Name: Kiersten Gonzales
Age: 16 years
School: Tremper High School
Platform: Girl Bullying and its Effects on Healthy Lifestyles
I'm so excited I can hardly wait to compete in the Miss Wisconsin's Outstanding Teen pageant in June. I'm so proud to be representing Southern Wisconsin this year. I have started to work with several troops of Girl Scouts in the area on my platform of Girl Bullying and its Effects on Healthy Lifestyles, especially those of young girls.
I was overweight as a child and was bullied by girls around me because of it. I became so uncomfortable with myself and my appearance that I started to eat healthier and exercise. However, because of the extreme amount of pressure that is put on young girls to be thin, I reached the other extreme and was underweight. With this new look I gained new friends who unfortunately were bullies. I then started to become a bully myself, and even though I knew what I was doing was wrong, I couldn't stop because I thought if I stood up to my new friends and defended the girls they taunted I would lose everything I had worked so hard to achieve. I couldn't stand it any more and had to stand up to them. Losing all the girls I thought were my friends became my biggest motivation to make a positive change. During this time I didn't have anyone to talk to and I felt like I was the only girl who was experiencing this. If, in my year, I am able to help even one girl to see that she's beautiful no matter what, then I can pass on my crown knowing that I have really accomplished something great.
