Miss USA 2025, More Than a Crown: A Mission to Serve

To many, pageantry may look like just dresses, sashes, and smiles, but to me, especially as someone competing in my very first beauty pageant, it’s so much more. It’s a powerful platform to uplift others, advocate for change, and create a ripple effect of impact far beyond the stage. This journey isn’t about being seen, it’s about using the opportunity to serve, to speak up, and to spark something meaningful in the lives of others.

The Miss Universe Organization isn’t simply a beauty competition. It's a global movement that empowers over 10,000 women each year to challenge themselves, embrace their voices, and become advocates of change in their communities. It’s a network built on the values of confidence, leadership, and service; principles that have shaped my own journey and aspirations.

I’m competing for the title of Miss Rhode Island USA, not for the spotlight, but for what I can do with it. This is my opportunity to stand for something bigger, to contribute to causes that matter deeply to me and to the world.

When you support me, you’re also supporting:

This platform gives me the honor of choosing causes to champion during my reign. If I earn the title of Miss Rhode Island, I will dedicate my time and voice to supporting STEM education initiatives and wildlife research and preservation; fields that are vital to our future and too often under-supported.

Your contribution doesn’t just help me get to the stage; it helps me create opportunities, raise awareness, and be part of something much larger than myself.

This is more than a pageant. It’s purpose. It’s service. It’s a chance to lead with compassion, intelligence, and heart.

Thank you for believing in that vision and in me.

Every dollar I’m asking for has already been paid, from my own savings and my full-time paycheck, because I believed in this dream before I ever asked anyone else to. I wanted to show that I was invested in this purpose, heart-first.

Here’s where the total comes from:

That’s how I arrived at $2,825.

By supporting, you’re not just funding a contestant, you’re investing in a mission of service, a vision of equity, and a young woman who is committed to giving back more than she receives.

Thank you for standing beside me in this journey. Let’s build something meaningful, together.

With gratitude,

Lanique Lynn Peterson

I am contestant number 28 of Miss RI USA 2025!!

Learn more about me: LinkedIn