Q&A: 2018 Miss Stanton Contestant #8 Christina Bucher
HANNAH BROWN | FEB. 22, 2018 | Q&A
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — With the Miss Stanton Pageant around the corner, the pressure is on for all the young women who are participating to represent Stanton. To understand their hopes for the pageant and what they have taken away from it, Devil’s Advocate interviewed them and got their side of the story.
DEVIL'S ADVOCATE: What cause are you promoting, or in other words, what platform are you running on?
Christina Bucher: The cause that I am supporting is blood donations because it really applies to everyone out there and in my speech there are a couple of statistics that I want to provide about that. About a third of the population need a blood transfusion sometime in their life. It is such a big deal and big cause that affects the majority of people and it saves lives so it makes a huge difference.
DA: Why did you decide to run for Miss Stanton?
CB: I have been wanting to run for Miss Stanton since freshman year ever since I first found out about it and went to the pageant freshman year. I just thought that it was a really unique experience that I wouldn't have another chance at so it's a pretty rare experience I wouldn't want to miss out on.
DA: How would you respond to the negative stigma of beauty pageants?
CB: The negative stigma of beauty pageants is usually about how it's all about beauty and like how you look and appear and not really the ideas that you have which is why Miss Stanton is different because it requires you to have a platform to speak on. It is different from many other high schools because, especially going to Stanton and being known for our academic excellence as well as our diversity, it's more than just beauty and is really more in some ways about the brain and how you present yourself as well.
DA: How will you make a difference if you win?
CB: Probably just representing the school and putting the school in a good light because Stanton seems to be doing pretty well and I want to continue that going.
DA: What does the title of Miss Stanton mean to you?
CB: The title of Miss Stanton is a representation of the school as a whole so Miss Stanton, whoever that is, embodies the entire student body in how she presents herself.
DA: Who has been your biggest role model?
CB: For this experience, the biggest role model would be Miss Stanton [Autumn Hawkins] herself because that is who we are looking at. She choreographed the dance, she has been with us every step of the way, which I really appreciate, as well as probably every other girl participating.
DA: How long have you been playing the cello and how has it affected your life?
CB: I have been playing the cello since fifth grade, however long that is 一 you can do the math. It has added a different aspect in my life that not many other people have.
DA: How has this experience affected you?
CB: I think this experience has affected me by making me want to be a better role model because I have had to filter myself a little bit more and do things and say things that would be Miss Stanton worthy.
DA: Who has been your biggest supporter and why?
CB: My biggest supporter or supporters would definitely be my parents because obviously none of this would have been possible without them financially supporting me, emotionally, and mentally as well. This is pretty stressful, many people do not see behind the scenes and we've been working towards this since November.
DA: What would you tell to sophomore girls who would like to participate in Miss Stanton next year?
CB: I would definitely tell them to participate whether or not they have done pageants before. If you are kind of on the edge about it, definitely go for it and it is definitely something that you don't want to pass up. It is going to be a good experience even if you don't win. Because of the number of people doing it, not everyone can place and not everyone can win, but that is not important in the end although you may be doing it for that in the first place.
DA: What has been the most rewarding part about the pageant so far?
CB: The most rewarding part, would be meeting the other girls because some of these girls I had never met before or seen around the campus. We are a pretty diverse group, so we have our differences but this is something we have in common and has pulled us together and this is a great opportunity that has brought us together.
DA: That is all the questions I have for you. Thank you for your time and good luck in the pageant Christina.