Classic Regency International

My name is Shawniqua Stokes, and I’m honored to represent the Classic title this year. It has been a journey to get to this point, but I am so glad that I never lost sight of what’s important. In 2020, I was diagnosed with type 1 Chiari Malformation. My skull doesn’t allow enough room for my brain, so it squishes into my spinal canal. It causes muscle weakness, tremors, nausea, fainting, vision problems, headaches, dizziness, and neurological problems. Two months later, I had a decompression surgery that removed a portion of my skull to make room for my brain. Afterwards, I had to learn how to walk and feed myself again. I’m still fighting my way back, but I decided to use pageantry as a motivator not to give up and hold myself accountable. My platform, “From Trash to Treasure,” allows me to take something someone tossed out and make it into something beautiful and valuable, while saving the environment. While saving the environment, I’m sharpening my fine motor skills and furthering my recovery. On top of that, a family or person in need gets a beautiful piece of furniture for their home