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- [00:01]
A
Dive into summer with Vizkaya Swimwear. Stylish, comfortable, unforgettable. Make a splash with Vizkaya Swimwear. Discover your beauty with Lady Code Cosmetics. Bold colors, flawless finishes. Unleash your confidence with Lady Code. Hello and welcome back to Misrepresented. I'm your host, Lisa Opie. And before I introduce today's guest, I have to thank Pinkapple Dresses for dressing us today. If you're watching the video, you can see us wearing these gorgeous orange dresses. I love the bandage style. So without further ado, welcome Mrs. Maryland, United States, Holly Plank.
- [00:46]
B
Hello. Thank you so much for having me.
- [00:48]
A
Of course. I'm so excited you're here. We have so much to cover today, from your journey to your first pageant. Right?
- [00:56]
B
Yeah, that's my first one.
- [00:57]
A
There's so much else. Like, you have so much going on. I think I want to start with pcos and I just want you to walk me through everything. Like, even for our listeners that don't know what PCOS is.
- [01:07]
B
Yes. Okay. So the reason I am here is literally because of PCOS. So I, you know, I spent my 20s as a musician, and then when I was 30, I started experiencing all of these symptoms that were really uncomfortable. You know, I. You can Google the symptoms of pcos, but they're not great. You know, you can experience hair loss, you can experience hair growth in areas that you might not want, that you might experience really high testosterone levels. And that's going to come with a bunch of symptoms. Symptoms like cystic acne. It's just literally horrible experience. It's a, you know, a lot of women struggle with weight gain or fertility issues. So it's kind of one of those things that's diagnosed based on, you know, a certain amount of symptoms. And then if you have them or if you have cysts, you know, you do the ultrasound, then they say, like, okay, yeah, you have pcos. But what I found, so I was diagnosed in my 30s and I was like, what is this? And when I was trying to get treatment or help, I felt like the advice or medications, everything was all over the map. And my testosterone levels were at 270, which is really high. I also have the insulin resistant kind, so there's like different kinds. So, you know, a lot of, you know, you'll have to kind of see where you are on the PCOS spectrum. But so I was like, wow, this is really a problem. You know, women with pcos, you're not going to die from pcos, but you do have double the odds of developing heart disease. You have Double the odds of developing type 2 diabetes. So all of these things down the line, you know, you, you want to be really mindful of if you're, if you're diagnosed. So I took it really seriously. And I'm the kind of person where I'm like, I'm not going to have this. Like, what can I do? So I went in, I was calling, you know, I was with traditional medicine, you know, endocrinologists, and I was also looking into naturopathic medicine, just trying to figure out how can I help my body? Like, how can I, how can I fix this? So I did a drastic lifestyle change. I started working out. I started doing weight training. I started paying attention to my stress levels. Am I sleeping? I did a major overhaul on my diet. You know, I stopped eating refined sugars. I stopped, you know, I started really paying attention to processed foods or things that I was consuming. And naturally, I was able to bring my testosterone levels down from 270 to 140, which is technically in the normal range.
- [03:26]
A
How long did that take?
- [03:27]
B
It took me about a year, I would say, of really, you know, testing and seeing doctors. And I was also able to bring my A1C levels down below 6. So I'm at 5.5, which is natural. Yeah, all naturally, all with lifestyle medicine. And I was so, like, grateful at these health outcomes, you know, that I was seeing. And I was like, oh my gosh, I have to share this with the world. Like, I have to. I felt compelled. So I ended up going back to school. I got a degree. I was, you know, I got a master's degree in communication to try to communicate this message. I love it. Yeah, I took a job with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. And they helped me a lot through my journey, their resources, their doctors. And so, yeah, I almost felt like this compelling, you know, I was like, I have to share this message about how we can take our health into our own hands. It's like I did not know these things mattered as much as they do. And I didn't know, like, little tricks and little tips, like, you know, it's all encompassing wellness. It's not like one thing or, you know, it's all of these things if you do them together and, you know, they're small changes, but they add up.
- [04:37]
A
Was it hard to change your diet? Was it hard to stick to it? Or were you just looking at the end game and you're like, it's going to be worth it?
- [04:43]
B
Oh, it was so hard. Yeah, I was a total sugar addict. Like, food, you know, Like, I love to eat, as many of us do, you know, like, we love food. But, yeah, I would say it was. It was really hard to change my diet. Oh, my gosh. But it was worth it.
