“Just look, walk and laugh pretty? Miss pageants are so much more than that! Since I took part last year, my confidence has surged. I used to get bullied a lot and although people say it makes you stronger, I think it's actually something you just learn to live with. It stays with you forever and you'll always be a little wary. And it really stood in my way for quite a while.
That's why it was such a big step for me to sign up for the pageant, but something inside me said I really had to do it. When I finally finished in the top 8 in my first miss pageant, I thought it would be enough. It had been a great experience and it was time to now focus on my studies. Until an acquaintance phoned me last year and asked if I wanted to represent the Netherlands in Malaysia. I called my dad to talk about my doubts but he’s my biggest cheerleader and said straightaway that I should go.
A few weeks later, there I was in my traditional Dutch costume wearing massive Frisian clogs. I felt proud and confident. And I knew this was the best decision I could have made. I learnt so much about how I should present myself and made friends from all over the world. It just goes to show that you sometimes need to push your doubts aside and just go for it.”
Jessica Lageman, European Studies student
