There’s something I love about scholarships that don’t feel like they were written by a boardroom full of people in gray suits. The Miss Treasure Coast Empowerment Scholarship is one of those things that actually feels… human. Like, “Hey girl, we see you, you’ve got big dreams—let’s help you make them happen.”
Now, I don’t live in the Treasure Coast (Tampa mom life here), but if I did, you better believe I’d be nudging Blanca and Patrick’s future selves toward it. Because here’s the deal: it’s not just another “good grades, straight-A, did-every-club-known-to-man” kind of scholarship. Nope. This one is for the dreamers, the girls who are doodling designs in their notebooks during math class or practicing monologues in the bathroom mirror. It’s for the ones who know their future looks a little… sparkly.
There are two options, and both are pretty amazing. Option one is a $5,000 scholarship for college if you’re chasing something in the arts—fashion, theater, dance, creative writing, photography, basically anything that makes your grandma say, “But how will you make money with that?”
The second option? A modeling portfolio scholarship. Free professional shoot, styling guidance, edited shots. (Meanwhile, I’m over here bribing Blanca to stand still long enough for a halfway-decent Christmas card picture.)
What I love about this is that it’s not about fitting into a box. You get to choose which scholarship works for your dreams. Want to be the next Broadway star? Go for the $5,000. Want to break into modeling? Hello, portfolio day. Either way, the application is simple: write an essay about your goals, share your creative experience (yes, your resume can include “made TikToks in my bedroom”), and if you’re doing the college one, show proof you’re heading in that direction.
And let’s be real—scholarships like this are huge, not just for the money but for the confidence boost. Someone saying, “We believe in you enough to invest in your art”? That’s powerful. I think back to being 18, slinging fries at the diner after school, trying to figure out what I wanted from life. If someone had slid this across my table, I probably would’ve cried into my chocolate milkshake.
So, if you’re in the Treasure Coast—or if you know a girl there with a big, artsy dream—spread the word. Sometimes the hardest part about chasing your dream is just finding someone to say, “Yes, go for it.” This scholarship feels like one of those little nudges from the universe.
And honestly? We could all use more of that.