KAITLYN CHRISTOPHER
MISS INDIANA USA 2005 & CRITICAL BEAUTY AWARD RECIPIENT
by Rafael Robert Delfin
ONCE UPON A TIME, there was a sweet little girl who dreamed of becoming a princess.
As she grew older, she realized that she no longer wanted to be a princess. Instead,
she wanted to be a beauty queen. With the help and love of her fairy godmother, she became one,
and with her multiple titles she captured the hearts and minds of some of us who may have
strayed away from the path of "b-righteousness." Forget J-Lo who's too busy promoting her line
of fur coats (God knows she'll never be able to empathize with electrocuted minks). Forget
Paris Hilton whose pampered body is rapidly resembling a pinhead. And you can certainly
forget about Naomi Campbell whose only true claim to fame is her unpredictable persona ("Is she
or is she not Magali Febles's step-daughter?")
No, thanks. Bring me some freshness, some sweetness, some virtue! Hey, young lady! You look
mighty sweet and pretty. What's your name?
Meet Kaitlyn Christopher, a young woman with a remarkable competitive spirit and passion for life.
A young woman whom the Nuyorican Ho and her likes should look up to. The current Miss Indiana USA
talks about her childhood interests, her Grandma Willie, her animal rights activism, and her
future goals.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I was born and raised in Kokomo, Indiana. As a young girl I always loved to dance, sing,
and perform various skits for my family; we still have many of them on videotape! When I was
five years old I was blessed with my first little sister, Kelsey, who is now 13. I was later
blessed with two more sisters, Hannah who is now 12 and Laura who is 11!
As an elementary school student, I performed in many “Curtain Call Theatre” productions
including Cinderella, The Magical Pied Piper, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Alice in Wonderland.
I also took ballet, tap, and jazz lessons and participated in many recitals. I loved being
on stage and I felt completely at home there.
Then when I was in fifth grade, my family moved and I had to switch schools. This was very
hard for me as I went from being one of the most popular girls at my old school to being
made fun of a lot at my new school. As a matter of fact, I still remember the day when
I ran for Class President, but in a unanimous vote I was voted “Class Ditz” instead.
Over the next few years, I changed from being an outgoing “performer” into a shy,
awkward adolescent who could barely get a word out of her mouth!
What changed all that?
My Grandma Willie realized that something needed to be done to help me get my confidence
back. That was when I first started competing in pageants. Grandma entered me in a small
local pageant to begin with, and I placed 3rd runner-up out of four girls. In other words,
I came in dead last! However, it was a good learning experience for me and I did have fun,
so I decided not to give up on competing. Grandma and I made pageants our “hobby” together.
I entered more pageants and my poise and confidence improved.
I always knew that every time
I competed, Grandma was on stage with me in spirit. She taught me how to set goals, to
never be satisfied because there’s always something bigger and better, and most importantly
that doing my best at that time would only put me in a better place in the future.
How did it feel to have won the Miss Indiana USA title?
When I entered the Miss Indiana USA pageant, I was determined to do my very best, but
I did not expect to win on my first try. I was only 18 and I was in my first semester of college.
I thought that an older girl with more experience and more education would probably win,
but I knew that I would have a great time and that it would be a tremendous learning experience
for me no matter what. I cannot even begin to describe how I felt when I was one of the last
two girls standing and then they called the other girl as my 1st runner-up, leaving me on
stage as the new Miss Indiana USA. I was completely overwhelmed with emotion. It had long
been a goal of mine to someday win that pageant, but I did not expect it to happen so soon!
I truly would not be where I am today without my Grandma Willie or the experiences that I
have had in pageantry. I was very disappointed that I did not place at the Miss USA pageant,
but I still have big plans for the future. I want to gain some experience acting and I plan
to continue modeling. Hopefully, someday I’ll get a big break and get to model for Victoria’s
Secret! That would be a dream come true!
Of course, I am also very anxious to get back to my studies. I work as a volunteer in the
Wellness Center at the Indianapolis Humane Society where I assist with spay and neuter
surgeries and other procedures. I also volunteer frequently for Pals for Paws, an animal
rescue organization in my hometown. These volunteer experiences have cemented my strong
desire to become a veterinarian, so I am currently pursuing pre-veterinary studies at
IUPUI in Indianapolis.
