host: “That is such an important skill… to be grateful and happy for other people’s talent and let other people shine and not have that envy.” ([03:24])
  • Julie adds that this quality is rarely formally taught but is integral to the pageant's ethos ([03:37]).

Teen Ambassadors Program

• Peer Support & Leadership:
  • 25+ local middle and high schoolers act as Teen Ambassadors ([03:44]).
  • Ambassadors are paired with pageant contestants to build mutual friendships and support.
  • Ambassadors develop empathy, compassion, and leadership skills.
  • Julie Price: “What we love for the Teen Ambassadors is that they are learning how to be compassionate young ladies who demonstrate empathy… [and] understand the value of inclusion and belonging.” ([04:24])

Details about the 13th Annual Pageant

• Event Information:
  • Date & Time: Sunday, May 11th at 2pm
  • Location: The Parker, downtown Fort Lauderdale ([04:52])
  • Tickets: $22, available via Ticketmaster or at arcbroward.com ([05:26])
  • Atmosphere: High-energy, emotional, and joyful.
    • Julie Price: “It’s always a high energy, uplifting, emotional event. So bring your tissues. I promise you we’ll go through more than a box.” ([04:56])
  • Features moments like fathers dancing with daughters during talent portions.

How to Get Involved

• Participation & Support:
  • Anyone can get involved via arcbroward.com.
  • Tickets for individuals or groups (“cheer squads”), which get assigned a participant to support.
  • Cheer squads are encouraged to make posters and bring musical instruments to cheer on the girls ([05:52]).
    • Julie Price: “We have what we call cheer squads...we will assign you a young lady, tell you about their interests...they will bring the Parker to life on that day to celebrate these girls.” ([05:59])
• Sponsorships:
  • Still open for businesses or individuals who wish to sponsor the event ([06:30]).
    • Julie Price: “Every bit of support helps to create tremendous opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in our community.” ([06:35])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the pageant’s unique approach:
  “Every contestant is celebrated and recognized for their unique personality, for their talents...this pageant is about building each other up, not competing against each other.”
  — Julie Price ([01:09])

• On personal growth:
  “Girls who would barely speak at the beginning… at the end are standing up there on stage shining bright and giving it their all.”
  — Julie Price ([02:49])

• On empathy and celebrating others:
  “To be grateful and happy for other people’s talent and let other people shine and not have that envy—that is such an important skill that I don’t think is really taught very often.”
  — Host ([03:24])

• On the event’s emotional power:
  “It’s always a high energy, uplifting, emotional event. So bring your tissues. I promise you we’ll go through more than a box.”
  — Julie Price ([04:56])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:24] – Defining the Miss Arc Broward Pageant
• [01:09] – Focus on empowerment & personality, not physical appearance
• [01:42] – Measurable impact on participants' confidence and long-term outcomes
• [03:44] – The Teen Ambassadors program and its purpose
• [04:52] – Event details: date, time, venue
• [05:26] – How to buy tickets and participate
• [05:52] – Becoming a “cheer squad” or group supporter
• [06:30] – Information about available sponsorships

Final Invitation

Julie Price encourages anyone interested in fun, uplifting community events to attend, get involved, or support the Miss Arc Broward Pageant, reminding listeners that every bit of support helps foster opportunities for young women—especially those with disabilities—in South Florida.

• Get more info: arcbroward.com
• Tickets: Ticketmaster or Arc Broward’s website