Our series, "The Road to Miss Connecticut," continues with the next contestant, Joanna Shields, Miss Nutmeg. Continue reading to learn more about Joanna and her journey to the crown!

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Please share with our readers your title & platform.
My name is Joanna Shields; everyone knows me as JoJo. I am proud to hold the title of Miss Nutmeg 2017. I feel so honored to hold this title specifically because it does not require me to be tied to a geographic location. My ability to travel around CT doing appearances in areas that are not aware of the role of a Miss America titleholder has truly been an honor. My platform is entitled, “The Caring Aspect of Patient Care- Enhancing Patient and Family Satisfaction.” My platform has evolved and become a predominant factor in my everyday life as a result of landing my dream job as a Pediatric Emergency RN at Yale New Haven Hospital. As a member of the Patient and Family Satisfaction Committee, I have embraced the fact that these families come into the ER in a time of crisis, vulnerability, and emergency. It is my job and responsibility to ensure a positive, family oriented experience to everyone who walks through my doors, or those of healthcare facilities of all kinds throughout the state of CT.

 

How long have you competed in pageants? How do you think you’ve personally grown with all your prior pageant experience?
I began competing in the Miss America System at the young age of 17 years old. Through this Organization, I have grown exponentially as a person and can undoubtedly say, that I would not be half the woman I am today if I hadn’t been rooted in this system. Everything I had done in my daily life aligned with the phases of competition in MAO. I was always involved in my community, sang in theater productions, played sports and maintained my physique, and was the leader of numerous clubs and extracurricular groups. However, this system has given me an avenue to pursue service and scholarship opportunities. The connections I have made through MAO community-wide, state-wide and on a national scale have shown me how impactful a crown, a voice, and determination can be. I am proud to be a woman who lives through the four points of the crown in and out of crown and sash. I would move heaven and earth to make every appearance count and prove to be meaningful for the health of the organization. As a veteran titleholder, I know the strength and viability of the program rests on my shoulders.

 

In regards to your platform, why did you choose to go with this particular one?
It is interesting to see how my platform has evolved and taken on a life of its own since my journey began in the Miss America System. My platform is tangible and very much alive in my life. My platforms in the past have dealt with spreading acts of kindness, Alzheimer’s patients, and eliminating hate. I have taken aspects of all of these and broadened the population of people to target and then focused on integrating them into my career. I have also looked to past Miss America’s for guidance; Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, Miss America 1988, was a nurse and avid volunteer who participated in a number of fundraising activities and has been a vocal advocate for nursing and hospice programs. She also addressed medical professional organizations around the world on the topic of nursing on a world-wide scale. I knew that from the moment I became a nurse, I wanted to change lives and make people happier, especially during their most vulnerable times, whether high, low, happy, or sad. This same idea translates outside of the hospital. At one time or another during our lives, we have all been a patient. Going the extra mile to lend a helping hand, being both mentally and physically present, acting as a shoulder to cry on or hand to hold, fundraising to provide toys, toiletries, or healing activities for people and patients of all ages, and educating and equipping nurses of the future with the tools to translate these messages and actions, all make the world of a difference.

 

How has working alongside your platform made you into a stronger person?
Every day I learn something new and am exposed to breathtaking highs and heart wrenching lows that most deem unthinkable. I have witnessed births, deaths, and devastating diagnoses. In the moments where parents and families are at their lowest, all they have left is faith they believe in and the faith in me to help save their child. These events have occurred in and out of hospital doors and scrubs, which makes my platform even more significant. I have grown an incredibly thick skin and even bigger heart. Not only am I more sensitive to people of all races, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds, but I understand that not all people think or handle situations similarly. Nurses are the heartbeat of healthcare. There are numerous parallels between the nursing career and the job of Miss CT which has made developing, and living my platform and the lifestyle of a titleholder second nature. Nursing is a big part of my identity, and I do love what I do. Nursing is not just a job or career to me. It has helped shape who I am. Dealing with families who are in conflict has made me more appreciative of my own loving family, friends, and support system. I have continued to learn and grow throughout my platform and from the group of amazing women I surround myself with in MAO. I am wiser, and have a broader perspective thanks to nursing. My platform through nursing and competing in MAO have given me a sense of accomplishment and pride, and boosted my self-esteem. Being content with myself is the key to translating this to every family I meet while promoting my platform or working at the hospital; I am the face and voice of the organization. I may be that person’s only interaction with that system, so I want my joy and dedication to translate in every interaction I make.

 

What have you learned from your current Miss Connecticut, which you hope to carry with you if you were to win the title of Miss Connecticut?
Alyssa has truly embraced the aspect of the sisterhood and a strong support system. She has organized a number of get-togethers and social gatherings for the girls in and out of crown and sash events, to allow the class of 2017 to grow not just as individuals, but as a sisterhood. At the end of the day, it is not just about a two-day competition. Every one of the twenty girls competing for the job of Miss CT currently holds a local title for a reason. Each of us bring a different set of skills, ideas, view, and unique qualities to the table and to the organization. Alyssa embodies the true meaning of who a Miss CT should be. She possesses the heart that it takes to bring people together and build them up.

