My name is Megan Van Someren and I am not your typical pageant queen.

I am a retired collegiate athlete who started late in the game of pageantry, who hasn’t won any of the Big League titles (yet), weirdly hates eating out at restaurants and thinks that 3 am is a normal time to start the day. I truly admire women who have figured out the art of cute casual because if I am not in full glam, 99% of the time you’ll find me in an oversized sweatshirt, leggings with my hair in a fabulous bun and a highly caffeinated beverage not too far from me at all times (truly you do not want to know my daily caffeine intake). Bottom line, I am not a former Miss Universe (yet) writing this Playbook; I am just a queen still working on my own Pageant Bucket List.

But, that is precisely why I have written this Playbook to Pageantry. As a former athlete, I took one look at Pageantry and was like “Man if only there was a Playbook to Pageantry.” And then realized, I bet I am not the only one who feels this way. And so the idea was born. (after my come to Jesus moment you can read about on our home page)

We all need a Playbook to our development; Pageantry just happens to be the vehicle we have chosen to get there. I need this Playbook as much as you do and honestly, it’s not about me, it’s about YOU; using these pages to be your guide for more than just Pageantry and stepping into who God has created you to be. Which is the most POWERFUL thing you can be whether in Pageantry or in Life.

As I have grown in Pageantry, the most important thing I realized is that each of our stories, passions, dreams and who God has created us to be is our individual superpower and when we choose to harness who we are, quirks, uniqueness and all, this is where the magic happens! So I wrote a Blueprint or as us athletes know, a Playbook to help you harness who you are and how to use it in Pageantry. But even though I have created the blueprint, but it’s up to you to go build your Rome.

The Playbook is meant to be your home base in this sport of Pageantry; Dreaming Big, staying true to who we are and embracing the Un-Comfort Zone where true growth is found. I believe that through these pages, it will give you the direction, clarity and confidence to not only approach your next stage with the sparkle of who you are, but you will be able to look back on each season with measurable success before you even compete for your next opportunity. And when we are called to our crowning opportunity, that just happens to be that sparkle on top to a crown we have already won: becoming who we are meant to be and using it to make a difference.

My hope and prayer is that these pages will serve as your guide and empower you to greater heights then you ever thought possible. Just know as you write your Playbook, I am writing mine too and together we will use who we are called to be and change the world.

I believe in you my queen and the next time you hear the click of heels nearby, that’s just me walking beside you cheering you on!

Photo by Ashley Ball Photography