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In this Thanksgiving week episode of Sash & Soul, I dive into the real power of gratitude, not just the "go around the table and say what you're thankful for" version. We talk about how gratitude actually elevates your energy and mindset and why that matters for your pageant prep, goals, and overall well-being. I break down what manifestation really is (and isn't), how to use visualization and micro shifts to get into a higher-vibe headspace, and simple practices you can start today, especially if this season feels heavy, complicated, or emotional.

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Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

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In this week's episode, I'm breaking down the recent Miss Universe controversy and the bigger conversation it sparks about conflict, mistreatment, and emotional maturity in pageant culture. I'm sharing my own experiences as a former titleholder, the lessons I learned the hard way, and what Miss Mexico's response can teach all of us about grace under pressure. Whether you're a new competitor, a seasoned titleholder, or someone who supports the industry, this episode offers a real, grounded look at how to advocate for yourself, navigate difficult dynamics, and protect your peace without hurting your reputation. Let's talk about what pageantry should look like, where we can do better, and how you can stay empowered every step of the way.

Free App Download: Click here to download the Fearlessly Authentic App!

Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

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Alayna Wilson, recently crowned Miss Kansas Volunteer 2026, joins me for a real, heart-forward conversation about service, healing, and growth. We trace her journey from small-town Nebraska to PhD student and state titleholder, unpacking the story behind her initiative "Love & Light: Giving Back, Moving Forward," and how grief, family addiction, and losing a friend to childhood cancer shaped her purpose. We talk confidence through action (not perfection), leaving the "runner-up club" mindset, switching systems, protecting your energy, and finding balance when life is full. If you've been chasing a crown or a goal on overdrive, this episode will help you re-ground, redefine winning, and lead with authenticity.

Free App Download: Click here to download the Fearlessly Authentic App!

Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

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AI in pageants? Yep, we're going there. Before you picture robots on stage or chatbots writing your paperwork, take a breath, because this conversation is all about authenticity meets innovation.

In this episode, we're diving into how you can use tools like ChatGPT to actually enhance your prep, not replace it. From organizing your thoughts for paperwork and brainstorming interview questions, to refining your speaking points and saving time on research, AI can be a huge asset when you know how to use it mindfully.

But here's the thing: no piece of technology can tell your story the way you can. That's why I'm breaking down how to use AI without losing your voice, your values, or your "why."

We'll talk about the mindset behind using tech with purpose, where to draw boundaries, and how to make sure your prep stays grounded in your own authenticity. Because at the end of the day, AI might help you polish your words, but only you can give them meaning.

Free App Download: Click here to download the Fearlessly Authentic App!

Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

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Competition week doesn't come with a pause button... School, work, family, and life keep going, even when you’re trying to feel prepared and confident. In this episode, Raeanna gets real about what it's like to handle time pressure when your schedule is overflowing and your brain is running on adrenaline.

She breaks down why your body reacts to time stress like a survival threat (yes, your nervous system thinks your to-do list is a bear), and how to turn that energy into focused confidence instead of panic. You'll learn how to align your expectations with your actual capacity, simplify your prep without guilt, and protect your peace when the clock feels like your enemy.

If you've ever thought, "I just don’t have enough time," this episode will remind you that you do, and that calm, clarity, and confidence are always within reach, no matter how busy life gets.

Free App Download: Click here to download the Fearlessly Authentic App!

Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

Schedule a FREE Consultation: Book a Call

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This week on Sash and Soul, Raeanna dives deep into one of the most universal parts of competition: nerves. Whether it's your heart racing before interview or your stomach flipping before walking on stage, that anxious energy isn't a sign of weakness... it's your body's way of saying, this matters to you. Raeanna breaks down the science behind the fight-or-flight response, shares her favorite mindset reframes, and offers practical tools to turn that adrenaline into focus and flow. From gentle mantras to grounding techniques and confidence-building reminders, this episode will help you see nerves not as the enemy, but as proof that you're showing up for something you care about.

Free App Download: Click here to download the Fearlessly Authentic App!

Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

Schedule a FREE Consultation: Book a Call

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It's officially spooky season, and we're kicking off October with a conversation so many of my clients needed this week: conviction. If you've been second-guessing your choices - taking a break from school, choosing a 2-year program over a 4-year degree, heading into cosmetology or a trade - this one’s for you. Pageantry invites judgment by design, but leadership looks like standing by your decisions and your opinions without apologizing for them.

