Hi Everyone!! I know it's been a while, three months to be exact but who’s counting? Last you heard from me I was talking about my journey to the crown of Miss Texas Teen USA and all the mushy-gushy feelings I was experiencing. For those of you who haven’t heard the news or maybe didn’t get to watch,

This blog, however, won’t be about that (but don’t worry, I will speak about my experience very soon), this blog is going to be about my life since walking off the Miss Texas Teen USA stage.

I am going to be completely real with you and talk about some trials I had to overcome, the main one being the fact that my teen pageant years are over. That in itself was hard to wrap my brain around, I worked for five years at being a teen pageant queen and now it's over. In the days leading up to the pageant, I ate, slept, and breathed pageants. This was hard, at times I felt incomplete no longer working toward this goal. Although I realized that this was such a small part of the long and successful life I have ahead, it still at one point was my whole world. I remember having a conversation with a friend and her putting what I was feeling into perfect words,

it's hard and anyone who has worked towards a dream with everything they had and suddenly it came to an end will know exactly how I am feeling. It by no means is the end of the world but it is the end of that little world I lived in for so long. Because of this empty feeling, I felt myself trying to find what my next goal was. Although being a reconstructive plastic surgeon is the end goal, that is a goal that will take many years to reach. What is something I can do now that will bring me the same excitement and drive pageants did?

I went through the holidays and spent quality time with my family, reflecting on the past year and my accomplishments. On January 10th, 2020 I received an email from my talent agency that I was selected to go audition for a Target Commercial, this was a little sign from God that I was ready to move onto the next passion and goal of mine. I spent the next day planning what I was going to wear and preparing for my audition. The night of January 12th, 2020 I was spending time with my family when I received an email, my mom was on the phone and dad watching tv. I opened my email and began to read the email preview that said

“GOOD AMERICAN-Open Casting! You’ve been selected!🤩”

After reading this, I begin to remember that in November of 2019 prior to competing, I submitted an application for their international Open Casting to be a part of their #GOODSQUAD. The #GOODSQUAD is made up of a group of women ambassadors who represent beauty, diversity, and inclusivity of women of all kinds.

The brand GOOD AMERICAN which was founded by Khloe Kardashian and Emma Grede is about making every woman feel beautiful in their own skin and provide great quality denim for women of all shapes and sizes.

I had completely forgotten about this and was in shock. I opened the email and read that I was receiving a call back to go and interview in front of a panel of judges… how ironic, I’ve been preparing for this moment for the past 5 years. I started freaking out and my dad noticed, repeatedly asking what was wrong. All I kept saying was “mom needs to get off the phone, mom get off the phone” she finished her call and looked at me worriedly.

This was the exact sign I needed. Over the next two weeks, I auditioned for both Target and GOOD AMERICAN. On January 22nd, 2020 my mom drove me to Dallas, Texas, where I interviewed in front of an outstanding panel of judges who I knew were going to pick the most empowering and beautiful (both inside and out) women.

I walked away completely content and happy with my interview, but most importantly grateful and blessed for this experience.

I am telling this story for different reasons,

I am so grateful for past experiences and what I have been able to accomplish. As far as what is in my future, you will all have to watch and find out!! Thank you to everyone who has supported me and continues to.

XOXO,

Sam