Koffee ChitChat
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Empowering Young Girls of Color Through Pageantry
What if you could channel your passion into a platform for change and inspiration? Meet Keyandra Whiteside, lovingly known as KeKe , the newly crowned Mrs. Virginia America, who joins us to share her remarkable journey from a sports-loving girl to a beacon of hope and representation in the pageant world. Motivated by her best friend and a desire to uplift others during the pandemic, Kiki opens up about how her initial skepticism about pageantry was transformed into a mission for empowering young girls of color. She breaks down common stereotypes about pageant contestants, revealing the depth, intelligence, and accomplishments that define these women. With an unwavering focus on mentoring, Kiki emphasizes the power of authenticity and kindness, reminding us that true beauty lies far beyond material possessions.
Struggling with doubt or feeling like an imposter? Kiki's candid discussion on overcoming these challenges through self-belief and a strong sense of purpose is a must-hear. We dive into the mental strength required to succeed in pageantry and offer practical advice for parents and young girls aspiring to enter this world. Wrapping up with the excitement for the upcoming Mrs. America pageant, we share how you can follow Kiki's journey and support her in real-time. Join us for an episode brimming with heartfelt wisdom, actionable insights, and a powerful message: believe in yourself, and anything is possible.
Hey y’all hey, don’t miss the next episode of Koffee Chitchat!!
Hey y'all. Hey, it's your girl, paula, and we are back with season 10 of Coffee Chit Chat. Wow, I can hardly believe it myself, because 10 seasons, that's a lot of seasons. But you guys love it, we love doing it. So keep listening, chit Chatters. We have a very awesome guest this morning. But before we get started, you know what we do we're going to shout out our coffee of the week, which is a French vanilla latte. Make sure you grab one, y'all.
Speaker 1:We have Miss Virginia America in the house this morning and I'm just going to give you a little background. Her name is Keandra Whiteside, but affectionately known to us as Kiki, is Keandra Whiteside, but affectionately known to us as Kiki. She recently won the Miss Virginia, mrs Virginia America and we go on to compete at Mrs America later this month. And outside of the path entry, she works for George Washington Law School in Fundraising and along with her husband, they own a mental health and wellness business called Reclaiming Royalty. She's been married to her husband, michael, for four years. Welcome, kiki. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us on Coffee Chit Chat. Yes, thanks for having me. Oh, you are so welcome. I'm so excited. How does it feel to be Mrs Virginia?
Speaker 2:Honestly, it is all still sinking in. I was crowned just over six weeks ago and being able to not only be a trailblazer in my community but to have little girls say I see myself in you. That has probably been my highlight of my reign so far and I'm just so humbled that they chose me, that I can be representative of this great state. A lot of people don't realize I actually used to live in Virginia. Prior to moving back here, I lived in Chesapeake, virginia, for 13 years. My dad is military so we did move and that took me back to Indiana. But I'm so happy to be back and represent this beautiful state.
Speaker 1:That is just so awesome, because representation does matter Absolutely. And when did you know you wanted to compete in pageantry?
Speaker 2:So there wasn't a moment in time. Honestly, my best friend was the reigning Mrs Indiana and actually was first runner up at Mrs America, and she actually told me why don't you try pageantry and I was like, honestly, I am not a pageant girl.
Speaker 2:I grew up playing sports, I like to get dirty, I like to be rough outside. So beauty, glitz and glam just wasn't in my toolkit. So the pandemic rolled around. She had mentioned to me prior to and just working at the state health department. I saw a lot of darkness with the pandemic and COVID testing and I wanted something that I can finally shine light on, and so I finally talked to my best friend and said okay, what's this pageant deal? What is it all about? And that's when I got interested, and so that would have been January of 2021. So, going on three years, four pageants later, I'm now a tie holder.
Speaker 1:Yeah, interesting story. I remember you like soccer and I was like okay. So when you were a kid, did you ever think or dream up that you would be representing Mrs Virginia or any state you know and then going on to compete in a Mrs America contest?
Speaker 2:So I love dressing up. That probably was the extent of my beauty pageant interest. So, honestly, growing up as a little girl I probably wouldn't say I was interested in pageantry. It was something that I saw from afar. But, just being transparent, I never saw myself in pageants. I never saw the representation of natural curly hair or, you know, dark skin women, so I never thought it was a place for me. If I'm just being honest.
