One Troy University student spends her free time from school wearing a crown that has a deeper meaning than just being shiny and pretty.
Zoie McGuyer is a junior interdisciplinary studies major from Florence, Alabama, who currently takes 18 credit hours at Troy University. She also spends a lot of her time being Miss Huntsville.
McGuyer said it gets hard maintaining all her responsibilities, but in the end, it’s all worth it.
“It’s a hard struggle, but I knew when competing for the job of Miss Huntsville, some things would need to take a seat in the back seat,” McGuyer said. “There are some days that are more of struggle, but being Miss Huntsville is the greatest thing that I have done yet.”
Recently, McGuyer debuted her podcast called “Embrace Your Grace,” where she talks about the signs, symptoms and statistics of child abuse. It comes just in time for April, which is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.
“This podcast is for survivors, warriors, legislators, court-appointed special advocates to all come together and really speak and spread light on child abuse,” McGuyer said.
McGuyer said the idea for the podcast stemmed from her own personal experience with child abuse and the work her non-profit organization, ‘Saving Grace, We Hear You,’ has already done for children all across Alabama.
“I started Embrace Your Grace as a person who struggled with child abuse first-hand,” McGuyer said. “I know the frustrations of it.”
“I’m here, I’m alive, I am Miss Huntsville, and I have the platform to help the children who need it most. I do believe that it’s those small voices that should be heard above all the others, and that is why I’m here today and why I have my podcast.”
McGuyer said she currently has a project in the works.
“I’m crafting a proclamation right now to shine a whole day for child abuse,” McGuyer said. “I do believe that this needs to have a light shone upon it, and that’s why I’m crafting a proclamation so we can all, in the state of Alabama, learn the signs and symptoms of child abuse,”
People interested in McGuyer’s podcast can find it on YouTube under ‘Zoie McGuyer.’
While working on her podcast and proclamation, McGuyer is also preparing to compete in the Miss Alabama pageant that is happening in June.
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