WILMINGTON — Hampstead native Kenzie Hansley may be a champion on the pageant circuit, having represented the state of North Carolina multiple times on the national level, but, for her, pageantry is about much more. It’s a platform for her to stand on, to speak to the issues she’s passionate about, and to cause real change.
After getting into pageantry at 10 years old, an age Hansley said is a little late for beauty contests, she won her first pageant when she was crowned Junior Miss Wilmington. From there, the now 17-year-old was hooked, and went on to win numerous pageants in the ensuing years.
Hansley won Miss Outstanding Teen North Carolina and then Miss Teen North Carolina USA back to back, one of only two contestants ever to do so. Next week, she will represent the Tar Heel state in Arizona, competing for the title of Miss Teen USA.
A greater calling: people in need
But, according to Hansley, as much as she enjoys the traveling and perks that come with being on the pageant circuit, what she enjoys the most is the opportunity to help others, giving back to those in need.
In 2013, Hansley’s older brother Trent began working with the Miracle League of Wilmington, an organization that gives children, teens and adults with mental, physical, or intellectual disabilities the opportunity to play baseball, forming the Bomb Squad Homerun Derby as his senior project.
“Instead of just kind of letting it disappear after his senior project, I decided to pick it up and make it a platform,” Hansley said. “So, I was kind of the behind the scenes person whenever he was using it as his senior project, I made sure that we had sponsors and that things were running smoothly, not just on the baseball side.”
The Bomb Squad operates by holding a fundraiser each year, raising money to support the Miracle League of Wilmington.
Over the past four years, the organization has raised almost $15,000 for the Miracle League, with funds going to the upkeep of its unique rubber field and specialized equipment for the participants.
“Last year, there was a boy who was visually impaired, and what he really needed and wanted to be able to play baseball was a beeping baseball, and beeping bases,” Hansley said. “So, some of the money we raised went towards that, and some of it went towards maintaining the fields.”
According to Hansley, not only does the Bomb Squad allow these individuals the opportunity to play a sport, something which is not all that common in the special needs community, but it also gives each participant a buddy, enabling them to interact and socialize in a way they may not normally be able to.
“So, now, it’s my job and my goal to really promote the idea of inclusion,” Hansley said. “And that’s why we’re hitting home runs for inclusion, to make sure everyone is included.”
But, the Miracle League is just one of the charitable organizations Hansley works with. She is also an advocate for the Rise Above Tour, a national anti-bullying campaign.
While Hansley was in Middle School, she was cyber-bullied relentlessly by an anonymous person for several years, to the point where she began receiving death threats.
“With that I struggled tremendously, it eventually got to a point where I shut down all my social media accounts,” Hansley said. “I struggled with that a lot, I really did not have a lot of self-confidence, or a positive self-esteem.”
Hansley said that this all occurred in a time when not much was known about cyber-bullying or how to stop it. Luckily, the pageants have given her the ability to gain her confidence back, and now, share her story with others who have gone through similar situations.
“The pageantry really helped me find my voice and find a platform that I can speak upon positively,” she said.
Hansley now works with kids ranging from elementary school children, to college students, helping them find their voice, and deal with their issues in a positive way.
“I believe that some things happen to you, and some things happen for you,” Hansley said. “And I think that this happened for me, I have now become a stronger person, and a more confident person, so that I can now go on the Rise Above Tour and be a keynote speaker, and share my story.”
Miss Teen USA
Recently, Hansley graduated from Topsail High School with a 4.5 GPA, earning herself a scholarship at High Point University, which she’ll be attending next semester. In the meantime, she has a title to win.
According to Hansley, North Carolina usually does well in the Miss Teen USA competition, with last year’s contestant finishing as runner-up in the contest. Although she has big shoes to fill, she’s confident in her chances going forward.
“There’s usually a little bit of pressure going into these competitions, but I also know it’s all part of God’s plan, and whatever happens happens,” she said.
Hansley says she believes in herself, and is confident in the decisions she’s made in preparation for this competition.
“That’s the main thing I really want to show these judges, both in my interview and onstage, that I’m not some perfect teenager, I’ve gone through hardship, I’ve gone through struggles,” she said. “I wasn’t the most confident teen at one time, and now I’m trying to be a positive role model, not only for young girls, but young boys, and any part of the population that I can be someone for them to look up to.”
“I’m not trying to be perfect, I’m just trying to be relatable,” she said.
Hansley will be competing at the Miss Teen USA competition in Phoenix, Ariz., next week, from July 25 to the 29. For information, visit the website missuniverse.com/missteenusa.
For information on the Miracle League of Wilmington, or to get involved with the organization, visit accessilm.org. To learn more about the Rise Above Tour, and to see where they’ll visit next, follow them on Facebook.
Get in touch with Reporter Cory Mannion: follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or send an email at [email protected].
