Editor-in-Chief of SITI Girl Columbia
Photo credit Yolanda Christine Photography
Shamone Garcia, Ms. Plus America Elite 2023, is a plus-sized model, business owner, model coach, and distinguished pageant queen. She resides in South Carolina, better known as the Palmetto State. Shamone began her pageantry journey, her passion, during the pandemic while working as a Probation Officer within the Criminal Justice System. Her motto is “Be You, Be Authentic, and Be U Queen.”
In her formative years, Shamone was challenged by society’s stereotypes because she was “different,” both physically and mentally. Despite being told that she wouldn’t graduate high school due to a learning disability, Shamone not only graduated high school but is also a doctoral student. She has received several awards from The University of South Carolina, including the Blue Star Academia Award from her sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. She graduated with honors from South University, earning her master’s degree. As a new delegate in the pageant world, she increased her confidence by becoming Ms. Sumter and advancing to become Ms. South Carolina Plus America 2023.
A few interesting facts about Shamone are that she fosters “sisterhood” and teamwork. Shamone loves to play video games with her team on the Xbox gaming system. Her favorite games are Halo and Destiny, which involve coordination with your fire team. Another fact is that she loves local dirt track racing. Shamone comes from a line of strong women, such as her maternal grandmother, who was an inspiration to her. She honored her grandmother by dedicating the 2023 pageant year to her because of her sudden passing.
Shamone’s platform is “Breaking Barriers” through personal development. “Breaking Barriers” is a hallmark of her life that has translated to pageantry. Her platform has afforded her the opportunity to encourage people to break their barriers by not allowing society to determine self-worth and never accepting “NO” for an answer. Shamone advocates for everyone to break their barriers by ensuring opportunities are shared with her community and assuring that the proper support and services are available for their future success. For Shamone, volunteering and community service go hand in hand with her platform. She can be found giving back to the community locally and throughout her state. Shamone’s personality, passion, and energy cause everyone to feel like they are a “winner” even without a crown.
“Be You, Be Authentic, and Be U Queen”
