![Miss Represented: Kennedy Thomas [Episode 50] — Miss Represented cover](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/39169714/39169714-1696131096599-2e233f7afb36.jpg)
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- [00:00]
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, Elisa Opie. And I'm sorry. So excited for today's guest. But before I introduce her, we have to thank pink apple dresses for dressing us today. We're loving this teal vibe.
- [00:36]
B
Yes.
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A
So today I have Kennedy Thomas, and I never read bios, but I have to read this one because it's so impressive.
- [00:42]
B
Thank you.
- [00:43]
A
So Kennedy owns Beauty Queens Galore Prom and Pageant, a top retailer ranked number one by Pageant Planet. BQG's designs have been featured on BH1, Bravo, and Netflix and have dressed queens from some of the top pageant systems in the world. She also runs bqg, the Pageant Resource, which I personally love. An online platform created by Queens for queens, serving as a touchstone for pageant community. It reports on trends, fashion, styling, positioning itself in an all inclusive voice, and pageantry. Kennedy holds a bachelor's degree in biology and a dual master's degree in biotechnology and cannabis. The therapeutics. I can't wait to talk about that. Kennedy plans to attend dental school next fall and begin working on her doctorate of dental surgery. She's also the reigning Miss World America Central Georgia. So welcome, Kennedy Thomas.
- [01:34]
B
Thank you, Lisa. I'm so happy to have this opportunity. You are amazing.
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A
Oh, thank you. I'm just so happy that you're finally here. I feel like you're one of the girls. Like, when I started my podcast, I was like, I need to have Kennedy on. Yes. Because we have so much to talk about.
- [01:46]
B
So much.
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A
The first thing I really want to talk about, because we brought it up, is the BQG resource. Right. Where you post like, anonymous topics and things like that. It gets controversial.
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B
Yes.
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A
What's like the craziest, most controversial thing that you've posted?
- [02:02]
B
I can't say. I can't say too much because, you know, when we have our anonymous forum, it's really a space for people to just share their feelings, positive or negative. Exactly. Without being or fearful of being judged by others. So with our anonymous forum, contestants, directors, hair, makeup, artists, photographers, all share their input. And I'd say the. The most wild anonymous post was just really dropping names of a certain director of a pageant and they would just go off about, you know, this director wasn't even watching me the whole time of the pageant. She was just Too busy on her phone.
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A
Oh, my God.
- [02:40]
B
You know, I can't say specific names, but, you know, these people really utilize this forum, and they are not afraid to name drop. They are not afraid to just give it the real. And that's why. That's the whole point of the anonymous forum, is to just showcase what pageantry is really about, the good, bad, and the ugly. And I'm emphasizing, you know, the good and the bad experiences because, you know, we've been getting a lot of bad experiences, people who just haven't had a good experience in pageantry. But, you know, I'm trying to promote that you can still have good experiences. So one, for example, one of my favorites was. It was during Chesley's passing, and someone submitted, you know, like, this one hit hard for me. She was in my world, and it just feels that. It feels like, you know, this just hit home for me, and it. It hurt because I relate so much. I mean, she's an African American woman, you know, having that functional depression and not even realizing that she's going through all these different things. So it was just, you know, there's so many different topics that goes on with our anonymous forum. But please go. On our social media, you can see everything from complaints from makeup artists, complaints from directors. It's just. It's crazy.
- [03:57]
A
Yeah. You really spill the tea, but you do it in such a classy way. I feel like, where it's, like, really not dramatic, it's not trashy.
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B
Yeah.
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A
And you're just bringing things to attention that really needs to be brought to people's attention about pageants and, like, fairness and things like that, too.
- [04:12]
B
You have to. I mean, there's ways of sharing how you feel, but doing it in a classy way without degrading someone else or, you know, just being nasty about it. So there's nothing wrong with sharing how you feel. Just do it in a positive way.
- [04:24]
A
Yeah, definitely. So balancing business and passion, it's a lot to juggle, a lot going on.
- [04:31]
B
It's a lot. And I'm sure you can attest to this, too. I mean, like, how do you balance owning and operating all these businesses and still having time for yourself, for your family, for your relationships, for the things that you enjoy? So, you know, anytime I have the opportunity to talk to people, I always emphasize finding what works best for you and, you know, do it. So for me, I start my day with writing my to do list, my goals, my priorities for the day, and that's what keeps me on track of what I need to do. And then I'll even go as far as designating days. So, like, for example, Sundays, I'll do content batching for the pageant resource.
- [05:10]
A
Wow.
- [05:11]
B
Sunday, just get two weeks worth of content done so I don't have to worry about it later on in the week. And then just, you know, making time for myself saying, you know, like, after 8pm I'm not responding to any emails. You know, I'll just talk to you tomorrow. So it's really about setting those boundaries and being in a space where you want to learn how to grow more and you want to learn how to improve when it comes to managing your time, because it's not impossible. It seems scary at face value. You know, running the storefront in Fayetteville, Georgia, the dress store, the pageant resource, making sure we're staying relevant online on social media. And then, as you said, you know, like, I'm a student as well, and I'm still trying to navigate life and travel and see new things.
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A
So amazing.
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B
But, you know, sometimes it can be so hard because you have so many obligations, but it is just a matter of managing your time and setting those boundaries.
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A
So I feel like I have not figured it out yet. Like, my life. My life behind the scenes is chaos. So I haven't figured it out yet. But do you feel like you have a good grasp on, like, all of your responsibilities and, like, time management?
- [06:17]
B
There's definitely room for me for improvement. I'll catch myself procrastinating every now and then, but, I mean, we're human, so you can have everything perfect. But, you know, as long as. As long as you're mentally okay and it works for you. Do that.
