Karina Bowen collecting books for ‘Mastermind’ pageant

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Miss Teen Canyon Lake Karina Bowen is planning to compete in the Miss Teen Mastermind of the USA Pageant on Saturday, February 7, at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Part of her participation includes a book drive.

The Miss Teen Mastermind of the USA is a Christian pageant system that focuses on teen excellence, spiritual awareness, inner and outer beauty, and mind elevation. Organizers say it is not a “high glitz” pageant, but embraces “natural beauty overall” – mind before beauty.

It also promotes reading, which leads to knowledge, which leads to excellence. Contestants come from all walks of life and strive to make the world a better place by giving back to their communities. One of the requirements is to collect and donate books; which is why Karina is actively collecting books right now in order to meet the February 6 deadline.

Pageant organizers encourage girls to be brain enthusiasts, critical thinkers and wisdom activators for the purpose of mastering their mind. They say, “We do not promote phoniness or trying to be someone or something that you are not. We prepare pre-pageant workshops so contestants will be prepared to present themselves in their best light, with the best attitude and ability to handle attention and compliments. A healthy level of self-esteem is our goal, and no teen girl can master her mind without it.”

There are several categories of competition, including The Brain Challenge, Interviews, Photogenic, Beauty Wear, Heart Themed Wear, Book Drive and Viewer’s Choice. Karina will be competing in all seven categories.

According to her mom, Shawna Bowen, Karina likes doing each of the categories and likes each one for different reasons. She notes, “This time around, she is most excited to enter The Brain Challenge portion. This is a series of challenges – one each day of the seven days leading up to the pageant. The winner of all these challenges will be crowned Miss Think.  Karina is very excited to put her skills to the test.”

Karina is doing her book drive to collect books for the American Book Drive. They will accept any books: fiction, non-fiction, children’s, adult’s, reference, school books, etc. Books can be dropped off any time at 29875 Mayflower Dr. To have Karina pick up books, call 714-394-4885.