She is the “Veggie Rapper”, currently Miss Georgetown USA, and Forever Miss New Jersey 2019 – Jade Glab is the epitome of a girl boss, and I got to chat with her this week on serving two years as Miss New Jersey and her plans.
After Miss New Jersey, Ms. Glab competed for and won the title of Miss Georgetown USA, securing her ticket to Miss DC USA, where she was the youngest contestant to compete this weekend. One big change she noticed from coming from joining a new pageant organization is the overall focus of the competition.
“I’d say Miss America has a greater focus on scholastic achievement and career-oriented women.” said Ms. Glab, discussing the rebranded pageant system. “Whereas Miss USA is more so your traditional pageant…they’re looking for a media figure - an entertainment figure.”
On being crowned Miss New Jersey, Jade was grateful to be in the Top 5. As the underdog to win Miss New Jersey, she did not expect to win so early. Nonetheless, Ms. Glab strategized the best way she could.
“I’d say my greatest quality is being adaptable and flexible. I achieved the goal of just do as much as you possibly can in a year because you only have a year – and then I ended up getting two.”
One goal Ms. Glab had achieved was personal growth. As one of the younger contestants, she figured she would take the opportunity to learn and grow as much as possible so it can help her in the next phase of her life.
“I will say that being Miss New Jersey has been the most rapid development that I’ve ever experienced in my life,”
Jade’s social impact, “Healthy Children, Stronger America,” focused on encouraging youth to make healthy choices when it came to food and nutrition. But to take this initiative to the next level, she had to get into the mind of a five-year old. The result? Rapping about vegetables.
“You have to get them grooving and moving,” she said.
This skill soon became a hit, and Jade soon became known as the “Veggie Rapper.”
On competing for Miss America 2.0, Jade said, “It was a very interesting experience, I will say it was very different from competitions I’ve grown up with.” Watching the “Old Miss America” Jade did not expect some of the immense changes in MAO 2.0. As a result of their rebranding, the competition resembled a job interview.
Talking about the Miss America 2.0 rebrand, I asked her if she thought the changes were effective in breaking old pageant stereotypes.
“‘Miss America has a voice. She has a platform. She has something to say regarding her plans for the year, her social impact, what she wants to do, how she wants to use her title.’” She explained how these changes are making it evident MAO is full of intelligent women.
The COVID-19 pandemic was no stranger to bringing unforeseen disadvantages in 2020. It reigned true in the pageant world as well. Nonetheless, her and the rest of the Miss America organization kept the strong sisterhood alive through social media.
Because schools faced shutdowns and went remote, it was hard for Jade to promote her “Healthy Children, Stronger America” initiative. Instead, she focused the second half of her reign on women’s advocacy and Asian-American rights.
“I just shifted to making an impact however I possibly could,”
Jade also reflected on some great stories as Miss New Jersey, one where she met an actor from the Rock of Ages musical, and one New Jersey citizens know all too well.
“So, I was on TMZ,” she said, “They asked me, as someone from Jersey – someone from Central Jersey who doesn’t really know if it’s pork roll or taylor ham– to aggressively down a pork roll, egg, and cheese on camera and they put it on television.”
Looking to the future, it is fair to say Ms. Glab will be competing in more pageants as she has 6 years more of eligibility. She could potentially compete anywhere in the northeast region, however, she mentioned her forever love of New Jersey and would love to have a second title here.
This is what Jade had to say for anyone interested in pageants.
“Don’t deviate who you are,” she explained, “You can be a great actor, but why would you want to go into something that’s meant for your personal growth, as someone who is not yourself?”
Competing in pageants is an excellent way to become your best self through personal growth and new opportunities, and Ms. Jade Glab is a prime example of what that means. Her passions stem from her social impact initiative, mixed in with her unique and charismatic personality are clear indicators of her success during and after her reign as Miss New Jersey.
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