 Welcome to Sister Power. I am Sharon Thomas Yarbrough. I am so excited, so excited. You've got queens here in the studio or at home virtually. You know the world of pageantry has inspired so many men and women to believe in yourself, to love yourself, to engage, share and connect with your community nationally and internationally. Today our Sister Power guest, Andrea Nicole Sledge, Executive Director of the All National World Beauties and Man of Distinction pageant, and Samantha Alexis Richardson, Executive Director, California All World Beauties and Man of Distinction pageant. Ladies, queens, welcome to Sister Power. Thank you so much for having us here and I really appreciate it. Thank you so much. Thank you for being here. You know, ladies and gentlemen, I want you to know that I just had a nice conversation with Andrea and we have a blessing that she just got over COVID. So we're so happy that we have her here on our show today. This Sunday, January 30th, Wake Forest alumna and former Miss USA, Chelsea Chris passed away by committing suicide. Chris death was an unimaginable tragedy that we rippled through the community, and I am so sure it rippled through the pageant. Samantha, you know, give me your thoughts on the loss of this beautiful, talented woman. She was an attorney as well. Talk to us. Well, you know, when I first found out about it, I was in disbelief, of course, just like the rest of the world. Because you look at this beautiful woman, talented, educated, like you said, a lawyer, and people think that, wow, that that shouldn't happen to her or because she's all those things that she's invincible. Like, she's a human being that can go through human things. And unfortunately, no one knew. The other thing is, is that it just lets you know that everybody goes through something you don't know, a person can look totally normal to you and be going through a lot. They could have the weight of the world on them and you would never know about it because they always cover it up with a smile, or just regular conversation that makes you think, okay, they're okay. But sometimes, like I said before, you just don't know. You don't know. Well, Andrea, you know, you've been in this business for a while. Give us your thoughts. So, just like them up like a lot of us have this. So here's the thing if hadn't for you carry a lot. We always expect it to be super poised super put together. There are some facets of pageantry that people feel that we are super human against and that's not true. You know, there is a lot put on us to perform. But with everything else that was on her plate with her going from being part of the Miss USA system, you know, she was actually working for the system, her working with extra, you know, still, you know, practicing attorney she was also back in school there was just a lot on her plate and a lot going on, but one of the main things that I always tell people and want them to know is that it's okay not to be okay. But it's not okay to constantly camouflage it with a smile when you know deep down inside you are screaming for help. You know, reach out, get the help that it is that you need. You know, one thing about the National War beauties pageant we're here for one another. You know, I may be their executive director but they know that they can call my phone at any hour. And I am always there for them, because we are a family. And I truly truly believe in that, you know, her loss of life to pageantry into all of us and what she meant to so many of us some that have met her some that have not. But her being a part of the dynamic trio that broke so many barriers of being you know, the first three, you know, where all of them were African American, the points of the larger systems at one time. You know, that legacy will live on forever. You know, I do hate, you know, that her life, beautiful life was cut short. We will constantly be in prayer for her family for her mother. So I know that can be extremely hard for her. But it does send a resounding alarm to all of us that we don't have a strong friend, all of us need somebody at some point. And so we need to be cognizant of very aware of that. So I'm going to ask people are you okay. Right. Are you okay that's good advice Thank you. Samantha I'm going to come back to you. Tell us about some of your recent pageant titles awards give us a quick snapshot of your. I want to hear from both of you. Okay, so. Okay, well, I have been in pageantry from a good to my age here but about about over about 30 years or so I started in pageantry when I was about 12. So, and that's me over there. You know what I have won the title of USA National Miss that was 1997. And that was a title that was groundbreaking for African American woman to actually win that. And I was the first African American woman to win that. My age group of them is, and we had a team winner that was also African American that year so we, we were groundbreaking and we want to go on the cover of pageant life magazine and so that was, you know I feel like a pioneer, but there were so many before with the universal miss system. I was national plane of the few times different divisions and that pageant that was in Las Vegas. California, Mrs California plus America 2015. I won that title I came back as Mrs Golden State. I've won Miss cosmopolitan. I mean I have a list will be here for a minute but you know