You’re still in school. What are you studying and what do you expect to do with your specialty
in the future?
I am studying pre-veterinary medicine. My undergraduate degree will most likely be in Biology,
because pre-veterinary medicine is a very heavy science curriculum. When my pre-requisites
are completed, I plan to apply to veterinary school at Purdue. I would one day like to
open my own veterinary practice or possibly even run a Humane Society in a city where I
can really make a difference.
What beauty titles have you won so far besides your current title?
I won my first title in 2002 when I was crowned Teen Indiana.
I went on to place as 2nd runner-up in the Miss Indiana Teen USA pageant. The next year, I was crowned Miss Teen Intercontinental 2003
and named the Intercontinental Supermodel of the Year. Then in 2004, I was named Miss Indiana Teen Galaxy,
and I placed 2nd-runner up at the national Miss Teen Galaxy pageant where I also won the academic
and service awards. I went on to win the Miss Kentuckiana pageant and America’s National Miss
pageant the very same year. I had learned the value of hard work and perseverance, and I had
certainly regained my self-confidence.
Do you consider yourself a crown-chaser, or simply competitive?
Neither one really. I simply love being on stage
and being in front of the cameras. To me, it doesn’t really matter if it’s a pageant,
a play, a style show, a movie, or public speaking. I just love performing! Yet by the
same token, I definitely have a competitive spirit especially in school and pageantry.
Who doesn’t love to win?
What do pageants mean to you? What do you tell critics who argue that pageants
objectify and exploit women? And if you had a daughter someday, would you encourage her to
join beauty pageants?
Pageants helped me mature from a shy, awkward adolescent
into the self-confident young woman I am today. The experiences I have gained through pageantry
are invaluable. Not only have I developed poise, speaking abilities, and interview skills
while pursuing my “personal best”, but I have also been blessed with many opportunities
to “give back” to others in the form of community service and volunteer work. As a titleholder,
I have been able to help with the Jerry Lewis Telethon, entertain children at the
Shriner’s Hospital in Shreveport, raise money for Riley Children’s Hospital and St. Judes,
and be an advocate for special causes that are near and dear to my heart such as animal
rescue and volunteerism.
To those who say that pageants objectify and exploit women, I would argue that just the
opposite is true! Pageants honor women, not only for their outer beauty, but for their
inner beauty as well. Pageants recognize and pay tribute to outstanding women who have
worked hard to achieve their personal goals and to be the best that they can be!
Pageants are not for everyone, but if I have a daughter someday who expresses a sincere
interest in pageantry, I will certainly encourage and nurture that interest. There are
many avenues through which women can achieve their goals and be recognized for their
contributions: sports, art, music, academics, public service and professional pursuits
just to name a few. Pageants are just one way for girls and women to develop important
life skills and pursue their dreams, but for those who enjoy pageantry, the experiences are wonderful!
Do you have any role models? Would you want to be a role model yourself?
My Grandma Willie is definitely one of my role models. Although she does not have a lot
of formal education, she has more drive and determination than anyone I know. She has
taught me that it takes a lot of hard work and tenacity to succeed in life. You cannot
count on luck – If you want something badly enough, you have to go out and make it happen!
Grandma also understands the value of an education and she fully supports my goal to become
a veterinarian. She has shown me with her patience and wisdom that it can take many years
to achieve your goals. From Grandma, I have learned that I can do anything if I really set
my mind to it – from becoming a 5’10” gymnast, to winning a major pageant, to obtaining a
doctorate in veterinary medicine!
I know that I personally am a role model to my three younger sisters and also to many of
their friends. I consider that an awesome responsibility, and one that I do not take lightly.
I believe that in setting goals, working hard to achieve them, and maintaining high moral
values, I am setting a good example for the younger girls.
I also feel that as a role model, it is very important for me provide encouragement for
those who look up to me, to point out their strengths, and to praise them for their
efforts and accomplishments. So often, as I know from experience, pre-teens and adolescents
suffer from a lack of self-confidence. When someone they look up to and admire tells them
how GREAT they are, it can do wonders to boost their self-esteem. I definitely want to be
a good role model at all times --- the kind of person who can be an example and
an inspiration to others.
Next page |
On the Miss USA pageant
OCTOBER 2005
PHOTO CREDITS: Sam Tang, The Miss Universe Organization
