myBurbank Talks
Women of Burbank: Amber Knipple, Miss Burbank USA 2024
myBurbank Reporter Ashley Erikson interviews Amber Knipple, a Burbank native and hair braider, who recently represented Burbank in the Miss California USA 2024 pageant. Amber shares her story growing up in Burbank, her job as a hair braider at De Cielo Salon, and what led her to join the pageant world. Ashley and Amber dive into the last few months from Amber’s sashing ceremony with Mayor Nick Schultz, the event appearances, and the experience during the pageant. Amber opens up about her dress troubles, making friends, and how she has changed as a person since the pageant.
Follow Amber on Instagram at @ambertineiusa
This episdoe was sponsored by
This episode was sponsored by Compass Realtors Mike McDonald and Mary Anne Been. https://burbankarealiving.com/
myBurbank Reporter Ashley Erikson interviews Amber Knipple, a Burbank native and hair braider, who recently represented Burbank in the Miss California USA 2024 pageant. Amber shares her story growing up in Burbank, her job as a hair braider at De Cielo Salon, and what led her to join the pageant world. Ashley and Amber dive into the last few months from Amber’s sashing ceremony with Mayor Nick Schultz, the event appearances, and the experience during the pageant. Amber opens up about her dress troubles, making friends, and how she has changed as a person since the pageant.
Follow Amber on Instagram at @ambertineiusa
This episdoe was sponsored by
This episode was sponsored by Compass Realtors Mike McDonald and Mary Anne Been. https://burbankarealiving.com/
From deep in the Burbank Media District. It's time for another edition of my Burbank Talks, presented by the staff of my Burbank. Now let's see what's on today's agenda as we join our program.
Speaker 2:Hi, welcome back to another episode of the Women of Burbank. My name is Ashley Erickson and today I have Amber Kneipel, who is a Burbank native, a hair braider at Desiallo Salon, and she recently represented Burbank in the Miss California 2024 pageant. And you're here today to talk about your amazing experience that you just had.
Speaker 2:Yes, I am, and I am so excited, thank you, Thank you for being here, and you've grown up in Burbank. Burbank has been your home. You went to elementary, middle school, high school here, correct? Yes, that's correct. So tell me, like did you? Were you born in Burbank? Were your parents born in Burbank? What's a little bit of your background.
Speaker 3:So my parents were born in Hawaii. I thought my dad was born in Virginia. So for a long time I was like, yeah, he's a, he's born in Virginia and he was so upset. But yeah, so my parents were born in Hawaii. They moved out here and then they reconnected on their high school reunion. Oh, that's really cute. Yeah, it was.
Speaker 3:That's really nice for photos and stories. And yeah, I've lived out here my whole life. I went to Edison and the Lutheran Burroughs. I played sports at Burroughs, I was on the volleyball team and then I also danced hula for about 10 years. That was also in Burbank. And then I moved to New York for a year and a half to pursue modeling. But I just realized I really enjoyed doing hair okay. So I moved back out here and I work at Desiello um, across the street from a giant blue and yellow car wash and it's great you get to stare at every day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, luckily there's trees and windows, so I'm like, oh so nice, you have a nice little salon, it's, and it's great you get to stare at every day. Yeah, yeah, luckily there's trees and windows. So I'm like, oh, so nice, you have a nice little salon. It's in Magnolia Park. And how long have you been working there? I've been there for about.
Speaker 3:I've been there for about five or six years. For two years I was a receptionist there and then I was able to just build up my clientele until I was able to rent a chair. Yeah, did you teach yourself how to braid or something you were taught? Yeah, I did teach myself how to braid. I used to braid plants. Can you do that? Is that a thing? Yeah, actually you can, and I think you can like crochet plants too. But when I would be at Hawaiian festivals and my mom would dance, there was these leaves that would come down, and so I just started braiding them because I was so bored. Um, but yeah, and then one day I saw my mom braid her hair and I gave it a shot and it worked out. Wow. And I practiced on. My friend and his aunt saw, and then she offered me $20 to braid her hair and I did. And then she invited me to her baby shower where I did her hair and her daughter's hair, and then the next day I had seven clients. That's incredible.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's not a lot of people that braid hair professionally, right, and you do like such crazy designs and you add extensions in and things like that. And, yeah, I mean you have to be a perfectionist one, I think. I mean you can't just like mess up and be like it's fine and keep going. You know you have to make it perfect, right, and you have to be patient, because you were saying your hair alone just took six hours. Yes, it did. What is the longest amount you've had a client sitting for.
