ONTARIO — Maddie McGee, 19, is trading soccer cleats for high heels come July 10.
The Ontario High School graduate of 2017 will compete in the Miss Earth United States pageant, which will take place July 10 to 14 in Washington, D.C.
She will represent the Tar Heel State as Miss North Carolina Earth United States — a title she earned in March.
McGee, who participated in high school cheerleading, soccer and track and currently plays for her college soccer team, said she wanted do something different and out of her comfort zone.
After hearing about the Miss Earth United States pageant, she said she decided to “go for it” and throw her hat into the ring.
The Miss Earth contest emphasizes environmental awareness and encourages contestants to consider how they can serve as role models who promote earth preservation and restoration.
These values are important to McGee, who said she spent most of her childhood outdoors playing with her brothers, giving her a greater appreciation for nature.
Miss Earth judges will evaluate contestants based on the following categories: interview, environmental project, photogenic, social media, public speaking, swimwear, runway and evening gown.
McGee said she’s looking forward to the public speaking portion, saying it gives insight into what the contestants are passionate about, what issues they’d like to address in their respective states, and what qualities they feel they possess to be the new titleholder.
Her platform is “Plant the seeds, Save the trees.”
“It focuses on restoring trees in the environment and empowering and encouraging others to make a difference in their community environmentally,” she said.
She realizes what a valuable resource trees are, as they are used for a multitude of products and materials. “However, it is so important to replenish what we take,” she said.
“One of my favorite events that I’ve done so far that is related to my platform was when I went into Gardner Park Elementary School and talked to second graders about trees in our environment,” she said. “I read the book ‘The Lorax’ and explained to the kids why trees are so important for our earth. I was able to give them tree seedlings to take home and plant.”
Also as part of her platform she hopes to ensure that ordinances are in place in the Charlotte area that would require companies to replant trees if they cut any down.
McGee is studying accounting at Belmont Abbey College.
“I’ve always loved math,” she said. “I hope to be CEO of a major bank in New York City.”
Going into the Miss Earth contest, she’s mostly excited, and just a little nervous about being onstage in high heels.
“Wearing heels is an adjustment for me,” she said. But she’s hopeful her daily practice sessions will pay off.
Her strategy is to “have fun and live in the moment because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said.
Miss Earth United States is the USA preliminary to the international contest, Miss Earth.
According to the Miss Earth United States website, Miss Earth United States and preliminary shows will be live webcast across the world and will be filmed and edited for television broadcast. Click here for more information.