Speaker 1:Okay, and I just love the honesty and integrity, because a lot of us, as brown or darker complected ladies, did not see that growing up. I'm so happy that you said, hey, this beautiful brown girl can compete as well. You know it. So did you know? Um, oh, what is the misconception? You feel that people think of pageant contestants, cause I'm sure there are a few misconceptions out there.
Speaker 2:There are, I would say probably the number one is you're just beauty.
Speaker 2:You have nothing behind you, no value or intelligence, but these women are so accomplished we are wives, some are mothers, entrepreneurs, business owners, and not only are we navigating the nuances of life, of just being a woman, we're coming to the table with the beauty and the brains, and so that's one thing I'm excited about the Miss America pageant that we're honoring all of those issues but also showing light that you can do it all. You're not just a pretty face, but you have something to say and it has power.
Speaker 1:I love it. So, hey, we are educated. We're just not only beauty. Yes, A lot of people say, oh, just the beauty queen. But you guys should watch or listen sometimes, because these ladies are very accomplished, because I've watched a few. So that is so awesome, and so I know that you have to be passionate about it in order to probably compete and then compete to win. So what do you feel makes you so passionate about what you do?
Speaker 2:It has to be the impact, like seeing the young people that are not only moving forward in their personal journeys, but when they come up to you and they say, I see myself in you, not only do you see me, but I feel heard.
Speaker 2:Prior to winning, mrs Virginia, I was very involved Well, I still am in my community when it comes to mentoring young girls and being able to have those conversations of what it means to show up but what it means to be authentic and who you are in yourself Like. It's not a matter of if you have the newest clothes, because the young girls are very, very focused on that. The newest clothes, the new shoes, it was how you treated people, and so I feel like what makes me most passionate is the impact, the result, that when I leave or when my reign is over, the work is still being done, and that's one thing that keeps me going, that there are people that need help but that I'm coming alongside them. I am very big on you. Do not go into a community and say I'm going to change you, but you say, how can I be an asset, how can I come alongside you and champion you to be your best self? And that's what my platform Against All Odds is all about coming alongside and helping people navigate those changes.
Speaker 1:I love it, I love it, I love it. So you, as a mentor, how do you feel that? Or did you have good advice coming from mentors that you looked up to before you decided to join this industry?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I love my mom, everyone says, oh, their mom's their best friend. But when I say she is a trailblazer, seeing her navigate multiple deployments with my father, but also navigating being a mother of two and just still working like she was not a, she was not just a wife, but she was a full time employee and just navigating all the differences so she was probably my number one mentor and she told me that your dark skin is not only beautiful but it's unique, and that's why I always embraced who I was. I never shied away of showing up authentically, and so I have to give her all the kudos and credit.
Speaker 2:But, outside of that, I had a lot of ladies in the church. I actually joined the sorority Delta Sigma, theta Sorority Incorporated, and prior to joining, several women from that organization just poured into me. They told me that, how unique I was and that my setbacks and challenges didn't define me, but it was more about how I embraced my circumstances and made the most of it. So I appreciate those mentors and that's why I am so passionate about giving back, because I wouldn't be here without them and I have to pay it forward.
Speaker 1:I love it because it is just so important for our young people and our young grandkids to understand how beautiful they are, how smart and intelligent they are, and that you want, or just someone telling them, because sometimes I've spoken to women and their parents never said that or their mother never said that. So I'm so happy that Renee said that to you. And she is, she's just a sweetheart. She's so bubbly, the best personality. I just loved it from day one. So that is so awesome. I'm just excited to hear that. What would you think or what would you say is the most difficult part of being a pageant contestant.
Speaker 2:The constant doubt and the feelings of imposter syndrome. You are sitting next to so many accomplished women and sometimes that little thought sneaks into your mind. It says are you good enough? Do you belong in this room? And that's why I'm so big on affirmations and really having a strong mindset, because it's easy to do. Pageants are no pageants. Comparison is literally the thief of our own personal joy, and so I feel like that is the part you have to navigate in pageantry, because it is subjective. We say different day, different judges, different outcome. So when it comes to being on that stage and standing amongst accomplished women, you don't say I don't belong here, but you say I'm capable, I'm more than accomplished and that I deserve to be here. And that's what pushes you through when those moments seep in, like there is no perfect mindset to always have. You're going to be human. But that's when you lean into your preparation, you lean into those affirmations that I can do this. I believe and know that I belong here.
