Miss Louisiana contestant encourages positivity on social media

Tulane University student Abigail Reynolds calls her participation in the upcoming Miss Louisiana scholarship pageant a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The opportunity comes on the heels of her winning the Miss Minden title, a prerequisite for the the Miss Louisiana stage.

As one of 32 competitors at the state level, Reynolds, a first-year student in the Tulane School of Liberal Arts, said she’ll use her platform to explore the impact of social media on the self-esteem of young people.

Reynolds’ inspiration came from a discussion with a professor about the relationship between between mental health and self-esteem.

“The message is to be confident with who you are, not with what social pressures tell you to become,” said Reynolds, who believes the role of social media in the lives of young people continues to have a greater impact — be it positive or negative — with each generation.

Her platform is “Authentically Beautiful: Self-Confidence Over Social Standards.”  

For her efforts in promoting confidence, Reynolds is receiving support from Louisiana first lady Donna Bel Edwards to develop activities designed to promote positivity at a young age — before children are exposed to negative social media influences. When Reynolds competes for the title, she will be striving to take over the reign of the current Miss Louisiana, Justine Ker, an incoming student at the Tulane School of Medicine.

The 2017 Miss Louisiana pageant will take place June 22–24 at the Monroe Civic Center.

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