Pageant titleholder touts STEM and her research scientist dreams
In the midst of an ongoing coronavirus health crisis, one Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers titleholder recently spoke up about her science dreams as part of the Miss America Organization’s STEM Sisters Spirit Week.
Madi Franquiz of Allen, Texas will represent Texarkana at Miss Texas this summer. In a Facebook post, she described how she is currently saving money to pursue a master’s degree in microbiology, cell biology and immunology to eventually pursue an MD/Ph.D.
“I cannot wait to combine my passion for research, science, medicine, and people in a fulfilling way,” she said.
As a youngster, a science fair project inspired her to explore the age-old question: Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a person’s mouth? But she eventually explored more complex scientific questions, such as her senior thesis in college: neurochemicals and their effects on brain plasticity later in life.
The Miss Twin Rivers titleholder said she aims to be a clinical research physician. Part of the inspiration comes from her dad, who’s worked with hospitals and given her a glimpse into the medical field. The second part of that inspiration was learning about neurobiology research during college.
“My professor was plating the neural cells of jellyfish, and he was testing nicotine addiction on those neural cells,” Franquiz said. “It’s really, really fascinating.”
While STEM isn’t her pageant platform, there is a connection. “Particularly with STEM, as a women in STEM, there’s very few of us,” Franquiz said. “And seeing a visual representation, even though I’m not necessarily advocating that with my platform, as a role model in the community I was thinking what are ways that we can get involved because we have Miss America right now that is an advocate, Camille Schrier.”
Franquiz wants to get that going on the local level, and a titleholder in Delaware suggested they start connecting people across the country with MAO and science. “I’ve been instrumental in trying to bring other people in,” Franquiz said of promoting STEM and building a resource-sharing support system.
Along with that is having a group of women who make sure STEM visibility is raised. “This is a great way to do it,” she said. Technology has helped her build this network, noting her platform promotes the 31 traits of highly impactful people.
“When I won the title they said you need to have a platform that you’re passionate about and something that is applicable to everyone,” Franquiz said. Part of that platform is the idea that everyone can be the best version of themselves wherever they work and what they do.
“And so how can I impact people’s lives now, in the middle of a crisis, everybody’s at home. We’re trying our best to make sure we’re protecting the most vulnerable in our society, the older people in our communities and those who have auto-immune disorders and things like that,” Franquiz said.
That led her to start promoting her Becoming 31 message and its applicability during this time at home we’re experiencing.
“Hey, you can still be working on becoming the best version of yourself … you can be reading, you can be working on mentor relationships,” she said.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, this is what we can strive to do, Franquiz said, noting promoting STEM right now is particularly important.
We’re going to fix these problems now with science, she believes.
“That’s how we fix this problem. It’s going to be people that are researching and people that are working in the medical field,” Franquiz said. People coming together will solve the crisis.
During the coronavirus health crisis, local pageant titleholders have also been inspired to help with acts of simple kindness.
Miss Hempstead County Maleigh Moore baked strawberry cookies and delivered them to businesses in Hope, Arkansas, including Medi-Mart Pharmacy, All-Care Pharmacy, Wadley Regional Medical Center at Hope, Dr. Bennett’s office, Hempstead County Health Unit and Pafford Medical Services, said Suzy Powell, pageant director of the Hempstead, Howard and Southwest District.
Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Izzy Baughn spoke out on social media this month about the need to improve children’s health care in Arkansas and how the Miss Arkansas Executive Directors Association paid for Children’s Miracle Network fees for 20 candidates in Arkansas.
Baughn has volunteered at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, for which she’s also raised money (nearly $10,000) as one of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.