 

As a title-holder, what is one of the single-most important message, which you think you convey to your followers?
One of the most important things I have learned is to not depend on others to pave your path to success. Sometimes we spend an inordinate amount of time talking about our ideas, dreams, and aspirations. It is easy to be content with ourselves by simply having lofty ideas, not realizing their sheer abundance. However, this system has taught me to be a “doer.” Let go of the stigma of failure, set goals, and surpass them. Every failure is a learning lesson on your path to success. I have learned to move past mental barriers to unlock potential. Mark Twain stated, “The secret to getting ahead is getting started.”

 

If you were to win the title of Miss Connecticut, what is the one thing which you would strive the hardest to accomplish?
If I were crowned Miss CT, I would immediately drop down to part time at work. I realize that this title is a full time job and my year is what I make of it. It would be my initial goal to delve into the Children’s Hospital to witness first hand where all of our funds are going that we work so hard to raise. I would like to visit patients of all ages throughout the state of CT including nursing homes, hospitals, and primary care centers alike to reach out to those who are not often exposed to the Miss America program. Being known as a Miss CT who was able to check this task off of her to do list would be an amazing legacy to hold.

 

Imagine you’re competing for Miss America, and your roommate has never visited Connecticut; how would you describe your state to your roommate?
I would communicate to her how exquisite our state is during all times of the year. We are lucky enough to experience every season. I am a lover of spring and summer; I would have to share with her the endless memories I have at my lake house jet skiing, boating, and toasting s’mores around the fire pit. Connecticut is home to so many wonderful attractions, quaint small towns and main streets, and big cities to explore.

 

If you could place three items in a time capsule, which represent the women of today, what would they be and why?
1) A dollar bill and 80 cents; this represents the pay gap between men and women. It is an unfortunate reality but one that needs to be recognized and closed.

2) A Hillary Clinton campaign button; whether you voted for her or not, she represented the imminent probability of a woman at the helm of the greatest country in the world.

3) A college degree; women, including myself, have what it takes to strive to achieve higher education degrees and stand tall in high pressure, challenging, and respectable career fields.

Because of media, many people tend to look at pageant with a very scrutinizing opinion; For you. personally, what have been some of the biggest benefits of being a part of the Miss America Organization. And how would you share the positive nature of pageants with others who may not be familiar?
I welcome that “scrutinizing” eye because it provides an outlet and opportunity to dispel myths and preconceived notions about pageantry and the women involved in the Miss America Organization. We are caring, intelligent women who build their characters based on the pillars of scholarship, service, success, and style. We come together with different values, backgrounds, talents, and platforms which all add body and dimension to the program. I am forever grateful to this organization for the friendships, business partnerships, service opportunities, and scholarship dollars it has provided to me.

 

“Bravura” is an artistic word for exceptional; in your opinion, what makes you “bravura”?
I truly believe that everyone has as an aspect of Bravura in them. Mine rises to the surface in my interactions with people every day. I am a “people person” and my strengths lie in communicating and reaching out to others in times of need. Both as a nurse and a titleholder, I strive to be relatable and down to earth; the more people trust, the more they open up and gravitate to me. I thoroughly enjoy making those small connections with people, especially children. Everyone has a story to share. So many of the children I have met through pediatric nursing and through MAO have taught me more than I could ever teach them; they have a different way of looking at the world with a sense of peace, harmony, and innocence that is truly enlightening. This always shines light on positivity and allows me to open my eyes to a new perspective.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Instagram – Facebook – Website.

What advice do you have for those who want to take part in pageants?
Stay true to yourself, yet always be open to learn. Work hard, and never give up on your dreams, even when nobody else believes they can come true but you. These are not clichés, but real tools you need no matter what you do in life to stay focused on your path.

 

What words of thanks do you have for those who have helped to bring you to where you are today in the Miss Connecticut Class of 2017?
Volunteers are the heart, soul, and bones that this organization thrives on. It is important to remember that although the titleholders are the ones who often find themselves in the spotlight, it is the hard-working, dedicated, selfless individuals that prepare us, support us, and stand with us that make the difference. A simple “thank you” would never suffice. The people involved in this organization truly give their heart and soul to the program and their girls. The countless hours of preparation and dollars from their own pockets that they willingly and generously provide, put them in a spotlight far brighter than I can put into words.

 

What final words do you have for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
The Miss America Organization is so incredibly lucky to partner with the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as our national platform. As titleholder’s, we work diligently through our year of service to raise funds for the children. Working in pediatrics has been both humbling and eye opening; my platform is directly aligned with the MAO national platform. I am lucky enough to be able to combine my love for children and service to provide much needed funding to an amazing cause. Every dollar counts! Donating is easy! http://missamericaforkids.org/Donate/24191D029799FBC99