- [04:59]
A
Is there medication for pcos? Like, is there any, like, cure or treatments, like, pharmaceutical that you wanted to avoid? And what were the reasons why?
- [05:07]
B
Yeah, so I. So the first thing that women are always given, I feel like for most. Most things is birth control.
- [05:13]
A
Oh, it's like, the cure for everything. They're always like, birth control. Yes.
- [05:17]
B
And I do not react well to birth control. It really messes with me. It messes with me mentally. Like, I just did not want to go that road, and I actually did. I tried it, and I was like, this is not. This is not it. And then they have other medications that you can try. There's Fernalactone. Now there's Ozempic. Back when I was dealing with this, that wasn't really a thing. But, yeah, there. There are pharmaceutical ways, and I think that if it does help you, I'm all for it. Like, I think if there's a medication that helps you, oh, my gosh, do it. But I just found that nothing was working for me, and so I had to make these lifestyle changes. I almost felt like my body was like, holly, yeah, like, stop giving me sugar. I can't handle it. You know, like, stop. Stop eating a certain way. So, yeah, so I just got really, really interested in promoting this message, and it really changed my life. Like, I saw the changes in my own health so dramatically that I wanted to help other people with. If they're struggling with pcos, too.
- [06:14]
A
Oh, my gosh. And I feel like a lot of people struggle. Like, it's very common. Do you know what's causing it? Is there, like, a specific group of women with a specific background that it targets, or is it just like, food in America is really bad for us? What's the cause?
- [06:28]
B
Yeah, I feel like that's the other. You know, nobody knows. Nobody knows. I've read that it's genetic. I've read that it can be environmental. I mean, there's also that saying, jeans load the gun lifestyle pulls the trigger. So, you know, maybe there's a combination of both in there, but I really don't know. And a lot of, you know, the professionals that I talk to really don't know. They can't really pinpoint one thing. But I think that's also why it's so important to talk about it. And I think a lot of women are going undiagnosed. Like, even for me to get the diagnosis was very difficult.
- [06:59]
A
Wow.
- [07:00]
B
I felt like I had to really advocate for myself, really push through hoops, you know, to, to say something's wrong with me. Because I think, you know, the doctor looks at you or they look your blood work that they can only see so far. What do they usually say?
- [07:11]
A
Like, what do they usually say you have? Oh, if you, like, up until you were 30. Yeah. Because you just found out, right?
- [07:17]
B
I just found out, yes. So, yeah, I mean, the symptoms, you can look at the symptoms alone. So, like, I was dealing with horrific cystic acne, which I think is an adult. I mean, anyone dealing with acne, if you know it, it really messes with your self esteem. Steam. It messes with you. Like, you know, you don't even want to leave the house. You're like, ah, yeah. So, yeah, So I feel like I started. The doctors will want to treat your symptoms. They're like, oh, you have acne, let's treat that. Or oh, you have hair loss, let's treat that. Or oh, you have, you know, testosterone, let's treat that. But when, when you, when I stepped back and really advocated for myself and I was like, something is going on. That's when, you know, I finally got the hormone tests and I finally got the ultrasound. So, yeah, I feel like you have to be your own advocate.
- [08:04]
A
Yeah.
- [08:05]
B
Just in general, I mean, and probably in a lot of areas in your life, in your career and in, in, in your health, like wherever you are, you have to advocate for yourself and you can't be shy and you and get, get a second opinion. You know, I love that though.
- [08:17]
A
And I, I think that like, God has a plan for all of us and he faced all of these challenges, but now, like, here you are, like spreading the message, you know, doing a national pageant as Mrs. Marilyn representing this platform. So I love the doors that it's opening in the lives changing, like even being here today, I feel like a lot of our listeners and viewers have pcos and I know that it's super, super common. Another thing you mentioned on your bio is pmdd.
- [08:41]
B
Yeah. Oh, that's another one. So I don't know if they're connected or if they're not, but I also was diagnosed with pmdd. That's premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It's kind of like an extreme form of pms.
- [08:51]
A
Okay.
