Michelle Font Interview
Miss Washington USA 2008
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Washington USA pageant?
I decide to compete in Miss Washington USA for few reasons: #1 I had always dreamed of being in the Miss USA competition with the hopes of wining and having the opportunity to compete at Miss Universe. #2 I saw it to be a great growing and learning experience that I could use as leverage in combination with my Engineering degree, to continue promoting education and help to change stereotypes that people often have when they think “Beauty Queen”.
You competed once before winning the title, and motivated you to come back and compete for the title again?
I had competed the year before and placed 3rd runner up and Miss Photogenic, and although I was thrilled with the results, I knew that I had not worked my hardest to get ready for the pageant. I thought that if I REALLY dedicated myself 100% to my preparations that I could place higher or at least be at peace with myself for knowing I tried as hard as I could. The day after I did not win, I got right into preparing for the next year’s pageant. I worked on something every day and never lost focus of my goal. The aspects that I believe are important to preparing for any pageant and life in general are: fitness, physical and mental health, diet, life balance and self awareness.
(It goes to show that hard work pays off!)
What was going through your head when your name was not announced as the 1st runner up at Miss Washington USA?
I was so excited…I didn’t know what to do. The first thing I thought about was my grandma (R.I.P.) who had always told me to be persistent with everything I wanted and then my mother who at orientation saw the 2007 titleholder’s mothers on-stage and before she left me at rehearsal she said “I want to be on that stage next year”, now as Mommy Washington USA she will be on that stage in October! Then, I was thinking “HOLY COW I AM GOING TO MISS USA!!!!!!!!!” I had so many things going through my head but I was just so excited and felt so good about all the hard work that I had put into the competition and myself.
What do you think your duties are as Miss Washington USA?
I take my title seriously and with a lot of respect. I consider my duties, to be an exemplary role model, with good morals and values. I have tasked myself with the duties of promoting volunteerism, seeking a higher education and following one’s dreams. I have been a volunteer in my community for many many years with a total of over 500 hrs volunteered every year. As an engineer I always speak to young children/adults about the importance of education and try to encourage them to go into an engineering, math or science field of study. Aside from that I think it is important to reach total happiness in one’s life and my opinion of how to do so is to pursue one’s dreams and passions no matter what. It doesn’t have to be a career or related to education but both should be pursued (education & dreams)…My dream was to become Miss Universe, so I took the steps necessary to have that chance and I am VERY happy with where I’m at and the job I have done.
What would be your most memorable moment so far as Miss Washington USA?
I have done so many fun and exciting things as Miss Washington USA that it’s really hard to chose just one moment to highlight. If I HAD to choose ONE, I would say when I was asked to fly to Missouri for an Outdoors and Holiday photo shoot with Bass Pro Shops! Modeling is something that I’ve always wanted to attempt and this was my first professional modeling job. It was so much fun fly fishing and Kayaking in the great outdoors and dressing up as Santa’s helper for their Holiday campaign. I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to have so much fun! Other than that I definitely cherish all the charity events that I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at. In particular the Crystal Judson Foundation, which is one that promotes domestic violence awareness and prevention and has been a supporter of me throughout my entire reign.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA?
While at Miss USA I was blessed with the pleasure of making 50 uniquely beautiful friends from all over the US. Miss Tennessee and I became very close and were set on becoming roommates (one would win Miss USA the other 1st runner up, then Miss USA would win Miss Universe and we’d live together in New York). We were so set on that, that we would refer to each other as “roommate”. Well, when neither of us won Miss USA we decided that we were still bound to be roommates. We stayed another night and rented a hotel room together so that we could live our “dream” of being roommates! We not only built a friendship but a strong sisterhood as well. J
You served as the president for the Hispanic Engineers Organization, what were your duties as the president?