Speaker 3:I had my sister sitting for about Thirty six hours. Yeah, granted, we did take breaks, you know, to sleep.
Speaker 2:I hope so yeah.
Speaker 3:And we did faux locks. So that's when I braided her hair and then I wrapped her hair with more hair and of course she wanted her hair down to her knees. Wow, I know. And did she pay me? No, she didn't.
Speaker 2:But I got good photos. That's amazing. And so you've been this hair braider, you've been living in Burbank, you've done hula dancing, but when did you decide you wanted to enter this pageant world?
Speaker 3:I decided I wanted to enter last December. My co-worker has been on me for about four years to join, and so this year last year I felt like I was in a space where I could properly express myself and not be a people pleaser in the pageant and just really hold to my own standards and morals. Yeah, and I just wanted to go out there and be who I am, not who someone else was telling me to be.
Speaker 2:So you've never done any of them before. No, this was your first one, exciting it was hard.
Speaker 3:It was hard, it was hard, it was stressful.
Speaker 2:We're going to learn all about it and why it is hard and everything that goes into it. But first I want to talk about because you see, there's Miss America, there's Miss USA, there's Miss Universe, and so until I met you, I didn't really know what that was either. And so you were in the Miss USA pageant. Yes, so it's Miss California that goes to Miss USA, which then goes to the Miss Universe competition, which is the largest one. Yes, right. But then you also have Miss California, a different pageant that goes to Miss America, right, and so you were in the Miss USA one.
Speaker 3:Yes, I believe the Miss America is, when it's more so like scholarships along those lines, but they don't branch off into the universe. The universe, yeah, that's pretty big.
Speaker 2:So when you were signing up for your pageant, you have your sash on right now, miss Burbank. Right, you get to pick a title, right, so you can put in. It could be a city, a county, a business, and obviously you chose Burbank because this is where you live and this is what you love. But in case Burbank was taken, what do you do? Are there other options, like, did you have backup plans?
Speaker 3:My boss said that I should put Burbank for all three. But I didn't want to seem too aggressive so I put Burbank, toluca Lake and Dusty Yellow, because I work there and I knew that I had a really good support team from that space. But I was able to get Burbank and I actually reached out to the coordinators of the program and they said it wasn't taken yet. So I was like, let me jump on this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's amazing I think you mentioned there hasn't been somebody representing Miss Burbank in a pageant for a few years, right In the Miss USA one.
Speaker 3:Yes, yeah, the last person I saw was about three years ago and, and I think it may be because of covid yeah, I'm not too sure but I believe that's the reason.
Speaker 2:So you got your sash and you actually had a ceremony with our mayor, Nick Schultz. So what was that like? Was?
Speaker 3:that your first time meeting. That was my first time meeting him. I was so nervous and I was running a little bit behind and I like to be like 15 minutes early to everything.
Speaker 2:So it was like pouring rain that day too right Like really bad.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it was horrible. And my friend walked me to his car and then he's probably like five feet tall and I was wearing these heels, I was pushing 6'1" and he's just standing there with his umbrella and he's like you could do it. And then I walked in and it was cool, but my mom's kind of conservative she was like look at those heels, your skirt is so short. And I was just like am I coming across as?
Speaker 2:you know you had a really cute outfit on. It was like a blazer skirt set right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it was very cute. It was very clueless.
Speaker 2:Very much, so it was like yellow, right, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it was great, though Luckily the mayor was running behind too no-transcript. I think every life experience, you know it's all a learning lesson. But I was in sports and then I was in a competitive dance team, so I feel like I know what teamwork is, as well as leadership and being able to follow the rules as well. Also, I modeled in New York and California, so that was super helpful and the family I was born into. You know you, you don't get to choose your family, but it's like they helped build my character.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and.