- [06:31]
A
Yeah. I feel like you're doing amazing and like, she flew in this morning. She's flying out in a couple hours. And then you're going to Cambodia.
- [06:40]
B
Yes, Cambodia. And Thailand. Oh, my God. Now this week. Oh, my gosh. Everything is just.
- [06:45]
A
Yeah, like on Wednesday. Isn't that what your mom said? Oh, my gosh. That's so crazy. And how do you balance, like, school with all of that?
- [06:52]
B
Oh, you know, I had to learn the hard way of how to balance it. I think that's really what kicked everything off when it came to learning how to manage my time. Because there was a point where I was balancing beauty queens galore, both the store and the pageant resource, and competing and competing. And then also having to make sure that, you know, my grades were on point. And there was a certain semester where I had a 1.1 GPA. I have never in My life been that. Been down that badly. I'm telling you, I've. I'm used to 3.5, 3.8, 3.9, a 1.1 in a semester. And it was just because I just didn't manage my time. And it was that moment where it felt like my future was in trouble, you know, if I didn't get my stuff together because I'm a science major. You have to have good grades, especially if you want to go to medical school or dental school. Those grades are crucial and how you finish is crucial. So, you know, I had to bounce back. I had to step back and say, look, you know, I love the pageant resource. I love beauty queen's galore. This is my brand, this is my baby. But I have to find a way to manage this because if I don't, you know, something's going to sink. And I know one thing, my education cannot sink. So it's super important just to find what works best for you. It doesn't have to be perfect. I mean, at one point I got so stressed out on like, making sure I had the right color pens and make sure I'm writing inside the lines and of things. One day I was just like, you know what I'm gonna color outside the lines. I'm going to just do what works or do what works best for me. And, you know, it doesn't have to be perfect. It makes sense to me, and that's all that matters.
- [08:35]
A
Amazing. So tell me about your advocacy and pageants.
- [08:39]
B
Yes, that's super important. And you know, for anyone who's interested in pageants or is already in pageants, it's having a platform to really talk about the causes that mean the most to you. Specifically for me, mine is addressing the disparities that we see in oral and dental health care is a major issue. You know, I work as a patient care coordinator at a dental office, and I did not know how bad of a health crisis that this is. You know, when we talk about the healthcare crisis in America, we just dismiss the dental aspect of it.
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A
I mean, it's always like the last on everyone's priorities.
- [09:19]
B
Yeah. Even with insurance. I mean, there's millions of Americans who don't even have the adequate insurance that they need to actually get the treatment, let alone there are people who don't even have access to get that treatment. And if you want to go deeper, there's people who don't even have a toothbrush or toothpaste or dental floss to even know, incorporate good, healthy habits when it comes to having that good oral health. So it's such a. It's such a rabbit hole when it comes to this issue. It's very important. It's affecting marginalized groups of people. And, you know, we have to find a way to recognize these disparities and actually do something about it. So, you know, being a title holder representing Central Georgia for Miss World America, and, you know, with this pageant in general, it's just a perfect match made in heaven. I mean, Miss World America is all about service and promoting having a beauty with a purpose. And what that means is, is look beyond what's on the external, because beauty is more than that. Beauty is about having that desire and that want to serve others or uplift others. And that's what it's truly about. And wanting to make that. That lasting, meaningful impact from. For me, I not only don't want to make a meaningful impact, I want to make a lasting impact. Something that will last forever. So just, you know, there's. I hate to see it when pageant queens just come up with the platform just to say they have a platform, right?
- [10:44]
A
And they like, drop it and they interview and then that's it. That's what America is, not what that's about. You know, like, you really have to live and breathe your platform. And I feel like SRI and Victoria were both perfect examples of that. And they really are so beautiful and also very committed and dedicated.
- [10:59]
B
Let me tell you something. I signed up last minute for the pageant, and immediately I was welcomed with open arms, support. I've already had at least seven sessions with different industry experts provided by Ms. Edgar. She's the director of the pageant. And just getting to know all the ins and out of hair, makeup, walking, styling, fashion. And the crazy thing is, what really sealed the deal for me was on that back end, on the pageant resource. I'm used to seeing the industry experts, but. But when I saw that Edgar and Cherie were incorporating these industry experts into our workshops, I was like, okay, like, this is. This is the real deal. Like, these ladies are really setting up these contestants up for success.
- [11:44]
A
Yeah.
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B
And you know, this is a pageant where if you. If you want to compete in a fair pageant, you want to be in a system where you feel supported and you know, if you want to win $15,000 in cash and250,000 in sponsorship package is crazy. Do it. Because, you know, there's only so many few pageants out there that are authentic to their mission. There's only a few. I can only count a handful. And Miss World America is definitely the top pageants to be true to that.
- [12:15]
A
I want to put you on the spot really quick because you are one of the very few girls, if not the only, who has competed in probably every single system in the United States and internationally.
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B
Yeah.
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A
So out of all of them, what she's done, like, Grand Earth. All of them, what's your favorite?
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B
Hmm. To dig into my service side, Earth and World America is where I'm at. But on my alter ego, when I want to give a shit show and I want to flex my body and just really perform, grand is the place to be. If you want to color outside the line, sort of speak, not do the traditional pageant pose. You can just swing your hips, flip your hair, be extra.
- [12:55]
A
And that's just so fun to put your Beyonce moment.
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B
But, you know, I'm just a blend of both of these two worlds of, you know, Earth and World America and then grand. So you have to find what pageant works best for you. But I can tell you, if you are a woman of service, you're beautiful, and you. You love giving back and you want to make a meaningful impact. Definitely do. World America or Earth.
