Watch Her Series: Nnenna Eke (NAM Miss New Jersey 2024)♡
Welcome to the Watch Her Series! Introducing you to extraordinary women you should be watching…
Today I’m featuring another Miss Sister Queen and the current NAM Miss New Jersey!
Thank you Nnenna for joining me on the Watch Her Series! Read about Nnenna’s self acceptance journey below!
When did you first start feeling confident in yourself, and what helped you get there?
As the youngest of two outspoken older brothers, I used to think that having a strong personality required being older, masculine, and physically and mentally strong. But as I started to invest in myself, I realized that confidence can begin at any age and from any background. When I received my first invitation to National American Miss, I was surprised because I had little exposure to pageantry. My only performance experience was in school plays, concerts, and presentations. However, after signing up for the 2011 New Jersey Pageant, I became so invested in myself. I took 7 different genres of dance classes, participated in cheerleading, learned to perfect my craft and drawing style in art classes, studied classical music composition in orchestra, and most importantly, learned how to love myself, all at the same time
Have you ever had to step outside your comfort zone to boost your self-confidence?
I strongly believe that stepping outside of your comfort zone is essential to feeling determined to achieve any goal or aspiration. Being a woman who enjoys getting involved in various activities, pushing myself out of my comfort zone is always a challenge. For instance, I am currently working towards a degree in Construction Management at Louisiana State University. Has the journey been easy? Definitely not! Nevertheless, I refuse to let my fears and self-doubt hinder me from reaching my goals, as doing so will ultimately boost my self-confidence to its highest potential.
How has being Miss New Jersey boosted your confidence?
Since being crowned as your 2024 National American Miss New Jersey, my inner child has been elated by this experience, which has boosted my confidence tremendously. After years of trial and error, seeing my hard work pay off has been one of the greatest feelings on this planet. While I'm still on cloud nine, I understand that there is important work to be done in the state of New Jersey, and I am determined to make the best of it with the assistance of National American Miss. I truly believe that I can accomplish anything with their support.
How do you handle self-doubt when it creeps in? Any tricks or tips you’ve found helpful?
I believe that the first step to handling self-doubt is to recognize that it is a natural feeling, and that if ignored, it can grow into something bigger that is harder to overcome. One trick that works for me is to acknowledge its presence and truly grasp why it developed in the first place. When I am going into an unknown situation and stepping outside of my comfort zone, I normally face waves of self-doubt where I question what I am doing and try to talk myself out of it. However, after weighing all of my options, I realize that there are always more pros than cons. Once I go ahead and take the first step into something new, those initial thoughts disappear like they were never there to begin with.
What advice would you give to someone looking to build their self-confidence?
"Since growing into the woman I am proudly shaping into today, I have received advice that will stay with me for the rest of my life. 'You are your number one supporter. If you stop believing in yourself, others won’t be inspired to follow suit. When you are radiant in self-confidence and love, you are contagious and can inspire others to believe in you and in themselves.'"
