Meet Alexandrya Evans: Miss Universe U.S. Virgin Islands 2011

Seven Halos | 31 August 2011 | Featured, Lifestyle, This & That, Women | alerxandrya evans, lupus awarness, miss st croix 2003, miss universe 2011, Miss Universe U.S. Virgin Island, us Virgin islands | 0 Comments

2011 Miss Universe USVI: Alexandrya Evans

So, I admit. It’s pretty cool to be friends with a beauty queen.

I met Alexandrya (Alex to me) in undergrad at DePaul University’s in 2003. Then, she was the reigning Miss St. Croix, but to me she was just the nice, pretty girl with the thick island accent. Since, I have watched her go through many trials, tribulations, successes and accomplishments, all helping to make her the poised and enlightening woman we see today as the reigning Miss Universe U.S. Virgin Islands.

There is such a stigma around pageantry, one that is not exactly positive. Often people think the women participating are nothing more than a pretty face. But Alexandrya has found a way to turn the pageant world on its head. To her pageantry is not just about beauty. Its about a woman’s poise, grace and intellect. She chooses to use pageants as leverage to bring deeper issues to the forefront and instilling change in her community.

In a recent interview with Chicago radio personality Shantell of The Overdrive, Alexandrya explains her love of pageantry and the doors it opens to make a difference.

Shantelle: So, why do pageants? Why are they so important to you? When I think of pageant, all of the woman are very beautiful and are judged so heavily on appearance. What types of fulfillment do you get from pageantry?

Alexandrya: I do it because it’s a chance to represent not just the country that has made you who you are, but it’s also a platform to bring attention to your causes.

My main platform is Lupus awareness and encouraging healthier lifestyles. I grew up in household where my mom has Lupus and suffered two strokes because of it. In the Virgin Islands, Lupus is not really recognized. People don’t know about it even though many suffer from it. With this title I can give a voice to those who have lupus in the community.

This year, I started the first lupus awareness campaign in the Virgin Islands. With this, people can come together and say, “Wait a minute. Its not just one of us who have this illness, its a group of us.” It instills a sense of community and unity with one another. Both those with the disease and without, united to being awareness and a create a stronger voice. Pageantry has the ability to give a voice to the voiceless; to those who don’t have the ability to step out in the community and represent themselves.

2011 Miss Universe USVI: Alexandrya Evans

Give a voice to the voiceless; to those who don’t have the ability to step out in the community and represent themselves.

Shantelle: There has been a lot of talk in the media about people, mostly women and teens, living unhealthy lifestyles because of the images they see on TV. How are you combatting this?

Alexandrya: People don’t know how much is involved in making sure your body is right- staying healthy, exercising, and having good nutrition. As a young girl you deal with so many self image and body issues because of what we seen on T.V and in magazines. But what many don’t realize is that it’s not about we we see and trying to achieve that, it’s about living right for yourself and for your body type. I strive to reach out to adolescents and young adults, not only in the Virgin Islands but hopefully abroad, because I think that once you have a healthy self image, it leads to a greater sense of well being and you make better choices regarding your body.

Shantelle: When I think of beauty pageant, i think of women seeking validation by society for their beauty now that you broke I down like that I look at it in a different way. You are using your beauty to bring your cause to the forefront…

Listen to Alexandrya Evans’ full radio interview here. She reveals to how she risked everything, including her relationship, career and stable life to get where she is today. Plus check out Alexandrya’s brief personal interview below from the Miss Universe headquarters in Sao Paulo Brazil.