Speaker 3:I feel like that was a really big thing. You need to have strong character in the pageant.
Speaker 2:You have to have a lot of confidence in yourself, and I mean in everything, Not just in your looks, but just the way you carry yourself and the things that you're going to say on stage. That's a lot of pressure, I'm sure.
Speaker 3:Yeah, definitely, stage. That's like it's a lot of pressure, I'm sure, yeah, definitely. I feel like when, when I first thought about going into the pageant, I was like, oh, this is a beauty pageant, don't worry, I'm about to win this. Like, step aside, just give me the crown. But I saw, like you know, watching more pageants. It's about what you're doing for the community, how you're helping others out. It's about who you are on the inside. Yeah, and hopefully it's something good or you're not going to get very far yeah, so do you think that you learned a lot in this experience?
Speaker 2:like just like from when you first walked in to like signing up and getting your sash, to like leaving that pageant today, has that changed you completely?
Speaker 3:yeah, yes, it was. Um was everything. I'm constantly learning new things how to speak to people, the way I'm showing up in an event or a hotel grand opening.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I want to talk about that because, as soon as you got your sash, you were out there. You were attending the chamber events and making your own fundraisers. Had you done that before, showed up to these kinds of events before? No, I've never, this is very new to you, yeah, and what was that?
Speaker 3:like I loved it. I loved it. I prefer to go to events as opposed to like bars and parties. I feel like it's just you're meeting more people in an authentic manner. Yeah, and it was great, I loved it. It was. I went to the Cambria hotel opening that you invited me to, so thank you for that and there was a little girl there and she was asking to take a photo with me and it just was really encouraging and uplifting. And she was like, can I do this too? And I was like, yeah, oh, that's very sweet. Yeah, it was really cute.
Speaker 2:And it made me feel good. Yeah, do you think you're going to continue doing that like through the rest of the year, even the pageants over? Do you want to still like attend events and things like that? I would love to?
Speaker 3:I would love to, but I do need to buy new soles for my shoes because I have to wear heels like everywhere and it's gosh.
Speaker 2:And it's just like ugh. And you're already so tall. Yes, how tall are you? I'm 5'9", so with heels you're really pushing six foot, huh yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, sometimes I would go places and the guys would be like I'm 6'2" and we're eye level and I was like, are you 6'2"?
Speaker 2:Are you Some looking down down? Yeah, it's funny. And you had your own fundraiser at tequila's burbank, who are? I mean, patricia is an amazing woman and she always loves supporting the community, um, and, and she opened up her patio to you and you had a great fundraiser with family and friends and you taught luau there. You taught people how to dance. You taught hula dancing um, when did you get into that? When was that Hula dancing?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I believe I was probably six years old. Okay, yeah, I think so. And it was over here on Victory and Alameda, wow yeah. So it's hula, halau kamuela and we are a competitive hula dancing team. And he was very strict your hair had to be the same, your outfit had to be the same. Everything needed to be in sync. If you weren't meeting his criteria, you had to stand in the corner for the rest of the hour with your arms out, and it was intense, but like it was really good. And I actually found out. I had a lot of family from there, from my dad's side, and they just all happened to be within the same halal, so that was really cool that's amazing.
Speaker 2:Did you start it to just like be more in touch with your culture and things like that, or was it something you've always just wanted to do?
Speaker 3:I didn't want to do it I did not want to do it. No, my mom made me. Oh yeah, and you know, when you're like six years old, yeah, but yeah, you're glad now, I'm sure right yeah, definitely like who.
Speaker 2:I mean, that's a talent a lot of people don't have I, I mean, it's very rare.
Speaker 3:Yes, I wanted to. Later on in life I wanted to join like a hip hop team because it's always been a dream of mine to call someone out on the dance floor. I'm like yeah. And I have been out and people have called me out and I just have to like give it to them because I can't dance. Battle you who love Like it's just not gonna work.
Speaker 2:So you, you do hip-hop dance too.
Speaker 3:No, oh, you just okay. Maybe in the future sometimes on youtube, I'll go on youtube and I'll practice in my room.
