Contestants find financial, mental support crucial in journey to Miss South Carolina crown

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Pageantry is often perceived as being all about beauty, but for many contestants, it’s so much more.

It’s about leadership, community development, personal growth, and a significant financial commitment to prepare for the spotlight.

Jill Rowland of Dazzles Pageant & Prom Apparel said:

Well, it’s kind of like any sport, I consider pageantry as a sport.

Pageants can add up if you budget yourself and it’s something you plan for, like I tell young ladies, ‘if you think you want to do this, then let’s go ahead and set up a budget.’

One contestant who understands this well is Carleigh Jackson.

She’s no stranger to the competition, currently preparing to compete for the title of Miss South Carolina for the fourth time.

For her, financial investment has been part of the journey but so has the support from others.

“The organization does a great job at offering a lot of financial help, and they do that through encouraging her to get support from our community,” Jackson said.

“One big thing that I like to do is sell the ad pages for our program book and that gives money back to you directly affects your scholarship amount.”

Beyond finances, Jackson notes the mental load that comes with competing.

A lot of the time, it’s easy to get balled up in all the stuff that you have to do,” Jackson said. “But knowing that I am meant to be here for a reason and God placed me on this stage with this group of girls for a reason is so important, my only goal is to come off feeling proud of myself.

Recognizing the emotional and psychological pressure contestants face, the Miss South Carolina Organization now offers mental health support throughout the competition week.

Counselor Katie Brave helps the young women stay grounded as they navigate the highs and lows of competition.

“We talk about how they check in with themselves to make sure they are in a good space,” Brave said.

The journey for this year’s crown is almost at its peak.

The next Miss South Carolina will be crowned Saturday at the Township Auditorium in Columbia.

Don’t miss South Carolina’s most dazzling night of the year! The Miss South Carolina Pageant airs LIVE this Saturday at 8 pm—broadcast across our powerful statewide network:

Charleston – WCIV ABC 4

Columbia – WACH FOX 57

Myrtle Beach/Florence – WPDE ABC 15

Greenville/Spartanburg – WLOS MY 40