- [08:52]
B
Where you'll experience, again, a lot of similar symptoms, a lot of crossover with pcos, like the cystic acne or maybe being really tired or, you know, mood SW me. It was a very emotional thing. And what was really fascinating when I was using lifestyle to treat my pcos, it was also treating my pmdd. So I felt like. And it's, it's also really funny. I also, you know, going through the pageant, I'm looking at my platform, I'm looking at lifestyle medicine. I'm researching. I'm now working for a company. You know, it's a nonprofit I work for every day where I'm getting journal articles and, you know, listening to doctors. The same lifestyle changes that treat pcos, treat so many other diseases. Heart disease, diabetes, a lot of these, like, you know, lifestyle, lifestyle diseases that are largely preventable and obviously not, not everything you can prevent with lifestyle, but largely, you know, a lot of stuff we do have control over.
- [09:51]
A
I feel like sugar is the culprit. Like sugar is the villain.
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B
And it's in everything.
- [09:55]
A
It's in everything.
- [09:56]
B
Try giving up sugar and like you'll realize everything. Yes. Giving up white refined sugar was so hard. I was like, oh my gosh, everything. Like, you like milk or like, you know, like milk or oat milk, like whatever you're eating, you're like, speaking of.
- [10:12]
A
Milk, like, what about hormones? Right? Like, I feel like all the food in America is loaded with hormones and antibiotics and it is like a hormonal thing. It's so it's like in our food, like, how do we avoid it?
- [10:22]
B
Exactly. So I also gave up dairy. I don't eat dairy. I'm like actually completely plant based vegan. And yeah, I did it for health reasons and I really felt a huge difference when I gave it up. And I'm sure the hormones have something to do with that. And I'm sure. Just, you know, I think the way we go about farming and the way we go about producing food needs a total overhaul. So fortunately, the company that I work with now works a lot in policy. So I just feel so fulfilled being able to wake up every day and do something in this space that's beyond even just communicating it. You know, we're, we're working with politicians, we're working with schools, we're working with doctors.
- [10:59]
A
It's really like, oh, tell us the organization, is that aclm?
- [11:02]
B
So, yeah, well, I'm a huge supporter of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and then also the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. So there's like, you know, a couple. Yeah, yeah. I work for PCRM full time doing digital media for them and social media. It's so fun. It's so rewarding. And I learned so much, honestly, selfishly, like, I'm like, oh, I'm learning every day too.
- [11:23]
A
Really? Give me like two things that you learned that changed your life.
- [11:26]
B
Oh, okay. Two things that I learned that changed my life. Well, I have to go into the six pillars. Okay, so ACLM talks about the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. All of them are important. Let's see if I can name them all.
- [11:39]
A
Diet.
- [11:40]
B
Diet, Movement. Stress reduction, avoiding toxic substances. What's the number six? Community. Community. I was like, I'm not gonna remember this.
- [11:51]
A
I have the cheat sheet.
- [11:52]
B
Okay.
- [11:52]
A
I don't know this off the top.
- [11:53]
B
Of my head, but yeah, all six of these things are so important to our health and our well being. So you can't really isolate one from the other. I think they're all really important. So that would be the biggest one. I try to really pay attention. I think all of us should really pay attention to all of those factors, you know?
- [12:09]
A
Yeah, 100%. Which one do you think did the most impact?
- [12:13]
B
Probably diet and. Yeah, and movement and sleep and. Yeah, I think the diet was a big one, especially for what I was dealing with, with the insulin resistance. You know, when you have that your body just can't process sugars, it can't process the hype like super hyper palatable foods or the processed foods or the high fat foods like, like, you know, someone without that might have. So yeah, I would say the food and movement was a big one too. I ended up becoming a Pilates instructor. So that was a big thing that I learned was how muscle, you know, when, when we gain muscle, our muscles become little, you know, endocrine factories or little, you know, factories. Yes, they can help so much. Our muscles can help with insulin resistance. So weight bearing exercise, it can help with bone density. I mean, you know, going through the benefits of weight bearing exercise, I was like, this is amazing. So I knew I had to start training.
- [13:08]
A
Wow. So you became a Pilates instructor after you were diagnosed with pcos?
- [13:14]
B
Yeah, a lot of peas.
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A
Incredible. And I love Pilates. I love the low impact. I love that. It's just like, it's almost relaxing, but it's like hard enough, you know, it's challenging enough to keep you motivated. How was like getting licensed as the Pilates instructor?
