Beauty, inside and out
“It’s not a beauty pageant, it’s a scholarship program.”
Miss Congeniality taught us that in 2000, and in Washington state, Amway IBO Jolene Conat has created just this; a scholarship program for young women in the small town of Wenatchee.
Wanting to teach young women about mentor leadership, self-esteem and community involvement, Conat, along with her husband Art, began Nuestra Belleza Latina NCW (Our Latin Beauty) in 2008.
Young women, between the ages of 18 to 23, are eligible to register for the program and families of contestants are also encouraged to be involved in the process. The program is small enough that it is able to operate on donations and puts more focus on the young women in the program.
This annual competition includes a talent show, fashion selection, and an interview. Personal mentoring is also provided to each contestant. The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship, while the remaining finalists share $7,500 in scholarships.
“We wanted to focus on beauty that comes from within,” Conat said. “My hope is to make this program sustainable for the next 50 years.”
Thanks to Samantha Bourque for contributing to this story.