The Royal Spotlight is an interview series where I highlight queens from a variety of pageant systems. This month I had the pleasure of interviewing Mrs. Alabama Plus America 2015 Keisha Peeples.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Keisha Jones Peeples, but I am now shortening it to KJ Peeples. I am a 44 year old mom to five children and grandmother of two. I wear several hats as wife, mom, grandmother, pageant queen, model, speaker, and newly published author! God allows me to do all this while maintaining a career as a professional truck driver.
When did you start competing in pageants?
I signed up for my first pageant back in November of 2014.
Why do you compete in pageants?
Competing in pageants gives you a way to put yourself out there to empower others and have a platform to push the causes that are in your heart to support.
How many titles have you won?
I have three titles: Mrs. Alabama Plus America 2015, Peoples Choice 2015 and Miss Natural Hair and Health Beauty 1st Runner Up 2016
Tell us about the Miss Alabama Plus America Pageant.
The Miss Alabama Plus America Pageant is a plus size pageant that gives a place to shine to the not so standard type woman size 14+ who wants to compete in pageantry. ALMPA (Miss Alabama Plus America) is a part of the MPA (Miss Plus America) pageant system that was founded in 2002 by Melissa Stamper. These are the required ages for the categories:
Mrs. 20+
Ms. 30+
Miss 18-29
Teen 13-17
The directors of ALMPA are Carl and Shatwaina Lester. The owner of MPA is Marcella Meyer and the National Executive Director is Nanette Watts.
Why do you feel it is important to have pageants that celebrate full-figured women?
In this time where body shaming is so prevalent, full-figured women need a place to fit in and just be themselves and be celebrated. Pageantry will push you out of your comfort zone but make you tap into an inner strength you didn’t know you had. Taking that first step to sign up will lead you to do amazing things!
What have you learned about yourself through your pageant experience?
I have learned that even while we are tapped as Queenly leaders we must still maintain a level of excellence when we think no one is watching which proves why we are selected.
What are your future plans for your pageant career?
At this time I have become a published author alongside nine of my sister queens. The book that we have co-written is entitled Crown of Thorns: Diary of a Beauty Queen. I will be spending time pushing this book as well as still making appearances and speaking engagements.
What words of advice do you live by?
My words of advice that I live by are “Strive to always allow your character to speak for you!”
Please provide your contact information so that others can reach out to you. Email? Social media handles?
My social media information is as follows:
Email- Myplusischanginglives@gmail.com
Facebook- My Plus Is Changing Lives and KJ Peeples Petite Plus Model
Instagram-@myplusischanginglives and @mztruckndiva
Twitter-@KJPEEPLES
Periscope-@KJPEEPLES
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