Speaker 2:That's amazing I love those tiktok dances where you have to like, try to like, learn them and yeah, figure them out, I'm not. I'm obviously not a dancer. I'll buy that. Um, so you, just you just came back from your pageant. It was was last month, right, yes? So you went in June. What was that experience? How long were you there? What was meeting the girls for the first time?
Speaker 3:like, tell me all about it, okay Well everything was really great, until it wasn't I know.
Speaker 2:Dun dun dun Right what happened?
Speaker 3:Zoom in on face. So what happened? Zoom in on face. So what happened was I had a gown being made for two months and it was fit to my body, um, and the day before I was to be presented, it ripped like the entire back ripped yeah and then I'm looking at the sleeves and there's holes in the sleeves and there's there. It was just like falling apart and it really just threw me off completely.
Speaker 3:You didn't get the dress till you got there, I got the dress on Thursday, ok, and I was supposed to receive it before then, but I got it on Thursday. I was leaving Friday morning at 5 am and I got it on Thursday at 9 pm and it was pretty horrible and it was super stressful. And then I'm over here crying my eyes out, yeah, and the scene the guy who made the dress came and it was very narcissistic tendencies. So we ended up. He said he could fix the dress and so we left in the morning. We had about two hours of sleep, wow. So when I got there I had a horrible migraine and I have visual migraines, so it's like I just can't see. And Miss Brentwood, she was so kind and she actually started massaging my neck. And then the house moms got me some Excedrin and that woke me back up and it was good, you know, miss.
Speaker 2:Brentwood. Yeah, yeah, she's really awesome. Did you room with other girls or were you by yourself? I got my own room.
Speaker 3:I roomed with my mom. If you did room with another contestant, then the hotel was free. Oh, okay, yeah, but I'm like really weird about my space.
Speaker 2:Especially getting ready for such a big day, right? So okay, back to the dress.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so that dress was horrible and it was just it was horrible. Did you wear it? No, I didn't wear it and I spent a decent amount to have it made, so I didn't end up wearing it. And then, friday, I'm just on my phone the whole time because my friends went and went to go look for a gown for me and they found something. Thank goodness I saw the photos.
Speaker 2:It's absolutely beautiful, thank you. The fact that you got it that day is incredible.
Speaker 3:Yes, my um, my friend. She was like what size are you? I'm like I'm size six. She's like we're buying a size four, you're going to be snatched. And I was like, okay, let's do this. And they came that night. I tried it on at like six and then my boss actually drove to Orange County where the pageant was, with the gown that was torn and I tried that on and it was like nothing was fixed. Yeah, and actually even if I wanted to wear that gown, the zipper was broken. Oh my God, I know so it's like, come on, sir.
Speaker 2:Well, everything happened for a reason because you looked absolutely stunning, and I'll have a photo up so that, when we're talking about this dress, we can see what you looked like in it. It was purple, right. Yeah, it was Like a light purple, yeah and it even had gloves.
Speaker 1:Yes, I saw that it was really really pretty.
Speaker 2:Your friends did a great job, thanks, so okay, so other got your dress out of the way. And now, how many girls were there?
Speaker 3:There were, I believe, around 84 misses and I believe like 45 teens.
Speaker 2:Okay, and you have to practice being on stage. I feel like I mean, everything looks so polished and you just get there Friday right and the contest is Saturday.
Speaker 3:No, actually, yes, the contest is Saturday and on sunday. Okay, um, so we got there. Friday was rehearsals in the, like, the rehearsal room that we had, and then on saturday they took us on stage and that's when we tried it out and the stage was actually super slippery. Oh gosh, that's so scary. Yeah, it was so scary because I'm in like six inch heels, yeah, but there's one girl who fell and we were all really surprised because her walk was amazing, oh, and she owned a. Actually, she was the first runner up, really, yeah, yeah, she made it really far and congratulations, even after falling.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's pretty incredible. And she fell. Get back up Always, even after falling, that's pretty incredible.
Speaker 3:Always get back up. Yes, she fell the day of the preliminaries, which really counts for a lot, and she got back up and she walked and she made it so far, so I'm really glad for her.
Speaker 2:It takes a lot of character to get up and put your face back on and just say I'm going to keep moving forward. So did you make any other relationships other than Miss Brentwood? No, Just Miss Hattie.
