How I lost 140 pounds, became Miss Palmetto and imagined a healthier South Carolina

Three years ago, I sat in a doctor’s office with a diagnosis that changed my life: morbid obesity, pre-diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and fatty liver disease. I was 22, exhausted and silently suffering, like so many South Carolinians who are told to “just eat better” or “exercise more” without ever being taught how to listen to their bodies.

As a policy and programs advisor to the mayor of Columbia, I strive to help leaders solve problems every day. But this one felt personal. I didn’t need another handout or headline. I needed a lifeline and a plan.

That moment and my response inspired my community service initiative, which I call “Thrive in EveryBODY: Health that Fits You” and which I now carry as Miss Palmetto to compete for Miss South Carolina. It’s more than a platform. It’s my life and my story — one that echoes across our state.

Through small, consistent lifestyle changes, I lost 140 pounds in 38 months and reversed my pre-diabetic symptoms. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. I began to move not for punishment but for joy. I learned how to fuel my body without shame. And I started to advocate for myself in exam rooms, fitness classes, and eventually, in front of a camera.

South Carolina is facing a public health crisis. We have the sixth-highest rate of diabetes among adults in the nation, and 36 percent of our adults are classified as obese. In some parts of Columbia, amputation rates from diabetes complications are among the highest in the country. These aren’t just statistics; these are our neighbors, classmates and co-workers.

Too often, we’re silent about it. In Southern culture, we don’t always talk about weight, hormones or mental health. We’re taught to “tough it out” until a crisis forces us to pay attention.

It took a while for me to figure this out, but this is unhealthy, and we must change.

Competing in Miss South Carolina is not about evening gowns or crowns for me. It’s about using every platform I can to elevate the conversation. Through my community service, I’ve taught more than 1,500 students and families about healthy habits using the 5-2-1-0 rule, which promotes five fruits and vegetables, two hours or less of screen time and one hour of exercise each day with zero sugar-sweetened drinks.

I’ve also helped enroll hundreds of households into Columbia’s Grocery Access Program developed with Instacart to deliver healthy groceries to families in food deserts. I’ve hosted inclusive community workouts, advocated for polycystic ovary syndrome awareness legislation in both the South Carolina House and Senate, and shared health resources online with thousands on social media. However, it is not enough.

We need more real talk in public health. We need to talk about how ZIP codes impact access and how silence and shame delay care. And most importantly, we need to understand how small, personalized steps, rather than perfection, can change lives.

I’m competing in Miss South Carolina not because I have all the answers but because I’ve lived the questions. I’ve seen how community, storytelling and advocacy can help bridge the gaps that statistics alone cannot — and I know you have all seen those statistics and choose to ignore them just like I did.

I’m writing this not just as a policy advisor but as a patient. Not just as a competitor, but as a community member. One person, one program, won’t solve South Carolina’s health crisis. That will happen only with a culture shift — when we start listening to our bodies and each other.

Here I am. Vulnerable, vocal and determined to show others they’re not alone. Because in South Carolina, everybody deserves a chance to thrive. I hope you will take note of my story and think about yours. And I challenge you to attempt one small healthy change today.