Jejune Magazine
Juliana Morehouse - Making Memories Last
[as originally published on jejunemagazine.com]
Crowned Miss Maine 2023, Juliana Morehouse is a twenty-something old soul, writer and philanthropist who will serve the state of Maine this year. Her intelligence, passion, and drive make her an ideal role model for young women across the state of Maine and beyond. She is a leader and an advocate for change and progress. Juliana is currently a Community Educator and writer for The Alzheimer’s Association. She travels across Maine to host presentations and share information and resources about the disease. She also helps to plan events such as walks and charity bowling tournaments. Juliana's crowning is a clear representation of how far Maine has come in terms of inclusivity and acceptance. Her grace, poise, and dedication to the cause of finding a cure for Alzheimer's make her a perfect choice to represent Maine in the Miss USA Pageant. Continue reading to find out more about her work and learn how she plans to use her platform as Miss Maine to reach a larger audience and bring about change in the fight to end Alzheimer's. We are sure that she will make Maine proud!
You have recently been crowned Miss Maine 2023, Congratulations! What inspired you to compete in pageants?
Being Miss Maine USA is a goal I have been working towards since I was about 15 years old. My mom was my initial inspiration for jumping into the pageant world because she was Miss North Carolina USA in 1994 and went on to place second runner up at Miss USA. Being Miss North Carolina USA transformed her life. It launched her career in television news; it catapulted her into the National Speakers Association; and it provided her with a vast network of successful women. From an early age, I decided I wanted to have those same opportunities as my mom. I competed in my first pageant at age 16. I placed third runner up, and from then I was hooked. Not only was I mesmerized by the glamor of the pageant world, but I was intrigued by the significant personal growth that comes with preparing for the competition.
What was the most challenging part of the competition?
From my perspective, the most challenging AND the most important part of the competition is the mental part. Throughout my years competing, that was one of the biggest hurdles I had to jump over. No matter how much preparation you do in all the other categories, you will not maximize your full potential if you do not have a strong mindset. It can be especially challenging to have a strong mindset today because of social media. Your fellow competitors are blasted all over the internet right in front of your eyes, and it can be easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to the other contestants. What made this year different for me was that I found a way to block out the noise. I knew I was fully prepared and that my performance was the only part of the competition in my control. I couldn’t control who my competition was nor who my judging panel was. Choosing to only focus on what I could control set me free, and I think that is a big reason why I won… READ MORE