the story behind ...

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I am Ana Vlad, I live in Naples, Florida and I have founded this project back in 2019 when I was awarded the Miss Pre-Teen Florida International title. The Miss International® organization has been developed to promote today's young women and their accomplishments, and girls are finding this system to be the opportunity to work with others to become positive role models in their community. 

Each state delegate in the national pageant was required to prepare and run on a platform. That is when I decided that instead of joining an existing organization, I would rather start my own movement. I chose to do this because I wanted it to be a learning as well as growing experience with a goal of acquiring organizational & leadership skills. I wanted to leave a legacy. As I started to brainstorm my platform, I remembered a day in elementary school when we discussed the starfish story. The message of this story reflected the importance of making a difference, no matter how small. I knew right away that this inspiring story was exactly how I felt about getting involved and making a difference in my community. This is why I named my platform Power Of One. Since my young childhood years, I have taken part in all kinds of charity and community events, such as donating food and clothes to children in need, entertaining residents in retirement and veteran homes, volunteering at the Humane Society, welcoming veterans with Honor Flights, cleaning beaches, etc.  

Although "Power of One" began as a pageant platform, I was determined to turn it into a local youth movement. During the preparation for this project, I learned so many new things: from building this website and graphic design to learning how to create short movies, these skills will stick with me for a lifetime. This project has also helped me understand that the desire to make a difference must be instilled in children early on. This will help them feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment while helping with character building traits of courage, caring and achievement. All these traits are taught through the simple rules: be positive, be kind and do good. 

Ever since then at my young age, I want to be involved in my community in multiple ways. I want to spread the message that, although I am only one person, I know that I can make a difference and so can anyone else. No matter how small one’s acts of kindness are, each one will create a ripple with no end. 

In the words of Max Stossel, “I pledge to be fearless and kind, to be inclusive, to stand up for those who need my help, and to make a difference whenever I can, wherever I can, because I can!"  

Join us and take the pledge!

- Ana Martina Vlad

Founder and President