As president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), besides running the board and general meetings, I was responsible for ensuring that my members received adequate training for leadership, professional development, networking and career advice to prepare them for career fairs, job interviews and that first day on the job. I had a great Executive Board that year and together we were also able to find funding to help our students attend regional and national engineering conferences. The biggest one was the SHPE National Technical and Career Conference (NTCC) held in Dallas, Texas that year. It was a great experience and I am glad to have stepped up to that challenge.
Would you please tell us about your inspiration for your “Dare to Dream” speech?
My inspiration for Dare to Dream comes from my own personal experiences. I have always “done things my way” and to some it may not be the right way, the smart way or the best way, but I always follow my heart in everything I do. “Dare to Dream” means follow your passions, follow your desires and what’s really in your heart. I always combine that with getting an education and remind people that your education and your dreams don’t have to be the same but they should both be pursued. With an education more can be accomplished but if you’re not living your dreams you may never feel as if you have accomplished anything. My example is that I studied engineering because I love math and had the capacity to be an engineer. It is also one of the best fields to be in right now for a secure career. However, what really made me happy was following my dream to become Miss Universe. Along the way I found other passions of mine and have learned more about myself, through my pageant experience* than through my experience in College. Coincidentally, I have been in pageants just as long as I have been in engineering. Unfortunately pageants will end for me this year but thankfully I have my engineering degree forever and that allows me to have a steady career and live a comfortable lifestyle.
*Results may vary depending on the person.
Who would be your role model and why?
Choosing one specific person as my role model is one of the hardest things to do because I take a little bit of goodness from everybody in my life. The person, who I most resemble, would be my dad. He’s always involved in helping others, volunteering, mentoring and trying to help build better futures for others. His passion for success building and dedication to his roots is an inspiration to many and I always strive to make him proud by emulating these admirable qualities that I see in him.
What do you plan on doing after your reign as Miss Washington USA ends?
I have a feeling that not much is going to change for me once my reign ends. I have always been a very involved and active person in my community. With the title, I get to wear a crown and sash when I go to events and more people listen to my words, but my message and actions have always and will always remain the same. The only thing I do think might change when my reign is over would be that I can go back to having a social/personal life, and will definitely have more time to dedicate to my loved ones.
I decide to compete in Miss Washington USA for few reasons: #1 I had always dreamed of being in the Miss USA competition with the hopes of wining and having the opportunity to compete at Miss Universe. #2 I saw it to be a great growing and learning experience that I could use as leverage in combination with my Engineering degree, to continue promoting education and help to change stereotypes that people often have when they think “Beauty Queen”.
You competed once before winning the title, and motivated you to come back and compete for the title again?
I had competed the year before and placed 3rd runner up and Miss Photogenic, and although I was thrilled with the results, I knew that I had not worked my hardest to get ready for the pageant. I thought that if I REALLY dedicated myself 100% to my preparations that I could place higher or at least be at peace with myself for knowing I tried as hard as I could. The day after I did not win, I got right into preparing for the next year’s pageant. I worked on something every day and never lost focus of my goal. The aspects that I believe are important to preparing for any pageant and life in general are: fitness, physical and mental health, diet, life balance and self awareness.
(It goes to show that hard work pays off!)
What was going through your head when your name was not announced as the 1st runner up at Miss Washington USA?
I was so excited…I didn’t know what to do. The first thing I thought about was my grandma (R.I.P.) who had always told me to be persistent with everything I wanted and then my mother who at orientation saw the 2007 titleholder’s mothers on-stage and before she left me at rehearsal she said “I want to be on that stage next year”, now as Mommy Washington USA she will be on that stage in October! Then, I was thinking “HOLY COW I AM GOING TO MISS USA!!!!!!!!!” I had so many things going through my head but I was just so excited and felt so good about all the hard work that I had put into the competition and myself.
What do you think your duties are as Miss Washington USA?
