Miss Florida 2025 Recap
- Jun 29, 2025
- 5 min read
“But Tori… why are you even there if you’ve been so vocal about your critiques of the organization?”
Simple: The power of AND.
Not everything is sunshine and sashes. There are parts of this organization I will continue to advocate to improve—particularly around inclusivity, diversity, equity, and the true empowerment of women. AND, this organization is forever woven into my life and identity.
Miss America has given me unmatched scholarship funding—supporting both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. It’s opened career-defining doors, connected me with mentors, and shaped skills I’ll carry for life. And I’ve promised to support the women who continue to walk this path.
Two things can be true at once. I can push for change and still be grateful. I can demand more and still show up with pride. As always, I’ll keep growing—and for that, thank you MAO, for the
platform that started it all.
Witnessing History
Miss Florida 2025. To say I’m satisfied would be an understatement. Sitting in the audience as Paris Richardson was crowned—the first Black Miss Florida since Erica Dunlap (who went on to become Miss America in 2004)—was nothing short of electric.
My social work / social justice brain was racing. How are we only now seeing this milestone again after 21 years? And to my knowledge—we’ve never had a Black Miss Florida’s Teen winner. Why? Well… a lot of reasons.
Let’s Talk About It
Bias—conscious or not. There have been many outstanding Black women who’ve come so close to the crown. And while yes, it’s possible they simply weren’t the strongest candidate that year, we also know what the research says: Black women are consistently expected to be exceptionally better than the average just to be seen as “equal.” Research | Research |
Historical exclusion. Mainstream beauty standards have long centered whiteness. This shows up in judging criteria, in subtle pressures to conform—whether it’s hairstyles, body types, or tone.
Structural inaccessibility. Let’s not pretend pageantry is affordable. It’s not. Especially not at the Miss Florida level. Rumor has it one of the gowns on stage this year was $18,000. How is that accessible to the young women who need the scholarships the most? I won Miss Tampa—my very first local—with a $200 gown. So yes, it’s possible to win without wealth. But the further you go, the harder it becomes to compete without financial privilege. Many of the women who participate are coming from households with access and opportunity. For marginalized communities, pageantry is a luxury out of reach. And that’s the paradox—why should a scholarship organization be so inaccessible? I digress.
Representation. Finally.
So yes, my equity-loving self was emotional to see Paris win. I wish I had recorded it—words won’t do the moment justice. I was sitting in the balcony (the “cheap seats,” as David Lang lovingly calls them—I'm an antisocial butterfly). The section was packed with the “Sunshine Sisters”—little girls under 12 who are mentored by Miss and Teen contestants. When Paris was crowned, they erupted. The tears, the screams, the joy—they ran from the balcony to the stage. They jumped, shouted, celebrated with every ounce of their being.
Many of them finally saw themselves.
That moment told every young Black girl in the room: You are beautiful. You are powerful. You belong here. You can win. As Miss Florida 2023, Juliette Valle—the second Hispanic woman to hold the title said: “It’s hard to be her when you can’t see her.” Last night, young women across Florida finally saw her. They were reminded that they are not only capable of succeeding in this space—they are worthy of being celebrated in it.
And Still—We Have Work To Do
Yes, it’s hard to lose. I saw the heartbreak firsthand—the visible reactions, the disappointment, the tension. It’s okay to grieve what you worked so hard for. But what’s not okay is the insinuation that Paris only won because she’s Black. That kind of rhetoric is steeped in ego, fragility, and internalized racism. It ignores the fact that Black women have had to work twice as hard to even get in the room—let alone win. To reduce Paris’ win to anything less than excellence is an insult to her and every barrier she’s broken.
To the Ones Who Felt They Fell
To the girls who didn’t place as high as before, who felt like they regressed—I see you.
I know how soul-crushing it can feel. But please hear this: It’s subjective. Six judges. One night. One moment. You can prepare endlessly, reshape yourself in the mirror of imagined expectations… and still fall short. Not because you weren’t enough—but because this isn’t math. It’s opinion.
You’ll never miss what’s meant for you. And if something requires you to compromise your true self, it was never worth being yours to begin with.
And to the Ones Who Rose
You blew me away. Some of you transformed in ways that were effortless, electric, true. Not performative. Not strategic. Just... you, set free. That kind of growth is intoxicating to witness. Keep showing up for yourself like that.
Mindset Coaching
As I continue my MSW and continue to step back from competition (for my own peace), I’m excited to give back. While I’m not yet licensed as a therapist, I am a certified life coach—and I’ve adored mentoring girls in this space including the beautiful Gaby Hagman, Strawberry Queen 2025 (read more about our relationship here).
And while I’ve dabbled in pageant coaching, I’m way more passionate about pageant mindset coaching. Not teaching the walk or the talk—but being a sounding board for clarity, helping girls find peace in the process. Mentally preparing before, during, and after competition.
It truly breaks my heart to watch girls crumble under societal pressure, existential dread, perceived imposter syndrome, or insecurity. I want to help them build a healthy mindset around identity and self-worth, so they can navigate pageantry with more ease, peace, and presence.
Pageantry is a mental game. Yes, you prep—fitness, gown, talent, interview—you have to. But the week of? It’s about who can hold it together under pressure, stay flexible, and still cheer for the girl on either side of her—knowing their success doesn’t diminish her own. That’s the woman who wins—both metaphorically and, often, realistically.
I want women to learn how to lose, while also being prepared to win (and vice versa). Now, I know it’ll be tricky right now— with all of the weird fear and toxicity that can come from competitiveness. But, as a social worker, I’m held to confidentiality (like HIPAA for doctors), and I have all the forms and documentation to confidently say our sessions are our secret.
I hope to donate my time in this way to any girl who could benefit. And when I get my license, I want to become an official therapy sponsor for the Miss Florida Organization—offering therapy services to titleholders for free as part of their prep for the national title.
Till next year,
A Proud Forever Miss Tampa
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