An Interview with TRUE Model Jamie Hughes, the New Miss Connecticut USA
On January 6th, TRUE Model Jamie Hughes was crowned Miss Connecticut USA at The Palace Theatre in Stamford. Jamie Hughes is from Stamford, CT and in addition to being a full-time Fit model with TRUE Model Management since 2015 she is also a Wish Granter for the Make-A-Wish Organization.
It’s crazy to see how successful one can be with so much on their plate, and we had the chance to interview Jamie Hughes and get the inside scoop on all things Pageantry and Fit modeling, and Jamie didn’t hold back! Read below to find out how Fit modeling has helped Jamie in Pageantry, some tips she has for aspiring models or pageant queens, and even find out exactly what was running through Jamie’s head while she was waiting to find out whether or not she had won the title of Miss Connecticut USA!
When it comes to Fit Modeling and Pageantry, Jamie notes that the two work together to help make her as successful as possible. According to Jamie, “Pageantry and Fit Modeling go hand in hand in regards to boosting your confidence while providing you the opportunity to work with many different types of people in different fields.” Jamie states, “Fit modeling has helped me in so many ways to prepare for pageantry! It certainly has boosted my confidence in regards to my physique. Fit modeling as my job forces me to stay in shape year round [which] has driven me to constantly live a healthy lifestyle, [and] living a healthy lifestyle has allowed me to easily be prepared for the “fitness” portion of on stage competition.”
As a Fit model and a Pageant Queen however, we all start to wonder how someone can undergo so much judgment and scrutiny while still holding themselves together. With days like International Women’s Day, which took place yesterday, it’s obvious that women are still constantly undervalued, over judged, and not treated as equal to their male counterparts. So to voluntarily put yourself in the position that allows others to judge and critique you so often, such as being a model or competing in pageants, we wonder how Jamie and every other woman in her position holds themselves together.
“I think whether you are a model, a beauty queen, or just a woman in general, you should always be true to yourself.”
Jamie gave us a few characteristics she feels are important to have as someone who constantly finds themselves in this position. She states, “I think whether you are a model, a beauty queen, or just a woman in general, you should always be true to yourself. I think we need to realize that God made us all different for a reason. We all have different strengths, weaknesses, unique qualities, and purposes. Once we can really love ourselves for who we are, that is when we will be able to embrace our full potential, no matter what it may be. It won’t matter what anyone else says, because you know your true worth.”
This is why it’s such an amazing opportunity for Jamie to be crowned Miss Connecticut USA, as the message she’s going to be stressing is #Acceptance4All (and that’s the hashtag she’ll be using as well if you’d like to take part in her stance!) As someone who has been so closely involved with modeling and pageantry Jamie understands the importance of accepting those around you. She states, “I think overall the modeling industry is pushing towards being incredibly accepting. I love that we are continuing to see women of all shapes, sizes, and colors in different promotional campaigns. This is creating reliability throughout different brands across multiple platforms. I look forward to seeing brands continue to use diverse models.” However her message goes far beyond this industry.
“People from different backgrounds or upbringings may bring a fresh eye-opening perspective to the table, but you won’t know until you give them a chance to be accepted and to be heard.”
In an interview Jamie had with CT Style, Jamie brushed upon her personal life, stating how she comes from a multicultural blended family, growing up with “[her] Colombian stepfather, two Columbian brothers, and [her] adopted African American brother.” At a young age her mother instilled in her the importance of accepting those around you, and that was something that stuck with Jamie as she continued to grow and is now the message she’s spreading as Miss Connecticut USA. Jamie mentions, “No matter where we are or what we do, we should accept those around us. People from different backgrounds or upbringings may bring a fresh eye-opening perspective to the table, but you won’t know until you give them a chance to be accepted and to be heard.”
As Jamie strives towards pushing society to be more accepting of others, there are still some things she believes you can do yourself to be more successful in life no matter how many eyes are on you, and her number one tip is to be confident. Jamie mentions how she has learned so much through Fit modeling that has translated over into Pageantry, but her number one lesson learned is that “confidence is a huge part of anything you do. You need to always be confident in your skill set, whatever it may be. Be confident that you can get the job done and be confident in your ability.” According to Jamie Pageantry and modeling have both “proven this point to be true” and she hopes that people will start to implement this level of confidence in their own lives.
We wanted to know what was running through Jamie’s head when she was waiting to find out whether or not she had won the title of Miss Connecticut USA. She told us that waiting for the moment that they announced who had won was the longest moment in the world, and in her interview with CT Style she states that “it still hasn’t sunken in yet.” Well, we got a bit more information out of Jamie than just that. She mentions how it felt as if she was looking down on herself in that moment as if she was in her own little snow globe, stating, “I was fully present, but in my own world at the same time. I was imagining what the future was going to hold and I was visualizing the crown being put on my head.” And though it still doesn’t feel real to her, “any time that [she puts her] crown or sash on and look[s] in the mirror, that is when it truly feels real.”
So, what does the future have in store for Jamie now that she holds the title of Miss Connecticut USA? Though Jamie doesn’t know exactly where this experience will take her (but she can’t wait to find out!) she knows that she’s going to work hard to make Connecticut proud and be the best representative she can be. She states, “I can promise to do my best, while I hope and plan to bring home the Miss USA crown! I am looking forward to so many things, but my top three things would be visiting hospitals across the state, working with the school systems, and competing at Miss USA! The journey is just beginning, so I will do my best to document and keep everyone up to date along the way!”
“Enjoy the journey and embrace the personal growth that comes along with it.”
And, if you were wondering how you could possibly one day end up in Jamie’s position, you’re in luck. Jamie shared some tips on how aspiring models or pageant queens can be successful, and her number one tip is to not give up! She says, “Be Patient! My success took a while. It did not happen over night, it was a journey. You have to embrace the journey and believe that God has a plan. Things are meant to happen at a specific time. I know this is easier said than done, but trust me! I would not be as good of a model or beauty queen 5 years ago as I am today. Enjoy the journey and embrace the personal growth that comes along with it.”
