S Ines Costa

🌟 Countdown to the Crown Day #6 - My Platform, My Why 🌟 My upbringing was centered on serving others, which has been the cornerstone of my values, family, and career. From a young age, I developed a strong desire to help people. This passion led me to become a psychologist and later apply these principles in my career in Human Resources and Capital Management, spanning over 20 years. However, not everything was joy and happiness. Before marrying Craig, there was a traumatic moment in my life when I became part of the statistics of being a domestic violence survivor. This dark period of my life was incredibly challenging. Trying to heal and going through a divorce while raising my daughter as a single mom was very difficult. But keeping my daughter safe and ensuring her well-being became my driving force. Believing that God was my rock, I held onto my faith and the hope that there was a light at the end of that dark tunnel. Through sheer determination, I rebuilt my life, finding strength I never knew I had and ultimately using my experiences to help others facing similar traumas. As a survivor of domestic abuse, my personal narrative of resilience and triumph over trauma drives my purpose for advocacy, shared in a powerful message: “My scars tell a story; my story saves lives.” My objective is to integrate family support, community engagement, and awareness into the core of my advocacy efforts. I aim to inspire others with my story, emphasizing the strength found in solidarity and the importance of creating safe spaces for survivors of domestic violence. As Mrs. Illinois International 2024, I carry the torch for domestic violence awareness. My reign is not about a beauty queen title but a platform to advocate for change, support survivors, and contribute to a world where love does not equal harm. @wings_program @intlpageants #countdowntothecrown #mrsinternational2024 #domesticviolenceawareness #survivor #advocacy #resilience #strengthinsolidarity #SupportSurvivors #enddomesticviolence💜