if not me then who

There is a famous quote by Malcolm X that has been echoed by many, "If not now, then when? If not me, then who?" Perhaps you've come across this phrase while following the Miss Universe pageant, including the journey and reign of our current titleholder, R'Bonney Gabriel. She has embraced the first part of the quote as her personal mantra, and as a former Miss Texas who went on to be crowned Miss USA before eventually being crowned our current Miss Universe (a path I aspire to follow), I have always found the second part of the quote to be equally powerful.

Although timing has not always been my ally, I have adopted a mentality of taking action whenever I see a need for something to be done or created. When faced with an obstacle, I have often thought to myself, "If nobody else will do it, then I might as well take the initiative and do it myself."

Throughout my entire life, I have never shied away from going against the norm and pursuing the seemingly impossible. This pageant journey serves as a prime example of my desire to push boundaries. While it would have been easier to take the safe route and compete in pageants specifically catered to my body type or race, such as petite or black women pageants (which do provide vital opportunities for underrepresented individuals), I have always strived to blaze a trail in every arena I enter, even if the odds are stacked against me.

However, I firmly believe that nothing in this world is truly unattainable if we shift our perspective. By changing our outlook and approach, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve our goals.