Miss Teen Earth gives back

Between taking classes, making time for friends and winning the Teen Earth United States pageant, Jolie Schamber has had a very busy year. 

Schamber, a sophomore political science and legal studies major, competed and won the Teen Earth U.S. pageant on July 22.  

"I finally reached my goal. It was kind of the one thing I was really working towards," Schamber said. "It was a really good moment." 

Schamber's love for competing in pageants began when she wanted to be a model at 14 but instead applied for the Florida Teen USA pageant.    

"It's really competitive, and it's kind of a small world of pageants," Schamber said. "It's almost like a sport. I'm competing against other girls and against myself each time." 

Most pageants raise awareness for a cause. The Earth pageants support the preservation of the environment. Aside from the usual swimsuit and gown contest, the Earth pageants include other specialized events and qualifications, such as a ceremonial tree planting, long interviews and a speech about the environment. 

"I never had to give a formal presentation before at a pageant, so it was a whole new level of competition for me," Schamber said. "There were hidden judges. You could meet someone in the lobby and they could look like a normal person and they're a judge. We had to be on our toes."

Schamber chose Orlando-based Clean the World Foundation, Inc. as her main organization to promote in her interviews and speeches. By recycling soap and shampoo from hotels and motels, CTW is able to provide a way for people in developing countries to clean themselves. Not only does this reduce the risk of diseases for these people, but it also reduces the amount of harmful waste in landfills.

According to the CTW Web site, 9,000 children die every day from diarrheal disease and acute respiratory illness. Studies have shown that washing hands with soap can reduce that number by up to 60 percent. 

Schamber discovered CTW at Central Florida Earth Day in May when she was Teen Earth Florida. CTW had only been an official organization since February.

"It's been a great relationship with her and her family ever since the first time she walked up to our booth with her crown and banner on," said Shawn Seipler, executive director of CTW.

Schamber is now working with CTW as its children's ambassador. The organization has taken two trips to Cap Haitien, Haiti, and delivered about 150,000 bars of soap there. 

"There was no better place to start than the poorest region of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and starting at the very worst spot that we possibly could and try to make a difference," Seipler said.

"The people are so grateful when we get there," Schamber said. "So many kids die because they don't have soap. They don't even know how to use the soap."

Aside from the competition of pageantry, Schamber was able to meet the other young women she was competing with.

"We try not to let the competition get to us too much," Schamber said.

Evan Skow, the pageant's director, does not think the women need to be competitive at all. 

"They should come in prepared to be the best they can be," Skow said. "I know that from a pageant perspective the girls will be competitive, but the system is really designed to take the word 'competition' out."

 Schamber is glad she has been able to use her title to bring environmental awareness to UCF.

"We are that age group that's going to drive this thing as far as it can go," Schamber said.

She has participated in a lake cleanup and several parades since earning her new title.

She is also planning an awareness-raising event at UCF in spring. 

"The simplicity about the whole thing is that you can do a little bit and it makes a big difference, because if everyone does a little bit, we can make a big change," Schamber said.

In the future, Schamber plans to become involved in politics. After she finishes her term as Miss Teen Earth U.S., she wants to run for a Student Government Association position.

After college, she wants to be an ambassador but continue her involvement in pageants through coaching or directing her own.