Speaker 3:You know, I feel like Miss Brentwood and I were just right when we got together. It was like we were supposed to be together. She's actually the most mature woman to ever run for Miss California she's 75. Hold on, what yes. She's 75, what yes. So they lifted the ban which I don't want to say ban, but the rules which you couldn't be over 28, you couldn't have a child, I believe, and you couldn't be married.
Speaker 3:I thought that was true, yeah but they lifted it like this year, oh, wow, I believe because she signed up. No, this year, yeah. So she signed up and and it was great having her and hanging out with her. Um, you know, I connected with some of the other girls that I was around. We are all there alphabetically, but her and I still text to this day.
Speaker 2:That's really sweet yeah this was, was this her first pageant too, something she just always wanted to do?
Speaker 3:I think what she was telling me that she just felt like her life wasn't going anywhere and she felt old and she wanted to just branch out. Yeah, and she went online and she saw that they had lifted it and she was like, oh, I'll apply next year. And then she realized it was open for this year. So she's like I'm gonna do it. That's incredible. Yeah, she's like I'm going to do it.
Speaker 2:That's incredible. Yeah, she's an awesome lady. What a good experience. You know, I actually did a pageant in 2002, miss Teen California pageant. I don't know if it was USA or if it was America, but it was Miss Teen. It was my first one. I didn't know what I was doing and I refuse to this day to look back at the photos and the videos the VHS tapes of myself on stage, but it was a really fun experience.
Speaker 3:Yeah, something that.
Speaker 2:I feel like every girl should like have you know.
Speaker 3:Did you feel like you connected with anyone?
Speaker 2:while you were there. I think I was pretty introverted at that time and I was. I talked a little bit, but I was so shy I was like not Miss Conggeniality at all, I, I kept to myself, I, I never. I was a kid like never raised my hand in class, like never talked um. So I think now would be a different story. I probably wouldn't shut up, but but it was fun. I didn't, I didn't make that many connections, but um, yeah, I, I loved it.
Speaker 3:I thought it was a really cool experience yeah, it was cool, I feel like you know, dressing up seeing the other girls, and there was one girl who nothing was going right for her, but we didn't know that, you know, and she expressed it and she was crying and then you got to see the other girls like, lift her up. Yeah, and that was really like empowering.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And helpful to her, because she stayed and she was thinking about leaving.
Speaker 2:I'm sure every single girl there and woman there was terrified and nervous and had all of the same feelings. And when you kind of pull down those barriers and realize like just because we're acting like we've got our stuff together, we don't Right.
Speaker 2:Right, we're all in this together, you guys yeah, so let's talk about the actual competition. There's three categories, right? So you have your interview, is that what it's called? Yeah, interview. And then you have your swimsuit and you have evening gown. In that order, yes, okay. So tell me about the questions they asked you for the interview.
Speaker 3:So my questions really went based on my bio sheet and they asked about the charity I was working with and then what I did with that charity and then what sort of life experience I've had. That shifted the way I viewed life, and so I worked with Halo. My friend owns a non-profit organization where they go to Trader Joe's multiple times throughout the week and then they disperse the food to women's shelters, rehabilitation centers and low-income housed families and they also go to Skid Row.
Speaker 3:So I, one of the women, asked me what it was like in Skid Row and then, yeah, I feel like the interview process was just my boss really was drilling me. You were prepared.
Speaker 1:So hard.
Speaker 3:Yes, and I've gotten like every job that I've applied for, so I wasn't too nervous. But I was still nervous because you're sitting there in front of five people who are going to tell you if you can make it?
Speaker 2:Is everybody on the stage during this moment, during the interviews no.
Speaker 3:So this was actually in a back separate room. Oh, ok, yeah, during the interviews no, so this was actually in a back separate room. Oh, okay, yeah. And then they called us in by a group of 20 and then they would call one person out and it would just go from there. Okay, and after the interviews then we'd go back into the rehearsal room.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's not bad. Instead of like being in front of everybody and the entire audience, that's a little nerve wracking and it was horrible You're just like oh God, I don't even remember what I said Okay, so then you had swimsuit. Yes, right, how did you feel being out there in your bikini? And I mean, that's, it's gotta be difficult, right, yeah, it was super uncomfortable.
