Highly Successful Woman in Her Own Right: Professor Kim Emery-Poulin, Today's International Woman Ultimate Queen 2018

Women's empowerment means breaking down the stereotypes and boundaries of what we can achieve… to never settle for "good enough" or allow others to dictate your worth.

Professor Kim Emery-Poulin, Today's International Woman Ultimate Queen 2018, is a published writer, professor, philanthropist, and a beauty queen. She might have a lot up her sleeve, but Kim's feet remain firmly on the ground.

When we asked her claim to fame, her family and daughter's remarks will melt your heart, "I'm not sure I can claim fame, per se. However, in asking my family how they would answer this question, they replied, "People know you for your quirky sense of humor, charisma, honesty, intelligence and strength. You put family first and are loyal to all in your life. You are constantly learning new things and are never without a book!" My daughter further explains, "You are always smiling and trying to help other people no matter what. You always find ways to fix problems and make life exciting. You are the bravest person in the whole world, and I know kids always say this, but I really DO want to be just like you!"

A PageantLIVE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Today's American/International Executive Director Jera Lynn Anders

www.todaysamericanwoman.com 

I always like to start with asking tell the readers about yourself.

Executive Director Jera Lynn Anders

With a background in music, modeling and the arts, it has been my lifelong dream of mine to mentor women of all ages, through pageantry. I have been in the beauty and pageant industry for over 30 years. I started out as a professional makeup artist for 18 years and later became involved as a pageant director for different pageant systems. I later then started my own pageants, Little Miss Glitz and Natural Little Miss. I am currently the CEO and Executive Director for Today’s American Woman and Today’s International Woman Pageants, which includes Today’s American/International Kid and Today’s American/International Man. Last year, we were voted the top Ms pageant of 2015 and now, recently named by Gala Latina one of the top five pageants in the world, which fills me with great joy because my hard work is paying off.

How is your pageant system different than the others pageants?

When I was a director for other pageants, I noticed a significant “gap” between different types of pageants. For example, if you were a Ms. and your friend was a Miss there were not many pageants for the two of you

The famous pajama party!

to compete in together because you were in different divisions.  The same went for petite and for special abilities, etc.  And definitely no pageant included the men and children in our lives. Everything was separate. I knew from that moment on I wanted to establish a system that was different to kick in those barriers causing segregation between contestants. I began TAW so every teen, miss, ms., mrs., etc., can compete in the same system ~ a pageant for everyone!  Because everyone deserves to wear a crown with a purpose! We have a special division for those with visible and invisible abilities, we have a men’s pageant and a kid’s ambassadorship program. This will be our very first year awarding academic scholarships for teen and miss divisions. And, we plan to expand that in the very near future.

In your vision who is a Today’s American Woman or a Today’s International Woman?

Every woman of today. Any age, size, ethnicity and ability ~ a pageant for everyone.  We are a melting pot of all different stages of life. From student to mom, business professional to CEO.  Each posses an individual quality to equal up to what women stand for, in today’s world. And ALL are welcome in our system.  

The Sisterhood

Today's American Woman Queen of Queens
Rhonda Howdyshell

If someone is looking to compete in your system and there is no state competition what should they do?

At this time, we do not have state preliminaries. So, the process to become a contestant begins with a phone interview. You go to our website at www.todaysamericanwoman.com and view the information about us. Then, send a contact form so we can schedule a phone interview with you. Once we speak to you and we determine we are the perfect fit for both of us, you fill out our official application and send it in with your deposit and professional headshot. And, then you are an “official” Today’s American Woman/Today’s International Woman contestant! It goes UP from there!!

Tell us about your divisions and your areas of competition.

Our competition age begins at age 10 and up. Our oldest thus far, has been right at 90 years young! We have a petite division, a mainstream division and a curvy division. We also have a division for visible and invisible abilities called the elegant division.

Today's American Woman Classy Ms.
Kendra Nichols 

Today's American Woman Petite Ms.
Saryna Ritter

Beautiful National Queens

Today's American Woman Honorary National Queen
Thema Johnson 

Today's American Woman Jr. Teen
Kiersten Hoppins 

Our areas of competition are, Interview, which is a 5-minute private panel interview with our judges. Glam wear competition, which is an after 6 outfit that makes you feel “red carpet worthy”. One that is an outfit of expression. No denim or swimsuits, however. And then, of course our evening wear competition. We have an awesome opening number production that is not judged. We also have optional competitions, such as talent, spokes model and top model competition, and a few others. They are all explained on the website at www.todaysamericanwoman.com

 Are all the delegates required to have a platform?  What if I do not have a platform?

Yes. We are a platform-based pageant, focusing on community service and mentorship. If you do not have a platform, we will sit down with you and help you decide which one is best for you. We are always here to help you every step of the way.

Of course, we would like to know about your scoring!

Our scoring system is very specific on what we are looking for. Stage presence, poise and confidence. Smart and well spoken. We care about your heart, not your dress size!! So, physical fitness or physical appearance is not a factor on winning the crown. Beauty comes from within.

We are Today's American/International Women

I hear your national competition is will be something no one will want to miss!! Tell us all about it!!  Please tell us!!

This will be our very first year to include our INTERNATIONAL competition as well!! We will be having our Today’s International Woman competition!! We have 5 countries involved so far and we are so excited about this!

 Okay, a cruise to the Bahamas?? Are friends and family allowed to attend the Pageant on the Sea?

Absolutely! Friends and family may attend! The more the merrier! As a matter of a fact, they are also eligible for our special group rates through our personal cruise specialist with Carnival! Just get in touch with one of our pageant staff for the information to book!

   
Tell us about your newly launched model management. Is anyone eligible to be apart of your model management company?

The Model Management will be a little different. I am sure you have noticed how the modeling and pageant industries have become intertwined with one another. CW Model Management has been developed for present or past pageant females and males contender, that want to experience professional modeling or further their modeling careers. We will feature them all over the globe to be cast for jobs and possibly even movies! We are looking forward to see where this takes our future models!

A Pageant at Sea, Model Management! If that is not enough, you are also launching a magazine? Tell us about it! Will it be online or print?

Yes! We are in the process of launching "The Loop" Magazine that will feature pageantry, fashion and life events ... just plain ole everyday life experiences, and how to manage everything we go through. We will feature blogs from our readers, as well as our staff. It will be online and available for print as well.  If you interested in being a part of the magazine please contact me at todaysamerica@gmail.com 

 In closing, is there anything we have not covered you would like for our reader to know?

Today's American Woman Pageants was established five years ago, and though we have had many contestants and winners along this awesome journey, this year we crowned our very first International queen. Irma Perez, which will proudly represent the gorgeous island of Puerto Rico as our Curvy Ms. PR. She has traveled to places near and far. She has represented her culture on the hottest runways as a plus size model including being one of the first plus models to grace one of the runways of New York Fashion Week under PSDSM Mgmt., and now will flow through the runway of our TAW Pageant to make her country and the world proud.

Today's International Woman Curvy Ms. Puerto Rico

I also want to invite each one of you reading this article to visit our website. Send an email via the contact form and let’s get your phone interview on the schedule. This is THE pageant to do and you will have the experience of your life on the cruise and in the Bahamas. God bless you all!!

PL Note:  Today's America/International Woman was ranked in 2014 as the Ms. Pageant to do.  In 2015,  they were ranked as the fastest growing pageant in the World.