Name: Hannah Burns
Age: 20
Title: Miss Paradise Valley USA
Married/Single: Single
Kids: I hope to one day adopt but not anytime soon.
City you live in: Tempe
A typical day in my life includes…
no one day of my week is the same in my schedule, and I love it! My life is anything but typical, but if I had to sum up a day here it is: most days I try to be up with the sun, as the mornings are my favorite time of the day. I grab my favorite reusable Starbucks tumbler, and fill it up with my wake up juice, aka coffee. I do an energy cold brew with oat milk. My schedule is hectic, and always changing, so before I do anything I sit down with my planner (yes, like an actual day planner). I look through all the tasks I have to do that day and prioritize them making a list and blocking out my schedule for the day. Usually the initial part is spent getting right to work: emails, returning text messages from the night before, social media, etc. I then do all the aforementioned work things and then set aside an hour a day to do self love. This could be anything from volunteering, catching up with my friends and family, trying a new vegan friendly restaurant, or getting lost in a good book. I try to train after work most days, to de-stress and decompress from the day. Days I’m not working or working out I spend at charity events, volunteering, Miss USA events, galas or fundraisers.
I was born…
Arizona born and raised! I have lived all over the Valley including Surprise, Paradise Valley, Anthem, Scottsdale and now in Sun Devil territory, Tempe.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
you know I’m a true Arizonan, because my favorite thing about this state is the weather! I love our 100+ days in the summer, sweating, and being outside by the pool. In the winter I love going on hikes, taking my dogs out for walks, and truly living in paradise year round!
I’m listening to…
I love Billie Eilish and Justin Bieber’s “Bad Guy”, and my girl T Swift’s new album!
My family…
I know everyone believes they have the best family, but I truly have the absolute best family in the world. My parents have been beyond anything I deserve! From their support, love, and encouragement they have not only raised me to own who I am, but they have stood behind me on every endeavor I have chosen to take on. I’m fortunate enough to live within 20 miles of them and I am so lucky to be able to see them every week. You can catch my family and I always sharing a laugh, consistently doing fun things together, such as having a dance party with our dogs, going on family vacations or checking out new vegan restaurants. I’m so lucky to be able to call my best friend my sister as well. Maggie (18) is my little doppelgånger and the truly the kindest soul I know. I look up to her in so many ways and I’m channeling her inner beauty and authenticity throughout this whole pageant.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
Jaden or Willow Smith.
One thing I cannot live without…
my GPS. I’m the most directionally challenged person I know (got it from my mama).
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
a singer…oh boy.
I’m inspired by…
Leonardo Dicaprio, Zendaya, Ellen.
The one person who motivates me is…
I am so lucky to have so many strong and beautiful women who support and lift me up. The person who motivates me the most is my coach, mentor and friend, Ebony. She was the first person to jump on her feet when I decided to run for Miss Arizona. She immediately cleared her schedule to help me with preparing, workouts, and supporting me throughout the whole process. Her passion to make a difference in the world and help other women see the beauty in themselves, is unbelievable. She puts her heart and soul into all her endeavors and clients. Watching her do what she loves every day and making a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. I am so thankful I have her in my life.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
the way all women perceive themselves. I want to change the way society and social media tells women how they should be, look, act, what they should love on themselves and what they should change. Imagine if we all loved the traits and uniqueness that made us, well us. I want women to know, and believe, that they are perfectly perfect just the way they are. It took me years to learn to love myself inside and out. Once I came back to the women I was before the world told me who to be, not only did I find a new purpose but the true happiness that comes from loving myself first. This is something every person deserves to have. Women are already amazing and unstoppable, I just want to help EVERY woman realize and know their worth.
The perfect day would be…
waking up with my family, eating vegan pancakes, playing with my dogs outside during the Spring. Going to the gym with my dad then spending time with my best friends, Kimberlie and Mckaila. My friends and family are so important to me; any day with them would be a perfect day!
My first job was…
a Preschool Teacher’s Assistant at Scottsdale Learning Center. I absolutely adore children and I love educating our world’s future generations, there’s no better way to make a difference.
My favorite escape…
I could read for days and lose track of time. I love getting lost in a book.