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A
Yeah, I love them both so much. And I love both of the directors, all the directors. Like, we're so lucky to have amazing directors here. So tell me about your curiosity and lifelong learning.
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B
Oh, so I'm super glad that you brought this up. When it comes to curiosity and lifelong learning, a lot of people don't see that about me. So I'm a free thinker. I any chance I get, especially talking to young people, planting those seeds of curiosity, because it promotes learning. And when you do have that curious mindset, it's fueling that personal growth. It's fueling those questions of, you know, how can I do better? How can I solve this problem? And then, you know, beyond that, it helps you adapt to different situations. And, you know, being curious, it teaches us to be patient. It teaches us to want to learn why something works, how something works, and you're more happier. I mean, there's studies that show that when you're curious and you're. You want to do something more, you want to grow, asking those questions is a really, really great place to get to know yourself and how you react to certain situations.
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A
It's such a good leadership skill. I feel like having your business and also the pageant resource. Like, you really need to be balanced and understand and see where people are coming from.
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B
Yeah. And hear them out.
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A
Yeah, definitely. Is there any examples that you've had to like apply that.
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B
Probably building the pageant resource. I was so concerned about, you know, how are people going to react to this? Are they going to agree with everything that we have to say? You know, I was honestly just curious about how the audience would react. But I found myself in this analysis paralysis where, you know, I would be thinking about all of this stuff and then nothing would get done. So, you know, although curiosity can have its ups and downs, having those questions make you feel like, you know, why not, why not just take the risk and do it? So it's, as you said, it's very important. A lot of successful people have those curiosity mindsets. And if you think about it, you know, the world is constantly changing and it's those, those curious ideas, those new ideas that challenge the existing ones. Those are, those are the moments that mean the most. And that's what's going to make real change.
- [15:35]
A
What inspired you starting your business? Like, how did you start bkg?
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B
So it was during COVID and at the time there were only two main platforms that would promote pageant queens. And at the time there were a lot of promotion of the big time pageant queens. But the under, the underdogs, we would never get highlighted. So I was like, okay, I'm just going to repost these girls on a random page. It's going to be a blog. We'll see where it goes. I don't care what anyone has to say. I'm going to promote everyone from X, Y and Z. Wow. And that includes makeup artists, photographers, people who don't get highlighted or, or talked about. Enough of that was the platform to do that.
- [16:12]
A
And you posted me. I appreciate you so much. You've always been so supportive since day one.
- [16:16]
B
I'm a Lisa fan. You are the Kim K in the pageant industry.
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A
I'm a Kennedy fan.
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B
But you know, it's, it's been such an amazing journey and I'm excited for the future.
- [16:29]
A
Yeah. So did that like kind of branch off into the gown store?
- [16:32]
B
Yeah. So, you know, we're providing these girls all these tips, these resources, the ins and out, the do's and don'ts of pageants. But at some point we need to dress them.
- [16:40]
A
Yeah.
- [16:41]
B
And any type of brand that I'm connected to or that I create, I like to. Was it. What am I trying to say? Like, it needs to be an extension of me. So at the store, when you walk in, it doesn't matter if you're a triple zero, it doesn't matter if you're a size 34. We carry all of Those sizes. And we take pride in making sure that every person who walks through those doors, male or female, feels welcome and included and having that safe space to even want to try on dresses. I mean, like there's, we have some plus size queens who will sometimes shop at the very end of the day because they feel that, you know, when they walk in, they may not find what they need because they've experienced not having their sizes in stores or they'll just feel shameful of just being in a space where, you know, the next cubby of the changing room might, might be a smaller girl. And that can be a lot on the mental of, you know, the plus size girl. But just the fact that she has to think about this, I rather her just, I'd rather just create a space where, you know, it's felt right when you walk through the doors that you feel welcome. There's no type of discrimination. So that's, that's the store and it's, it's a beautiful place. If you're in Fayetteville or if you ever visit Georgia, please let me know. Because we love dressing people. You know, we paying it forward goes a long way. Making sure that people have the resources that they need. For a while we've been known to be the store to, to dress queens last minute if a sponsorship falls through. So we're, we're, I'm telling you, like, we are so adaptable. You know, it's all about the girl.
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A
Yeah, it really is all about the girl at the end of the.
- [18:13]
B
Yeah. And you know, that's what really sparked it all, was that curiosity and that drive to really want to make a difference and being that change that I wanted to see.
- [18:23]
A
Wow. I didn't know you were so new. I thought you've been around for years because you are so established. So I'm really excited to see you.
- [18:30]
B
And you know, although I have competed a lot, one thing about me is that, you know, I don't compete back to back. So I kind of take these gap years. So it is kind of, you know, weird because it's only been four or five years now, so it's crazy.
- [18:47]
A
Oh my gosh, you're amazing. I can't wait to see where it goes. And I feel like this kind of like goes into our next talking point, which is networking and community building, which is pretty much everything that you're doing with your business.
- [18:57]
B
I've been able to build an empire just meeting people like you. Mentors, key industry leaders that make real change in this industry. And most Importantly, when it comes to sponsorships and collaborating, as a store owner, as a contestant, I see firsthand how important sponsorships are. You know, a lot of pageant queens think that these item items are just for free, which they might see at firsthand. But as the person who's actually giving those items for free, I had to pay for it. And one thing that really grinds my gears and is when girls do not promote these sponsors. For example, our price package for Miss World America is 250, 000. Ms. Etka had to sit on the phone all day, every day to try to get these sponsorships. So the least we can do is to make more than just one little post shouting them out. It's.
