Pageant Platform Magazine May June 2019 issue pageant platform magazine may june | Page 9

MS. South Carolina Premier World
O
ur Editor recently spoke with Cheryl
McDermott; she currently represents South
Carolina in the Premier World Pageant System
as Ms. South Carolina. She has an amazing
story and platform and I feel honored that she
shared her journey with us. Cheryl also shared
some tips for contestants who are struggling
with choosing the right platform in addition to
sharing some pageant insights.
: I am a registered nurse who works with the
disabled population. I entered pageants for the
first -time last year at 47, it was on my bucket
list and something I had dreamed of doing as
a child. I didn’t because I was bulled in school.
So last year I entered my first pageant and I
was hooked. I’m competing again and excited
to be representing my state of South Carolina.
: I work full-time as a registered nurse
working with the disabled. I started a charity
“Clothes For A Cause” which collects prom
dresses and suits for the disabled to attend
Night To Shine Prom and special events.
: I have a niece who has special needs and
my parents basically raised her, so it was
important to me to be involved with people that
have disabilities. My niece experienced being
bullied because of her disabilities so I wanted
my platform to reflect that. My platform is called
our abilities outweigh our disabilities and I want
to inspire others to work through ant adversity.
We all go through challenges; we all have
things that at certain times in our lives come up
but instead of focusing on what we can’t do let’s
focus on what we can do. I have seen my niece
who has disabilities and others with disabilities
triumph through adversity and I want to inspire
us all that we can triumph as well.
: I’ve had mixed reactions. Everyone says oh
you’re so pretty, but I didn’t feel that way in high
school because I was hearing all the negative
things and comments and I was believing them.
I don’t think the kids meant to hurt me, I think
they had their own issues and wanted to make
themselves look good in front of the other kids.
: I think the best way to pick our platform is
to pick something that is close to your heart,
something you’re passionate about. That’s how
I chose my platform of working with the disabled
because I work in the disability field as a
registered nurse and I have a Niece with
disabilities. I’ve been around individuals with
disabilities and I see what they go through, but
I also see how they inspire me to not look at
what I can’t do and just focus on what I can do.