Introducing Miss Land O' Lakes Teen USA!!!!!

It is an absolute honor to finally announce that I, Eliza Smith, will be competing in the 2021 Miss Florida Teen USA pageant during July 16-18 in Orlando.

Ever since I started competing in pageants 7 years ago I always dreamed on being on the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA stage. I am so beyond grateful, and blessed to have this opportunity and represent Land O Lakes. To me being apart of this is more then wearing a crown and sash. To me its about how you use it and how you personally go out within your community and truly make change in society. In order to make a difference, I am raising money for NAMI the national alliance on mental illness. COVID-19 has been a hard issue that we have faced these past few years. That being said, it has really negatively impacted the mental health and well-beings of us. Because of the pandemic their have been numerous increases of depression and anxiety. For many, we have also become extremely introverted being we were in quarantine for months which caused social isolation. That being said it is extremely important we emphasize the importance of mental health as well as the importance of educating people about different mental health conditions in order to better support themselves and their families and friends and how important it is to look at mental health as less of a stigma and more of an actual problem.

Be Bold, Be Beautiful, Be You is my organization that I have created to spread awareness about mental health and to increase confidence and kindness within society. The main message is to be your self in a world where our differences need to be accepted.

To me the most important thing I want to accomplish is representation. Representation matters because it can shape how minorities are viewed by society and how they view themselves. It's incredibly important that we're starting to see the media move to reflect more diverse stories. I as a west Indian, middle eastern, person of color, teenager am so honored to be able to represent my cultures and communities in the media through my platform. In pageants, majority of negative stigmas comes from the belief that you have to look a certain way or etc. however, I want to show everyone that this is not the case. The pageantry industry can be very inclusive, I for one have already met wonderful, successful women in the Miss division. Its important that we represent everyone of all races, genders ,sexualities, cultures, etc. Its the 21rst century after all so its important we represent everyone. Our differences make us unique and makes us who we are.

I cant wait to be apart of this system and do a little more good in the world.

I will be working on numerous events & interviews to promote my platform in my community.

Eliza Smith

Miss Land O' Lakes Teen USA