Own Your Crown: Embracing Real Life, Real Beauty   In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, host Amanda McCombs, aka Mrs. Daybreak, joins Mrs. Maple Mountain, Portia Blanchard, to discuss the profound life lessons learned through motherhood, personal struggles, and the unique experiences of participating in beauty pageants. They delve into embracing imperfections, the importance of showing up authentically, and how Portia's traumatic experience with her youngest child, Abigail, led her to publish an inspirational book and take part in pageantry. Amid humorous anecdotes, real-life parenting moments, and reflections on personal growth, they celebrate the transformative power of vulnerability and community support. This episode encourages everyone to own their stories, take pride in their journey, and shine their light unapologetically.   00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:16 Funny Anecdote About Portia's Name 01:26 Meet Portia Blanchard 02:30 Abigail's Birth Story 03:56 Life Lessons and Reflections 06:54 Family Dynamics and Blended Families 12:02 The Importance of Self-Care 20:04 Pageantry and Personal Growth 31:33 Owning Your Story and Self-Confidence 34:11 Reflecting on Achievements 34:52 Celebrate Yourself 35:20 Living Out Loud 37:39 Taking Up Space 39:17 Pageant Lessons 42:00 The Power of Pageantry 45:29 Community and Support 59:19 From Letters to Book 01:00:31 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts