EP #102: Meet Miss North Buckhead, Ta'Neile Simmons!
Jun 15, 2024
Stacey Risley
How does a seasoned model transition from the runway to the pageant stage? Join us on the Good Neighbor Podcast North Atlanta as we chat with Ta'Neile Simmons, Miss North Buckhead, who is on her way to competing for the Miss Georgia USA title. Inspired by her friend, Ta'Neile shares her captivating journey into the world of pageantry, aiming to showcase her vibrant personality beyond the glamorous lights of modeling. She takes us behind the scenes to challenge common misconceptions about pageantry, shedding light on the intelligence, strength, and altruistic spirit that define the women in this world. Ta'Neile also addresses recent controversies in Miss USA and stresses the critical importance of mental health within the pageant community.
Beyond the crown, Ta'Neile’s life is a testament to resilience and dedication. With twelve years of modeling experience, she now finds fulfillment in mentoring young girls and women in runway modeling and etiquette. In a heartfelt segment, Ta'Neile opens up about the profound impact of her father's passing during her national student exchange in Los Angeles. This emotional journey underscores her commitment to family and the legacy she strives to build, making this episode both inspiring and deeply moving. Tune in to discover Ta'Neile's multifaceted journey and the powerful lessons she's learned along the way.
How does a seasoned model transition from the runway to the pageant stage? Join us on the Good Neighbor Podcast North Atlanta as we chat with Ta'Neile Simmons, Miss North Buckhead, who is on her way to competing for the Miss Georgia USA title. Inspired by her friend, Ta'Neile shares her captivating journey into the world of pageantry, aiming to showcase her vibrant personality beyond the glamorous lights of modeling. She takes us behind the scenes to challenge common misconceptions about pageantry, shedding light on the intelligence, strength, and altruistic spirit that define the women in this world. Ta'Neile also addresses recent controversies in Miss USA and stresses the critical importance of mental health within the pageant community.
Beyond the crown, Ta'Neile’s life is a testament to resilience and dedication. With twelve years of modeling experience, she now finds fulfillment in mentoring young girls and women in runway modeling and etiquette. In a heartfelt segment, Ta'Neile opens up about the profound impact of her father's passing during her national student exchange in Los Angeles. This emotional journey underscores her commitment to family and the legacy she strives to build, making this episode both inspiring and deeply moving. Tune in to discover Ta'Neile's multifaceted journey and the powerful lessons she's learned along the way.
Speaker 1:
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast North Atlanta, where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, stacey Risley.
Speaker 2:
Hello friends and neighbors, Welcome to North Atlanta's Good Neighbor Podcast. Today I'm here with Tenille Simmons and she is Miss North Buckhead. Hi, Tenille, Welcome. Hi. I'm so happy to be here. I am so happy to have you. We are so excited here because we have missed Neal on the cover of North Buckhead Neighbors Magazine this upcoming month in our June issue, and she has just been an absolute joy.
Speaker 2:
She has wowed our team from start to finish, from the photo shoot to my first conversation with you when I was in the car calling her about being on the cover, and she has just been absolutely a joy to get to know, so we are so happy to have you here.
Speaker 2:
Tenille, thank you so much Happy to be here. Well, we're going to go ahead and jump right in, and the purpose of us doing this podcast today is to get the word out that Tenille is Miss North Buckhead and she is going to be competing in an upcoming pageant for the Miss Georgia title. So we are very excited about that. So let's start, if you don't mind, with telling us about your journey into pageantry.
Speaker 3:
Tell us about that. So I actually got introduced to pageantry through a mutual friend of mine. She competed in Miss Kentucky, usa, and Miss USA in 2021, elle Smith and she kind of encouraged me to think about going into it, because she started out in journalism but her dream was to go into modeling and so she went on to do that. So that was a huge inspiration for me to see that someone so close to me accomplished that goal and, honestly, getting into pageantry. I decided to get into it because I have always wanted to showcase myself and get to know myself a little bit more and I'm a model. I've been modeling for years, right, and as a model, you're kind of like a hanger where you're wearing clothes and you don't really get to showcase much of yourself. You kind of mute yourself as much as possible and instead you kind of showcase who you are and you bring yourself out and really showcase that presence, and that's what drew me into pageantry.