Speaker 3:All eyes on you. Yes, I was just thinking how many Pilates bodies am I going against right now? You know I'm like oh my goodness. But it was cool. My friend said that it seemed like I had a lot of confidence, but I was just like praying the entire time, Like don't slip, you can do this, You're supposed to be here and and yeah, I just it was. It was pretty nerve wracking, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. Well, you did it it. I'm so proud of you that's amazing.
Speaker 3:And then you killed evening gown with your last minute gown right yeah, we were practicing in the hotel room, which was so hard because, like, there's not a lot of walking space, especially with the gown and a train behind you. But I did it and the dress fit that's amazing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you were snatched in it. Yeah, I was. I was like, oh my goodness, that's amazing. So at the end, sunday is when they pick the winner. Yes, okay, do you know who won? Miss California, yeah.
Speaker 3:I forget her name, to be honest, but I believe it was Miss Santa Monica. Oh, I think I remember seeing that, yeah, she actually if I'm correct, she was the second runner up last year. Oh, and she was under Fullerton.
Speaker 2:Okay, that was another question. I didn't know if you could repeat a contest, like, if you've already been, you're allowed to go back.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I believe you're not able to if you've just already won. Okay, yeah, if you're runner up, you can go back Okay, Even the last year's first runner up, Gigi. She was there this year and I sat basically right next to her and I was like, oh my goodness.
Speaker 2:That's kind of exciting, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:She was practicing a lot and she made it to the top five.
Speaker 2:Wow, that's amazing. How did miss brentwood do? I think she won something right? Yeah, I think I saw a picture of that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, she did. She won, I believe, the bathing suit award. Oh, that's so sweet. Yeah, yeah, so she was excited, and then they even interviewed her on ktla.
Speaker 2:That's incredible yeah, oh, and you guys are still friends and you'll have a lifelong friendship.
Speaker 3:She actually just texted me. I was like, oh, I'm going to read this in a little bit.
Speaker 2:Is she going to be doing the pageant next year?
Speaker 3:I don't think so.
Speaker 2:Are you?
Speaker 3:I don't know, after, after I did the pageant, I was like I'm not doing this again.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but was it the stress of it? It was so stressful yeah.
Speaker 3:I think the stress really came from the gown, because it was like everything was just free flowing and I wasn't encountering obstacles. I had a lot of support, yeah. And then, out of nowhere, it was like yeah, what am I going to do?
Speaker 2:Now you know what to expect, right, like you know, maybe have a backup and you know what the situation is going to be like and what you have to practice, and do you feel like you'd have more of an advantage now going back? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:That's probably the only reason why I would join next year, because now I know what I'm really walking into. Yeah, now I know where the actual schedule is, because I was like on my phone, looking at the schedule, I'm like this is not lineup. Yeah, this is what we're about to do right now. Of course, the schedule was posted on one of the doors.
Speaker 2:I was like, okay, I wonder how many girls win on their first year. I don't think any. I would imagine that wouldn't happen.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah. I even asked Deanna, who was last year's Miss California, and she said that that was her second pageant.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I was you at least got to get one under the belt and then back in. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3:So my friend is like let's do it, and I'm just like give me a moment.
Speaker 2:It's only been. It's been less than a month for you. Yeah, I'm sure you have a lot to like process from all of it, but you're're gonna have your sash right through the rest of the year and hopefully maybe you'll take it back next year. Um, but what is your plans now for the rest of the year, as miss burbank?
Speaker 3:um, I would like to go to more events, more charities, um, just being active in the community, and I feel like that's kind of the role I want to take on right now. I kind of, after the pageant, I was like I just want to rest and recenter myself and just like dive deeper into who I am and how I can show up for other people in an encouraging way. Yeah, because if I'm not fully fulfilled to myself, I can't help others. Yeah, no, but like if, if there was something going on, I'd love to be a part of it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Um, there's always something going on.
Speaker 3:Yeah, there is. You've shown me so much.
