As a teenager, many are trying to find their identity. There can be changes in one’s voice and body, which can cause insecurities or body image sensitivities. For two teen girls, this was something they knew all too well.

Lucy and Emily Thomas were bullied as young women. They struggled with their size and didn’t feel good about themselves.

“We were overweight and when we went through puberty it was hard. It was like our ugly duckling phase.”

The two girls were very close and did everything together, including dressing the same and doing each other’s makeup and nails.

At 15 years old the ladies decided to explore being in a pageant.

Lucy suggested her sister try a local pageant with the mission to “empower and inspire females from a variety of different backgrounds.”

Things slowly started to change as the women made friends with the other girls and started to win awards.

“Without her, I never would have dreamed of doing a pageant,” Lucy shared in an interview “I was so shy and I had no confidence after so many years of hearing people say awful things in school.

“But since doing the pageant I have so much more confidence and I feel like people see me in a different light.”

Emily also did pageants and won crowns as well.

They are vocal about their appreciation for each other and continue to support and love one another.

Emily and Lucy are now in college doing well as they study performance.