Miss California Contestant May Have Forfeited Crown to Say What She Truly Believes:

This woman has an amazing message on the value of being true to who you are and what you really believe! In a day when the pressure is high to say what is considered right by some, there are still those who have the strength to say what they really believe. Everybody has a voice and an influence. Either you are influenced by your culture or you are influencing the culture through the weight and impact of who you are. I love the idea that culture can be created. This is how whole cultures are formed. This is a part of how influence is weighed.

Everyone can make a difference. It is easy to say what you think others want to hear. It takes much more strength to say what you believe from your core when you know that there is going to be a price to pay. Real courage is being authentic to who you really are and what you really believe. I honor and applaud this young woman for her honesty, her integrity in being true to herself and her faith, and her willingness to take the criticism with joy in knowing that what she did may have come with a price, but she can hold her head high that she did not compromise her values or her true self in order to win or get ahead. When you influence from who you really are--your authenticity speaks for itself. People recognize a fake from a mile away. Be who you are! People will love you or hate you, but at least you know at the end of the day that who you are is who people are really responding to!