A BMX beauty queen amongst us

Florida US International, one of FGCU's own, is defying stereotypes.  Donna Snow, a senior majoring in forensics and psychology, will compete for the title of Miss United States International on July 21, but that is not her only profession. 

The beauty queen doubles as a professional BMX racer. Snow won the title of Miss Sarasota USA 2009 prior to becoming Miss Florida US International 2010.  In a week she could become Miss United States International, titlist of the official USA preliminary to Miss International.

Snow, who grew up in Cape Coral, started training for pageants three years ago. "I get to do many cool appearances and community events. I have been on the Fox 4 Morning show, been in a few fashion shows, and I am now trying to work something out with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)," she said.

When her appearences as Miss Florida US International subside, her bike keeps her busy. As a professional BMX racer, Snow travels around the country to compete.  She claims that because there are cash prizes in the professional class, it can get pretty rough.  "We crash each other … a lot."  She has the injuries to prove it. Snow has broken dozens of bones during her career, including her back. 

While many would assume that devoting so much time to being a professional BMX racer would hinder Snow's ability to succeed in such a diverse world as pageantry, she says the two aspirations complement each other.  "BMX has helped me in pageantry … it taught me how to compete," she said. Snow believes her professional BMX career has taught her how to handle the great amount of stress and the principles of sportsmanship.
 

"Both of these aspects have enabled me to compete successfully in pageants," she said.

Snow does acknowledge that the world of pageantry was very different in many ways from what she was used to, and she did have some trouble assimilating. "Some things that did not come naturally to me were wearing dresses and doing my hair and makeup. I have been riding bikes my whole life and have never done anything like pageants, so in the beginning I was a wreck."

In addition to the responsibilities that come with her title and her BMX career, Snow works selling hardwood flooring and cleaning model homes while pursuing her education. She aspires to eventually become a detective and possibly work for the FBI after earning her master's degree.

"Trying to balance school, BMX racing, work and pageants can be tough but I have learned how to manage my time more successfully," she said.

Snow says that the best part of her experience in the pageant world is the chance that she has to inspire people to defy the boundaries of stereotypes just as she did.

"The most rewarding part is that I am a role model in the community. Since I have won the pageant the BMX community has been great to me. A few girls from around the state have entered pageants and at the races they come up and tell me that I have been an inspiration to them. That is the greatest feeling to me."