Sophia Parker, a Miss America contestant, has a vision for a united America where everyone, regardless of their political leanings, has "a seat at the table."
The 27-year-old Army National Guard sergeant, also known as Miss Vermont, is set to compete in the Miss America pageant this Sunday. She is determined to remind her fellow citizens that unity and service are more important than political division.
"We are living in a time of great division, and Ive seen this grow even just in my lifetime," Parker, who serves as a combat medic and nurse at the University of Vermont Medical Center, disclosed to Fox News Digital.
She further expressed her concern about the deepening divide between the left and the right, emphasizing the need for respectful dialogue and mutual understanding. "We need to speak to each other with respect. We need to hear each other out," she asserted.
Parker, who is also a staunch advocate for wildlife rehabilitation, believes that the role of Miss America and Miss Vermont is to be a listener to all perspectives.
"I, as Sophia, of course, have my own personal opinions about things. But as Miss Vermont, Im not here to have strong political opinions. Im here to listen to everyone, and to try to create a middle ground where everyone can feel heard and seen," she explained. She sees her role as a starting point to find solutions, echoing the vision of the founding fathers for a country where diverse opinions can coexist and everyone can find a place at the table.
According to Fox News, Parker's journey to the Miss America pageant began with a high school teacher's encouragement. The teacher saw pageantry as a way for Parker to connect with other Americans and secure scholarships for college.
Parker, who describes herself as a tomboy, admitted, "I had never thought about competing in a pageant before." However, she fell in love with the organization and considers it a privilege to represent it.
The Miss America competition, which originated from a 1921 Atlantic City beauty contest, has been a transformative experience for many participants. It has opened doors for them both personally and professionally.
The organization, one of the nation's most recognized brands, awards over $5 million in cash scholarships annually, in addition to millions more at the national, state, and local levels.
Parker's interactions with other competitors from across the country have deepened her appreciation for America. "I am extremely grateful to be an American every single day," she stated. "I wake up every single day with freedoms and privileges that people in any other country in the world do not have."
She is particularly grateful for the opportunities she has as a woman in America, which allow her to wear many hats: Miss Vermont, a nurse, a soldier, and a pageant girl.
Parker's commitment to service is deeply rooted. Her grandfather, a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart, inspired her. His stories of camaraderie and being part of something bigger than himself left a lasting impression on her. This led her to enlist as a medic in the Vermont Army National Guard, a decision that, along with the Miss America Organization, allowed her to graduate debt-free from Castleton University with a nursing degree.
Parker's passion for service extends to wildlife rehabilitation. She co-founded Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured and orphaned birds and mammals in Vermont. She is actively working with the state legislature to create better wildlife policies, aiming to regulate practices like leghold trapping and hunting with hounds.
Parker clarified that she is not against hunting, which she recognizes as an age-old tradition in Vermont. "Its very possible to be an extremely ethical hunter," she said. However, she is critical of what she perceives as archaic politics that allow abuse of wildlife in Vermont.
Parker's journey is a testament to the power of service and community involvement. "A life of service has changed my life," she said. "Its made me who I am today. It gives you a purpose in life. It gives you inspiration, and its grounding in a world where, frankly, the problems [are] overwhelming You just need to get involved in your community and make a difference."
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