The next contestant to be featured as part of our series, "The Road to Miss Massachusetts" is Gina Brazo, the current Miss South Shore.

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Please share with our readers your title & platform.
My title is Miss South Shore and my platform is SHINE: Empowering Girls through STEM.

How long have you competed in pageants? How do you think you’ve personally grown with all your prior pageant experience?
This will be my fourth year competing in the Miss America Organization. Throughout the years of competing I have grown into a confident young woman and the Miss America Organization has given me the ability to develop my beliefs while demonstrating my passion for community service.

In regards to your platform, why did you choose to go with this particular one?
Women are not always readily acknowledged in STEM. However, they have been necessary for important developments like the photo viewer on FaceBook. Women need more recognition in STEM fields to show young girls that they can successfully work in these areas.  I chose my platform because I loved what the SHINE organization was doing in Boston. The leaders at SHINE use a kinesthetic learning program that allows young girls to find their potential in a STEM field while combining difficult curriculum with dance and movement as a way to better understand concepts. The girls are learning while having fun which is something I found to be incredibly unique.

How has working alongside your platform made you into a stronger person?
I have learned a lot while watching young girls work on difficult STEM concepts. While volunteering at a SHINE event, I was able to watch girls gain confidence as they realized their potential to complete difficult math problems. The joy these girls express has allowed me to realize that a person’s potential is limitless.

What have you learned from your current Miss Massachusetts, which you hope to carry with you if you were to win the title of Miss Massachusetts?
Alissa has been a great Miss Massachusetts. I especially appreciate her sense of humor and I would hope to carry that with me if I were to win the title of Miss Massachusetts. She does a great job of never taking herself too seriously which is a amazing quality especially with the nature of her job.

As a title-holder, what is one of the single-most important messages, which you think you convey to your followers?
Young girls have the potential to accomplish anything they set their minds to, especially in STEM. Social expectations have the possibility to discourage young girls away from the careers that interest them. I was extremely surprised to find that in a survey by Microsoft, girls become interested in STEM around age eleven, but lose interest around age fifteen. I want to be able to share this message with my followers because women in STEM are paramount in these fields.

If you were to win the title of Miss Massachusetts, what is the one thing which you would strive the hardest to accomplish?
I would strive to be a voice for my community. As Miss Massachusetts I would continue to promote my platform of girls in STEM. I would use my platform as a way to educate and excite young girls about their future potential. Additionally, I would try to be a voice for some of the major issues in Massachusetts and local communities across the Baystate.

Imagine you’re competing for Miss America, and your roommate has never visited Massachusetts; how would you describe your state to your roommate?
Boston is an incredibly unique place. I would be sure to let her know that we have some of the best sports fans in the country as I quickly learned while living near Fenway Park this year. But, I would also explain to her that the intellectual integrity of the city is unlike any other and that is what I value most about Boston.

If you could place three items in a time capsule, which represent the women of today, what would they be and why?
Three three items I would place in the time capsule are a megaphone, a military uniform and a television remote. I would place a megaphone because I am incredibly proud of how women have been able to speak up for themselves and uses their voices for change. I had the opportunity to cover the Million Woman March in Washington D.C. this year and witnessed the power that someone’s voice can have in their community. I would also place a military uniform in the time capsule because all combat roles are now available to women. This decision represents another step towards equality. Women are now able to participate in all facets of the military. Lastly, I would place a television remote in the time capsule to represent that for the first time in history, a woman owns a major television network. OWN, is available to over eighty million people.

Because of media, many people tend to look at pageant with a very scrutinizing option; 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?
The biggest benefit of being a part of the Miss America Organization is that I am constantly surrounded by an inspiring and intellectual group of women. I have grown into the young woman I am today through my time competing and I am thankful for the organization’s ability to challenge me. I think it is also extremely important to share with others that the Miss America Organization values education and they help young women in these endeavors.

“Bravura” is an artistic word for exceptional; in your opinion, what makes you “bravura”?
If I were to describe the core characteristic that makes me “bravura” it would be altruistic. I have an innate desire to help others and I am committed to making a difference in their lives. I am continuously striving to be my “best self”.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Instagram: MissSouthShore17
FaceBook: Miss South Shore 2017: Gina Brazao

What advice do you have for those who want to take part in pageants?
Remember to be yourself. As cliche as that sounds, pageants can be an intense environment, but the most important thing that I have learned is to focus on myself. There will always be challenges, but embracing the experience will ultimately lead to personal growth.

What words of thanks do you have for those who have helped to bring you to where you are today in the Miss Massachusetts Class of 2017?
I don’t think I will ever be able to fully express my gratitude for the people who have helped me thus far. It truly does take a village. It is very true that this organization is one big sisterhood and the support I have felt within my own state and across many others continues to be a pleasant surprise in my life. I am so thankful for all of the support I am continually shown. My successes in the Miss America Organization are just as much theirs as they are mine.

What final words do you have for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
Never say you can’t do something. Four years ago, I would have never imagined that I would be in the position I am today. The Miss America Organization has made a lasting impact on my life, but it never would have unless I took the chance to compete. Always take the chance to do something that scares you, because the rewards will be infinite. I am grateful for the time I have spent in this organization and everything I have learned these past four years.