“from the state with 84 percent of the u.s. fresh water but none for its residents to drink, i am miss michigan emily sioma” — the new #missamerica2019 pageant did not come to play pic.twitter.com/H05eifix2e
— alex rees (@maybealexislost) September 10, 2018
Miss Michigan Emily Sioma did not come to mess around at Sunday’s annual Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, using her introduction to bring attention to the Flint water crisis. For the past four years, residents have not had clean water to drink, after the city’s water source was changed from Lake Huron and the Detroit River to the Flint River — which became contaminated with lead due to insufficient water treatment.
“From a state with 84% of the U.S. fresh water, but none for its residents to drink, I’m Miss Michigan Emily Sioma,” she said, when presented with the opportunity to introduce herself.
The Miss America pageant has become increasingly political in recent years, with contestants making headlines not for how they look in a bikini, but for how they use their platform to bring attention to issues facing the country.
Although Sioma, an outspoken activist and sexual assault survivor, ultimately did not take home the crown (that honor went to Miss New York, Nia Franklin, with Miss Louisiana Holli Conway coming in second), she clearly stole the show, if the reception she earned for her statement on Twitter was any indication.
Miss Michigan should automatically win #MissAmerica for starting with this! 😳 #Home #GoGirl pic.twitter.com/fdhRILMEtA
— Joel Schipper (@JSchipperWDRB) September 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/swaggirljesse/status/1038957435132813313
https://twitter.com/shontalcargill/status/1038962120136650752
Miss Michigan needs to win the 2019 Miss America Pageant simply for stating there still isn't any clean water during her introduction! #Michigan #MissAmerica 💕
— Sundae Couture. (@SundaeCouture) September 10, 2018
"From the state with 84% of the country's fresh water but none for its residents, I'm Miss Michigan," said Sioma. Well, Good morning! https://t.co/U9OTGaq7xZ
— deesha (@DeeshaDyer) September 10, 2018
my face at the miss michigan intro #missamerica pic.twitter.com/qVE3Vq0R7m
— andrea (@andreabair_6) September 10, 2018
OKAY MISS MICHIGAN WE SEE YOU HONEY !!!!
— mvp (@mvp649) September 10, 2018
Been rolling my eyes all weekend that Miss America is still a thing but MISS MICHIGAN FOR PRESIDENT https://t.co/Y6Wib6DVRg
— Jane Burns (@jrburns) September 10, 2018
#MissMichigan just said: “From a state with 84% of the US fresh water but none for its residents to drink…”
Clearly this is not your mother’s Miss America pageant. #MissAmerica2019 pic.twitter.com/VsYvFK2GQM— Jim DeFede (@DeFede) September 10, 2018
DAMN. #MissMichigan with the mic drop in the #MissAmerica2019 intros! pic.twitter.com/iSrodwUzjo
— Casey. (@kcbrewski) September 10, 2018
You’ve got to hand it to her. If our politicians aren’t going to ensure that citizens have clean water to drink, they absolutely deserve to be owned by a beauty pageant. Miss Michigan for president, indeed.
(Via Detroit News)