- [19:52]
A
I am so happy you brought that up. Going beyond, I'm like starting to feel like a charity where I'm like, okay, I give everybody, like free makeup all the time, like, free services, like my time. And I don't even get like a post, you know, or like, I don't get even a thank you sometimes. Sometimes they're entitled. I did a shoot the other day and I told the girl I would give her some makeup at the end of the day. I forgot, you know, like, she was about to leave and she goes, do you have my bag ready for me with my gifts? And I'm like, girl, you know, and it's just like, so entitled. And guess what? She still hasn't posted. So it's just like, you really need to understand that, like, it really does cost us money. We invest so much and they need to bring that value back to us because it's an investment and we need that roi.
- [20:33]
B
Yeah. And you know, it can really go deeper to even affecting the pageant system, can lose sponsorships. And then it's just, it's a whole cascade effect. So sponsorships, collaborating are super important if you want to succeed in pageantry. Super important. There's a smile. Being kind goes a long way. And that's all sponsorships or sponsors can, you know, ask for 100%.
- [20:56]
A
And if you're a queen right now that has sponsors, like shouting out, your sponsors will pay off. Like Danielle Mullins. If she wanted makeup today, I would be like, take anything you need because I know, look, everything. Even if I gave her like a mascara one, she would post about it.
- [21:10]
B
Every last real story photos.
- [21:13]
A
Yep.
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B
I love her so much. Any gown that she. I hope she's watching this right now. Girl, any gown that you need, as always, I got you. We got you. So, yes, you gotta do it. And now with Social media being the biggest driving factor. If a pageant queen's gonna win, it's essential to. To shout out your sponsors.
- [21:32]
A
Oh, definitely. I feel like that's the thing. And like, as a sponsor, I always look at the girl's social medias and I'm like, is she like, marketable? Is she gonna make my brand money? Is she gonna, like, help us? You know, because that's what we look at when we renew sponsors.
- [21:43]
B
It's a business.
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A
Sure. You do too.
- [21:45]
B
Yeah, it's a business.
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A
Yeah. So navigating personal challenges. We kind of talked about this in the makeup chair. Do you want to go like, deep into that?
- [21:55]
B
Yeah, just navigating those times of self doubt. Going back to, you know, creating beauty queen school, or is this going to work? How are people going to receive it? You know, it might suck in the moment. You might feel that the world is crashing, but it takes having. Y'all might get tired of me saying this, but you have to have that want to be better or to make a change in your life. For me know, I've had a lot of trauma. I feel like I've been depressed for years. But all of that changed when I said, you know what? I'm going to take control of my life. I'm the master of my fate and this is what I'm going to do. Because no one's going to give give you what you want. You have to take it. You have to create those opportunities. You have to create your own lane. Sometimes you might have to create your own business. That's what it takes. But it's not is never too late. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. But for me, it was me being my, my biggest self critic that really put me in this rough patch. I mean, patents alone, you know, you get judged on social media and in person, but it was me, myself that was my biggest bully. And that really got in the way of everything. So I'm still learning, it's still a process. I'm sure you can attest to that too. Are you still going through the journey?
- [23:18]
A
All the time. All the time. And like, people like, see me and they're like, oh my gosh, you're doing so much. Congratulations. And I'm like, on what? Because I still cry every night, you know, like, I don't feel like it's actually happening for me. And like, I don't know, it's just like we put in so much work and like, I feel like I'm not there yet and I still have so much room to grow.
- [23:36]
B
Yeah. And, you know, being real in the moment right now. I've never won a pageant. I've got a runner up. But, you know, I want that crowning moment so badly. And it's like this weird validation that is pageant queens kind of crave.
- [23:53]
A
Yeah.
- [23:54]
B
Just being validated that we're good enough. But, you know, when you're competing, one thing, you know, competing is not for the week. You have to know that there's a whole new set of judges. Each time, different day, different. Different day, different judge. And those moments where you feel that you failed, quote, unquote, failed, those are just moments of redirection. I think the saying is rejection is redirection. Yeah. And you just have to be aware of that. And, you know, once you become aware of, okay, like, look, this is happening. This is how it is. I'm gonna make my own lane. You can. You can get out of it. Easier said.
- [24:35]
A
My whole life story, though, with everything, I was like, I'm just gonna create my own opportunities and, like, build my own doors so I can open them myself. Because a lot of people said no to me. I was rejected so much in, like, every aspect of, like, my businesses. I was like, I'm just gonna create my own opportunities. And I feel like we've really done that, especially with this guy. A swimwear. I made my own swimsuit because I couldn't afford a Jamie Shaw. And now we put her out of business. I feel like, yeah, this guy.
- [25:01]
B
Oh, my God. When are the applications getting. You guys need to sign up if you are interested in competing at Ms. Psy somewhere. I had so much fun. I'm speechless because, like, this is an opportunity that a lot of girls are missing out on. If you're new to pageants or if you're a veteran of pageants. It's. It's a beautiful blend of our pageantry. Bam, bam, bam. And then also fashion modelesque.
- [25:24]
A
Yeah.
- [25:24]
B
So. And then you're in Miami.
- [25:26]
A
Yeah. You're. You basically get, like, that hot Miami girl, like, celebrity treatment. We get celebrities free dinners at the best restaurants, like Bagatelle.
- [25:34]
B
Yes. It was so much fun. And I just thank you and friends for just putting that together, because, you know, as we were just talking about, that stuff is not cheap. And that takes a lot of time and energy and commitment of putting all that stuff together. So I really appreciate. Appreciate you putting that together.
- [25:49]
A
Well, thank you. I love it so much. And people are always like, so how do. Can you and Franz adopt me or something, you know, because they love, like, the makeup and the photos. And I'm like, the closest thing is to compete for Ms. Miskaya and win, because you have us for the year. Pretty much.