I take my title seriously and with a lot of respect. I consider my duties, to be an exemplary role model, with good morals and values. I have tasked myself with the duties of promoting volunteerism, seeking a higher education and following one’s dreams. I have been a volunteer in my community for many many years with a total of over 500 hrs volunteered every year. As an engineer I always speak to young children/adults about the importance of education and try to encourage them to go into an engineering, math or science field of study. Aside from that I think it is important to reach total happiness in one’s life and my opinion of how to do so is to pursue one’s dreams and passions no matter what. It doesn’t have to be a career or related to education but both should be pursued (education & dreams)…My dream was to become Miss Universe, so I took the steps necessary to have that chance and I am VERY happy with where I’m at and the job I have done.
What would be your most memorable moment so far as Miss Washington USA?
I have done so many fun and exciting things as Miss Washington USA that it’s really hard to chose just one moment to highlight. If I HAD to choose ONE, I would say when I was asked to fly to Missouri for an Outdoors and Holiday photo shoot with Bass Pro Shops! Modeling is something that I’ve always wanted to attempt and this was my first professional modeling job. It was so much fun fly fishing and Kayaking in the great outdoors and dressing up as Santa’s helper for their Holiday campaign. I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to have so much fun! Other than that I definitely cherish all the charity events that I had the pleasure of attending and speaking at. In particular the Crystal Judson Foundation, which is one that promotes domestic violence awareness and prevention and has been a supporter of me throughout my entire reign.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA?
While at Miss USA I was blessed with the pleasure of making 50 uniquely beautiful friends from all over the US. Miss Tennessee and I became very close and were set on becoming roommates (one would win Miss USA the other 1st runner up, then Miss USA would win Miss Universe and we’d live together in New York). We were so set on that, that we would refer to each other as “roommate”. Well, when neither of us won Miss USA we decided that we were still bound to be roommates. We stayed another night and rented a hotel room together so that we could live our “dream” of being roommates! We not only built a friendship but a strong sisterhood as well. J
You served as the president for the Hispanic Engineers Organization, what were your duties as the president?
As president of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), besides running the board and general meetings, I was responsible for ensuring that my members received adequate training for leadership, professional development, networking and career advice to prepare them for career fairs, job interviews and that first day on the job. I had a great Executive Board that year and together we were also able to find funding to help our students attend regional and national engineering conferences. The biggest one was the SHPE National Technical and Career Conference (NTCC) held in Dallas, Texas that year. It was a great experience and I am glad to have stepped up to that challenge.
Would you please tell us about your inspiration for your “Dare to Dream” speech?
My inspiration for Dare to Dream comes from my own personal experiences. I have always “done things my way” and to some it may not be the right way, the smart way or the best way, but I always follow my heart in everything I do. “Dare to Dream” means follow your passions, follow your desires and what’s really in your heart. I always combine that with getting an education and remind people that your education and your dreams don’t have to be the same but they should both be pursued. With an education more can be accomplished but if you’re not living your dreams you may never feel as if you have accomplished anything. My example is that I studied engineering because I love math and had the capacity to be an engineer. It is also one of the best fields to be in right now for a secure career. However, what really made me happy was following my dream to become Miss Universe. Along the way I found other passions of mine and have learned more about myself, through my pageant experience* than through my experience in College. Coincidentally, I have been in pageants just as long as I have been in engineering. Unfortunately pageants will end for me this year but thankfully I have my engineering degree forever and that allows me to have a steady career and live a comfortable lifestyle.
*Results may vary depending on the person.
Who would be your role model and why?
Choosing one specific person as my role model is one of the hardest things to do because I take a little bit of goodness from everybody in my life. The person, who I most resemble, would be my dad. He’s always involved in helping others, volunteering, mentoring and trying to help build better futures for others. His passion for success building and dedication to his roots is an inspiration to many and I always strive to make him proud by emulating these admirable qualities that I see in him.
What do you plan on doing after your reign as Miss Washington USA ends?
I have a feeling that not much is going to change for me once my reign ends. I have always been a very involved and active person in my community. With the title, I get to wear a crown and sash when I go to events and more people listen to my words, but my message and actions have always and will always remain the same. The only thing I do think might change when my reign is over would be that I can go back to having a social/personal life, and will definitely have more time to dedicate to my loved ones.