HEY! HEY iLikeMe humans! This weeks feature is all for one of my very favorite people, Miss Shayla Jackson. I have personally known Shayla since the beginning of my pageant journey and it has been such a blessing to watch her story unfold as she uses her voice and inspires so many people that it is OKAY to stand out and be different. Shayla is authentic, hard working, and is the true definition of Queen. Love you SHAY! xo! Keep making this world a better place.
Hi! I’m Shayla Jackson! I am 18 years old and the current Miss Georgia Teen USA! I plan to attend my hometown college, Valdosta State University, for a four- year degree in Communication Sciences & Disorders. After receiving my bachelor degree, I plan to go to Auburn University to pursue my dream in becoming an Audiologist and helping others who are like me. My favorite hobbies include playing with my little brother, fishing, and riding my Jeep while jamming to my favorite songs. A very interesting fact about me is that I’m hearing impaired and have been since I was 3 years old.
As Miss Georgia Teen USA, what is one thing you hope to achieve during your reign? Something I hope to achieve during my reign as Miss Georgia Teen USA is that I always want to be remembered as someone who made a difference or an impact. I want to show kids that no matter how different you may be from someone else, they can do and be anything they want to be. The sky’s the limit, and no matter the challenges, you can do anything you set your mind to!
As someone who is hearing impaired and has a speech impediment, how have you used these challenges to encourage positivity towards yourself as well as others? For the longest time, I didn’t know why I was being bullied or treated so differently from everyone else. Then one day, I asked my mom, “Mom, why does everyone look at me differently?” She told me this. “Honey, what makes you different makes you beautiful.” I live by that saying every single day! My whole life has been filled with challenges and obstacles, but I still fought to follow my dreams and passions growing up. I played volleyball all 4 years of my high school career and I fought my fear of standing in front of people and reading a story or even a sentence because I feared that I would be judged because of my speech impediment. Now, I have my own children’s book due to the help of an author named Jeanna Ganas. My book is called, “When I Wear My Crown Shayla’s Story”. I visit schools in my surrounding counties, reading my story to every grade level. With my book, I hope to #SpreadTheLove and spread a message that it’s okay to be different! We all are going to have our own challenges because we all have our own “invisible crown.” You have to embrace your invisible crown and face those challenges and follow your dreams. If I can do it, you can do it too!
If you had to choose one attribute, which would you choose and why? Self-Love? Self-Confidence? OR Kindness? I would choose kindness! The world seems to be divided and if everyone was just kind to each other and treated the other person how they would like to be treated, imagine what kind of world we could have. I believe that if you’re simply kind, self-love and self-confidence naturally follows behind it. A goal that I like to challenge myself everyday with is to say at least 5 kind things to someone. Whether it’s a comment on social media, in-person, or over the phone! Positive and kind words can change anyone’s day for the better!
Order Shayla’s book here! Order Shayla’s coloring book here!
Follow Shayla on instagram at @shaylajacksonn and @missgateenusa to see her CHANGE THE WORLD!
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