- [13:32]
B
It rocked. I got licensed at South Beach Pilates and they do. Their program is actually internationally recognized. It's amazing. They go through anatomy. It was a lot of hours, but I needed it. And honestly, I was like feeling those change Those practice hours were very important to me.
- [13:47]
A
And you probably learned so much again, about the.
- [13:50]
B
Yeah, yeah. So I really did a 180. You know, I was like, music full time. And then, you know, forced. I mean, not forced. I willingly wanted to make these changes and wanted to get healthier, and then I really flip flopped into this world, and I just. I'm so grateful for it because I have learned a lot and I've really grown, you know, as a person.
- [14:08]
A
Oh, my gosh. Okay, so you did tell me about all the music and everything that you do. So you're, like, very well educated, right? Walk me through your educational background, because I think you went to college like, a hundred times. I did, yeah.
- [14:19]
B
I got a bachelor's degree.
- [14:20]
A
She stayed in school.
- [14:23]
B
Yeah. Did my bachelor's degree when I was younger. Worked as a musician. I still work as a musician. You know, it's can't. Can't. I love it. One instrument, Piano and voice. So I play piano and I sing.
- [14:34]
A
Wow, your voice is so pretty.
- [14:36]
B
Oh, thank you. Yeah. And then I went back and got a master's degree from Hopkins, same field. So my bachelor's was in communications. I decided to do the master's in communications as well, because that's where I felt like I could make the most impact. You know, I'm not going to be a doctor. I'm not going to go to school for, you know, for that. But I was like, what I can do is I can communicate this message.
- [14:56]
A
Wow. And you talk about how important it is to raise awareness for Women's Health.
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B
Yeah, 100%. And I think that we need it, you know, even research studies. So I'll tell you a fun story.
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A
Okay.
- [15:06]
B
So before I went back to school and I was, you know, going through pcos, I again, was feeling compelled to help. And we were living near Hopkins and I was working as a musician, but I just felt like I needed to do something for my girls. I was like, gosh, what can I do? So I signed up for PCOS research studies at Hopkins, and I would go. I would go like twice a week and, like, give my blood to research. So, yeah, that's kind of like how we started. And then, you know, now we're here. Now I found pageantry. I want to advocate for this. I want to be, you know, I want to be out there being a champion for women's health.
- [15:42]
A
That's amazing. And, okay, so as a beauty queen, this is your first pageant, right?
- [15:46]
B
Yes, this is my first pageant.
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A
Oh, my gosh.
- [15:48]
B
Okay.
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A
So how did you find the United States system and what made you want to do pageants?
- [15:54]
B
Okay, well, I was scrolling through Instagram and I saw a reel, and this woman was dressed like a watermelon.
- [16:01]
A
I know if she's a pageant girl, I probably know her. Who?
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B
It was in, like, the 80s. It was like a really old pageant clip. And I was like, what is this? And I look. And it was a Mrs. Pageant where they were doing the costume section for the Mrs. United States pageant. And I was like, oh, my gosh, this is so amazing. And it opened the door for me. So, like, you know, being a musician and a performer, I've always loved, I've loved getting dressed. I love the sequin dresses. I love the performance aspect of things. This, I felt like, married all of my interests. I was like, are you kidding me? You can wear a fun costume and, like, be silly and fun. You can get dressed up and also have a platform. And I felt like pageantry was so awesome because it also gives women the opportunity to talk about what's important to them. It gives you a platform.
- [16:49]
A
I love it. Pageants are like, what being a girl is all about. It literally embodies everything. And I feel like it's so empowering. And I'm sure, like, as every day goes on, you realize, like, how pageants are not what is projected in the media.
- [17:01]
B
Oh, my gosh. I, I, you know, I'm new to this, and I feel like I was welcomed with open arms. Like, to me, this whole world has been a nice girls club. It's a club that I want to be a part of. I'm like, these are women who are going out there in the world. They're giving it their all. They're not afraid because, you know, it takes guts to be a pageant girl. You have to put yourself out there. You have to, you know, put your crown on. It's scary.
- [17:24]
A
Oh, my God. But I feel like empowered women empower women. And it's like, proof that, like, passions are empowering. Because any girl that's done a pageant, you know, like, you come out with, like, 50 best friends, and it's just like, the time of your life, you're so motivated. Even if you don't win, like, throughout the process, you realize it's not about winning, but it's just about who you become in that process. Process.
