Kentucky Faith
Fountain Bids on Ms. United States
Lisa Patrick
Ashland Beacon
Former Ms. Kentucky United States is no longer “former.” Faith Fountain has once again decided to go on the roller coaster ride of representing the Ashland area and the entire state by putting in her bid to become Ms. United States.
When Fountain competed as Ms. Kentucky United States in 2021, she ran on a platform of community service. This year, she is promoting self-esteem and mental health. Fountain said that she is “hoping to encourage and inspire people to be their true, authentic selves despite the masks that society forces us to wear when we are not okay!” She wants to change the fact that “we don’t really get to have open conversations about our mental health” due to the stigma surrounding it.
In the past few months, Fountain’s own mental health has been “challenging” and she has “experienced a decrease in self-confidence and self-esteem.” The woman who has twice been awarded “Ms. Congeniality” for her unconditional support of the other pageant contestants stated, “Yes, the strong, resilient, funny, happy woman you know has experienced symptoms of depression and low self-worth.”
As a mental health counselor for people who are recovering from addiction, Fountain works hard “to show my clients that they can increase their confidence and self-esteem by understanding that it’s about what’s going on inside.” Every day, she sees patients and clients who struggle with their self-worth. Fountain decided to apply to become Ms. Kentucky 2023, so that she could be a role model. She commented she wants to “show my scars and what it took to be healed, so that others can see that healing is possible.” She hopes to become a “light” for people who are “stuck in darkness and feel like there is no way out. I want to show people that they matter.”
Due to the stigma that mental health issues carry with them, Fountain said that “so many of us wear a smile” and “have others fooled into thinking that everything is okay when it’s really not.” People who are “strong and resilient” have bad days too. Although most days everything is okay, she has found that when she is having bad days, “no one knows” because she feels that “I’m strong and I’m not allowed to show that I’m not okay.”
Fountain wants people “to know that they can speak up and speak out about whatever is bothering them” and that they should “not be judged for what they are experiencing.” She is “constantly challenging myself to be consistent and honest with others about my mental health and self-esteem.” Fighting the stigma against mental health is important to Fountain “because I see this daily and I want to change it!”
Fountain wants “to be so much” to others but “most importantly, I want to be my real authentic self” and for others to “love me through my mess.” She could have chosen to “be silent and not share my experiences” but instead she has chosen to “speak out in hopes that my story can help someone.”
Fountain is asking for help from her fellow Ashland people on her “journey to the crown.” She has started a GoFundMe account, so people can donate to help pay for the all-inclusive fee for the pageant. The link for it is at https.//gofund.me/2e8ffe10.