Core Message - The speech advocates for destigmatizing disabilities through education and awareness, inspired by personal experiences with the speaker's sister [4][5][9] - The speaker emphasizes that disabilities are a normal part of society and should be recognized as such to remove the associated stigma [11][13][14] Personal Journey & Motivation - The speaker's involvement in pageants from a young age provided a platform to advocate for disability awareness [1][2][3][11] - The birth of the speaker's sister with spina bifida significantly impacted the family, leading to a desire to create a more inclusive and understanding environment [4][5][6] Initiative & Future Goals - The "Just Say Hi" initiative aims to destigmatize disabilities through education and awareness, encouraging open conversations and understanding [9][10] - The speaker plans to develop "Just Say Hi" into a nonprofit organization to provide financial assistance to families of children with disabilities for home accessibility modifications [12] Redefining Pageants - The speech challenges the stigma surrounding pageants, portraying them as platforms for empowering young women to speak out on important issues [13] - Pageants are presented as a means of personal development, providing a voice and the power to advocate for others [13]

I used to believe that being ready meant having it all together. So having the right degree, the perfect job, the confidence to speak like your whole life is mapped out in front of you. But one moment stands out particularly for me when that broke that illusion.And that is when I was standing backstage when Miss Canterbury announced their top five and I was waiting with my heels pinched and my hands were trembling around the mic and a part of me was whispering, "Wow, is this where I'm supposed to be?" It wa ...

Core Message - The speech emphasizes the importance of authenticity and purpose over solely pursuing confidence [30] - It suggests that "faking it" can be a training mechanism to achieve goals [18][21] - Finding a deeper meaning or purpose provides a more sustainable form of confidence [22][28] Personal Development - The speaker shares personal experiences in pageantry, highlighting the pressures and conditional confidence associated with it [11][13] - The speaker advocates for embracing one's true self and not conforming to external expectations [30] - The speaker encourages the audience to reconnect with childhood passions and find purpose in them [29][30] Key Takeaways - Faking confidence can be a tool for training and overcoming anxiety [16][18] - Purpose provides a reason to persevere and builds lasting confidence [22] - Authenticity is crucial, and embracing one's true self is a brave act [30]