UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Clara Bradley, a second-year student double majoring in political science and criminology, on a whim and as a joke, applied to represent University Park, Pennsylvania, in the 2022 Miss Pennsylvania USA pageant. When she got the email saying she was accepted, she said, she could not believe it and almost turned down the acceptance.

Although she did not place in the pageant, she said it changed her life — her way of thinking was altered, and she became more accepting of herself and other women. Ultimately, she said, she was proud that she put her fears aside, tried something new and put herself in someone else’s shoes.

“As somebody who wants to go into politics, I do not think you can be a very effective representative unless you try to represent every kind of person you know,” Bradley said. “I have a very diverse friend group, but I never thought to diversify myself by just one degree next to me. I always went to the furthest reaches instead of looking right next to me.”

She said one thing she never thought she would do was participate in a pageant. She had an internalized idea, she said, that you are either pretty or smart, but not both. She said she was proven wrong the moment she met the women she would be competing with. Immediately they were helping with hair and makeup and giving out compliments and encouragement.

“So many of these girls are incredibly smart and hard-working,” Bradley said. “We were a group of women having fun wanting to play dress up like a little girl. It helped me tackle my own internalized misogyny. You can be pretty, and you can have competence in your appearance, all while being an intelligent woman.”

She said the swimsuit portion of the event turned out to be her favorite because it allowed her to show her personality.

“I was able to put my little spin on my routine, and I noticed the crowd started cheering. It was like, ‘I’m here to spice things up a little bit,’ and although I might not know what I am doing, I know how to get the crowd pumped up,” she said.

Bradley, who does not consider any one place her hometown since she grew up in a military family, also utilizes her sassiness and outgoingness in her role as the secretary for Opulence, a drag ambassadors performing arts organization on campus, and as a featured dancer in the Altoona Community Theatre’s production of “Oliver!”

Bradley came to Penn State with about 36 credits from dual enrollment classes she took in high school. With these extra credits, she committed to graduating a year early in the spring of 2024. She worked closely with her academic adviser to plan her three years on campus to ensure she could graduate early. Although her course load has been heavy and a lot at times, she said support from her family helps her get through all of it.

“My parents raised me to be very hard-working and focused on education,” she said. “When you move around a lot, the one thing that stays constant is your family and school. When your friends, house and extracurriculars change, school is always there.”

After taking a forensic science course in high school, Bradley began researching what she could do that would combine her interests in criminology and political science.

“I came in knowing what I wanted to do, and I wanted to be a representative for others rather than doing only analytical work," she said.

After graduation, Bradley plans to take at least a year off to relax and be with her family in Niceville, Florida, before she applies to graduate school. She is looking at two pathways to potentially take, one being internationally focused and the other domestically focused. She said she is interested in working in an organization like International Criminal Court or somewhere in the legislative branch pursuing law or lawmaking.

Having lived in Washington, D.C., during her middle school years and part of high school, politics surrounded her daily life and education, explained Bradley. Her civics teacher assigned her projects and encouraged her to pursue this passion.

“There are issues with our current system, and people get left out. People with marginalized voices are not heard,” Bradley said. “I understand that I can speak out more easily than other voices, so I want to lift those voices and bring them along with me. I have gravitated towards the intersectionality of government and making sure it is a just place for everyone, not for just one group.”

One thing that has resonated with Bradley is the College of the Liberal Arts' ability to foster an environment where students are encouraged to pursue their passions while having support from faculty. She remembered one professor who always asked about the upcoming or exciting news that pertained to students' lives, in order to build and foster that environment.

“Mental health and your happiness, in my opinion, are worth more than money,” Bradley said. “Your physical health will deteriorate if you are doing something you do not love. You have to find what you love, and if you have not found it yet, keep searching.”

Although moving around often while growing up and experiencing many different cultures and people in life has been enriching for Bradley, it has also been difficult, she said. However, staying true to herself and her passions has been the key to working through the rest of her college experience.

“Penn State can feel very big, very isolating, especially if you are not a part of party culture or Greek life,” Bradley said. “But there is a unique network for everyone, and you can find your niche corner. It may take a little time, but there is something for everyone.”

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