- [26:01]
B
Yeah. And you get loads of images, Getty images, loads of opportunities to talk to different professionals. I had a chance to talk to Danny Walker. That was my first time seeing her in person. Oh, really? Yes. That was my first time. You know, I. I love watching her YouTube videos, but it was just so different being able to see her in person and hug her and talk to her, have those conversations. Networking, collaborating, definitely. Those are the moments that mean the most. And. And participating. Don't be afraid to try something new or just to sign up just to do it.
- [26:31]
A
Yeah. We've, like, built careers. There were girls that, like, were waitresses or something, and they're like, I want to get into modeling. And so they would compete. And even though they don't win, it opened the doors for them because now they have the Runway experience, the portfolio, the social media. Like, it just helps. It opens the door for you. And that's really what I want for people that compete.
- [26:47]
B
And it's fun.
- [26:48]
A
Yeah. And applications are open. It's mississkayaswimwear.com so easy. You just apply and they'll reach out to you.
- [26:56]
B
Yes.
- [26:57]
A
Okay, next talking point. I think it's our last one already. Future goals and aspirations. Oh, I'm so excited about this one.
- [27:06]
B
So right now, I'm competing at Central Georgia for Ms. Word America. I want the chance to just amplify my efforts, everything that I've been doing to advocate for this cause that I'm very passionate about, which is that dental and oral health care. And, you know, I really want to make a statement. I want to show that pageants are still relevant. Pageant queens can hold a conversation. We can take up space, and we are more than what meets the eye. So. And then when it comes to the dress store and beauty queens galore, I'm, you know, I'm just so excited. I'm kind of worried because I'm preparing to go to dental school as well. So right now I'm in a phase where I'm preparing to run Beauty Queens Galore on a level where I could run it in my sleep, sort of speak, because once I go to dental school, which I plan to go into dental school next fall, you're going to be in your books all day, every day. There's no time for scrolling on social media and getting content. There's no time for that.
- [28:01]
A
You have to, like, hire People and delegate and trust them to take over.
- [28:04]
B
Yeah. And you know, I've hired people in the past. It did not go well. Lisa. Oh my gosh. Let me do a quick example. So I hired, you know, someone to help out with social media. Come to find out, this person was commenting under different pageant queens post saying, you know, you're never going to win because you're white on your account under Beauty queens Galore. This person is commenting under this.
- [28:27]
A
Oh, my.
- [28:29]
B
And it was two people that I hired. I don't know which of the two did I fire both of them. But that would not. That was the one where I was like, okay, so two things. I need to make sure we're on the same mission. Making sure that I understand who's coming on this team, what you're all about. Because when you're in need for help, I mean, you're just willing to take anything at some point, especially with me.
- [28:49]
A
Better than nothing.
- [28:50]
B
Better than nothing. But, you know, I rather have those sleepless nights to make sure everything is perfected in a way where, you know, I can manage it the way I want. And also when I feel comfortable, I mean, I've grown a team now. We have hosts who are pageant queens. They are my right hand man and they help, you know, take care of those Instagram lives and those chats with different people. But it's really a village is what it takes. And staying grounded in my strengths and my goals and my purpose, staying grounded in my family is, is what keeps me going. And, you know, I'm super excited. I'm pursuing dentistry, which has been a full circle moment because I've been rejecting, rejecting dentistry for the longest time.
- [29:37]
A
Oh, really?
- [29:38]
B
Yeah. So my path, I grew up going to medical school. I mean, high school biology, college biology. The next plan was medical school. And it was just this weird moment. I can't even explain it, but I just woke up feeling like, you know, this isn't going to work. I don't feel comfortable pursuing this. Is it something else I'm trying to pursue? And you can ask my friends, my family. It was such a, a terrible state I was in because I was so confused. And, you know, I just took a minute to think about, like, what felt most comfortable to me, what felt like home. And that was being at my mom's office, working with people, meeting them where they are, hearing their concerns, and really just understanding the ins and out of the business. That's when I was like, okay, this is what I want to do. And the minute I said, you know, What I'm going to pursue dentistry, that's when like a weight was lifted off my chest. So I'm so excited to pursue this. It gives me the chance to, you know, talk about those causes and, you know, being a doctor, show that I can still give back to my community, not being afraid to hear people out, make those changes. And, you know, biotechnology, I got a master's in biotechnology with the focus in cannabis therapeutics.
- [30:53]
A
I'm so.
- [30:53]
B
The world is changing. I know, you know, in Georgia it's, it's not legal. I mean there's some medical benefits you can get with cannabis, but it's such a gray area. But the beauty of it is that it's an alternative medicine. It's way, it's a beautiful way to get people off of addictive medicines. It can give better, give people a better quality of life. People have Alzheimer's and dementia. Those, cannabis and those cannabinoids coat the neurons in the brain so that those people aren't feeling pain. It's, it's just a beautiful subject. And although it can be taboo to talk about at times, it's been able to make real lasting change. I mean there's, there are children who, you know, just live every day in pain. All, all they just need are these little drops of CBD and then they can, they, they can relax. But you know, the government is not fond of it, which I understand. I mean, there's just so many.
- [31:50]
A
It's just like the way that we were raised where it's like, oh, it is so bad, it's a drug and like, it's just changed so much.
