Darcy Castro

I’m a big proponent of knowing and articulating your “why.” My oldest son decided about a year ago that his path after high school and college will be in the Navy. As an Army kid and Air Force wife, I am proud he wants to continue our family legacy of service to country. However, I told him I wouldn’t let him go until he knew and could clearly communicate to me his why.   It’s easy to set a goal, to aim high. It’s another thing to discern, at a much deeper level, the true motivation behind...

I’ve reached the point where I can barely stand social media. I’m a middle-aged suburban mom of four whose peers seem to love Instagram reels or scrolling through Facebook. Instead, I’m bombarded by content generated by algorithms that are so polarizing it gives me anxiety and see nothing but children and adults glazed over at their phones in a hypnotic trance.   I’d rather sit down in peace with a copy of the Marietta Daily Journal instead of that hyper-partisan, clinically-addictive online...

I finally feel like I’ve had adequate time to decompress from my Mrs. America experience, and process the emotions that have spanned years of preparation for this opportunity. I want to thank everyone who supported me on my journey of growth through the medium of pageantry, but first I have something to share. Pageantry is a personal development vehicle, and a goal that can be a life-changing catalyst for many women. Not everyone understands the sport, and that’s ok. But from my vantage...