Page 4 - MAY2023

Page 4
Community
By Donna RhoDes
BRIDGEWATER –Nineteen- year-old Mackenzie Jollie of Bridge- water recently brought the title of Miss New Hampshire Petite home to the Newfound Region with her platform on Sexual Assault Aware- ness, supporting women on college campuses in crisis.
“Women need to be helping each other,” she said. “Why are we not worried about this? It’s been a prob- lem throughout the years. The expe- rience is hard enough; finding help shouldn’t be.”
And therefore, holding the title of
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
May 2023
Mackenzie Jollie Miss NH Petite
Miss New Hampshire Petite for the next year, she will be hard at work raising funds and supplies for wom- en’s support groups and shelters, pro- viding the assistance they need.
The Miss New Hampshire Petite competition began in 2009, where women like Jollie, who are 5’6” or shorter, were invited to compete for the title. Jollie said it’s not a beauty competition but an opportunity for young women to bring their per- sonal platforms forward. “In most pageants, height matters, but how you look or how tall you are doesn’t matter in this pageant. It’s how you carry yourself and what you stand
for,” said Jollie.
Growing up, one of her dreams
was to one day walk in the annual New York Fashion Week, but she learned that women who go to the event are often turned down because they’re too short. Falling into the 5’6” or shorter category herself, she was dismayed to know she wouldn’t have much of a chance to make her dream come true, but that still didn’t make her give up.
In early 2022 she and a friend came across an announcement for the Miss Teen N.H. USA pageant. Her friend encouraged her to sign up, and she decided to give it a try.
Mackenzie Jollie of Bridgewater caught the judges’ eyes when she walked on stage dressed in a beautiful blue evening gown.
At the end of that first venture into the world of pageant compe- titions, Jollie walked away not only with First Runner Up but also took home the titles of Miss Photogenic and Miss Congeniality.
“I went into it thinking this would be a fun one-time thing,” she said, “but after it was over and I did that well, I thought, ‘Wow- I can’t stop now!’”
She added that it was an adren- aline thing, but the meaningful platforms presented by her fellow competitors also spurred her to seek out another pageant.
“I discovered that they’re just a great group of women, and I wanted to be part of it,” said Jollie.
Her next entry was in the Miss Hampton Beach contest in July of 2022, where she was named First Runner-Up, won the interview por- tion of the evening, and realized she was a true contestant.
At the end of the Miss New Hampshire Petite competition in March, Bridgewater teen Mackenzie Jollie was excited to be crowned the winner of this year’s pageant.
Then, after 15 hours a week spent practicing her walk and her turns in high heels, answering sam- ple interview questions, and gather- ing a wardrobe and sponsors for yet another pageant, Jollie entered the regional Miss New England Petite competition as Miss Newfound in March, where she was crowned Miss New Hampshire Petite.
No competition is without its “oops” moments, though, and hers came last month when her evening gown had something spilled on it backstage. However, she said the pageant girls support each other, however, and a fellow competitor generously lent her another gown to wear just minutes before they went onstage.
“It fit me perfectly, and I was so grateful,” said Jollie. “Pageant girls are the best community. They’re strong, independent, and powerful! It’s so lovely to see.”
Besides winning the year-long title of Miss New Hampshire Petite, she’s been given the opportunity for a headshot session with a top pho- tographer, a free spray tan before the next competition, a tote bag filled with gifts, and Jollie will also have the $1,500 entry fee for entry into the National Miss Petite competition in Milwaukee this August waived.
She will be carrying with her on that journey to the nationals not only her own platform of supporting female victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence but the platforms of her fellow New England compet- itors.
“They’re all important causes, and I want people to recognize them as well,” said Jollie.
As Miss New Hampshire Petite, she will take a year off from college, where she is majoring in Communi- cations and Media Studies, to pro- mote her cause, a requirement of the title. She is currently creating posters for her campaign to donate supplies for local women’s shelters to supply them with healthcare products and any other needs they may have. Jol- lie is also putting together a website, which she said is filled with every single resource she can find to assist women in crisis.
“It’s a one-stop source to find the help you need, whatever that may be,” she said.
Pageant competitions are ex- pensive, though, and Jollie is grate- ful for the local sponsors who have supported her over the past year, in- cluding Basic Ingredients in Bristol, Newfound Spa, Sharp Excavating, and Veira Lux of Nashua, which was her dress sponsor.
As she prepares for the National Miss Petite Competition in Milwau- kee, Aug. 9-12, Jollie is also looking for businesses or individuals who wish to support her on that journey. Those interested in assisting with the cost of airfare, hotels, clothes, food, and makeup are asked to contact her at Kenziejollie@icloud.com.
Jollie said the competitions have been a lot of fun, and she has met a lot of wonderful peo- ple, but the best part of her expe- rience so far has been the ability to represent the area where she was born and raised.
“I hope I make Newfound proud,” Jollie said. “I love this area, and I will always be repre- senting it no matter what!”