- [17:44]
B
100%. I feel like I've already grown so much this year. And even, even fine tuning your message, you have to be really sharp. You have to know what you're talking about. You have to really know what you stand for. And that requires a lot of self reflection. You have to do a lot of work. And I. I think everyone should do it. Everyone should do a patch.
- [18:04]
A
Yeah, they should. Even the guys. Seriously, it really lose your confidence and builds you up. It opens so many doors. Like, I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for pageants. Like, I'd be a lawyer. So boring.
- [18:16]
B
Still making a huge difference in the world, hopefully. Yeah.
- [18:20]
A
So what are you the most excited for at nationals? Like, what part of the competition?
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B
Well, I'm gonna have to take it back and be most excited for that costume. Oh, my gosh.
- [18:30]
A
Are you gonna wear a watermelon costume?
- [18:33]
B
No, I wish. I actually. I am working right now on a costume for a blue crab. I'm working with my friend Leah. She's an art. And we're. We're working on, like, some crab. It's because of Maryland. Yeah. And the crowds. They're like the little heroes of our Chesapeake Bay. So that would be cute. Although the. The costume section has no. Nothing to do with, like, the scoring or anything.
- [18:53]
A
So it's just like a fun.
- [18:54]
B
So it's just a fun thing. So I feel like that's also really exciting. And then another thing I'm excited for is I started my own, you know, charity. It's called the Half Plate Challenge, and it's encouraging people to add more fruits and vegetables to their diet. So I've been working on branding it. I've been working on teaming up with a doctor named Dr. Becker. She's from South Africa. She's amazing working on that message. And so I'm really excited for that, too. I'm excited to share what I've been working on.
- [19:21]
A
Yeah.
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B
On the, you know, on the national stage.
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A
Tell us more about the halfway challenge.
- [19:25]
B
Yeah, so another, you know, part of my health journey was getting the sugar out of my diet. And it wasn't just about eliminating things. It was also about adding. So while I did cut a lot of foods from my diet, it was more about what I added. So a lot of Americans. There's actually a shocking statistic where most Americans are not even meeting half of their fiber goals every day. So, you know, PCRM recommends 40 grams per day. Many Americans are getting between 15 and 20 grams of fiber per day. Now, that doesn't. You're like, okay, fiber, whatever. The health implications down the line of not getting enough fiber are so insane. Like, your chances for heart disease are going up. Your chances for type 2, you know, so when I looked at the fiber, I was like, wow, okay, yeah, people aren't eating enough fruits and vegetables. That's, that's, that's all that. That means, you know. So I was like, how can I just get people to eat more fruits and vegetables? Because the, you know, the ripple effect of that is going to be better health. You know, if you can include more whole, whole foods in your diet, your health is going to improve. Your health outcomes are going to improve. Whether you have PCOS or anything else, or if you have nothing, you know, you're just. You're going to be doing the body good. So I was, you know, looking at the USDA's MyPlate and some other things, and half of that plate at every meal should be fruits and vegetables. So I was like, okay, what if I did a challenge where, you know, people sign up for two weeks and you just challenge yourself to add a fruit and add a vegetable to every meal? And so that's what I've been working on. It's called the half plate challenge. And it's just going to bring awareness, you know, if anything. So that's, that's the goal.
- [20:59]
A
I'm just, like, reflecting on, like, my meals, and I'm like, wait, it's actually harder than you think to add a fruit and a vegetable to all of your meals. It's actually really hard.
- [21:05]
B
It takes effort. It takes effort. But I'm hoping that, you know, through the challenge, it can get people thinking, it can get people looking at what they're about to eat and say, okay, you know, I'm eating a sandwich. Maybe I'll add a tomato to it. That's a vegetable. Maybe I'll add a side of peaches. That's my fruit. You know, just like, adding. Adding to whatever you're eating as opposed to, you know, because I think the other thing, when you're making a drastic life change, whether you're faced with a health challenge or, you know, whatever it is, it can be overwhelming, and it can be. I think it can turn a lot of people off, right? They're like, I'm not doing that. That's insane. Right?
- [21:39]
A
Yeah.
- [21:40]
B
So I work. It's work. It's, you know, I have to think, I have to change. You know, I have to deal with uncomfortable feelings. So I was like, I think the half plate challenge is a great place to start for people who just like.
