Military child uses heels and a crown as a platform for positive change

Published May 30, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Aaron J. Jenne
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- An elected position provides her title, but it's who she is that gives her the platform to catalyze community cohesion.

The daughter of a retired Air Force member, Emily Tucker, Miss Goldsboro 2014, learned to live by certain standards. Among those standards was her father's core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all she does.

While enrolled as a vocal performance major at East Carolina University, Tucker focused her free time on helping the community. She said she chose to contribute to organizations like the USO and the Fisher House Foundation because of her upbringing.

Her senior year, she suffered a vocal injury, which caused her to take a year off, while she worked with a speech pathologist to learn to sing again. Her time with the speech pathologist may have saved her voice, but it also changed her goals.

"Initially, I wanted to be a famous opera singer, but after a year of therapy, my speech pathologist inspired me to help others like she helped me," Tucker said. "I now realize that being a famous opera singer wouldn't be nearly as fulfilling as helping people heal and recapture their dreams. That's much more fulfilling to me."

With the time she had off as her vocal chords recovered, Tucker said she decided to take a leap of faith and compete in the Miss Goldsboro pageant in November, 2013.

According to her, it wasn't about wearing the pretty dresses and the crown, it was about finding a platform that would allow her to help others the most.

"I wasn't in college like many other local title holders, so I immersed myself in Goldsboro," she said. "I could be visible and devote all my time and attention to the community."

After winning the pageant, she continued her campaign to advocate for military-community relations.

"As Miss Goldsboro, my biggest job is to share my story," Tucker said. "I get to share triumphs and struggles I had growing up in a military family with our future leaders."

Tucker is also working on a program to introduce civilian children to military installations. She said it's important they realize there is more to the Air Force than just flying.

"One of the great things my program does, is it helps children around the state see what really happens on military bases," Tucker said. "I think it helps them feel a more intimate connection with military families. It's not just an airport, or a place where military people go. This insight will go a long way toward breaking down the metaphorical wall that separates the base and the community."

During her tenure as Miss Goldsboro, Tucker said she has been working diligently, speaking at events for community leaders and children alike.

According to Allen Pedersen, USO base liaison officer, Tucker and her goals show her true colors as a proponent for positive change.

"What strikes me most about Miss Tucker is that she's genuine," Pedersen said. "She doesn't stand on a pedestal. Instead, she brings herself down to her audience's level, speaking eye-to-eye with children and city officials alike. She isn't all about the crown and pretty dresses, she's about helping."