FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Icesiz Davis, Miss Florence All American, will represent the city later this month in the Miss All American pageant in Charleston.
“To be representing Florence on a national stage is everything to me. I take deep pride in my hometown of Florence, South Carolina, and this is my first national pageant ever,” said Davis.
“So, it’s a bit of pressure, but I’m so excited and I’m just enjoying the experience so far.”
Davis said she really hopes to bring home a crown, but she’s also focused on bringing a message to the community about mental health awareness.
“My platform is mental health awareness. In the United States, one in five adults and one in five teens are all experiencing a mental health condition of some sort. Most are going untreated, and this can stem from the stigma that’s put around mental health, as well as the stigma, the lack of resources, and a lot of times the embarrassment that comes behind it. And for me, mental health is something that’s close to me because of my own personal experience and journey. In 2021, I was diagnosed with a deep depression and anxiety. It would stem from grief, lack of confidence, and mostly feeling alone. And so, pageantry for me allowed me to kind of take my power back and find a safe space and a positive space for me to not only help myself, but to help others and be impactful in my community and give a voice to the people who don’t feel brave enough to speak out.”
Davis added competing in pageants also helped her come out of her comfort zone, along with support from her parents and community.
“Pageantry has been able to help me immensely, from connecting with people, from helping my social skills. It truly forces you to come out of your comfort zone, and it has to do with all the things I love, you know, makeup and outfits and things, but it’s not all just glitz and glamour. The part of embracing your community and the people in it and helping and volunteering in places where you can, I think, is such a positive aspect, and I wish more people would know about that aspect of pageantry. That’s not, you know, shown a lot, but it is my mission to show that and bring that to light, especially in Florence and surrounding areas.”
The city of Florence proclaimed May as Mental Health Awareness month in support of Davis’ platform.
“The effort that I’m making every single day is everything to me, because me being kind of a spokesperson for someone who might be at home right now in their room in the dark and feeling like there’s no hope for them and there’s nothing going for them. I’m like, you know, I was there. I was that person myself. And so for me to be at a place where I’m strong enough mentally to move forward and to be ambitious, that’s everything to me that I can allow someone else to look at me and be like, well, she can do it.”
Davis said she’s thankful for all the support she’s received with her platform and the pageant.
“My community here in Florence has supported me to a point where it’s kind of overwhelming how they believe in me and are supporting and cheering me on. Every time I get a donation, they’re like, you know, bring that crown home, and I’m definitely looking forward to putting my best foot forward,” said Davis.
The pageant takes place the weekend of July 31st in Charleston.
To learn how you can help Davis with the pageant, click here.