Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women. That statistic doesn't come with an age requirement, and the choices we make today are quietly shaping the women we'll become.
There is something that happens when you put on a crown. Suddenly, the causes you carry aren't just yours anymore, they belong to your community.
And one of the most important causes I carry as Miss Mount Holly is one that reaches into every family, every neighborhood, and every generation: women's heart health.
As a preliminary titleholder in the Miss North Carolina Organization, which is an official pathway to the Miss America stage, I am part of something so much bigger than a pageant. I am part of a nationwide movement. Through the Miss America's Scholarship Foundation's partnership with the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign, titleholders like me are on the front lines of one of the most urgent conversations in women's health.
And when I read the numbers, I understand exactly why.
The Facts
1 in 3 women's lives claimed by cardiovascular disease each year
44% of women 20 and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease
#1 leading cause of death among women — above all cancers combined
Miss America 2025, Abbie Stockard, put it plainly:
"More than 44% of women 20 and older are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. It's increasing in younger women, but many don't know that it is their biggest health threat."
That sentence stopped me. Increasing in younger women. In women like me. In women like you.
"In the 20 years Go Red for Women has worked to save and improve women's lives, one thing we've learned is women — particularly young women — need to know heart disease doesn't discriminate." — Nancy Brown, CEO, American Heart Association
That's the message at the heart of this partnership. The Miss America's Scholarship Foundation and the American Heart Association are united around three shared goals: raising awareness that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women; educating and empowering participants at every level of the Miss America program; and raising critical funds to advance equitable research and treatment.
From local titleholders all the way to Miss America herself — who serves as a national brand ambassador for the AHA and attends the Red Dress Concert in New York City each year — we are all part of carrying this mission forward.
Here in North Carolina, that means me. And it means this conversation, right here.
What we can do — starting today
The most powerful thing about this issue is also the most hopeful: the majority of cardiac events can be prevented. Our daily habits — the small, quiet, unglamorous ones — are the most protective tools we have. Here are six I've woven into my own life:
🚶 Move for 30 minutes
A daily walk lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and strengthens your heart. It counts.
💧 Hydrate first thing
Start your morning with a full glass of water before anything else. Your cardiovascular system runs on it.
🥗 Add one more color
Don't overhaul your whole diet. Just add one more fruit or vegetable each day and build from there.
😴 Protect your sleep
Chronic sleep deprivation raises blood pressure and inflammation. Seven to nine hours isn't a luxury — it's medicine.
🧘 Check your stress
Chronic stress takes a measurable toll on the heart. Even five minutes of deep breathing shifts your body's response.
🩺 Know your numbers
Blood pressure. Cholesterol. Blood sugar. Know them. You cannot protect what you don't measure.
One more thing the AHA emphasizes: know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack in women — because they often don't look like what we see in the movies. Jaw pain, nausea, back pain, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue are all warning signs. As Nancy Brown said, "Anyone can be a lifesaver. You just need to know the signs and symptoms and have confidence to speak up. The life you save could be your own."
MISS AMERICA X GO RED FOR WOMEN
The partnership
The partnership between Miss America's Scholarship Foundation and the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign is built on three pillars: awareness, education, and fundraising. Miss America titleholders from local to national serve as ambassadors — participating in CPR trainings, community events, and grassroots fundraising efforts that have collectively raised thousands of dollars for women's heart health research and treatment.
MY SERVICE INITIATIVE
What this has to do with S.M.I.L.E.
Every time I walk into a room to serve someone older, I am reminded of a quiet truth: the decisions I make today are an act of service for my future self — and for every person I hope to still be serving decades from now. Heart health isn't separate from my mission. It is woven into it. Taking care of this heart means I can keep showing up for theirs.
So this is my ask — not just as a titleholder, but as someone who genuinely believes in this cause. Go Red. Learn your risk. Take one small step toward a heart-healthy habit this week. Share this with a woman you love. And if you feel called to support the research and advocacy work happening through this partnership, there is a place for you in this movement.
Together — from North Carolina to the Miss America stage — we are working to make sure no woman is blindsided by a disease she never knew was her greatest threat.
With love and purpose,
Taylor, Miss Mount Holly 2026
