Schaffer wins First Ms. Collegiate Mom Title
Pageantry history was made America when Kiara Schaffer was crowned Ms. Collegiate Mom 2010, the first pageant of its kind in the world. The pageant was held on Dec. 1 at Prairie View A&M University in Texas. Kiara is a junior marketing student from Seattle, Washington and mother of twin girls.
When asked does the country need another pageant, Jasmine Wiggins, the pageant producer, responded emphatically, “Yes! I believe that all women should have an opportunity to participate in the free enterprise system and the pageant is one way for them to earn scholarships and raise their self esteem.” Wiggins is a senior architect student from Houston.
The first pageant attracted eleven dynamic, determined, progressive and non-traditional women competing for a campus queen title because they have a child or is married. Six finally accepted the challenge and competed for the title. Wiggins felt that the time was now for a pageant of this kind and with the help of her advisor/mentor, Mr. Frederick V. Roberts, and support from the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team and the Student Government Association, the pageant became a reality.
In addition to the title, Kiara won the interview, talent and onstage competitions. First runner up was Melissa Hooper a junior education major from Dallas and the second runner up was Theodora Holloway a junior agriculture major from Prairie View. Other contestants in the pageant were Chasonique Peck of Houston, Josephine Roberson of Houston and Lauren Taylor of Dallas. The winners will receive more than $4,000 in scholarships and prizes and the opportunity to represent the pageant around the country.
The contestants competed in Personal/Private Interview, Campus Wear Expression, Talent Performance, Evening Wear and On-stage Interview/Question. Schaffer gave the most dramatic and poetic performance in an original production with reference to her twin girls. The performance brought the audience to tears.
The pageant is open to young women enrolled in any college or university and who have a child and wish to participate fully in the campus experiences. They are encouraged to participate because the pageant provides programs for personal and professional development, self esteem and confidence building, leadership skills and developing a sense of responsibility to helping young women to further their careers. It also helps them to develop the spirit of competition.
The pageant differs from others because it provides opportunities for mothers who are prohibited from participation in traditional campus pageants. The focus is not on the physical attributes rather emphasis is placed on the intellectual, personal character, self esteem, economic empowerment and commitment to serve as role models and community involvement.
The SIFE's team support of the pageant is based on the needs being addressed which match its social factor criteria for the national programs. The young ladies hopefully will learn from the experiences and find ways to improve the quality of life for them and their children, while studying at the university.
The pageant producers also will create a non-profit Collegiate Mom Coalition to address the needs of college moms, to include daycare, tuition reduction, scholarships and early childhood education.
Interested patrons can contact Jasmine Wiggins at jwiggins2@hotmail.com or mscollegiatemom@gmail.com.
About the Pageant: The mission of Ms. Collegiate Mom™ Scholarship Pageant Program is to serve as a source of excellence for college women through programs that enhance their education, economic and social involvement, role-modeling and advocate for a children friendly university and community service. The pageant is produced and directed by Jasmine
Wiggins, a senior architect major from Houston and Mr. Frederick V. Roberts, Students In Free Enterprise [SIFE] Fellow,
Co-Director/Producer.
About SIFE: SIFE is a global organization with a focus on social, economic and environmental factors. The Prairie View A&M University was chartered in 1985 and since then has provided various programs and activities for students to develop their leadership and communications skills through learning and teaching the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship. Devin Evans, a sophomore civil engineering student from Dallas is the president. For SIFE information write sifepvamu@yahoo.com.