- [21:50]
A
A little baby step.
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B
A little baby step.
- [21:52]
A
Oh, my gosh, I love that. What are some of your favorite superfoods? Do you believe in, like, Sea moss and spirulina and all those things.
- [21:59]
B
Yeah, Well, I mean, I'm a believer in iodine. And you, Nori. Nori is a great source of iodine, which is really important for thyroid health. So I'm a huge.
- [22:06]
A
So you can have a lot of sushi. It's approved by Mrs. Maryland.
- [22:11]
B
Approved. Yeah. Yeah. Nori. Gosh. Just. Just whole foods, though, I think, really something everyone can agree on, no matter what your philosophy is on food, is just eliminating highly processed foods. Like, that is.
- [22:25]
A
I feel like it's just like we run on convenience.
- [22:28]
B
Yeah.
- [22:28]
A
What about, like. Like, supplements or, like, powders? Do you have any, like, brands or products that you recommend?
- [22:36]
B
Yeah, like, I. I do take supplements. I take a B12 because I am vegan, so that's going to be really important. And then I think it's also important that, you know, the jury's a little bit out on this one. But I also take omega, so, like, omega 3, 6, and 9.
- [22:52]
A
I, like, feel a genuine difference when I take omega 3s.
- [22:55]
B
Interesting.
- [22:56]
A
I feel more refreshed. I feel more, like, clear. Like, my mind is clear. There's no brain fog. So I definitely believe in that.
- [23:03]
B
Yeah. And. And I know, like, you know, levels of EPA and dha, I think it's not something that a lot of doctors test for. So, you know, so it might be something that people don't know if they're deficient or not. We probably are supplementing.
- [23:16]
A
Right.
- [23:18]
B
Yeah. I'm a big fan of the EPA, DHA, B12. Those are the. Those are the big ones. And D3, because I'm. I'm a girl who likes to stay out of the sun.
- [23:29]
A
Yes. Yeah. I do like the D3, like, shots. I'm just, like, straight into the muscles.
- [23:35]
B
Straight in.
- [23:36]
A
Yeah. Same with B12. I'm like, okay. I hate pills.
- [23:38]
B
Oh, do you? Oh, my gosh.
- [23:40]
A
That's cute.
- [23:41]
B
Yeah.
- [23:41]
A
I feel like it works more that way. I don't know.
- [23:43]
B
It's also probably relaxing getting an iv. You know, I love Ivy. It's me time.
- [23:47]
A
Yes. What about some, like, advice for our listeners that want to be more directly involved? They want to be like you and be more active in their communities about raising awareness.
- [23:56]
B
Oh, I love that. Well, we. I know, you know, one. One program we have at PCRM is called Food for Life, and so people can become a Food for Life instructor. And we have. I think there are. I could be getting this number wrong, but there are thousands all over the US of instructors, and, you know, you kind of get certified by our team of doctors and dietitians. And then you can teach courses about lifestyle, medicine, and nutrition. So that's one. One thing you could do if you, like, really wanted to get hands. Hands on in. But I think the other thing you can do is. And this is kind of funny, just by being a living example, you know, taking care of yourself, I feel like inspires other people. So if you didn't really want to get your hands dirty, you, like getting out there doing the groundwork. I think just by being an example for the people around you really goes a long way. You know, you can think of it as like a pyramid scheme.
- [24:50]
A
You know, it's like, yeah, you get.
- [24:52]
B
You get two friends, and you get two friends, and you get two friends. Eat healthy, and they get three friends.
- [24:56]
A
That's so true. Like, you are the opposite average of, you know, the people that you hang out with. So, like, if you're that girl, then your friends will probably be inspired by you.
- [25:03]
B
Yeah, seriously. And. And even in my life, like, I've had people reach out to me, and they're like, holly, you know, we went to dinner the other night, and you were talking about this, and it's always the people you don't expect. I'm like, oh, wow. Really? Like, I. You know, like, if somebody sends me a picture of their healthy meal, I get so excited. I'm like, look at you. Yay.
- [25:20]
A
I kind of want to dive into your background a little bit. So, like, what were you like growing up as a kid?
- [25:25]
B
Ooh, I think I was kind of ham. I was always putting on shows for my family, you know, coming up with dances and plays, and I was always playing the piano also. A little bit, you know, silly, silly. So all of these things, it's funny, like, reflecting on that right now. I think they. They also fit really well into pageantry world.
