蓝莓视频

Miss Spontaneity

From an orphanage in Haiti, to a one-room schoolhouse in Keating, to the stage鈥攁t 21 years old, Sophia Yervasi has already experienced more than most. This fall she plans to transfer to EOU and work toward completing her bachelor鈥檚 degree in business. 

Adopted by a Baker City family when she was a toddler, Yervasi faced bullying in elementary school, which led her parents to enroll her in one of Oregon鈥檚 last functioning one-room schoolhouses. With first through sixth grade students all together, Yervasi said the class never totaled more than 25 students. After the torment she鈥檇 experienced, Yervasi found comfort and friendship in the tight-knit group. 

鈥淚 was there from third to sixth grade, and it taught me to act more mature because you鈥檙e a role model for the younger kids. I had to live by example,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a great experience and I鈥檓 really grateful that I got to go to school there.鈥� 

But things took another downturn a few years later when Yervasi鈥檚 mother got seriously ill in 2009, and then she lost two grandparents and her pet dog over one summer in 2012. 

鈥淚t made me feel like everyone around me was going to die,鈥� Yervasi said. 鈥淚t felt like a constant pain in my chest, like someone squeezing my heart, like darkness. That was really confusing because I had never felt pain like that before.鈥�

With support from friends, family and her church, Yervasi said she developed an inner strength and the pain faded away. 

鈥淢ost people outside my close friends and family didn鈥檛 even know I was depressed,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 couple times I attempted suicide.鈥� 

Before one attempt, Yervasi was planning on saying goodbye to her best friend Kara Bennett, but when they locked eyes Yervasi changed her mind. 

鈥淭he second I saw her I just started bawling 鈥� I鈥檓 pretty sure that saved me that day,鈥� Yervasi said. 

Almost a decade later, Bennett and Yervasi are still close. This year, they鈥檝e channeled their friendship into a new endeavor: competing in Miss Oregon USA. They made a spontaneous decision to sign up together after watching Miss Universe, and now they will represent Union and Baker Counties in the . 

鈥淚 hope to learn about marketing and how to deal with stress better, and it鈥檚 good motivation to keep getting fit,鈥� Yervasi said. 鈥淚鈥檓 in a time of self-discovery. Whether I win or lose, I鈥檓 going to gain so much out of this.鈥� 

Each contestant selects a or a cause they鈥檒l promote if they win the pageant. Yervasi hopes to spread awareness about depression and anxiety. 

鈥淚f we talk about it more, people can figure out how to get through it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really sad to think that maybe I wouldn鈥檛 be here right now 鈥� and if my story can help anybody else, then it鈥檚 worth sharing.鈥�

In the first six months of 2020, Yervasi lost about 85 pounds. Entering Miss Oregon USA became an additional motivator for pursuing her fitness goals.  

鈥淚 struggled at first seeing the other people and how they all look like models, but then I realized I鈥檓 doing this for myself and I鈥檓 going to put my best self forward,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 nervous for the swimsuit portion, but I鈥檓 excited for how empowered I鈥檒l feel afterward.鈥�

And Bennett, a junior at EOU, will be by her side through it all. 

鈥淓specially when you start comparing yourself to others, it鈥檚 helpful to have somebody there with you,鈥� Yervasi said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to share a room in the hotel for the weekend, we get to shop for our dresses together, and we can motivate each other.鈥�

Regardless of the final scores, Yervasi hopes to spread awareness about the pervasiveness of depression and anxiety among teens. And her positive, spontaneous attitude is bound to come out unscathed. 

鈥淲hether I get top 10 or not, it鈥檚 going to be a great experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing it to push myself and to build even more confidence鈥攁lso, I think it鈥檚 going to be fun!鈥�

If you or someone you know is experiencing severe depression or having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.