Jessica Hopper is getting another shot at a Miss Indiana USA crown.
After making the top 10 in the Miss Indiana USA competition last season, Hopper was invited to compete again in the pageant, which will be held Oct. 21-22 at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
The Noblesville resident also competed in the Miss Indiana pageant for the Miss America system in Zionsville in June.
Hopper, 25, said competing in the Miss America pageant system trained her quite well for the interview process.
“For Miss America, you must know absolutely everything there is to know about current events and form an educated opinion on those matters instantly,” she said. “You must know everything there is to know about your platform, the organization, politics, social issues and more. Miss America has some of the most intense interviews you could ever encounter, as they ask the hard questions and are looking for someone who can give an educated opinion without being controversial.”
Hooper’s platform is the same as the one she had in the Miss America system, “Creating SAFE Homes for Children in Foster Care.” Hopper works part time for ResCare Youth Services and full time as a sales rep for Leaf Filter. In addition, she does swimsuit and fitness modeling.
“I loved the Miss America Organization for its emphasis on empowering women and encouraging women to be the active change needed in a specific area of interest in society,” Hopper said. “I hold my platform dearly, as it is close to my heart, and I am a constant advocate for change in the foster care system here in Indiana. I also love the Miss Indiana USA program/Miss Universe Organization because they encourage women to be confident in themselves and to embrace the beauty they possess within so that it can shine out and help other women embrace their confidence as well.”
Hopper said the pageants have taught her how important it is to be herself.
“When you meet with the judges during the interview and hit that stage for the first time, you have to embrace what makes you unique so that you can stand out,” she said. “There is only one me, Jessica Hopper, so I have to show them what that means.”