Speaker 1:I love it. I love it, those affirmations. I love that every morning I have a little. Well, she's not quite two yet, but I do it with her as well.
Speaker 2:I'm beautiful, I'm pretty, I'm a grand girl, you know, because I want her to understand and know that.
Speaker 1:Yes, grand girl, you know, because I want her to understand and know that and I really do feel the affirmations work and, like you said, I'm sure there are beautiful ladies that are sitting by you or standing by you all the time and you could fall into that trap of, oh I think.
Speaker 1:I'm pretty in her, or am I intelligent or more smart, or have the smarts to compete with her? Because, like the song said, comparison kills no-transcript and it's awesome. So I know that all my listeners are waiting for this question. I know that there are parents and young girls out there who may want to be in this industry. What advice would you give a parent or a young girl who wants to compete in pageants?
Speaker 2:know your why, know why you're showing up, why you're doing it, why you're passionate, because your why is what carries you through, from the young age of girls entering as early as two years old or even younger than that, to women who are navigating pageantry in their, you know, late 40s. I say know your, why, be grounded in who you are. People People always say do it scared, but I say do it anointed.
Speaker 2:Let the fear go by the wayside and enter into that space, because if you were called, then God will qualify that calling and that's when you just have to walk into it. So I say, show up, be authentic. Everyone else is taken. So be your own version of yourself. No one else can be you. They don't have your life circumstances. So be your own version of yourself. No one else can be you. They don't have your life circumstances. So just embody that and that. Why will keep you going every single time?
Speaker 1:Oh, that was just deep. I love that. Nobody, everybody else, is taken. Be you. I love that. I absolutely love that and know, know your why. Because sometimes it's because you see someone else, but not necessarily you want to do that, but it's like, well, if they can do it, I can do it. But you have to know that this is something I really want to do.
Speaker 2:Yes, I love it, so y'all hear that know your why.
Speaker 1:And then do it anointed not only, but do it anointed because like she said the good Lord will bring you through. Okay, so when will the pageant air so we can all watch you win?
Speaker 2:So I compete on August 28th. It's actually in Las Vegas and it will air on their website, so I encourage everyone to go to Mrs America, mrs Americacom, and they'll have the live stream information on there. It is at 8 PM Eastern standard time because we are three hours behind, but that's when you can see me hit the stage. There's prelims, which are not aired, and then finals and just some background about the, about the pageant we have three phases of competition.
Speaker 2:We have interview, which is previous, earlier that week, and then it is swimsuits, it is evening gown and then on stage question. So those are the areas of competition that they will be able to witness okay, so that we'll see.
Speaker 1:We can see on tv, or do we go to the website?
Speaker 2:go to the website. It is not actually aired on TV. Or do we go to the website? Go to the website. It is not actually aired on TV. You have to go to the website to live stream it.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's good too, cause you can always like cast it to your TV. Yes, exactly, okay, that sounds so awesome. So, guys, all of this will be in the Coffee Chit Chat Facebook group, because we're going to make sure we watch her, because we are rooting you on the way. Thank you. Okay, so how can the guests follow you, kiki?
Speaker 2:On my Instagram and Facebook page. On Instagram, I am MrsVAAmerica24. And then on Facebook, my name Keandra Whiteside and I've been posting my journey thus far so people can follow along as I post along. During Miss America week, I leave August 19th. We have 10 days of glitz and glam, swimsuits, excursions, getting to know the girls and then I hit the stage August 28th.
Speaker 1:I'm gonna be watching all that stuff, so I'm just gonna be following you.
Speaker 2:Yes, okay yes, I'm trying to put everyone up to date, whether it's the outfits or what we're doing. We have some special events lined up, such as our orientation dinner. We get to tour the Elvis suite at the Westgate Hotel, which is a super huge highlight of the week. So the suite he stayed in every time he came to Vegas, and then the actual stage I'm performing on Elvis Presley performed on, so I'm just honored just to hit the stage.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's going to be great. I'm waiting for it, I am excited and we're going to have you back on Coffee Chit Chat, if you have time after the pageant, so you can tell us all about your experience and everything.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:I would love to be here. Awesome. We thank you again for coming on Coffee Chit Chat, taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us and our listeners, and I'm going to leave you with the quote of the week. It is believe in yourself and anything is possible. Make sure you guys tune in next week for another exciting episode of Coffee Chit Chat.
