Menu
Beauty pageants have long been an avenue for empowered women to showcase their talents, intelligence, and commitment to environmental causes. Among the many contestants who grace these stages, Emma Patel, the reigning Miss North Carolina Earth, stands out as a true role model and advocate for sustainable living. With her passion for the environment and her dedication to making a positive impact on the world, Emma Patel is an inspiration to many.
Emma Patel’s journey towards becoming an environmental advocate began at a young age. Born and raised in North Carolina, a state known for its picturesque landscapes, Emma developed a profound appreciation for nature’s beauty. Spending time outdoors and witnessing the changing landscapes inspired her to take action to protect the environment from various threats.
Pageants provided Emma Patel with the perfect platform to amplify her message and raise awareness about environmental issues on a larger scale. After competing in local beauty pageants and winning Miss North Carolina Earth, she earned the opportunity to represent her state and advocate for her cause at the national level.
Emma’s involvement in beauty pageants allowed her to hone her public speaking skills, engage with diverse audiences, and collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations. Beyond the glitz and glamour, she found a powerful medium to share her passion for environmental conservation.
Congratulations on winning Miss NC earth! What inspired you to run?
What inspired me most to run for Teen Miss North Carolina Earth was the mission behind the pageant system: Think Global Act Local. This motto means to formulate a plan that you could take globally, but start small in your community and work your way up. It emphasizes taking small, impactful steps to reach the goal of preserving our planet. I love that this pageant highlights on sustainability and ways that we can make our Earth cleaner and safer. The pageant also focuses on the mental health of young women and even took time during the National pageant to make sure the contestants had time to clear their mind and focus on their mental health.
Tell us a bit about how your journey has been and what have you accomplished and your future goals!
My journey as Teen Miss North Carolina Earth has been one like no other. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with many inspiring young women at the National pageant, work with my sister queens, and spread my platform on teaching college students how they can be sustainable while being away from home. I was able to participate in various cleanups, begin a club at my university called the Sustainable Setters, and install a Little Free Library in a local park in Morrisville, NC. I was so thankful to have South Asian pageant queens such as Nina Davuluri to look up to on my journey to receiving my title.
View this post on Instagram
Who are some of your inspirations today?
My biggest inspiration is my mom. She has taught me to believe in myself, work my hardest, be kind and be my truest self. I also look up to actresses Zendaya and Priyanka Chopra. I have watched both these actresses from a young age and they have both taught me many lessons about being confident, working towards your dreams, being yourself and inspiring others. Another person that continues to inspire me despite not being with us in this world anymore is my father. He sadly passed away when I was 10 years old but I continue to learn so many things from him. He followed the quote, “I will persist with no exception,” and this is something that I now live by every day of my life. Every story I learn about him shows me how much of an inspiration he was to the people around him and I strive to be like that.
South Asians are being globally recognized for the work they do and many South Asians have ran for Pageants. How does it feel to be a young South Asian living the dream and accomplishing your goals?
As a young South Asian woman, I feel extremely honored to not only be holding this title, but also to be inspiring others to accomplish their dreams like I am doing by studying Acting for Film & TV and modeling. I feel that my generation and the generation following needs South Asian representation in pageants and in the entertainment industry to help inspire others like myself to go against the grain and follow their dreams. We can do whatever we desire as long as we keep pushing, keep believing and keep working hard.
What does the crown mean for you?
To me, holding the crown means being a role model. Teaching lessons that I have learned from others and myself and setting an example for young women. When I hold the crown, I am sure that I am being my truest self and doing what I can to inspire the next generation of South Asian women to be who they want to be, and to make an impact on lives, even if it is in the slightest. I feel honored to be able to represent the South Asian community through this title and hope to inspire young women to accomplish their goals and follow their dreams.
View this post on Instagram
What are your future plans after passing down the crown this year?
I plan to continue to spread both my platforms: Teaching college students how to be sustainable while being away from home and HEART4CAD, a non-profit organization I started in honor of my father who passed away from heart disease and my mother who suffered a heart attack two years ago. My long term goal with these platforms is to take them globally and to sit on the board of the American Heart Association. I plan to also continue achieving my goals of being a professional actress, model, and fashion designer by receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting for Film, Television, Voiceovers & Commercials, and a Minor in Fashion Marketing at Pace University.
What message do you have for young women today about dreaming any goal they have?
My message would be to be yourself, surround yourself with people that support you and never give up. Achieving any goal will never be an easy journey but it is important that you stay true to yourself and believe that you are able to accomplish your goals as long as you put your mind to it and try your hardest.
Mental Health is a huge topic now in the world. What are your thoughts on Mental Health and spreading awareness?
Mental Health is a serious and extremely important topic, especially in the new generation. I feel that people tend to put a negative connotation towards Mental Health which provokes individuals to steer away from Mental Health problems. I feel that we need to do our best to spread awareness on the fact that Mental Health is not something that we can always control and isn’t something that should be looked down on. It is important to spread awareness about mental health and recognize that anyone might be suffering from it no matter what age, gender or race you are. Spreading awareness on Mental Health and treatments can help us lower the percentage of people who are suffering.
Emma Patel, as Miss North Carolina Earth, has proven that beauty pageants are not merely about outer appearances but a platform for influential young women to advocate for causes close to their hearts. Her dedication to environmental conservation and her unwavering commitment to promoting sustainability make her a true ambassador for the planet.
As her reign continues and her journey unfolds, Emma’s influence is bound to inspire countless individuals to take action in preserving our planet for future generations. Her unwavering passion, combined with her intelligence and charisma, positions her as an exemplary representative of North Carolina and an exceptional advocate for environmental stewardship.
