Look Who's Talking
By TERRY O’CONNOR toconnor@breezenewspapers.com
Photos
Fact Box
Megan Clementi at a glance
Age: 26
Residence: Jupiter
Education: Graduated from UCF with bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
Occupation: Five seasons her as an Orlando Magic Dancer in 2009. Traveled the world entertaining U.S. troops on Armed Force Entertainment tours and was the Orlando Magic representative for the only All Star Dance Team at the 2007 NBA All Star Game in Las Vegas. Now host of PBS show "Muscle Car Workout."
Miss Florida achievements: Appearances for various charities, including Susan G. Komen and Give Kids the World. Created 35 scholarships for middle school females interested in math and science.
Raven-haired Megan Clementi is finishing her year as Miss Florida but she intends to keep working a little while longer to keep a promise to climb every lighthouse staircase in the state to raise funds for the Susan B. Komen cancer charity.
She came to Boca Grande Tuesday for the only two-for-one climb statewide in the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and the Gasparilla island Range Light. This week she shares what it's like spending a year as a beauty queen, whether pageants still have any relevancy to modern women and what's next after you've competed for the Miss USA crown.
Question: Why climb lighthouses?
Answer: The idea came to me shortly after I won the title of Miss Florida USA. I kept passing all these lighthouses. I decided I wanted to climb all the lighthouses in the state for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which is trying to prevent and find a cure for breast cancer. One of eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. It's a scary and alarming statistic. The lighthouse climbs are a great way to advertise to the world the need to beat this disease.
Q: Why is breast cancer so frustrating to those working for the cause?
A: The best thing you can do is prevent it. It's is preventable if you find it early on. We wait too long. If it gets to stage four it's too late. We want women to do the self-mammogram and get a mammogram from a doctor every year.
Q: Do you have a favorite lighthouse?
A: I do have some favorites. Jupiter Inlet will always be my favorite. I climbed it when I was 6 years old. Port St. Joe in the Panhandle is a really cool lighthouse. It's a private home. It was neat to be invited into the home and go up the top.
Q: How long has it taken to arrange and complete the climbs of 30 lighthouses?
A: The entire trip will take somewhere in the nine-month range. The Cape Canaveral lighthouse is still under construction and I won't be able to climb it until Aug. 14 or about a month after I give up my title July 10.
Q: Have you ever been to Boca Grande?
A: Tuesday will be my first time.
Q: As a athlete yourself did you need to train for these climbs any differently than you did for the pro dance team you were on for five years?
A: Not really. Every once in a while you take a deep breath and chill out on the way up. I did not realize we had 30 lighthouses in the state when I decided to undertake this endeavor.
Q: Where is your favorite beach anywhere?
A: Ooh, hmm, good question. I frequent the beaches in Jupiter. The hot spot in high school was the Juno Pier. Sarasota has beautiful beaches. I love how white the sand is. Even though they are so unfortunate, the Panhandle beaches are gorgeous.
Q: Why should young women in this day and age compete for the title of Miss USA?
A: Pageantry in general has a negative connotation at the moment. You see on TV all the drama. But for me it's been a positive experience, a journey to become a better woman. Miss USA ideally is a woman who has self-respect, goals and strong values. Those qualities will only help you in the long run.
Q: Are you relieved or a bit sad your year as Miss Florida is coming to an end?
A: It's definitely a bittersweet feeling. I have had the most incredible year. I've done so much: 200 appearances, 45,000 miles traveled, and 50 out-of-state trips.
Q: Are there any drawbacks to having great beauty?
A: You're constantly trying to prove yourself because people don't necessarily want to see you succeed.
Q: What are the advantages of great beauty?
A: You're usually given the first opportunity. Looks can get you through the door but brains and ability will keep you there. You have to prove yourself. Everybody wants to see the pretty girl fail.
Q: Why did you get an electrical engineering degree?
A: Dad is an electrical engineer. I was a total daddy's girl. He went the extra mile to take me to work with him. He let me take notes, allowed me to connect to the task. I always felt he did well because I was helping him. Not all engineers are that stereotyped four-eyed nerd. Don't let anyone tell you that it is not cool. I am the shining example that it is cool. But at the moment I have the degree on hold.
Q: Besides your parents, who has served as your role model?
A: My biggest role model is Jeanine Thomas, dance coach of the Orlando Magic. She has a successful career and a great family and she handles everything with a smile.
Q: What will you do now after your run as Miss Florida?
A: My passion now is the entertainment business. I love hosting. It's been a new experience. I do miss dancing incredibly. It's going to be really interesting. I have a lot of figuring out to do. The neat thing is the timing. It's perfect timing. I've finished school, I kind of feel that chapter of my life is over and I'm kind of an open book.
Facebook
MySpace
Digg
Stumble
Mixx
Fark
del.icio.us
LiveSpaces
