Rachel Slawson has made history by becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ contestant to participate in Miss USA. Her journey has been filled with challenges, including autoimmune thyroid issues and endometriosis. Despite these hurdles, Rachel has emerged as a resilient advocate and inspirational figure. She has not only made her mark in the pageant world but also created Feelings Are Human, an initiative aimed at supporting individuals who struggle with confidence issues, grappling with their sexuality, and facing chronic mental wellness challenges. To learn more about Rachel's journey, continue reading.

Where are you based?
I split my time between Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.

What inspired you to participate in pageant contestants?
I met Merissa Powell when she was Miss Utah USA, I had never seen someone so radiant and confident. She inspired me to compete, and I owe so much to the way she owned her power.

What was it like being apart of the Miss USA competition?
It was an incredible experience to see one of my biggest and most difficult dreams come true, that being said it was a little disappointing working so hard for something and having it take place during a global pandemic. This is one of the reasons I am competing in Miss Grand USA in two weeks, to experience a national pageant under different circumstances.

It is crazy to think you were the first openly LGBTQ+ contestant. What was the response like?
When a woman does something spectacular there will always be hatred. But I was surprised by the overwhelming support I received. I think it was because my win was not just mine, it belonged to an entire community of people who had never seen themselves represented in pageantry before.

This all came out of you overcoming autoimmune thyroid struggles, endometriosis battles, and the aftermath of a shattered engagement. How did you manage to find strength and resilience in spite of the difficult challenges you faced?
I spent a lot of my life wanting to play the victim, because truly the things that I’ve faced in my life have seen insurmountable before. I’ve learned that asking for help does not make you a victim, it actually makes you the hero of your own story. I get through extreme difficulty through focusing as much as I can on the sparkle of life, which is why I love pageantry, and also asking for help and patience as many times as it takes for me to stand up on my own again.

What role does faith play in allowing you to overcome life’s obstacles?
My relationship with Jesus is the most important in my life. I would be absolutely nothing without my faith. I am a strong person, but I know that I wouldn’t have survived without surrendering to a higher power.

Can you share with us how your experience with autoimmune thyroid issues and endometriosis influenced your journey of self-discovery and personal growth?
I’ve struggled with my health since I was a child. My body has grown stronger into adulthood, but I still do deal with chronic physical health challenges. I used to shame myself for the exhaustion I was facing, and hated my body for the intense pain it experienced. I healed the most by allowing myself to rest. To take days off. To sleep as much as I need. Learning how to take care of my body through healthy nutrition has helped immensely with inflammation and pain. But most importantly I have just accepted that my experience here wasn’t meant to be perfect.

You have become a symbol of resilience and determination for many people, what is your personal definition of resilience?
My resilience comes from deep inside me. I have experienced physical and mental health challenges, homelessness, death, abuse, heartbreak, poverty, loneliness, and many of life’s worst pains. Yet as the years have passed, few things rattle me the way they used to. Once you have survived the worst, you know you can survive anything. Resilience is knowing that as long as you never give up on yourself, you can lose everything, and still rise again.

From the embers emerged the beautiful woman you are now and the I AM WHY Project, an initiative designed to support individuals struggling with confidence, sexuality, and chronic mental wellness challenges. Can you tell us a bit about your organization and what you offer? What inspired you to create it?
The I AM WHY Project started out as a self-care program, and has evolved to supporting women and non-binary people in elevating their confidence, self-expression, and creating a unique personal brand. There were so many conversations I felt I never had a safe space to start, so I created it. Helping women define their dreams and make them come true is one of my highest callings in life.

Could you tell us more about Feelings Are Human and how the initiative supports individuals?
Feelings are Human is my non-profit and podcast that is launching this year, inviting celebrities to spark conversations about mental health, while raising money to help provide housing for the most severely impacted by mental health issues.

How does your unique coaching approach at I AM WHY Project and Feelings Are Human support individuals to gain self-healing and personal growth?
Whether you are a coaching client, or a podcast guest of mine, you will always be accepted exactly as you are. Truly most of us do not need to change, we just need to learn to love the parts of ourselves the world told us to change.

You are on the board of LoveLoud. Can you tell us a bit about this organization and what they do?
LoveLoud is a nonprofit started by Imagine Dragon’s lead singer Dan Reynolds, designed to unite the community in Utah around the LGBTQ+ youth through music.

You are a speaker for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Can you tell us a bit about your work with this organization and why it is important to you?
I started suicide prevention speaking when I was 19 years old. As a survivor myself, and having lost friends and family to suicide, I know how important it is to end the stigma firsthand. AFSP is saving lives through its awareness, education, and resources.

How was Miami Swim Week this year? How does it reflect the impact you are making in the world today?
Miami Swim Week was a dream come true. It is my personal symbol of who I am and that I can overcome anything and still bring my dreams to life. Going through challenges, and still putting yourself out there for the world, is one of the bravest things I think a woman can do, in a world that wants to make her hide. It may just be a walking runway to some people, but the people who know my story know it is so much more.

What is the most important piece of advice that you have gained throughout your life?
You don’t have to believe everything that you think.

What tips could you offer to someone who is struggling with their mental and/or physical health?
Take it slow. The world will try to rush you. It will tell you that you’re behind, not enough, lazy. Let your body and mind heal on its own time. True healing is possible.

It has been a rough few years, how have you been staying positive?
I acknowledge the difficulty, but I don’t give it much attention. What you focus on expands. I focus on what I love and what makes me happy, and take it one day at a time.

What is your motto in life?
My family motto is “Go Forward in Faith.”

To learn more about Rachel, please follow the links below:
Instagram: @saltyrachel, @feelingsarehuman, and @iamwhyproject

Rachel Slawson - Breaking Barriers with Grace, Grit, and a Crown