In this episode, I share the mindset shifts I coach on during local season: how to stop editing your paperwork out of fear, how to anchor your choices in your "why," and how to communicate with calm confidence in interview - even on tough issues. Conviction isn't stubbornness; it's clarity + ownership. You can consider every perspective and still stand firm in your values. Let's talk about owning your path, telling the truth of your story, and leading your life your way.

You'll learn:

• How to reframe "nontraditional" paths as strengths in interview
• What conviction sounds like (and what apology language to drop)
• Simple lines to explain a gap year, program changes, or pivots with confidence
• Why judges respond to authenticity over perfection
• A go-watch example of conviction in action from Miss America interview history

Leave today with this mantra: I live with conviction.

Free App Download: Click here to download the Fearlessly Authentic App!

Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

Schedule a FREE Consultation: Book a Call

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Episode 59 is a lighter, sassier breath of fresh air. We're diving into some unpopular opinions and pageant pet peeves. From the pressure to "build a brand" to multi-thousand dollar gowns, sponsor politics, secrecy around paperwork, and that overused interview crutches, - I'm sharing what I've seen as a coach, judge, and former titleholder, and why staying in your lane (and protecting your energy) will always outshine playing the game.

Here's what we get into:

• Personal branding vs. actually knowing yourself
• Coaching programs and budgets (value > price tag)
• Couture gowns, recycling looks, and what really reads on stage
• Secrecy culture around paperwork, talent, and wardrobe
• Sponsors, "politics," and choosing the path of least resistance
• Comparison as a teacher... not a blueprint
• Interview pet peeves and stronger ways to answer directly

If it works for you, do it. If it drains you, don't. The goal is simple: show up as the best version of you - with mindset, communication, and service aligned.

Bring your own hot takes... I want to hear them!

Free App Download: Click here to download the Fearlessly Authentic App!

Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

Schedule a FREE Consultation: Book a Call

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This week is a reset for anyone grinding through back-to-back locals. I break down how to treat every competition as an opportunity, not an ultimatum, using a growth-mindset lens. We walk through smart ways to study competitors without slipping into self-judgment, why "busy" isn't the same as "making progress," and evidence-backed self-care that actually improves performance (think boundaries, short breaks, movement, and celebrating small wins). You'll get a simple game plan to structure prep weeks with balance, use locals as practice for bigger stages, and stay anchored to your why - so you show up refreshed, authentic, and consistent. The crown isn't worth your peace; this season is about growth, joy, and becoming.

Free App Download: Click here to download the Fearlessly Authentic App!

Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

Schedule a FREE Consultation: Book a Call

Send us a text

This episode takes you on a journey through the sharp contrast between joy and heartbreak. It started with me celebrating my anniversary on a blissful spa weekend, only to return home and be met with the heated online debates following Miss America; and then, just days later, national tragedies that shook us all.

Having been on the pageant stage myself, I know how much vulnerability it takes to stand there and invite judgment. Watching the backlash toward our new Miss America led me to think about comparison, not as something that tears us down, but as something we can use to grow. When we compare only to rank ourselves as "better" or "worse," we lose. But when we notice what inspires us, what challenges us, and what makes each person unique, comparison can actually refine us.

Pageantry has always been a reminder of just how subjective life can be. Judges bring their own experiences and perspectives to every score, which is why results can vary so much from one stage to the next. That’s also life: different people will always see you differently. What matters most is showing up as your authentic self - not twisting yourself into what you think someone else wants.

Then, as tragedy struck nationally, I wrestled with the way human suffering became politicized so quickly. In therapy, I was reminded of something powerful: politics and human dignity are not the same thing. We can disagree on policy, but the value of human life should never be up for debate.

In the face of so much heaviness, I share some practices that have kept me grounded: honoring my own trauma, validating my fears, practicing self-care, seeking out what is good, and fiercely protecting my peace. Sometimes it's as simple as putting down my phone, looking up at the sunlight through the trees, and reminding myself that right here, right now, I'm okay.

So, I'll leave you with this: how do you find peace when the world feels overwhelming? And what helps you protect your mental health while staying present and engaged?

Free App Download: Click here to download the Fearlessly Authentic App!

Socials: @sashandsoul | @fearlesslyauthenticcoach | @raeannajohnson
Websites: www.fearlesslyauthentic.com | www.sashandsoul.com
Email: [email protected]

If you’re looking for more than just surface-level prep and you’re ready to prepare with strategy, support, and confidence that actually lasts, I’d love to be part of your process.

Schedule a FREE Consultation: Book a Call