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As we continue our “Road to Miss New Jersey” series, our next contestant is Miss Monmouth County, Amanda Ross.

Please tell us why you chose to compete for your local county’s title?
I was first introduced to the Miss America Organization as a little girl. By spending many years admiring the intelligent and multi-talented former titleholders, I knew I wanted to pursue my dream of representing New Jersey on the Miss America stage. This past summer I choose to spend my time off from school dedicating myself to the four points of the crown: scholarship, service, style, and success. (This is) in addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being a leader in my own community. With my newly found motivation from the excitement of the 2016 Miss America pageant, I felt revitalized to compete in a preliminary competition for Miss New Jersey. Feeling ready for the job of a titleholder, I chose to compete this past September at the Miss Central Coast/ Miss Monmouth County pageant. To say the least, I am humbled to be Miss Monmouth County and to be able represent Monmouth County, NJ at this year’s Miss New Jersey pageant.

What do you plan to accomplish if you were to win the title of Miss NJ 2016?
Ultimately, as Miss New Jersey I hope to accomplish leaving a footprint in the lives of many. Living by the words of one of my favorite quotes, “Travel light, live light, spread the light, and be the light,” I hope to share my light with not just our wonderful state, but our great nation. I plan to achieve this goal of sharing my light with others through my work with the Children’s Miracle Network, my personal platform–Autism Acceptance, and through my newly found initiative of “Tying Together.”

Share with our readers a bit more about you platform and why you picked
this particular one.
Well, I began doing community service work with my personal platform before I even knew what a “platform” was. Eventually, as continued to do more community service work, as my soft spoken voice grew just a little bit louder, and when I began my involvement in the Miss New Jersey Education Foundation my work had grown into a platform. In 2007, my younger brother was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and his diagnosis changed my life forever. It did not take me long to realize that my job as a big sister was to become not only my brother’s voice, but the voice of the many individuals and families facing autism. Through my personal platform, Autism Acceptance: Opening Minds through Neuro-Diversity, work towards bettering the quality of life of individuals with autism and other neurological disorders. With my platform, I work closely with local, state, and national support groups, fundraise for sensory friendly events like the “Faces 4 Autism” Prom, participate in family fun nights, and network with various health professionals. Furthermore, through my personal platform I hope to share the words of Temple Grandin that individuals with autism and other neurological disorders are “different, but not less” among the communities of New Jersey and the nation.

“Bravura” is an artistic word for exceptional; in your own words, tell us what makes you ‘bravura’!
Like the word “bravura,” I find that my creativity and artistic expression is key in all that I do in life. By using my creativity and artistic expression through dance and through my work with individuals with autism, I find that I am able to communicate to a large group of people without the need of words. My dedication to putting the needs of others before my own is a major motivator in my life, and my dedication to being the difference is what keeps me grounded. All of these particular aspects in my life help me keep balance as a titleholder, student, dancer, volunteer, and of course as a big sister. Through much resilience, organization, hard work, and drive–I find that even at the age of 21 and as an undergraduate senior preparing for graduate school–that pursuing a childhood of dream of being Miss America is possible. Nonetheless, I believe that what makes me “bravura” is my authentic nature in always taking on life’s many challenges with a positive perspective, and sharing just that with everyone that I meet.

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