Westview High School food and nutrition assistant Kiran Sharma was crowned Mrs. West Coast Universe on Sept. 11 in New Jersey, her first pageant ever.
Most school days, Sharma works the D building kiosk during lunchtime. In September, she walked a runway, struck a pose in a crown and sash, and beat 10 other contestants in the Elite category for women over 40 at the three-day Mrs. Universe competition. The event drew 55 participants total, according to The Nexus, Westview's student newspaper.
"We get so busy with school work, family, and our everyday lives that we forget to do [things] just for ourselves," Sharma told The Nexus. "My journey reminds me that it's okay to try something new, even if I am nervous or don't know exactly where it will take me."
Before entering, Sharma had done some modeling for small businesses but had mostly focused on family and her job at the Beaverton School District high school. She said she learned about the pageant from a friend and from Instagram.
The competition spanned three days. Day one was a meet-and-greet with judges. Day two featured a question-and-answer round in which each contestant advocated for an assigned cause. Sharma's topic was domestic violence.
She told judges that people should listen to victims and make their stories known.
On the final day, contestants wore outfits representing their states. Sharma wore a vibrant yellow gown with a large, three-dimensional orange and yellow California poppy springing from the back of the bodice. Her performance across all three rounds earned her the title that night.
Sharma said the experience showed her she was capable of more than she gave herself credit for. She also had a message for Westview students: take the first step, learn from mistakes and don't let fear hold you back.
Sharma said she plans to use the Mrs. West Coast Universe platform to advocate for domestic violence awareness and to inspire others to step outside their comfort zones.
