Fourth of July Festivities

For the Fourth of July, I went to Massachusetts to do an appearance with my sister Queens from the Clemente Family. We had the privilege of attending a Coast Guard BBQ that was held in Boston, and it was a blast! We met sailors from around the country, and signed autographs for children who were at the event. I spent the day meeting new people and it was a great way to spend the holiday. The most fun part of the day was when I sumo wrestled with Brooke (MA Teen). We got in huge padded suits and wrestled each other, but every time we fell over, we had to have help back up because the suits were so big we were flailing on the ground and couldn't get back up! We, along with the entire audience, had some great laughs during that! I am proud to say that I was merciless, and beat Brooke! One of my favorite memories from this appearance was meeting a little red headed girl with freckles who was so shy that her mother had to push her toward me to get an autograph. When she finally made her way over to me, her mother said " See look, she has freckles and red hair too! See, you're beautiful too!" When I asked the little girl if she liked being a red head she said that she didn't because she didn't look like anyone else. Thinking back to my childhood, I know the exact feeling this little girl was talking about because I was always trying to look like my friends even though there was so disguising my identity. As I was signing the autograph for her I told her that it didn't seem like it now, but when she grew up, she would appreciate her unique look. I remember distinctly what I wrote on her card..." Never let that beautiful red hair, and face full of freckles hold you back." I hope she takes my advice and realizes that just because girls like us look different, it doesn't make us less beautiful. In a way I feeI like I represent all those " misfits" out there that don't really fit into a normal mold when it comes to beauty. It's important to me to show people that beauty isn't some cookie cutter that you will find. Beauty is what you make it, and I feel like my uniqueness is what makes me who I am.

I think this was the perfect place to spend the Fourth, because I was surrounded by people who fight to give me the independence that I have. Looking around the Coast Guard Base was a constant reminder that there are people fighting day in and day out to protect our liberties, and I was so honored to spend Independence Day truly observing the holiday for its original purpose. I wouldn't have it any other way!