Tweet

As we continue our “Road to Miss New Jersey” series, our next contestant is Miss Union County, Yulemni Morel.

Please tell us why you chose to compete for your local county’s title?
I started participating in pageants around the age of 12 and began competing in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Program at t 15. I absolutely loved the experience, getting to meet all of the amazing ladies within the program as well as getting to work with all of the wonderful directors. Once I reached my final year of high school I chose to take a year off and prepare for college but felt a huge void from not competing. I had seen so much progress and grew immensely from my short time in the organization so I wanted to continue on in that journey. Eventually I chose to return after my first year of college and now I am just a few days away from competing in my first state pageant. I’ve always wanted to make a huge impact on this world and on the lives of those around me and believe that this organization has allowed me to do so. As Miss Union County I have had the opportunity to meet some extremely influential people that I will admire and look up to for the years to come. I can only hope to have such a grand impact on those that I come in contact with.

What do you plan to accomplish if you were to win the title of Miss NJ 2016?
As Miss NJ 2016 I hope to accomplish a great deal through my platform Liberate the Chains. As an organization focused on combating sexual trafficking through the empowerment of women I hope to continue educating those around the state of the dangers of this growing epidemic. I also hope to leave a legacy as an individual that never gave up and always worked hard towards her ambitions. As a titleholder I strive to encourage young ladies to be risk takers and to go for what they want. Unfortunately I have always been an individual that has been controlled by her fears but this organization has taught me to act otherwise. It has encouraged me to use those fears as an advantage and to always step forth with confidence. Any individual with the mindset that they can accomplish any goal they set their minds to, can do just that.

Share with our readers a bit more about you platform and why you picked this particular one.
My platform is Liberate the Chains and it began as a student run organization dedicated towards fighting human trafficking of all forms. Over the years it has transformed into an organization that focuses on combating sexual exploitation through the empowerment of women. Human trafficking is currently the second largest criminal industry, second only to narcotics trafficking, with approximately 30 million people enslaved around the world. Sexual trafficking the most common of all its forms is one of the world’s largest epidemics with 98% of its victims being women and girls. As women we are specifically vulnerable to falling into bondage and through my platform I aspire to minimize that percentage and give back these victims and future victims the freedoms that they are rightfully due. Being apart of an organization like Miss America that is the largest scholarship program in the world for women just shows that there are countless opportunities around us. I want to ensure that every young girl in this world knows that the world is full of opportunity and that they can easily receive any of those opportunities if they work hard and want it enough.

“Bravura” is an artistic word for exceptional; in your own words, tell us what makes you ‘bravura’!
I am not perfect and I have learned to accept that. I have always had a hard time accepting failure but over the years I have learned to embrace those failures and grow from them. Being resilient and always trying to put my best foot forward are what make me exceptional. However trying to encourage others to be hard working and self-confident are what truly make me feel “bravura” because I hope to make others feel exceptional as well.

—

To purchase tickets for the upcoming Miss New Jersey pageant, please visit THIS LINK.