- [31:56]
B
It's changed so much. And you know, the cannabis that was back then isn't the same as today. I mean, we are in an age where everything is mass produced, everyone wants the highest potency and that's what a lot of people are getting. These people are getting cannabis. That is like, to give into perspective, cannabis back in the day was about 8 to 10% strength of THC. Now we're at 33%. Like, this is like straight on man made cannabis. Like, this is just strictly for people who just are looking for that feeling. I'm more interested in the medical aspect of it and the pros and the cons of that. So it's such a huge area and there's such a need for it. Oops, sorry. There's such a need for every avenue of this industry when it comes to policy making, when it comes to cultivating. Oh, it's just, I can talk about this all Day, but it's a need, and it's something that I want to pursue and hopefully integrate with dentistry and, you know, help people get a better quality of life.
- [33:01]
A
Yeah, I want to do not only that, but I feel like legalizing it would kind of end, like, the war on drugs a little bit and ease off on that so that it's more like, oh, girl, you know, regulated. I know we can't start on that.
- [33:14]
B
Episode, but I just. To leave off, you know, be curious, think freely. Even just talking about the war on drugs. I mean, do your research. Just. Just get curious and look up things that you don't want to know. That's the best way to. To learn and grow and to find ways to. To build that curious mind and that innovative mind.
- [33:38]
A
So how has pageants helped you in the professional world? Do you feel like you've grown a lot and it's, like, easier to navigate, like, job interviews and applications and things like that because of pageants?
- [33:47]
B
Oh, yeah. And I'm sure every other pageant girl can attest to this. The minute you join, you are thrown in a pit of fire to talk to people. Get uncomfortable. You have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable 24 7. And although it could feel weird in the moment, once you get through it, you're like, oh, you know, that wasn't so bad. Maybe I could do this better next time. So it's. I have always been the child where I was the wallflower. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I want to stay in my corner. I was afraid to articulate myself and share my opinions and my thoughts. But with competing at pageantry, it forced me to say, you know, this is what I care about, and this is, you know, why I want to do it. This is why it's so important. And, you know, ultimately, it's put me in a position where I can talk to different policymakers and administrative leaders about incorporating new ideas into their companies and just, you know, just really being the person I've always wanted to be. I've always wanted to be the person to be. Like, you know, how are they talking like that? How are they so articulate?
- [34:51]
A
Yeah.
- [34:51]
B
But all it takes is just that practice and being introduced to the things that make you.
- [34:56]
A
I'm like, look at you now. You're podcasting better than me. I'm just, like, watching you. Like, wow, she's so put together. She knows exactly what she's talking about. Like, you're amazing.
- [35:07]
B
Thank you. This is platforms like this that gives us the opportunity to. Opportunity to share that because, you know, we don't get to show that on social media. On social media, you will see Glam Kennedy. My service work, we do love, but I love for people to hear how I am, to know that I am a free thinker and that I am someone who promotes learning, especially in the youth. It's so important. And I just. Thank you for this opportunity, Lisa.
- [35:33]
A
Oh, my gosh, of course. Thank you for being here. Okay, one last thing. You also direct Ms. Grand Georgia. Yeah. We forgot to mention that. What was in your bio?
- [35:43]
B
Yes.
- [35:43]
A
How is that going? You got a national winner this year. Congratulations.
- [35:47]
B
Yes. The first Georgia winner to win Miss grand usa. Kora has been just a light in my life. She has taught me so many different things. She's taught me how to, you know, just think differently and have a different outlook and perspective on just life in general. She's a Christ believer. She is a firm believer. And everything happens for a moment, you know, once you get to know her. She's been through a lot, and at face value, people don't get to know that about her, but she is just a true testament of. Of a phoenix rising from the ashes. And, you know, she was on this. She was on your podcast as well. So y'all please tune in to watch that episode. But directing Cora has been outstanding. Right now, she's in Cambodia. No, she's in Thailand. She was originally in Cambodia. All the contestants compete in the second half of the competition in Thailand. And it's just been a whirlwind. And, you know, on the back end, it's a lot of paperwork. It's a lot of making deadlines. It's a lot of styling and strategy. But in the end, it's beautiful to create a space where Cora can thrive, where she can think beyond pageantry. She wants to be a host for E. News. I'm trying to create that for her, you know, easily.
- [37:03]
A
She has everything it takes. Yes.
- [37:05]
B
And she's just so beautiful, and I'm so proud of her. And directing is not for the week. It's a lot of going out of pocket. You know, your first year, first two years, you're going to be operating at a loss. And, you know, some people think, you know, I just want to boss people around. I want to do this. And it's not that simple. It's not that simple, but it's definitely doable. You just have to do your research and make sure that you are ready to handle the ups and the downs, because there are more downs than there are ups. But it Takes going through those down moments and really having those conversations to understand the girl that you're working with. Because everyone's different. Yeah. Understanding how they think, understanding their emotions and what you can say, what you can't say to them is very important and has taught me more valuable life skills than I could have, excuse me, have ever imagined. So I feel like I'm just, just living life in such a fast paced, you know.
- [38:00]
A
Right. It's like boiling us. It's like, here's another blessing. Here's another one. It's like, okay, thank you. Like, we're gonna take it all in. But yes, it's a lot. But I'm just so grateful. How has Cora's preparations been for internationals? I know you had a big part in that.
- [38:13]
B
Yeah. So we've been trying to polish interviews. She's. No one can out talk Cora if she has a microphone. The girl next to her or in front of her needs to watch out because she will out talk anybody. So really fine tuning the things that she wants to get across in her interview in the moments where she can share her message and walking. You know, grand is a whole another level when it comes to performing. It's a, is a production, it's a show. And she's a contestant who's been in Miss America, Miss USA for a long time. So getting that grand girl out of her, getting her to loosen up has been a really fun experience for her. And I'm seeing her thrive right now and just having so much fun just being free. That's really what grand is about, is just being free and just being careless. And I love seeing that for her because she's just so used to just living by the books and being so strict on things. Yeah. So the preparation has been good. I mean, you know, most people don't know this right now. You know, people are making hateful comments towards our girl because of styling, but people don't know that. You know, these girls have their luggage lost. You know, that just goes to show that people don't know the whole story. And you have to be kind.
