00:00So this reaction is very simple, it only produces three things, water, oxygen, gas and heat.
00:14I never thought I would even be a candidate for a Miss America type competition because
00:20I didn't want to be in a swimsuit.
00:22And so when they changed the organization to getting rid of that swimsuit competition,
00:27I took that as a challenge to inspire young women to go into STEM careers and kids, you
00:32know, to get them excited about science.
00:49I performed the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
00:53So if you see me in the photos pouring one beaker into my larger flasks, it's really
00:58designed to get kids interested in STEM.
01:01This isn't, you know, a high level scientific reaction.
01:04So I wanted to pick something that was going to be engaging.
01:07I wanted to make sure that everyone, even the very back of the audience, would be able
01:10to see what I'm doing on stage.
01:23I've changed to something called Miss America 2.0, which is an entire rebranding of the
01:36organization that focuses more on women's talents and our achievements and took away
01:42the focus from the body aspect and the physical appearance aspect.
01:46And so that really resonated with me in a way that made me want to come back and participate.
01:52And what we're about to watch is the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
01:57But be careful.
01:58Don't try this one at home.
01:59I've had children and parents and people that I've never met reach out to me on social media
02:05and tell me that they're excited that I can be a role model for their young girl or son.
02:10And I never expected to be able to make this kind of an impact.
02:14And it's been something that I couldn't have ever even dreamed of, but I'm grateful to
02:18be able to do.
02:22I think that because we don't have a lot of representation in these careers, it's difficult,
02:40what I had said before, for us to imagine ourselves holding these positions and to see
02:44ourselves in these careers.
02:45And it's something that I hope to carry on throughout my entire year as Miss Virginia.
02:51I'm going to be traveling to schools across the Commonwealth of Virginia, and it's something
02:54that I'm hoping to be able to bring with me and to do in elementary schools and middle
02:58schools and high schools and get those kids excited in STEM careers.
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