Abigail Shisslak, AEM Miss Massachusetts, Moves to Westwood

Heather: Looking over your Instagram bio, you are the current Miss Massachusetts for America's Elite Miss (AEM). Can you explain the difference between that title and what our readers might think of as "traditional" Miss Massachusetts?

Shisslak: Many people have asked me this question. When you meet a girl with a state title, she may call herself Miss (State) and then have a prefix or suffix. Example: “Miss Massachusetts USA” “NAM Miss Massachusetts”. I am America’s Elite Miss Massachusetts 2018 (AEM Miss Massachusetts for short). This distinction is because there are probably hundreds of pageant systems out there and the prefix/suffix is how you tell which system the person is representing. Miss USA, Miss America, and Miss United States are three different women and represent different systems.Miss America was the first organized pageant system in the US so when a girl is simply “Miss Massachusetts 2018” with nothing else in the title, she’s representing America. As the first [organized pageant system], they kind of have that claim to the simplest state titles.Most pageant systems outside of America also don’t have a talent portion and as my talents aren’t performative, I tend to stick to those.

Heather: What made you start in pageants? Why do you stay involved?

Shisslak: I began pageantry when I was 17. I used to be an extremely active person who loved dance, cheer, and volleyball. I also used to walk 3 miles daily. Unfortunately, my health took a drastic and unforeseen decline. I later found out that I have a genetic connective tissue disorder, a sleep disorder, and an autonomic nervous system disorder that all tend to manifest in adolescence. Hence why everything happened so suddenly.I was feeling extremely isolated, defeated, and I greatly disliked my body for essentially shutting down on me. I received a flyer advertisement in the mail for Miss Massachusetts Teen USA and the rest is essentially history.As someone who went from weighing 125lbs to 155lbs, pageants gave me self-confidence I didn’t have at my slimmest. I was unable to advocate for myself and my health prior to having to learn public speaking in competitions. Most importantly, I found a motivation and passion for a new sport that I am great in. That passion for pageantry became a passion for changing the world in any way I can, and taking control of the circumstances I have been given.

Heather: Are you planning to compete for the AEM national title in January?

Shisslak: Yes, I am competing in January and I’m extremely excited to represent this state in my 3rd National Pageant.

Heather: As AEM Miss Massachusetts, is there a particular cause or charity that you have chosen to champion? Do you have any sponsors?

Shisslak: Every girl in pageantry has a platform they commit their service to and I’m no different. My platform is Invisible Illnesses and Disabilities. They always say that you can’t truly understand something until it happens to you, and boy can I agree. My world has changed drastically since I got sick and I hope to raise enough awareness that someday there won’t be another girl who has to go through what I did with doctors and school systems. Disability discrimination is still very real and the issue right now is the belief that only people with a mobility aid, cane, or service dog, is truly disabled. My mission in life is to change that, even after I retire my crown someday.

Due to my move to Westwood, my health, and my recent decision to finally make it to college, I have been struggling to find sponsors this year. Anyone and any business who would like to help me make it to Nationals this year would be more than welcome to contact me and my volunteer services are all yours! Anyone who would like a volunteer regardless is welcome to contact me, volunteering is my life.

Heather: The Miss America competition has been in the news a lot this year, from the inappropriate comments at the Miss Massachusetts competition to their removal of the bathing suit competition. Do you think Miss America, and pageanting, can stay alive in 2018?

Shisslak: Miss America has been a large topic this year and you’re the first person to ask me about it. I think the pageant, while dwindling in viewership had a very strong support base in the thousands of loyal pageant lovers across the country. Their values and precedent have made pageantry what it is today, especially in the promotion of community involvement and the idea of a strong, successful woman.

When revising the entire pageant, they turned away from a lot of those values. My first pageant was a swimsuit pageant and I was cheered on as a confident size 12 woman just as loudly as the athletic size 2 competitors. Feeling happy in my body was a big deal when my body had been in so much pain and in a world promoting body positivity, I’ve yet to be in a more body positive situation.

In terms of the comments made at the most recent Miss Massachusetts pageant regarding the #MeToo movement, I found them to be very inappropriate. I don’t agree with the Organization’s decisions either but there are far better ways to voice your concerns than to mock a movement that has given voices to millions of frightened and silenced women.

I have far more to say about the changes made in Miss America but I could also write a novel about it.

Pageantry itself, will be just fine in the future, I’m not sure I can say the same for Miss America but we can only hope for the best. I, for one, do hope to see a 100th year anniversary.

Heather: When not doing your Miss Massachusetts duties, what do you like to do?

Shisslak: If you had asked me this last year, I might have said cuddling kittens and reading books and drawing while napping most of the day.

This is still largely true but I’ve been slowly working towards assembling a path to success for myself. My late father fostered an immense love of science and particularly astronomy and astrophysics in me since I can recall. I finally graduated high school at the age of 20 and let my body rest for the past two years. I’m happy to say I’m beginning my associates degree in mathematics on Wednesday, September 5th at Massachusetts Bay Community College. We’re taking it slow with only two classes but I’m excited because I’ll get that Astronomy and Astrophysics degree someday! My nerdy, video game inspired, N7 backpack is packed at the front door waiting for me to eventually make it to the stars like Commander Shepard from Mass Effect.

Heather: If a girl in Westwood wanted to become involved with pageanting, what advice would you give her or her parents?

Shisslak: If a girl in Westwood wanted to compete in pageantry, I’d tell her to find something that she’s passionate about and speak about it. The skills learned in pageants last a lifetime. You will make more friends nationally and internationally than you thought possible. If you don’t win the crown the first, second, or even third try, keep at it, we’re not all going to be Olivia Culpo who won Miss Universe in her first year of pageantry.

Some good competition tips:

• Nude wedges are more stable than stilettos, you don’t have to wear those death traps.
• Practice really does make perfect
• You do not have to be a “pageant girl”. Nothing about me is a typical pageant contestant.
• If you have strange fright and wear glasses, don’t wear corrective lenses before going onstage [so] you can’t see the audience’s faces. I do this myself.
• I wear slippers to crowning. If I’m done competing, the Space Shuttle slippers are 100% under my gown. Find some comfy crowning slippers.

Parents, if your daughter wants to compete in pageantry because of this article. I firstly want to apologize to your wallet.

In all seriousness, if you can’t find sponsors, you will be putting in about as much money as many other sports cost. My run in Pop Warner Cheerleading costed roughly the same. That money will pay off when you see your little girl shine. A little girl being able to stand on a stage in a beautiful gown and being a real princess has never failed to leave an impact. She will learn poise, public speaking, interview skills, the importance of volunteerism, and she will make lifelong friends.

Thank you so much Heather T. Ford for reaching out to me for this interview. Anyone is more than welcome to contact me.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AbigailShisslakPageantPage/
Brand new business email: abigail.shisslak@gmail.com

Thank you, Abigail and best of luck!

As always, please email me to tell me about what you would like to read about (and have your neighbors read about!)

Speaking of new people to Westwood, have you seen my interview with Principal Redmon?