Misconceptions of beauty pageants are plentiful. Lots of beautiful women standing at a perfect angle with bountiful curls, precisely applied make-up, wearing the most intricate of materials awaiting the perfect score from someone who knows absolutely nothing about who they really are. That’s what the outsiders see. However, those in this inner world of gowns and beads, glitz and glam know that beauty pageants are far more beyond that scope. Beauty pageants are the avenue to which girls are transformed from timid, unsure vesicles to resilient, self-assured, advocates for not just themselves but to the many eyes that look at their confidence yearning to be just like them.

When Roneshia Ray started out she was the one looking to others. Coming from a circumstance where hope was short and the opportunity was scarce, Ray had a limited outlook for her future. But thanks to a life-changing college experience, boss-like mentors, and not being afraid to tell her own story, Ray discovered how much she loved mentoring young girls. She saw how she was able to take their limited view of themselves as she once had for her own self and expand their view to heights unknown to them and that was a gift beyond rewards for her. “I was honest with those young ladies about my mistakes. My shortcomings and even some things that I was still working on!” What she was still working on was becoming Roneshia Ray. That would be further developed with the introduction into pageants.

“Pageantry really helped increased my self-confidence,” said Ray, “Pageantry taught me how to use my voice to help others and it also taught me how to be comfortable around women who were equally as beautiful and talented.”

Her first pageant was in high school. It was rough. Testing her patience, questioning who she was and leaving self-doubt Ray’s pageant career almost ended. But it didn’t. She went on to her next pageant and found she still had a lot to learn…about herself. With each pageant, she gained a greater education at “Ray University” until she knew exactly who she was. And with that knowledge came her first win. Oh, it was a journey; three times competing in the same pageant winning first runner-up before her name was called last as the reigning winner. A journey that led her to start a traveling charm school to impact the lives of 4500 girls; a journey that her help high school students to properly apply for college and scholarships to change their futures; a journey that led her to her purpose; a journey that was long, tiring, and hard. Was it worth it? To be the woman she is today, YES!

On this journey filled with tiaras and sashes that had her compete in several pageant systems and winning numerous titles, Ray now finds herself on the other side of the stage not as a pageant contestant but as a pageant director. Passing on what others poured into her into the next queens to rule. She hosted her very pageant over the weekend.

The Miss Ultimate Beauty of America Pageant is “when grace, compassion, and purpose meet beauty” according to their tagline. Ray calls the pageant a personal development program where young ladies of all nations can utilize their own talents and skills to bring out the best in those that they mentor through scholarship and community service while showcasing their own beauty and style to further enhance their personal growth.

Twenty young ladies ranging in age from 5 to 40 competed for five different national titles under the MBOA umbrella in the areas of private interview, swimwear/sportswear, fun fashion wear, evening gown, and on-stage question. Contestants were also required to perform several hours of community service where younger contestants addressed issues at their schools and older contestants mentored young queens. The three-day pageant weekend was a full schedule of competition, an all-white breakfast, community service project, hours of rehearsals with choreographer extraordinaire, Courtney Ned, and the preliminary and final shows.

The competition was stiff and the ladies were absolutely stunning both inside and out. Anyone of them would have made an excellent representative for the pageant system. Somehow the judges were able to narrow the field of contestants down to the five beauties who now wear the crowns. The 2019 Miss Ultimate Beauty of America queens are as follows: Miss Ultimate Beauty of America 2019 Rebecca Edwards, Miss Ultimate Beauty of America Teen 2019 Kennedy Johnson; Mrs. Ultimate Beauty of America 2019 Valerie King; Miss Ultimate Beauty of America Preteen 2019 Saniya Scott; Miss Ultimate Beauty of America Princess 2019 Zara Alexander. As part of their winnings, the ladies will share a prize worth over $25,000 that includes a college scholarship, wardrobe, jewelry, and an international trip.

Recruitment has already started for Miss Ultimate Beauty of America in 2020. Find out more information at MissUltimateBeautyofAmerica.org.