In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Travis Vangsnes and Courtney Williams interview Ariana Rodriguez, Miss Kentucky 2025. Ariana shares her inspiring journey from being a homeless child in foster care to winning the title of Miss Kentucky! She discusses her advocacy work through The Lucky Ones Foundation, which aims to empower youth in foster care and educate the public about the foster care system.

Ariana emphasizes the importance of amplifying the voices of children in care and the need for social support. The conversation also touches on the role of pageantry in advocacy and the life skills necessary for youth aging out of foster care. They also discuss the critical importance of equipping kids in foster care with crucial life skills. This is a great conversation and Ariana's resiliency and drive to dream big while amplifying the voices of others is really inspiring.

Checkout Ariana's nonprofit, The Lucky Ones, which provides essential resources and support for kids in foster care.

She also has a podcast--The Lucky Ones

Takeaways

• Ariana's journey from foster care to Miss Kentucky is inspiring.
• The importance of social support for youth in foster care.
• Advocacy for children's voices in the foster care system is crucial.
• The Lucky Ones Foundation aims to educate and empower foster youth.
• Life skills education is essential for youth aging out of foster care.
• Ariana's podcast amplifies the voices of those in the foster care system.
• Social workers need to listen to children to make effective changes.
• The pageant platform can be a powerful tool for advocacy.
• Ariana's initiatives focus on both foster care and agricultural education.
• Community support is vital for the success of initiatives like The Lucky Ones.