- [25:49]
A
Did you ever do, like, those dance performances that never ended?
- [25:52]
B
Of course. Yeah.
- [25:54]
A
We all had the same childhood.
- [25:56]
B
Yes.
- [25:58]
A
Okay, so piano. That's really interesting. Did you actually love piano? Because I had an Asian mom. She's Japanese. I was forced to do piano.
- [26:03]
B
Oh, my gosh. Yeah.
- [26:04]
A
Yeah.
- [26:06]
B
Do you still play? No.
- [26:08]
A
I forgot everything. It's not like riding a bike. So I can't even read, like, music anymore. It's really sad.
- [26:13]
B
Okay, take some lessons with me. We'll get you right back. We'll get you right back in love that. Yeah. Yeah. I was teaching piano for years, so I. I performed. That's probably, you know, I. I like sharing. I'm a big. I'M a big believer in paying it forward. So, yeah, being a musician, I. I taught privately. I taught private lessons. I taught at elementary schools. I was performing. So, yeah, that was a huge part of my life. I also, you know, write and record music. But, yeah, so I've. I've been doing that forever, and that'll never leave me. I thought that would be my whole life. But then, you know, I'm just like.
- [26:46]
A
Okay, I see, like, a future Mrs. United States sitting in front of me right now. Like, you are, like, everything. You're so confident. Do you have any advice for our listeners on how to, like, get out of their shell, get out of their comfort zone and be more confident and just, you know, the world is their oyster. Right. How can they take over?
- [27:01]
B
Yeah, I have. I have weird advice for this one.
- [27:05]
A
I love weird advice.
- [27:06]
B
Something that's worked for me. I really get fueled by jealousy. I try to turn jealousy into a positive emotion. So I think, you know, some. Sometimes things will come up, like, where I would feel jealous of a person doing something, right? And I'd be like, like, well, why? You know, I'm not jealous of an astronaut because I don't want to be an astronaut, but I'm jealous of this girl, you know, going out and performing and singing. Well, that's because I want to do that. I feel like jealousy can be kind of your North Star. Wow. Like, use it to. Use it to fuel you. Use it to be like, oh, okay, this is. This is like, you know, God or whoever trying to tell me that this is something that I want. Right? So try to be that girl that you're jealous of. And I think that's a really good way to, A, take inventory of what you even want to do, and then, B, get yourself out there, Right? Go do it.
- [27:56]
A
I love it and I love the advice. That is like, a really good one. But now a question.
- [28:01]
B
Let's go.
- [28:02]
A
Now, when you have everything and everyone's jealous of you, how do you deal with jealousy and haters?
- [28:07]
B
Oh, my gosh. I haven't run into that. Yeah, no, I. Well, I guess everyone, you know, has somebody in their life that might be a hater, but you cannot pay it. I feel like I don't. Out of sight, out of mind. Yeah. Tune it out. Do you? I think that's, like, it's so important to put yourself first. Like we were saying, advocate for yourself. And if somebody is you, you really. You can't be friends with people that are jealous of you. You can't be around people like we were saying, let's. It's. The people you hang around with are going to be your vibe. That's going to be your energy. So you got to find. You gotta find that team and that crew that's also doing their own thing and confident.
- [28:46]
A
I love your response. You're, like, jealous.
- [28:47]
B
Who?
- [28:48]
A
I don't know them.
- [28:51]
B
Who are they?
- [28:53]
A
Is there anything else you want to share with us before we get into our this or that portion of the show?
- [28:57]
B
No. I don't remember what we just talked about for the past 20. That went so fast.
- [29:00]
A
Oh, my gosh.
- [29:02]
B
Where are we?
- [29:04]
A
I know. We're like, in this dark room. There's no windows. Okay, so here we go. The first one is music or Pilates. Oh, I know. I'm struggling.
- [29:14]
B
I'm gonna have to go with music, because who does Pilates in silence?
- [29:18]
A
You know, you can't have Pilates without music.
- [29:21]
B
I'm gonna have to go with music.
- [29:23]
A
Let's see. Oh, these are, like, so good. I have, like, 20 of them, and I'm like, wait, I don't know how to throw you off again. Ooh, fitness class or solo workout?