My life…
is perfectly imperfect. I use my failures as lessons and motivation to continue to grow. I am so grateful for the people around me, and the example they have set before. My life is a rollercoaster with its ups and downs, however it’s mine and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I can’t wait to look back and laugh with you all on the mishaps, set backs and the “oops” moments while smiling at the comebacks and the growth.
I’m currently working on…
so many projects! My current favorite project is an idea I got from a Green Peace phone conference call. My best friend Kimberlie and I decided to create an Instagram page, @blondeveganz, to inspire our community and give opportunities for people to network in a way that helps the environment. We give daily tips on how you can be more sustainable, vegan recipes and answer questions on how to start living a more sustainable life. I know when I started out I had no idea what the heck I was doing. Through reaching out to other people and having that support system, I was able to learn way more about our environment and how I can be the change I want to see in the world. I just want to be that support system for other people.
Always…
BE YOU.
Never…
allow others to change your opinion of who you are.
Favorite Quote…
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothings going to change, it’s not.” -Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
Biggest Dream…
to win Miss USA and use my platform to change our country by educating and inspiring women and creating a more habitable planet for future generations.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
when people talk negatively about others, we never know the struggles or storms someone has had to go through to become who they are. Let’s learn to encourage and raise each other up, rather than talking and tearing each other down. If you can be anything, be kind.
More about Hannah…
I am competing in the 2020 Miss Arizona USA pageant as the current Miss Paradise Valley. My dream is to represent internal and external beauty with this public forum and serve as a role model for our entire state. I want to use my platform to gain opportunities to be a positive influence on my community.
I have a strong passion for giving back to my community and I have been able to do that through volunteering. Some charities I have been fortunate enough to work alongside with are Feed My Starving Children, Girls Inc., Better Piggies Rescue and Greenpeace. Recently, I volunteered with the 19th Annual Amendment Gala for Women’s Equality. I love the opportunity that serving as Miss Paradise Valley USA has allowed.
I have had a chance to meet the amazing women in our state legislative districts as well as the first female African American mayor, Coral Evans, who gave me the sound advice that “things just run better when a woman is in charge.” I hope to create a community of strong independent women so that they have the opportunity to become the leaders who make our community “run better”. I would achieve this by instilling confidence and education through the Miss Arizona pageant and also my very own nonprofit organization, Blonde Veganz.
Blonde Veganz is a platform that inspires, promotes and creates ecofriendly and vegan alternatives to our every day behaviors and meals. Alongside our continued efforts to support and encourage those around us to adopt this productive and healthy lifestyle, I continue to utilize my forum as Miss Paradise Valley to support the causes I believe in. I am so excited and absolutely love that I get to expand this platform by running for Miss Arizona USA this January.
Should I win I will use the title as an opportunity to be a role model for our community, and instill confidence, passion and encourage a healthy lifestyle for all Arizona residents. I will be speaking at local high schools and assemblies to promote health and wellness as well as eco-friendly alternatives students can make individually in order to create a healthier and habitable planet for future generations. My conviction that health and wellness are essential concepts to establish early on in life comes from my own experience. When I was in high school I suffered from an eating disorder and through one of my greatest life challenges I learned to love myself as well as my body by developing a positive relationship with food and fitness.
I’m proud to say I work for, Mountainside Fitness, a locally owned multi-purpose gym. I also work with a sustainable urban farm that grows fresh produce called Bambox. In addition, I am the co-owner of a non-profit start up, BlondeVeganz, which aims to demonstrate the benefits of veganism economically and agriculturally. I believe these concepts can have a revolutionary impact on individual healthcare. I am so excited to help others with similar life experiences and provide a support system that allows individuals to become mentally and physically healthy, using food and fitness, as a source of preventative medicine.
My free time is often spent hanging out with friends, working out, playing with my two huskies, and spending time with my family. I believe in having fun and allowing your true self to shine through. My advice to others is: don’t just make it a list of the things you do, share experiences, share passion, but most of all, share fun. That being said, I don’t plan on the next year being a list of things I did. I plan on utilizing this next year to learn and grow within myself and help our community grow. Remember to change the world by being yourself.
