CROWNING MISS TEEN PHOTOS: EDWIN SHAW PHOTOGRAPHY
M é Shyia Bradshaw, a Senior at John Hardin High School, knew immediately that she was going to make an impact when she finally won the title of Miss Kentucky Teen USA. “I immediately realized that I did it,” state Bradshaw. “And not just the fact that I won, but that I set a new path for little girls who looked like me. I was told growing up that I would never be anything more than the daughter of an incarcerated father. But I made something of that history. I made something of my last name and that’s important to me. I did something for my little sister., I did something for my little sister’s friends and I did something for my dad.” Bradshaw started competing in pageants at age 13 as a way to overcome her own insecurities. “I just needed to try something new,” she remembers and would go on to win several local county fair titles. Her time on stage was interrupted by COVID but that gave her the time and room to practice. “We were all cramped up in our house and I just practiced, practiced and practiced!” For anyone who has experience with pageants, one misperception is that it’s only a beauty contest. Learning to present oneself in front of the public on stage is a great way to find your most authentic self. “I competed the first time for Miss Kentucky Teen 2022 with a hairpiece because I wasn’t comfortable with my natural hair. I didn’t know if I wanted to go that far because I knew I was going to be with girls who didn’t have hair like mine. Unfortunately, I didn’t place that year, but I actually think that was supposed to happen because it drove me to do better. Afterwards, I forced myself to wear my hair curly. I came back the next year in 2023, and won the whole thing.” While Bradshaw preps for the competition she knows her impact is far bigger. “I love speaking to schools and kids about my story. I want to explain to little girls that they are more than their circumstances. It’s not up to your mom, it’s not up to your father, and not up to your circumstances. You can choose what you want to do and make it work. You have to persevere no matter what hits you or what makes you fall to the ground. You have to get back up and keep trying. It brings me so much hope knowing they are able to see someone they can relate to and that they can see themselves in my shoes and even see themselves in my crown!” Becoming MéShyia Bradshaw, Miss Kentucky Teen USA WRITTEN BY HEATHER FRENCH HENRY, MDES. | PHOTOS BY YERO, 2 HEARTS MEDIA | PHOTO LOCATION, THE LOFT STUDIO
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