One on One with Megan Betteridge: Miss New Hampshire United States 2013

I am so excited to introduce Megan Betteridge, Miss New Hampshire United States 2013! I consider Megan a role model because she is extremely well rounded. Megan is a beautiful person inside and out, and I find her very inspiring! 

Age: 28

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Book: The Twilight series

Favorite Workout: Zumba.  I am a certified Zumba instructor.  I teach 6 classes a week.

Education: I hold three college degrees.  I have my Associates in Science from Camden County College, A Bachelors in American Studies from Rowan University and a Bachelors in Nursing from Thomas Jefferson University.

Occupation: I am working on my Masters in nursing and passing my RN boards for my license to work in a hospital.  In the meantime I am a certified Zumba instructor and teach classes at LA Fitness and work for On Pointe Dance Center.  I also work for a non-profit organization; The Lauren Rose Albert Foundation. http://www.laurenslegacy.org/

Hobbies: Dancing, going to the gym, cooking, baking, zumba, spinning, competition cheerleading, volunteering at local charities, movies, and spending time with family and friends

Congratulations on being Miss New Hampshire 2013! Can you tell us how you got involved with pageantry? 

Pageantry has always been a part of my life.  My mom entered me in my first pageant when I was three years old. However, as I got older my passion for ballet grew and I stopped competing in pageants and by five years old I studied ballet with the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet through high school.  When I graduated college I decided to get back into pageants.  At first I was just helping plan and judge local pageants, but then I decided to go for it.  I started to compete locally and made my way to Miss United States.  I have now been apart of the Miss United States family for two years and it has been such a rewarding experience.

What would you say to a woman who may be on the line about competing in a pageant?  To go for it and follow your dreams.  If you set your heart on something you can achieve it.

What is the most rewarding thing about pageants?  I think the most rewarding thing about pageants is the self confidence you gain in yourself.  Being in pageants has taught me how to be confident, believe and value myself.  It taught me how to be a public speaker and has sharpened my interview skills.

Tell us about your platform:  My platform is L.I.F.E. (Living in a Fit Environment).  I believe it is so important that everyone takes care of themselves not only physically, but emotionally and mentally.  It is a holistic approach to living a healthy life.  My main focus is to help children and teens realize how important it is to exercise, eat healthy and get plenty of sleep.

Have you ever experienced bullying? Yes.  When entering high school I was bullied by another female that was a year older than me.  This started within my first few weeks of high school and was extremely difficult because I was attending a new school in a different town away from all my friends I grew up with.

How did you first react to bullying? At first I didn’t know what to do and would come home upset everyday.  I was also very scared.  However, the situation got worse and I was hit by the person bullying me, but I stood up for myself and reported it to my school and my parents helped me get through it.

How did you overcome bullying, and how has it made a difference in who you are today? Overcoming bullying was hard but I had the  love and support of my parents, family and friends.  It has made me a stronger person and has taught me to stick up for myself and what I believe in.

Do you have any advice you can offer for our readers who may be bullied?  Believe in yourself and take a stance for who you are, and what you believe in.  Also, do not be afraid to reach out for help.  Talk to your family or even counselors in school.

What can our readers do within their communities to get involved?  There are so many ways you can get involved in your community.  Schools and churches are always looking for extra help.  You can also research the local clubs and non-profits in your area.  It is so important to give back, so find something that interests you and get involved.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?  Five years from now I see myself working as a nurse, getting married and starting a family.  I also would love to be a news reporter for a local news station doing the health reports.

My mother, because she was born in Havana, Cuba and migrated to the USA when she was 4 years old with her parents.  She has taught me that family is most important together with education.  English was my mothers second language yet she excelled in school and by the time she was 6 years old she was bi-lingual in Spanish and English.  She has shown me that hard work and perseverance are elements needed to be successful.  Her passion in life is volunteerism which has afforded me many opportunities to give back to my community.   I have always admired her and the stories she tells me regarding how difficult life can be and that we should always follow our heart which leads to your dreams.  My mom is a giver and always puts her community first, she attained the elected position of mayor in my town and her experiences have become mine.  I watched and listened as my mom counseled people with hardships that to them were bigger than this universe, but she has the qualities of a good leader, a confident and problem solver and I hope to someday soon put these qualities into action.

Keep up with Megan!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/megan.betteridge.3

Instagram: @mb3185