Miss South Carolina International®

Emily Ritter

What does it mean to be a modern woman?
Being a modern woman is knowing your worth and having your value recognized. It is knowing that you deserve to be happy, passionate, and seen for who you are. It is not always easy to be a modern woman, and there are days when it will seem easy to fall into the background. To stand up for what you believe in, even when it is difficult, is to be a modern woman.

When does a girl become a woman?
In my experience, a girl becomes a woman when instead of fighting against the advice of your mother you are seeking it out. It is knowing that the only thing you truly know is that you don’t know much, but instead of that thought weighing you down, it humbly lifts you up and carries you through life.

How do you handle disappointment?
Disappointment is hard, and there are days that I will handle it better than others, but I don’t let it hold me back. I learn from it and think about how I can try again to get a better outcome. Like failure, disappointment creates an opportunity to learn and grow. So while it may sting at first, it’s only making me stronger!

What's been a picture-perfect moment in your life?
When my father was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer everything came to a pause. I had spent the pandemic serving my community as a health educator, but I was now on the other side. My picture perfect moment came the day after we learned of my father’s diagnosis and my healthcare community showed up for my family. It was seeing my community be there for me, just like I am there for them.

How do you handle stress and pressure?
I have ADHD and anxiety, and stress can be especially hard to cope with. There are some days where it genuinely is hard to make myself get out of bed. But I know that this is a struggle I cannot face alone. I work with a therapist, take daily medications, and I pray. I KNOW that I can get up every day, because I have the support of the people and my God around me.