what the journey has been great. I think a high eight is out of pageantry for about 10 or 12 years because due to illness. I'm better now that I had to, you know, leave that and my sons and take care of them as well. But when I came back, I was plus size. So I was in a whole different, you know, age bracket for one, but also size. And so what I did I embrace that. I embrace every curve I had, and somebody says family to get back into pageants they have plus size pageants. So there I was on a brand new journey. I did plus America system before all world beauties but you know I was looking for that particular system that the system that I could call home. And when I found I talked to Andrea, I'm going to. This is how it happened I spoke to Andrea at the pageants in Atlanta, 2018. She took the time to talk to me. And you know I'm in a medical field so I feel like if you have a good bedside manner, people to actually take the time to actually talk to you and she did, even though she was the statistician for that pageant. And she took the time and talked to me about her system and told me that I could call her and I did and I checked into all world beauties did my research and, you know, the pandemic hit us we couldn't have our 20th anniversary then so we came back in 2021 and history is where I am. I am the national all world beauties Royal Ambassador 2021 and I couldn't be happier than I am now, and I just cherish my, my system, I cherish my title, and I'm working. Hey, Andrea. Yes, it was a quick snapshot of your pageant titles and awards. Well, I have over 26 state national and one international and lifetime titles. So, more recently, I competed in the all world beauty pageant before I became the owner of the system. I am the inaugural Miss Ultimate Queen, which is their high point winner. Their inaugural Ultimate Queen in 2015 and then I took over the pageant in 2017. And so I have been the owner and director for all world beauty since then, I am also the national all world beauties Queen of Queens number four. And those are the most recent pageant titles I have, and I'm actually get ready to come out of retirement, and I will compete one more time I am the classic Miss Texas we go elegance 2021 2022. And I will be competing in Virginia be Virginia in July so I'm very, very excited about that as well. I'm excited. How did you choose your platform. Oh man you know what everyone who knows me. They know I didn't choose my platform my platform kind of chose me. I live my platform because I have two beautiful boys that represent my platform my platform is autism awareness through education and personal experience because my twin boys have autism. Both of them. So I live my platform every single day. It didn't. I didn't choose it it kind of chose me God gave me something that I definitely can't handle and I embrace it. I love them. I spread awareness with them, and by taking them out, letting them embrace the world and not keep them, you know, in the house. A lot of people keep their kids closed away. And I've never done that my sons, I even take to them on a minibus, you know, I have a car, but I want them to experience life. So anything that I can do for them to experience like they have. And that's what has made them the 20 year olds, soon to be 21 year olds. They are today they're very smart. And they're allowed to read before they got in school and they started at age three. That's when I noticed it. And so, I tell you the story that that's like that's a whole nother talk show. Well, I'm proud of you. Good for you. I mean that that's it's called love. That's really what it's called love. Andrea, how does women empowerment tie into pageantry. So women empowerment tie into pageantry is extremely important because a woman should come or man should come to your pageant and be strongly dedicated to the experience, meaning they believe different from when they came. Now our beauty pageant we believe wholeheartedly in equipping our kings and queens with everything that they need through our pillars of interviewing empowerment and service to help them to go out and leave the charge of change that they want to see in their communities. That's really what it's about. It's more than about wearing a sash and adorning a beautiful crown on your head. It really is about taking that opportunity and taking that moment for those doors that will be open to you for you to take and say, Hey, you know what, I'm going to make sure that I'm going to lay my footprint for other people to follow for people to know that I was here. So, like some of my queens like Samantha and some others, you know, who are such champions, you know, for their platforms and for their communities and reaching out to the homeless and reaching out to other people. The reason why women empowerment is so important is because we should look to motivate one another and not compete with one another. That's what we should always do to look for. You know, we are nothing by competing against each other, but we earn everything by joining together. We're more powerful in numbers. And so what we try to do with the National All World Beauty pageant, even though we're competing is reach each other, teach each other be there for our sister, let her know that she's beautiful that regardless of what she needed or her why she came to compete in this period that she deserves to be here simply