What happens when you've survived some really hard things, but you refuse to let those things define the rest of your life?
In this episode of The Beauty in the Mess, I sit down with Elaine Mingus, a mom of seven, entrepreneur, speaker, author, pageant coach, and Mrs. Texas USA Globe.
Elaine's story is a lot deeper than the crown and sash.
She opens up about being groomed and sexually abused by a youth pastor at 13, the devastating response she received afterward, and how that trauma eventually contributed to an eight-year battle with bulimia and a serious heroin addiction.
But this conversation isn't just about what happened to Elaine. It's about what she's done with it.
We talk about therapy, recovery, faith, motherhood, and something I found really interesting: maybe we're never completely done healing. Elaine talks about continuing to uncover new layers of her own healing even decades later and learning to parent from healing instead of fear.
We also get into sharing our stories, especially in a world where we're encouraged to put everything online. Elaine believes our stories can absolutely help other people, but that doesn't mean every detail belongs to everyone.
Her advice?
Speak from your scars, not your scabs.
In other words, you don't have to wait until something no longer affects you, but there is wisdom in making sure you're healed enough that telling your story doesn't rip the wound wide open again.
We also talk about protecting the people we love when their stories intersect with ours, becoming comfortable with who you are right now, pageantry and visibility, the pressure of social media, and Elaine's struggle to trust that impact matters more than likes, money, views, or a crown.
And I loved one of Elaine's reminders near the end:
Your purpose doesn't change, but your strategy does.
Sometimes purpose looks like standing on a stage. Sometimes it's being there for your child. Sometimes it's simply helping the person right in front of you.
This is a very real conversation about trauma, healing, faith, purpose, visibility, and learning to trust where you're being led.
In This Episode
02:25 – Meet Elaine Mingus
03:25 – Childhood grooming and abuse
05:25 – Finding faith after trauma
08:25 – Addiction, bulimia, and recovery
10:25 – Parenting from healing, not fear
11:25 – Why healing is never really finished
14:25 – Quieting the negative voice
18:25 – Faith and staying present
23:25 – Stepping into spiritual authority
24:25 – Speak from your scars, not your scabs
28:25 – Knowing when to share your story
30:25 – Protecting the people in your story
32:25 – Reinvention and life beyond the crown
35:25 – Helping women become visible
39:25 – Trauma and comparing pain
42:25 – Getting her message of hope out
44:25 – Authenticity over perfect social media
47:25 – Your purpose, your strategy
49:25 – Finding your purpose
52:25 – Pageantry, visibility, and trusting God
55:25 – When the crown wasn't the real prize
58:25 – Choosing purpose over money
01:00:25 – Trusting the bigger plan
✨Connect with Elaine Mingus:
· Pageantpreneur on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pageantpreneur?utm_source=chatgpt.com
· Pageantpreneur Community: https://www.skool.com/pageantpreneur-7655/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com
· Pageant CEO: https://www.pageantceo.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainemingus/
✨ Connect with Michele Simms:
· Website: thebeautyinthemess.com
· Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess
· LinkedIn: Michele Simms
· Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast
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