Question and Answer with Ms. United States
Graziella Baratta, Ms. United States 2008-2009, shares her dedication to being a positive role model
Who has been the most influential woman in your life and why?
Even though it sounds cliché, my mother; she has shaped who I am today, taught me how to be a woman and how to love. She taught me to stand up for my beliefs, have courage in my convictions, and to go forth and achieve anything I want in life. She has always been a positive role model in my life, always optimistic; if I’m ever having doubts, she always encourages me to go for my goals. She’s truly my number 1 fan.
Why do you feel so many young women have such low self-esteem?
This definitely has to do with society and the media, especially television. I teach dance to girls from age nine to adults, so I speak to young ladies all day long. Each class we usually spend the beginning talking a lot about everyday issues, and from that I’ve seen that the media plays a huge role in lowering self-esteem. It produces almost ridiculous expectations in looks and actions that young girls cannot relate to. The media shows teen idols being promiscuous, using drugs and alcohol, and overall not promoting positive images. Unfortunately, that’s who a lot of those girls look up to; I’m hoping to dispel some of that, to be a more positive role model throughout my reign.
What do you feel is the most pressing issue facing women today?
Gosh, there are so many! One of the main issues that comes to mind is that women don’t uplift one another enough. Women don’t bond together the way men do, don’t support each other. We tend to be very competitive. Women need to really support and uplift each other to achieve our goals, and to be there for each other. I created a free women’s networking website, byouneek.ning.com, where women can converse and become friends. The women on my site are free to discuss topics that may be uncomfortable to bring up in front of men, to talk about beauty, fashion, fitness, and wellness. It’s really become a great way to bond, to exchange information in a comfortable setting. My networking site helps highlight the beauty within each individual person. As women, we need to be there for one another more; it’s where we gain our strength.
What one piece of advice would you give to young women struggling with image issues?
The greatest piece of advice I could give to any woman is to really learn to love the uniqueness in herself. Everyone has a different look, something different to offer, whether it’s talent-wise, in the community, or recognizing individual beauty. Women should focus on projecting their inner selves, on building confidence. We all know that one woman that has such crazy confidence—maybe she doesn’t look like a model but she has such self-confidence that she glows when entering a room. Bringing out that light is the most beautiful thing.
Was there ever a time in your life when you struggled with image issues, and if so, how did you overcome them?
Yes, at various points in my life. I developed when I was 12 years old (laughs), I was very curvaceous, even at that age! I remember looking in the mirror and thinking I was fat, but really I was just developing into a woman when my peers weren’t there yet. I disliked what I looked like, didn’t fit into my clothes in the same way, and tended to cover myself up. As I got older, I finally began to embrace my curves. My mom always helped me to except the way I looked, telling me that it was ok, that I was always beautiful.
How did you get the idea for your image consulting company, B.YOUneek?
The website and idea truly combines my two degrees- one from Marymount in dance and business, and one from the Westwood College of Technology in graphic and web design. One of my projects at Westwood was to create a logo for myself as a graphic designer. I decided to encompass image consulting as well, which brings up my dedication to fitness and dance. B.YOUneek is all about the client, bringing out the inner beauty in each person, helping each stand out to be the very best.
How do you approach new customers of B.YOUneek? Where do you usually start?
We begin with a pre-consultation to get to know the client and find out what their needs are. We find out what they would like to achieve, what their career path is, and other basics. After the pre-consultation, if the client decides to sign up for our service, we give her a more detailed questionnaire. From that we map out a plan that is highly tailored to each client and what they want to achieve. A lot of what we do is helping women prepare for pageants. I started pageants when I was 19, and after so much preparation for each one, image consulting has become almost second nature to me.
Are their any key exercises or so-called 'superfoods' that you always recommend?
I've always said that both exercises and foods should all be personalized, according to each person; this is something I focus on as a certified personal trainer. In general though, I’d always consider any whole foods ‘superfoods’: fruits, vegetables, any food you buy the way it comes from nature. A simple way to remember is anything that doesn’t come in a box, can, or packaged in plastic. I made my own list of Top Ten Superfoods on by blog at totalbeauty.byouneek.com, which includes avocados, salmon, and kale among others. In terms of exercise, the key is to vary your workout. This keeps your muscles challenged, so you burn more calories and achieve better results.
How do you feel the use of social networking sites has influenced your platform and delivering your message?
I love the internet and being creative—it’s just part of my personality, always on the go and wanting to create something new. Along with my image consulting website, I started pageantpalace.com, a portal for the pageant industry. On Pageant Palace anyone involved with pageants can come together and exchange information. Previously there were not other networks for the industry. It allows people to connect in a positive atmosphere. The exchanges have included everything from ‘How did you win your title?’ to ‘Where did you get that fabulous dress?’. It’s really a nice positive force to bring together some of these ladies. I also have a fan network, graziellaworld.com, which helps me stay connected with my fans and reach out to them. I started a dance network, dancenewyork.ning.com, which includes lots of students and fans. I make sure I constantly monitor and update my sites, helping me communicate with youth and reach more people. I had an appearance at a school in Long Island where I did my whole platform presentation, bYOUneeklyBalanced. One girl from the dance team at the school found me on my website, and wrote me a message, thanking me for visiting and saying, “You have no idea how you’ve uplifted us, we’re ready to go to competition now and give it our all!” Touching people like that is truly what makes all the difference to me.
How do you hope to be remembered for your reign as Ms. United States?
I would really like to be remembered for being the queen to do the most she could to spread her message and platforms. I like to think of myself as the Web Queen, as almost the first to bring the title of Ms. United States into the 21st century. I’ve been using the internet extensively along with making traditional appearances. I’m still visiting schools and organizations and going to numerous events, but I also have two web TV shows, GraziellaTV and PageantChatTV, where I bring up different topics in each show, such as new exercises or healthy recipes. I also write in my blog often, regarding similar topics. These along with my social networking sites will help me to reach as many people as possible, and hopefully to be remembered as the Queen who spread did the most to spread her message, helping to improve not only women’s lifestyles but also raise their self-confidence.
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