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Miss Cover Girl Grace Powell: Beauty with a purpose

The largest misconception about beauty pageants is that all beauty pageants are full of girls with all beauty and no brains.

From Miss America to Miss USA, Miss World and Miss Cover Girl, girls prove to people that beauty and brains go together.

The purpose of beauty pageants is to find one’s personality, their strengths and weakness as a person, gain confidence and raise awareness to different causes and issues. By doing these task and more, beauty queens become role models for their peers.

GSU’s Miss Cover Girls makes it her mission to serve her peers as a role model and bring awareness to her campus. Grace Powell, the reigning Miss Cover Girl 2021, upholds that mission daily.

“I competed for Miss Cover Girl to become more involved on campus and spread awareness about Crohn’s Disease,” Powell said. “ My first semester of Freshman year,  I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and like many others I had absolutely no idea what the disease even was.”

Crohns Disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract. Crohn's disease can sometimes cause life-threatening complications if not treated.

Powell exudes passion about bringing awareness to her peers about the disease she conquers daily while serving as a leader to others. Although she enjoys being  pampered like a queen,  and taking pictures, Powell is more than a pretty face.

“I have to attend the Favrot Student Union Board events and uphold the standard as a role model,” Powell said. “Even before competing for Miss Cover Girl, I viewed myself as a role model because people are always watching and you can inspire others unknowingly.”

In today’s generation, many students are living with different issues silently. This silence is generally caused by the fear of being rejected and outcaste for being different. Powell breaks down barriers by persevering and sharing her story to inspire and help others.

“The saddest thing is that we still have not come together as one and learned to accept all people and what they bring to our world,” Powell said. “We can only pray and educate those who will listen and truly want to see change happen.”

Powell attributes her success as Miss Cover Girl to Grambling State University. She said Grambling takes pride in their students and develops one leader at a time.

“Grambling has given me multiple opportunities academically, exposure to different cultures, and chances to travel,”  Powell said. “I was gifted many influential relationships which  helped me build character and become the person I am today., and  for that I am extremely blessed.”

It may appear that the make up and pretty dresses are the focus of beauty pageants however the responsibility behind the crown is what is most important. In order to be worthy of such a title, one must  have the full package and Powell has it. As she continues to reign as Miss Cover Girl 2021, Powell will continue to bring awareness to her cause and serve as a role model to all.

“Be your true authentic self and serve well,”  Powell said. “Although I feel my Miss Cover Girl experience was untraditional due to COVID-19 I am so grateful for this opportunity.”  You can never go wrong with being you; Astonishing, Creative, and God-fearing.“

Overall, Never judge a book by its cover no matter how pretty the face maybe.