For the year of 2016 I am running in the California Plus America pageant as Ms. Echo Park. I grew up in Echo Park but many of my friends did not like that I choose that name. Well my first choice was actually Ms. Angelino Heights, then Ms. Echo Park. Since Echo Park is more well known and I am sure easier to fit on my sash, they choose it. Growing up in Echo Park there is a gang named that but in no way am I representing them. I have seen Echo Park change and I think it is great, yes prices have gone up but it is much better. I feel safer in my neighborhood and we do not have to worry about getting shot at. The bad side to this is that people that lived in Echo Park for so long cannot afford to live there anymore. They finally have a nice place to live but they are being driven out.
Moving forward if I do win I will then become Ms. California. So this won’t be forever. This year I will be doing a lot of charity work. One foundation that I have participated for several years is Gobble Gobble give on Thanksgiving. There are different locations but I participate in the Echo Park drive. This is a very big event and so many people come out, bring food and donate clothes, blankets, toiletries. There are drop off and pick up locations located at the Echo on Glendale and Sunset. You can drop off food and clothing on Sunset then drive around to Glendale to pick up bagged up take out boxes and clothing. I really like this approach because many homeless people are unable to make it to a place to eat on Thanksgiving. So once you pick up the food you just drive around and find homeless people on the street to give it to. This is a really great experience to see how happy you can make a person. What I usually do is make a big batch of cranberry sauce because most people don’t make it they buy the can. (I don’t know why because it is easy to make and delicious!) Then I make a couple pumpkin pies, I drop the food off on Sunset then swing around to the alley. This year I bought some sweaters, socks and toiletries. I kept those in my car so that I could give them out to people. Those things can really help them out. I would like to have an event where I go out and feed the homeless as a group so I am hoping to get some people together for that. Another program I hope to work with is #lunchbags I have a friend from middle school that has been do it and I have been interested since last year. Look out for that coming up.
The other thing I like to promote is High Self esteem. Growing up I got made fun of a lot and had low self esteem. It has taken me years to overcome that. I can say that most days I do have high self esteem. There are some days though that I do not feel so good about myself. But instead of going down a road of negative thoughts I think about how far I have come. If that does not work I allow myself to be sad for a little while then I tell myself that is it no more. I pick myself up and put something cute on and do my makeup. Once I look super fabulous then I feel a lot better about myself. I want to show the world that they can have confidence in themselves too. I want to inspire people to try something new and step out of their comfort zone. Once you do, you become even stronger.
So, as Ms. Echo Park I am focusing on feeding the homeless and high self esteem. I believe that I can make a difference in many peoples lives and I have touched some lives already. I will be raising money to pay for the pageant and feeding the homeless. I will have organic lip balms for sale coming up with my personal hashtag #allsizebeauty and ” I support Ms. Echo Park ” I will be selling them for $5 each, just remember this is a donation and rather then just ask for money I want you to get something in return as a Thank you! I will have other products available such as scrubs, body balms, deodorant, and my personal favorite green tea moisturizer (it works as a makeup remover too)
Thank you so much for reading and letting me share my life with you. God Bless!
Kristen xoxo
Kristen Love 