- [29:33]
B
I'm a solo girl because I. I like to listen to my body. You know, I'm like, if I'm not. I don't want to squat. I'm not doing that. You know? Whereas the fitness class, you're kind of like, you know, you're. You're in there, you're doing the program. Yeah.
- [29:44]
A
And you can't escape.
- [29:45]
B
Right. And everyone will know if you're not doing something.
- [29:47]
A
I know.
- [29:48]
B
Although, don't get me wrong, I love a good fitness class. But. Yeah, but it's this or that.
- [29:52]
A
So vintage style or modern fashion?
- [29:56]
B
You know what? I'm. I'm. I'm a modern girl. I like. I like new stuff. I like. I like trends. I like paying attention to what's going on.
- [30:05]
A
So these are hard, right? Because I'm like, how would I answer them? I don't even know. I can't answer that.
- [30:10]
B
Oh, timeout. This is funny. I have a friend that's a director, and he was telling me. He was like, you know, part of being a director is just making a decision. And I have taken that, too, into my own life. I'm like, that is so right. Because if somebody's like, hey, Holly, you know, this or that, and you're like, so this is really good practice. You're reminding me. Just make a choice.
- [30:30]
A
Wait, that's, like, good life advice, too.
- [30:32]
B
I know, I know.
- [30:33]
A
It's like I ponder way too much.
- [30:35]
B
Yeah, well, it can, you know, it's good. Good to be decisive.
- [30:38]
A
Yes. City life or country living?
- [30:41]
B
O. I'm a city girl.
- [30:43]
A
I'm a country girl. Day at the spa or a shopping spree?
- [30:50]
B
I'm going to have to go with a day at the spa.
- [30:53]
A
You're like a self care queen. I love it.
- [30:55]
B
Oh, yeah, it's. It's more on brand. Yeah, we're on brand. 3.
- [30:59]
A
Yoga or meditation?
- [31:00]
B
Meditation, for sure.
- [31:02]
A
Do you have any meditation advice?
- [31:04]
B
No. I'm so bad at it.
- [31:05]
A
Me too.
- [31:06]
B
I really try to do it my adhd.
- [31:08]
A
That's when I realized I have adhd. It's like when I try to meditate in my. I have, like, so many ideas coming, I can't, like, tune them out.
- [31:15]
B
Yeah. I like the guided ones because then, like, I like somebody telling me what to do. They're like, okay, now think about this. I'm like, okay, all right. Think about that. Yeah.
- [31:24]
A
Cooking at home or dining out?
- [31:26]
B
I'm a cook at home girl. Well, especially with all of my diet.
- [31:29]
A
Yeah. With me, I can't trust restaurants.
- [31:33]
B
Going out to eat is always a chore.
- [31:34]
A
Reading a book or watching a movie.
- [31:37]
B
Oh, I wish I were a book girl, but I'm. I'm a movie girl.
- [31:41]
A
What's your favorite movie?
- [31:42]
B
Oh, good question. Mulan. I love that Shrek cheese. You know what? I like movies where they don't, like. I don't like action films or anything that causes me anxiety. I need a movie where I'm just like, no.
- [31:59]
A
Even, like, Mulan gives me anxiety. I have to watch, like, Clueless.
- [32:02]
B
Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Like the super low key, low anxiety.
- [32:08]
A
Coffee or tea?
- [32:09]
B
I'm a coffee girl. Love coffee.
- [32:12]
A
Performing live or writing songs?
- [32:15]
B
Ooh, performing live. Performing live.
- [32:19]
A
Which I love it.
- [32:20]
B
Yeah, that's. That's my thing.
- [32:22]
A
Awesome. So that's the end of our podcast. Before we sign off. Where can our viewers and listeners follow you on social media?
- [32:30]
B
Yeah. So I have two. So my personal page where I post, you know, pageant stuff that's on at Holly and Plank. And then I also have another account where I dedicated to healthy recipes and Pilates and things like that. More wellness. That's at Holly Planks, which is. It's my last name.
- [32:43]
A
Holly really is awesome. We have to follow both. I want that, like, lifestyle advice.
- [32:48]
B
Oh, yeah.
- [32:48]
A
Yes.
- [32:49]
B
Yeah.
- [32:49]
A
Well, thank you for everything you're doing and thank you for coming on.
- [32:52]
B
Yeah. Thank you for having me. And again, thank you for using your platform to you know, empower so many women.