Speaker 2:I'm like, week by week there's, there's a million things. Follow my Burbank. We've got all this stuff happening all the time. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean, I don't actually one thing I did want to do because I grew up in the Boys and Girls Club and so I did want to go to the Boys and Girls Club and offer hair services for the children. But I think we need I need to call the person in charge and maybe have the kids come to the salon. Oh, ok, because yeah, like when you're doing certain services, it does hurt your back.
Speaker 2:But also, well, that would take a long time, Like like you'd have to go every single day right to get all those kids yeah, and you don't want to like leave them out?
Speaker 3:yeah, but I have spoken with a girl who does my hair and a few of the stylists at the salon and they said that they would be interested in coming on a day off and taking the kids as well as their parents that's awesome, yeah, yeah, I like how you can take what you know and like find a way to like bring it back into the community, right?
Speaker 2:Thanks, that's the most important part.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I feel like when I was in the Boys and Girls Club, I saw that. You know, I believe it's low income care for children, and I had a great time there. I still have friends with the people that I met there, and but it's mostly like minorities, and so I feel like, especially in Burbank, there's times when people tell me oh, I have never met someone who braids in Burbank and and it was such a struggle for us, we always had to go to Long Beach or Inglewood. And kids want to feel good too. You know they. They want their hair done, they want to look good, and I feel like they should.
Speaker 2:I love that you're just positivity and you're just so like, cheerful and so sweet and I just I'm so glad that I got to meet you this year and learn about this experience that you've gone on um, and I love that you have become a different person. So the last time I saw you was before the pageant. And now here you are and what do you think your biggest takeaway has been in this experience?
Speaker 3:Ooh, I feel like my biggest takeaway in this experience has just been to stay true to myself. Um yeah, how else can I answer this?
Speaker 2:that's a good one. And you, I know you were on like a self-discovery for a while, before your pageant too, and so, yeah, seems like you're still on that path of like and it's it's hard to stay true to yourself, especially as a woman, especially as social media and all of the things that are keeping us compared to other people Right, and so it's, how do you do it? Because I struggle with myself all the time, trying to stay true to like me and my values and my core beliefs, when there's constantly things attacking me from all angles and TikTok and Instagram and the media and everything like that. What works for you?
Speaker 3:My relationship with Jesus. Yeah, so that's my biggest thing, and I just feel like I'm constantly asking myself questions. Do I feel good about this person I just met? How do I feel after our interaction together? What were the emotions I went through today? How many times was I tempted to do something that wouldn't have been beneficial for me? How many times did I say something to someone that maybe was discouraging, when I was just trying to be truthful, but it came out hurtful instead? You know, and I feel like it's an ongoing process, and just in regards to the pageant, I I was like I feel like those girls were so beautiful and then you put on makeup and a gown and it's like, wow, you're just radiating, and so if you're not strong in who you are, then it could be really easy to back down or feel like you're not enough based off of just the outer appearance. Yeah, and so I'm really glad that I've taken the time to try to get to know myself more. Every month is something different.
Speaker 2:I love that self-reflective talk that you do like asking yourself how you feel and what you went through in the day. That's really impressive. I think I'm going to try that. That's incredible because you get sometimes so far weeks, months and it's been deteriorating your mind and the voices and the negative talk. If you're not addressing it every day, it's going to take over.
Speaker 3:Yes, I read this book one time called Winning, by Tim Grover, and he just talks about how the mind is the battlefield and if you can't control your own mind and emotions, then someone else will. And you know we're, we're all made in unique and have certain skill sets and we can encourage people, but it's like I can all fall apart if you're not on top of you. 100 percent.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, I'm just so. I'm so happy for you and I I love this journey that you're on and in yourself and in the pageant and in the Burbank community, and I'm excited to see what happens next. So thank you for joining us here today, thanks for having me.
Speaker 3:And I just want to say thank you to you as well because, honestly, I wouldn't have been able to do a lot that I did do if you hadn't helped me.
Speaker 2:Thank, you, I saw you and I was like I believe in her. Ah, thanks, I'm taking her under my wing. Thank you, I appreciate it. Thanks for having me, thank you guys for listening, and I will see you guys in another episode of Women of Burbank.
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