- [39:26]
A
Her curling iron or her straightener is in her luggage and she doesn't have that with her.
- [39:30]
B
Yeah. And it was just. It's just so much things going on with the pageant, but it's all part of the process. And it's about adapting and having those problem solving skills to really get you through those tough moments.
- [39:42]
A
You've competed internationally, right?
- [39:44]
B
I actually have not competed internationally.
- [39:47]
A
I was gonna ask for advice, but she's gonna go To Miss World, you guys.
- [39:51]
B
Yes. Fingers crossed. I will say, just from getting to know different pageant queens, when it comes to international, a lot of these queens feel alone. So if you have a representative or any representative, Intercontinental World, USA Universe, comment the USA flag. Show that girl support. Because she's in a whole different country, a whole different time zone, all by herself. She doesn't have the same food that she's used to. It's a really huge shift in environment. And all these girls want is just support because they truly feel alone to the point where they just want to get up and leave. And what really makes their day is when you do comment, you know, go, USA. Go Ms. Intercontinental. Go Ms. Grand USA. Having those moments is what keeps that girl. Is what keeps that girl moving. You know, they get hit hard with a lot of negative comments, a lot of opinions and concerns that can get underneath their skin. It can get in their head. But when you have those comments saying, you know, USA strong, USA flag, boom, boom, boom. Just spamming that, it makes her feel supported. It makes her want to represent our country. Well, because, you know, having USA representing America across your chest, that's an honor.
- [41:00]
A
That's huge.
- [41:01]
B
So many soldiers who have died for this country, and having that across your chest is an honor. And each girl who has the opportunity to represent the US on an international level, she deserves that. That love from her people.
- [41:14]
A
I love that. Last question. So you're going to dental school. Are you going to keep competing?
- [41:20]
B
Lisa, why you do that to me? Of course, you know, I forgot who it was. There was one girl I competed against. She was in dental school and actually actively competing in a pageant.
- [41:31]
A
And, you know, that was Melanie Rosalia or Renee Sweeney. They both did. It's possible.
- [41:37]
B
Possible. But seeing. But seeing that they were able to make that work, to be in dental school and compete gave me light at the end of the tunnel. I would love to compete, but I have to put my studies first. I have to, because, you know, this is my life. This is this. This is my safety net for my life, and I have to make sure that's secure first. Maybe after my freshman year of dental school, I'll compete again, but you definitely won't see the last of me. I'll be showing up to different pageants, getting involved, being behind the scenes. So I'll be there.
- [42:07]
A
That's so amazing. You know, one more thing I love about you is that you know how to stay neutral. And we were talking about that, too, is like, there's always, always so much drama.
- [42:15]
B
Oh, yeah.
- [42:16]
A
And I feel like there's been more like this past year. And it's like, you know, we don't have to choose the side and it's okay to like, support the girls because they're thrown into it. And at the end of the day, that's what it's about.
- [42:26]
B
Yeah. And, you know, you don't want to be the bully yourself. You don't want to put someone else down, and then you're the bully, you know, and sometimes staying neutral can not be the best thing. I mean, as pageant queens, if we have a political question and we have a neutral answer, that just shows you don't have a true stance, but in.
- [42:44]
A
Different aspects have a true stance on, like, drama that doesn't even involve us.
- [42:48]
B
You know, it truly is about the girl.
- [42:50]
A
Yeah. It's.
- [42:51]
B
This industry is a game of Thrones and I hate that it's not focused on the girl right now. It's more focused on who has power, who has control. But one thing about beauty queen's galore, the pageant resource, is that you will see a neutral perspective on pageantry. You'll see the pros on one side of, of someone and then the negatives on the other side. So you see everyone's feedback, everyone's concerns, but in a digest accessible way, in a safe space.
- [43:17]
A
Yeah, I love that. So is there anything else you want to share with our audience?
- [43:25]
B
I just want to say, you know, this opportunity has been so amazing. I cannot express enough how grateful I am for you squeezing me into this, your schedule and.
- [43:35]
A
Oh, my gosh, no, I'm like, so grateful you're here. Like I said in the beginning, like, I've always wanted to have you one. I feel like we talked about it a lot, so I'm glad we finally made it happen. I think the timing is perfect.
- [43:45]
B
Yes. And you were such a genuine person. I remember the first time that I came across you and friends and Beauty by Lady Code. I was competing at Miss Earth usa and you were just so sweet. And just the fact that you've been consistent with that all these years, like, this is who you are. Like, the same Lisa that we see online on social media is the same Lisa we're going to get in person. So you just have a beautiful soul that you can. You show that you can be beautiful. You can leverage your beauty and still have beautiful attitude and just be kind to people because that could be, you know, a lot of people feel like, oh, she's a pretty face. Maybe she's not, you know, nice.
- [44:21]
A
Yeah, A lot of people are like, I think you're so mean. Or they'll be like, nervous to meet me and I'm like, why? Like, I'm in sweatpants.
- [44:27]
B
Yeah. Super sweet. So thank you so much and, you know, thank you for my makeup. Snatched. I wish I had a palette. Please shop beauty by lady code. Get your makeup done. I mean, all of her makeup artists are professional. Very kind. They're very consistent. And just thank you so much for making me look and feel beautiful.
- [44:47]
A
Thank you, Kennedy.
- [44:48]
B
Of course.