Speaker 2:
That makes sense. You know, as a model.
Speaker 2:
You said, you're, you're kind of a hanger and that does make sense because your, your job as a model is to present the you know, the clothing line or the makeup or the hair that we, you know, whatever it is that you're modeling, and that's your job is to show off someone else's products, and I love this. This is a way to showcase yourself and she is just an absolute, like I said, a total pleasure, and I'm so glad that you have the opportunity to showcase yourself because you're pretty wonderful, thank you.
Speaker 2:
Well, how about? So? In this you can address kind of what's going on in the news now with this question. But how about any myths or misconceptions about the pageantry industry itself or what's going on in the news? Let's go ahead and address that. Knock it out.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, so one of the biggest misconceptions in pageantry has to be that it's just a beauty parade where women are just kind of frolicking around and competing for who looks the best. But what I learned through pageantry, throughout this journey it's been about a year and six months for me now in preparation for this pageant and I've learned that it's so much more than that. The women that are surrounding me are so strong, they're so intelligent and they have such a big heart and a passion for others. All they want to do is make a change and have a voice for the people who don't have a voice to speak for themselves on this platform, giving an entirely new demographic of people knowledge on what they care about.
Speaker 3:
The beauty portion is just a marketing tactic. Essentially, it's just people love beautiful things. On social media, on the news, you see beautiful people all the time because that's what brings attention. But that's not what keeps attention. It's the character. It's why we want to listen to you. What is it that you're talking about?
Speaker 3:
And so I just feel like that's one of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to pageantries. These women work extremely hard and I feel like a lot of women are discredited for that whenever they participate in pageantry. But one of the biggest controversies that's happening right now with Miss USA, as you may have heard, the current reigning Miss USA for 2023 and Miss Teen USA recently resigned and that was due to mental health and I think that that is really important for them to resign. For that reason, I decided to continue to pursue pageantry at the state level for Miss Georgia USA because Kim Greenwood, the owner of Miss Georgia USA, and Miss Tennessee and so on she had our seminar recently and she put so much importance on our personal development and so much importance on mental health and how she wants to take care of us and us to prioritize our mission first, and because of that, I feel really comfortable continuing to proceed in the in the USA organization.
Speaker 2:
Well, I'm glad that she was able to relieve any concerns that you had and that you're able to continue in this, in this journey. So what is your mission? What are you? I know that in pageantry, that you guys have a, a platform. Thank you, thank you. We're searching there.
Speaker 3:
I needed your help. So what is your platform? Let's tell our listeners a little bit about that. Yes, so my platform is Veteran Disability Resource Awareness. The reason for that is because my father was a Navy veteran and he passed away from a service-related injury. He didn't receive his full benefits until the day that he actually passed away. So it's my full mission throughout this pageant to spread awareness about the resources and the tools that are available to veterans with disabilities so that they don't have to go through that rigorous, time-consuming process, like my father did, where they aren't able to provide the resources that he needed in order to have a sustainable life. If he did have those resources, my father might be able to see me walk across that stage next month, but I don't Completely. It's God's timing, honestly and I feel like God put this in my path to spread this word about veteran disability resources to other people.
Speaker 2:
Well, what a great cause that you are platforming. We're not platforming for it.
Speaker 3:
Now I'm back to Advocating for it, advocating for it.
Speaker 2:
Thank you, my, but we you know you need to have something that strikes close to home you know, and that clearly does with it being your dad.
Speaker 2:
And and and that's something that can help a lot of people. So, such a beautiful soul that's going to be, you know, working on their behalf, I really I appreciate that, and I know our listeners do as well. Yeah, so for the veterans, we need a sign. Yes, we're here for the vet, so well. So let's, let's shift gears just a little bit and tell our listeners what you do for fun when you're not working on pageantry. When you're not, I know that you also are a, a, an.