because she deserves to be here period. I love that attitude I do Samantha. Why did you choose all world beauties pageant. One reason I did this. I reiterate on it too was well Andrea was the first reason. Years ago, I had a director who took me by the hand after going through so much negative adversity, being the minority and a lot of pageant systems where I didn't stop. I refused to give up. I don't use the word camps. And I kept going until I started learning and I started to win. I went through a lot. But after that, I met a woman who took me by the hand and she showed me what good pageantry was about and she was a Caucasian lady back then. That was a big deal because of you know the time they thought that I was told that oh you can't do a pageant because you're because you're black. That's what I was actually told and so, and I didn't believe that. So I kept going but this lady took me by the hand, and she taught me and her and I stayed with her and learn pageantry from the ground up. She traveled all over United States. We she did her all her own state pageants so we traveled everywhere and I was with her for about 14 years as her lifetime queen I became her lifetime queen, and I became her emcee and did all the shows and what I learned there I wanted to get back. And when I came back into pageantry I was looking for that pageant that represented me. And when I learned of the pillars that the pageant was aligned with interviewing empowerment and service that that was me all the way. That's who I am. That's how I've lived. And so meeting the executive director just from talking to her as you can see how she is here on this interview. That's what spoke to me and I knew that I had to do her pageant. And when I got there, I tell you the ultimate experience is one of the best experiences in the world. You are family. And that's what I wanted to be I wanted to be a part of a family. And it was mainly I have to say it was mainly her. If I had to choose one thing it was her and how she treated me. And that's what I needed, because that's how the lady and I'll mention her name this, like Linda Jatala took me by the hand and she just, she was just there present. And that's what Andrea did for me in 2018 and I've never been happier to the point you know I don't even want to go anywhere. But I love a WB. You don't have to you can stay right now. Okay. Well Andrea. How important is it, is it that we are our sister's keeper. It's extremely important that we are our sisters keeper just like when we open the show talking about Chesley Chris and what happened to her, you know, it's important that we truly truly truly seek to connect with our sisters. They feel that they have a safe place to share. That's why a lot of people don't. A lot of people don't share because they question the genuineness of the people that they're connected to sometimes, or feel that maybe you know the people that they have in their life a very surface level, but if you are truly your sister's keeper, then your sister knows that they can reach out to you for anything and everything, and be able to share with you and you won't make fun of them. You'll actually listen to them, whatever it is that they're going through whatever it is that they need, and know that they have a safe place and safe space in you, both physically and mentally to be able to be there for them for whatever it is that they need. But that's why it is so important for us to be our sisters keeper we are only as strong as our next sister. If we are allowing our sister who we know is struggling to struggle, then we're not being a good steward of the time and the presence that we have here. You know that God has given each and every one of us, you know God requires us to be present, and being our sisters keeper is being present. I love that. Amen. And you know that guy is a hell of a moment. Yeah, I hope that, you know, women, especially who are listening to sister power, they take that and walk away with it and hold it dearly, because it is, it's valuable about it's very valuable. So Samantha, where do you see yourself in five years. Oh, wow. Well, I see myself as being a successful business woman I have a lot of irons and the fire. So that but I see myself still being with the all world beauties organization, growing the state of California. All beauties and Man of Distinction pageants. I see myself being a part of helping others, helping other women empower them in our mission, the all world beauties mission we want to empower, we want to instill just the magic and the energy that we have into other people that we want to do with the ladies and the gentlemen, you know, just want to instill that so in five years I just see myself elevated from what I am today I'm as entertainer so I see myself at the Grammys look receiving my Grammy let me not forget about that because I am an entertainer. I am an entertainer. And that's a whole nother show to entertain it. But you know I just see myself actually elevating this pageant system with Andrea to get it on a network television. That's what we'll see. We're going to see ourselves there in five years. Amen. Amen. I'm loving this vision. I love it. I love it. I love it. So Andrea. What has been your favorite element of competition. My favorite element of competition is interview. And the reason why that's my favorite is because it really gives, you