Moss fulfilling duties as Miss Michigan
By Joy Sherman
In September Anderson University junior Erin Moss found herself under bright lights and in front of cameras on a runway in Atlantic City as she wore the sash of Miss Michigan in the annual Miss America pageant. For the Bible and religion major, it was an incredible opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream … but not the dream some people might imagine.
Moss’ ambition was never to be a pageant winner; instead, she got involved at the local level because of the incredible opportunity for scholarships and public speaking. Her passion is speaking about leadership development, particularly about Christian leadership, to anyone who will listen.
“Participating in the Miss Michigan pageant has been worth it,” says Moss. While it’s caused her to miss the last year of studies at AU, the experience “has opened the door for me to realize my dreams as a communicator.”
As a pageant contestant each woman must have a platform, or issue, to speak about. Moss’ is leadership development, and her reign as Miss Michigan has filled an already very busy schedule with speaking appointments all over the state of Michigan. Additionally, her time in Atlantic City with 50 other young women from across the country enabled her to network with others who have similar passions. Specifically Moss connected with Miss Indiana Tangra Riggle and Miss Illinois Erika Harold (who eventually won the title of Miss America this year). Riggle and Harold also have a strong Christian faith. Moss says that the responsibilities Harold will undertake include a travel schedule that covers 20,000 miles per month, changing cities for appearances every 24-36 hours with a large entourage of people.
Moss’ schedule isn’t quite as strenuous, but especially during her time at the pageant, she was accompanied by a state-appointed traveling companion. Now, post-Miss America, Moss’ time is freed up to do more speaking and less preparing for the intensity of competition at the national pageant. She has appeared at youth functions, in school assemblies, at churches and women’s club functions.
Among the benefits of the pageant experience have been the scholarship monies Moss has amassed — a total of $18,000 from the local, state and national levels — and the compensation she receives for her speaking engagements. Her reign ends in June 2003, and she will resume classes in the fall.
As hectic as the pace has sometimes been, and as distanced as Moss has been from the campus and her friends, she does not regret her choice to pursue the pageant experience. “Seeing how God has used me in different avenues is incredible. This has truly been a life-changing opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives.”