- [44:48]
A
So now we're gonna do this or that. You can elaborate on your answers if you want to. I think I know the answer to this one because I'm looking at your shoes. Platform heels or sandal heels?
- [44:58]
B
Platform. Give me that. That extra inch up.
- [45:01]
A
Who's your favorite, like, shoe designer? Where do you get your shoes?
- [45:05]
B
Steve Madden. Okay, so, yeah, I keep hitting. I'm so sorry, but these platforms are Steve Madden. They're actually discontinued now. A lot of in the pageant world, a lot of the girlies are going crazy on where they could find these shoes. Yeah.
- [45:20]
A
Because they're so tall. I'm like, I need that height. I'm sure.
- [45:22]
B
And they're so comfortable. I mean, the platforms look scary, but the higher they are, the more comfortable you are walking.
- [45:27]
A
I agree with that. Sandal heels hurt me. My toes start sliding down. It hurts. Hair or makeup? You better say makeup.
- [45:42]
B
I'm definitely gonna say makeup. This look specifically makes me feel foxy and sexy and independent and strong. So makeup will be my go to.
- [45:52]
A
I have to call this the Kennedy. She sat in my makeup chair today and I'm like, I think I know what look we're doing. And she was like, yep, that's the one. And we just knew.
- [45:59]
B
Yeah. Yeah.
- [46:00]
A
Shopping online or in person?
- [46:03]
B
Online.
- [46:04]
A
Really? And you own a store?
- [46:06]
B
Yeah. And I don't know why, but I think it's just so convenient just staying at home. No pressure, but it can get annoying when you. You don't know if it's going to fit or your app is going to fit. But shopping online is my first go to.
- [46:19]
A
Love it. Reels or Tick Tock.
- [46:23]
B
Tick Tock. Because you have a wider, broader audience to reach.
- [46:28]
A
Are you on Tick Tock with your brand?
- [46:30]
B
I am a little bit. So yes. The pageant resource. We actually have millions of views on our Tick Tock videos. If you ever want to watch on stage questions, go to our Tick Tock. You can watch those on my personal. I'm lagging so bad, but I want to get back into it because Tick Tock is. I think Tick Tock has a way more broader reach. The reels. I mean, reels, you have to have 90 seconds. It can't have over 90 seconds. You can't do this. Like, it's just so much. Yeah.
- [46:54]
A
The keywords, like, it's a lot. It's like, really science now. Mob wife or clean girl?
- [47:00]
B
Mob wife.
- [47:04]
A
Steak or sushi?
- [47:07]
B
Steak.
- [47:07]
A
Really?
- [47:08]
B
Listen, Lisa, I forced myself to try to like sushi. It's not working, is it?
- [47:13]
A
Because, you know, it's raw fish.
- [47:14]
B
Like, do you know, I think it's just the seaweed. I don't like the seaweed.
- [47:18]
A
Oh, really?
- [47:18]
B
I'd rather just eat the rice. My little shrimp. But the seaweed kind of throws me off a little bit.
- [47:24]
A
If you think about it, like, floating in the ocean.
- [47:26]
B
Yeah, I don't know. That's funny.
- [47:29]
A
State Road trip or fly?
- [47:32]
B
Fly. I need that first class. I need my little champagne with my little Biscoff cookies. Feet up, relaxed. I get so terrified. Driving. Driving in a car. This is such a bizarre statement to say, but I've always had this premonition of, like, being in a really bad car accident. I'm not. Look, God forbid. God forbid. That's not. That's not gonna happen. But flying is my.
- [47:54]
A
Go to east coast or West Coast? East coast photo shoot or fashion show?
- [48:00]
B
Fashion show.
- [48:02]
A
Love it. Crown or sash?
- [48:05]
B
Sash. Definitely more low key because I feel like the crown can be distracting, but with the sash, it's just clearly, clearly defined who you are instead of the crown. There's so many different variants of the crown.
- [48:15]
A
That's true. Last one. Swimsuit or gown?
- [48:18]
B
Swimsuit. Baby.
- [48:20]
A
I'm shocked. Because you own a gown store. I was like.
- [48:24]
B
But I'm telling you, after Biscay swimwear, swim is my thing, because I was able to just strut and still be classy and fun at the same time.
- [48:32]
A
You did amazing. What was it like walking in Miami swim week?
- [48:35]
B
It was so much fun. I want to do it again, and I want to sign up. I need to see what happens with this pageant as I'm competing. But, you know, if it doesn't favor my way, I'm definitely coming back.
- [48:46]
A
Well, when you win next year, you can judge as Miss World America. Yes.
- [48:50]
B
Yes. Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much.
- [48:53]
A
Of course. Can you list all of your social media so we can follow you?
- [48:56]
B
Yes. So my personal is the real Kennedy. Simone K, E, N, N, E, D, Y. And then Simone S, I, M, O, N, E. And then if you want to, you know. Read more about anonymous forums. Anonymous experiences. Go to Beauty Queens Galore. It's Beauty Queens Galore on Instagram. And then if you ever just need a gown, I mean, we're not. We're. We're open to sponsorships and just making sure that you feel beautiful and confident. Reach us out. Reach out to us at BQG Prom and Pageant on Instagram. And then on our website, you can check out our designers as well.
- [49:29]
A
I love that. And I'll make sure to link everything down below as well. Yeah.
- [49:32]
B
Oh, one last thing. Make sure you follow Ms. Grand USA, representing our beautiful country, Cora, at Ms. Grand USA on Instagram. Please show your support.
- [49:41]
A
Yes. I hope they already did after Cora's episode. Thank you so much for coming on. I had so much fun with you.
- [49:47]
B
Thank you.