know, the judges and myself a good scope into who you really are. You know, it lays down the, you know, the ground of, you know, the type of title holder that you're going to be we figure out, you know, what your passions are, you know, where you've been things you've been through be able to share that, you know, things that you've written down on your on your judges sheet and be able to expand upon that all of the life challenges, you know, your entire journey that's gotten me to this moment, you know, things that we wouldn't normally know and casual conversation. So that is why I do love the interview because it really does get it's time to divulge directly into the person and their passion and why they're here and why they want to be here. I absolutely love love love interview. That's my favorite. Mm hmm. And that's a hard one to because those questions are just at the spare of the moment. I'm sure they are at the spare of the moment. No one knows what's going to be asked. Look, I was there. But, but one thing that I do love is that, you know, everybody answers their questions with grace and, you know, go through the process and, you know, able to answer honestly, which I do appreciate. So yes, but I do. I honestly love interview. That's my favorite. Wow. Samantha. Can't you tell? She's a great speaker. It's Samantha, explain to our sister power viewers, the three pillars, the three pillars. Okay, well, our three pillars are inner beauty empowerment and service. Your inner beauty to me is being able to show your beauty. Of course, your inner beauty because with me. Like I said, being the minority in pageantry years ago. I had to work and live from the inside out, because no one was seeing that outside beauty. So I had to show them who I was on the inside to exert that beauty so they can see it. And with the more and more and more, I didn't give up and try. They saw it. They saw it because that's where it derives right because you can be like you can look like Halle Berry and be the most ugliest person. So you have to be able to have that beautiful inner spirit in our beauties. That's what we want all the Queens and the Kings to have now empowerment. I say this, you have to be able first you have to be able to empower yourself in order to empower others, because if you don't feel empowered just by waking up, you should write God wakes you up every day. You should feel empowered about that. And if that's happening even you are waking up, you should be able to get out there in the world and empower somebody. If you just help somebody that could just be helping someone in the simplest way I helped the lady with her grocery bags today. You know, that's to me that's empowering her to see another woman because usually it's a man running out there to help. Here's a woman who you might not have thought helped you so that's what I did or empower just by telling a woman when I see a good looking lady that's looking good I said girl you are wearing that dress girl you are doing that I've gotten a delegate by doing that to imagine just by saying that service well this pageant is so built on service. It is our duty to serve. You know, you should be able to not only serve yourself but serve others. I built my life around serving people even when I entertain I'm serving them. You never know when someone needs to feel better just by the gift of song, and I serve and use my gift to, you know the elderly people so you know and I serve in that way too but we are big on service really big on service you should be able to serve others and not just yourself. And those are all three of our pillars. And they're all wonderful. So, in closing Andrea. What tips and advice would you offer men and women who are interested in competing in gadgets. The tips that I would offer anybody who is considering competing in paradise whether you are male or female is just do it. You never know what opportunities could come from you competing in pageants are being involved in the pageant industry and one of the things I'll do is I'll share my small testimony really quick. When I first decided to compete in patents back in 2008 as an adult. I wasn't really sure, you know about what I wanted to do. But what I can say is that it has awarded me a lot of different opportunities. I have been on several national international media outlets CNN MSNBC, and even to a point where NBC actually came out to follow me and do an actual mini documentary about me and my role in pageantry and the Juneteenth pageant. So, you never know what could be on the other side of it. All you had to do was say yes, and let God just do the rest. Just take the journey. Just do it. The other thing that I would offer is perfect practice equals perfect performance. If there's anything that you want to expect out of this experience, make it to yourself to give 100% all the time to whatever it is that you're doing. No matter how big or how, no matter how big or small, just make sure that you do that and that you totally devote to it and the last thing I'll say is connect with your why you're doing something. And that will keep you always motivated to keep pushing forward. So those are my tips that I would provide to anybody that wants to compete in patentry. Ladies, Queens, thank you. You have motivated and powered and educated me. Thank you. Thank you for your wisdom. I'm Sharon Thomas Yarbrough Aloha.