Kiran Sharma, a food and nutrition assistant at Westview High School, was crowned Mrs. West Coast Universe on Sept. 11 in New Jersey. It was her first pageant.
Sharma, who works the D building kiosk during lunchtime at the Beaverton School District campus, beat out 10 other contestants in the Elite category for women over 40, The Nexus, Westview's student newspaper, first reported Friday, Oct. 9. The Mrs. Universe pageant drew 55 total participants split across age groups.
The three-day competition included a meet-and-greet with judges, a question-and-answer round and a prop round in which contestants wore clothing representing their state. Sharma represented California in a vibrant yellow gown with a large, three-dimensional orange and yellow California poppy springing from the back of the bodice.
Sharma told The Nexus she had done some modeling work for small businesses on the side but entered the pageant after learning about it from a friend and seeing content on Instagram. She said she was looking for a change from her everyday routine.
Each contestant was assigned an advocacy topic. Sharma's was domestic violence.
"I felt very good advocating for domestic violence … I believe that you should always listen to victims, and make their stories known," Sharma told the student newspaper. "Don't be quiet. Raise your voice if something's wrong."
The Family Peace Center of Washington County reports that 44% of women in Oregon experience domestic violence, a rate higher than the national average. The center brings more than 20 partner organizations together under one roof to help survivors navigate services.
Sharma said the atmosphere among competitors felt friendly, not competitive. She described feeling nervous at first but said the other women were welcoming.
Looking back, Sharma said the biggest reward was personal growth. She told The Nexus she learned she is "capable of much more" than she sometimes gives herself credit for and encouraged Westview students to step outside their comfort zones.
Sharma's next steps as a title holder have not been announced. The Domestic Violence Resource Center offers free, confidential advocacy to survivors in Washington County and operates a 24-hour crisis line at 503-469-8620.
