Dani Walker was crowned Miss Montana USA 2018 at an event held at Missoula Children’s Theatre in Missoula, Montana last year. She is all set to represent Montana at the upcoming Miss USA 2018. As she trains for the finale, she finds time to share her thoughts, aspirations and experiences in the world of beauty pageants in an exclusive interview with Angelopedia.
Q. How does it feel to be crowned as Miss Montana USA 2018?
Initially, it’s shocking. I woke up the next day, and several days after crowning, with the thought, “Did this really happen to me? I’m Miss Montana USA!?” It took several months to sink in, and now I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. As a titleholder, you get to experience, first hand, what it takes to prepare a titleholder for Miss USA. We work with numerous sponsors and receive an outpouring of support. Seeing behind the scenes gives me immense appreciation for all the sponsors and individuals, that make this journey possible for myself and other titleholders.
Q. What is the best lesson you’ve learnt in your journey as the delegate of Miss USA 2018 in the competition?
I live by the quote, “Comparison is the thief of happiness.” Being a USA titleholder put that to the test. One of the most difficult aspects of the competition is a constant comparison by outside opinions. Fan pages online are wonderful, when they are rooting for you, but when they are not, it can affect your confidence. This year has been a test of my confidence, and it encouraged me to forge ahead with my life goals, and not concern myself with others expectations of my performance because I understand that winning or losing the title of Miss USA, is not directly tied to my potential for success in life.
Q. What is the one thing that keeps you going and inspires you to be the best version of yourself?
I am very fortunate because I had the unique experience of sharing my #roadtomissusa with people around the world, on my youtube channel youtube.com/daniwalker. The result of this was a multitude of support from viewers around the world that message me daily words of encouragement. They inspire me each day to live my best life, because this experience is now become our shared journey, and I want to do my best so I have the opportunity to share more with them.
Q. Is it true that you have been an advocate for the reduction of poverty since 2004? Would you like to tell us more about your initiative?
Yes, I grew up in a low-income household, and high-crime neighbourhood, with parents who were struggling to stay above the poverty line. When I was in jr. high, I began to grasp how difficult it is for individuals and families, like mine, to sustain a decent living, and that the issue of homelessness was more complex than finding employment. So I began volunteering my time, fundraising, and learning about this issue. To date, I have worked with over fifty non-profit organizations, most of which address issues related to poverty. From 2010-2015, I volunteered as a youth mentor in the Watts housing projects, which further peaked my interest in sustainable solutions for poverty. In my life, I devoted countless hours to this cause but wanted to find a way to use my reach as Miss Montana USA to get others involved, or at the very least, make them aware of this issue. I created the post for a purpose initiative, where I spotlight a new non-profit each day on Miss Montana USA social media. Since people are searching for my posts as a titleholder anyways, I wanted to expose them to something important and encourage them to share their #timetalenttreasure with an organization that touches their heart because we can make great strides to combat poverty when we work together.
Q. How would you like to represent yourself at the national stage at Miss USA 2018?
Authentically. I want people to see my personality on stage, and feel sincerity when I speak. The title of Miss USA took on new meaning after I decided to share my journey on Youtube. I am not merely representing myself on stage; I am standing in place of all the individuals like myself who are living in impoverished conditions or communities. If I can win the title of Miss USA, it will send a message to everyone who is facing similar circumstances that the opportunity gap in the United States is narrowing.
Q. We have got to know that music is a huge part of your life. What does music mean to you? Who is your favourite artist?
Music is self-expression to me. It enhances every moment of life. I’ve been performing publicly since high school, and I love to share my gifts with others because it brings us shared happiness. As for artists, I could listen to Amy Winehouse on repeat all day. Her voice is timeless to me.
Q. If you could be invisible for a day, how would you like to spend it?
I would shadow other Youtubers for a day and learn more about the inner workings of their channels. I am always trying to bring better content to my subscribers, and there are endless amounts of skills to learn when it comes to creating remarkable content. I feel like I could learn a great deal from people who have larger channels than mine.
Q. Would you like to share your most special childhood memory with us?
One of my fondest memories growing up was spending time with my Nana and Tata, my mother’s parents. They too lived meagerly, but their home always felt warm. There was a palpable sense of love, and it taught me that happiness is not tied to tangible possessions.
Q. You’ve achieved so much not just as a pageant beauty but also as an enlightened citizen of the world. Can you tell us who you look up to in life?
I admire other self-made entrepreneurs, people who ignore naysayers and fearlessly pursue their passions. Elon Musk, of Tesla, is one such figure. He overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to bring Tesla cars to the market, and launch SpaceX rockets. People consistently tell him his vision is improbable, and he constantly proves them wrong. When I think of a difficult goal I want to accomplish, I ask myself, “is it harder than launching a rocket into space?” and when the answer is undoubtedly “no”, I feel confident that I can bring my own vision into reality.
Q. What is the one thing you can label as your guilty pleasure?
I hate to admit it, but I do watch the Bachelor and the Bachelorette. I record the seasons and catch up on the episodes when I have a little downtime. I know it’s scripted but I think the show is hilarious with some heartwarming moments.
Q. We’re sure that this competition is another milestone in your life. What is that one thing that you ultimately want to achieve?
I believe in dreaming big dreams, competing for Miss USA is the beginning of fantastic things to come. I want my name to be a global brand, with more products and services, designed to help others achieve their goals. My positivity-centred channel is devoted to sharing my knowledge, and my new online store helps women to dress for the job they want. My next goal is to release a phone app.
Q. If you are granted 3 wishes right now, what would you ask for?
To be Miss Universe of course, but I think that one is a given. 2.) I would ask for women to be genuinely supportive of one another. Many ladies are missing out on incredible collaborations because they act out of scarcity. I catch myself regularly wishing this would change. 3.) Lastly, I wish for my Youtube channel to reach more people because I feel that it is a source of positive impact for those who watch it.
Q. Lastly, is there any message that you would like to give to your fans of Angelopedia?
I would like to express my love and gratitude to all reading this. Thank you for caring enough to learn more about me. My hope is that my story can inspire you to do more, and be more because you too deserve to live your best life!
To know more about Dani Walker, follow her on her official Facebook page, Instagram, Youtube Channel, Twitter and website.