Miss PA United States Reunites with Birth Family at Crowning

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MISS PA UNITED STATES RAISES AWARENESS FOR ADOPTION

Crown Holder Uses Personal Story to Change Perceptions on Adoption-

PHILADELPHIA, July 1, 2014 – Khari Siegfried, Miss Pennsylvania United States, will compete for the Miss United States title from July 1-6 in Washington, D.C. , and is currently using her crown to raise national awareness for adoption.

Siegfried, a Bethlehem, Pa. native and Temple University graduate, has embraced adoption as her service platform for Miss United States, a cause that is very personal to her since she was adopted. “My birth mother had me when she was 16, and I left the hospital as Jessica Lynn Bailey,” Siegfried said. “However, my mother soon realized she didn’t have the resources to raise me, and I was adopted and my name was changed to Khari Justine Siegfried.”

Siegfried, who has competed in beauty pageants since age 16, never thought her road to Miss Pennsylvania United States would include meeting her birth parents. “While I was out gown shopping to prepare for the Miss Pennsylvania pageant, my mom called me and said the agency that handled my adoption 26 years ago was looking to get in contact with me,” Siegfried said. “I called the number, and soon found out that my birth mother had been looking to connect with me for the past six years.”

Khari said she was hesitant to reconnect with her birth mother, but started by reaching out via email. She soon learned her mother had married her biological father, and that she had more siblings. After a few months of staying in contact, Khari and her birth family decided the perfect time to meet would be while Khari competed for the Miss Pennsylvania crown. “My birth family flew in to support me along with my adopted family, and from that point I knew it was my destiny to become Miss Pennsylvania United States 2014.” Sure enough Siegfried was crowned, and now has the honor to compete for the Miss United States title this week.

Siegfried uses her story to inspire and educate others on the importance of adoption. She has partnered with Carenet National Pregnancy Centers in the Lehigh Valley and supports pregnant women who are in the same shoes as her mother was 26 years ago. “I want to offer support and share my personal story with young mothers as they decide what to do if they don’t have the resources to raise a child,” Siegfried said. “As Miss Pennsylvania, I plan to travel the entire state and also serve as a national advocate for adoption to show that it can be a blessing.”

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