As a pageant queen, Faith Behanna is often asked when she’ll compete in Miss America or Miss USA.
She hopes to, one day. For now, she’s focused on participating with International Miss Junior from Monday, July 18, through Saturday, July 23, in Virginia Beach.
Behanna, a native of Plant City, was crowned Miss Southern States Teen with the International Junior Miss program in February. This month, she hopes to be crowned at the national level.
It’s a dream Behanna has had since she started competing in pageants during grade school.
Grace and Confidence
Behanna joined the pageant circuit eight years ago at the suggestion of her friends. She participated in a few local competitions, including Miss Heart of Plant City, before the letters from National American Miss started to arrive in the mail.
After reading about National American Miss, an organization that prides itself on teaching self-confidence and leadership skills through pageants, Behanna became determined to compete outside of the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.
It was a big change for Behanna’s mother, Brenda Combs. A self-described tomboy, Combs was more interested in track and softball when she was growing up, unlike her glamour-loving daughter.
Combs also wasn’t too sure about the lessons pageants taught girls, and she wanted Behanna to remember to look beyond appearances. Even so, she agreed to let her compete.
“When she’s comfortable, she’s outgoing,” Combs said. “She enjoys the interviewing and the public speaking aspect. They do have to learn to be competitive but also to be gracious about it. There’s some life lessons in there.”
In Behanna’s first year of competing with National American Miss, there were over 100 girls in her division. She made the top 15 finalists and went back to compete the following two years.
“I wanted to take home a title,” Behanna said.
In 2014, she did. That August, Behanna was named Miss Florida Junior Teen with National American Miss.
“All of my friends had already been called for the top five,” Behanna said. “It was a really exciting moment.”
This year, with the new Miss Southern States Teen title under her belt, Behanna is hoping she’ll soon be able to take her third title home.
For the Crown
Behanna is working on preparing for her pageant later this month.
“I’m competing with other teens across the nation, as well as some from France, Haiti and Australia,” she said. “It’s an amazing experience. I practice interview questions daily and work on mental preparation. I write down Bible verses.”
Her favorite is Jeremiah 29:11. It reads:
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
“I have it on almost everything,” Behanna said.
Despite her constant preparation, Behanna knows she can’t plan every moment — a lesson she’s learned from competing in pageants.
“You have to just go with the flow,” she said. “Pageants are just like life. It’s not always going to be perfect.”
But for the most part, her pageant competitions in National Junior Miss have gone smoothly.
“It’s very well put together,” Behanna said. “When it’s on a larger scale, it’s almost like the atmosphere changes. The opportunities are exemplified.”
Besides the event’s level of organization, Behanna also likes pageants in that circuit have a charitable aspect. At many of the pageants, girls donate canned food items, which later go to the Ronald McDonald House.
Mostly, though, she likes what pageants have taught her, and she would encourage other girls to compete.
“I was shy and nervous and anxious every time I stepped on stage,” she said. “You just have so many incredible opportunities, and you will overcome that shyness. If nothing else, you can say that you did it.”
And as for her mom, Combs has come to realize pageants aren’t all about big hair and poofy dresses.
“These are very accomplished young ladies,” Combs said. “They’re just very impressive. They are passionate on every aspect of their life. I would not have expected that when we first got involved.”
The passion continues to inspire Behanna to work even harder. She’s hoping for a crown, but won’t be dismayed if she goes home without a title.
“If I don’t win, I can definitely say I’ll be back,” she said.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.