Speaker 3:
Tell me a data scientist. Data scientist.
Speaker 2:
I mean. So we talk about intelligent women and um and there you go. So she is, when you're not a data scientist and you're not um working with pageantry. What are you doing for fun?
Speaker 3:
Well, outside of what little time I do have, outside of work and pageantry, I have been modeling for about 12 years. It's a passion of mine also, kind of a part-time job essentially, and that I really truly enjoy doing. And I've branched off of modeling and I now mentor young girls and not even young girls anymore, I've, you know, kind of expanded to women my age and, above um, even you know, women with children who come to me and want to learn more about um modeling runway. I teach etiquette and all those things and those just bring me a lot of joy. Because I don't know about you, but I personally just like to help other people out If I know, if I have the tools, and then outside of that, I'm a shopper.
Speaker 3:
Okay, I have a problem. I have a real problem. I absolutely love going to Phipps Plaza and just walking around and just seeing what they have that's new. I also love shopping around. What's the area in Alpharetta? Avalon, avalon. I love going around in Avalon Plaza. Their Lululemon always has something really good in there and yeah, and I'm a foodie as well. So, yeah, there's so many good places that I like to go to.
Speaker 2:
We'd be here all day if I started listing all of those You'll have to check out High Street here in Dunwoody.
Speaker 3:
It's going to be they're describing it.
Speaker 2:
It's about it's it's going to be. They're describing it. It's been in the works for years and years and they're describing it as an Avalon type. It'll be, but better, better they're claiming. They're claiming we'll see. But a lot of, a lot of hype about that and and I know that the it's a it's a mixed use, like space. It has some, some retail. It's going to have retail. It's going to have, dining it's going to have. They are already renting out. You know some of the apartments that are there in high end, high scale apartments you don't have to pull my arm.
Speaker 3:
I'll definitely be there. You like, avalon, that's what made me think of that so.
Speaker 2:
I think they're. It's supposed to open this year at some point.
Speaker 3:
Yeah so not too many more months left in the year, and I'm just hanging out with friends and family, so I can bring my friends and family to that for sure, especially the openings. Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2:
Somewhere else you should check out is the Assembly Atlanta Studios. It's open to the public and people don't realize that, but it's in Doraville. I know I haven't explored Doraville yet.
Speaker 2:
It is a huge, it's a studio, it's a movie studios and they've got like it's huge. Anyway, check it out, will do Fun, fun, no idea. Okay, you need to get in there for some of your work too. Well, so we're going to shift gears again into something a little more serious, and I always ask all of my guests if there is a hardship or challenge that they have faced in life that they can now say, for having been through that experience and come out on the other side of that, that they are stronger or better for that today.
Speaker 3:
So I would have to say the experience of the passing of my father was a really monumentous experience for me mainly because of the way that he passed as well and the timing was all discombobulated.
Speaker 3:
It was all horrible. My father passed away. He went missing first, and so it was like a huge search party for him and so we didn't know if he was where he was for a couple of days. My dad's a hunter and a fisher. I know I am very glam all the time, but I'm also a country girl. I'm from Kentucky originally, so my dad used to get lost in the woods all the time. So like whenever they were like, oh, we can't find Neil, I was like, oh, we'll find him, he'll come up somewhere, like he'll be lost in a tree or something. But lo and behold, that was not the case.
Speaker 3:
So when I got the news, I was actually on a national student exchange in Los Angeles. I went to the University of Kentucky and what a national student exchange is? It's when you switch places with another student at another school. So I switched places with a student at CSUN and I went to excuse me. They went to University of Kentucky and I went to CSUN. So I was out in Los Angeles, kind of all by myself, no family, no friends. Obviously I had friends at that time because I'd been at school, but it was pretty much all alone time because I had been at school but it was pretty much all alone. And so, and it was also during finals week Finals week Okay, yeah, that's a tough week and it was like the week of you know, biology, mathematics, stats, all of the big stuff, and there was like not a time where I was looking at my notebook and there wasn't like wet spots on it because there was like crying looking at my textbooks.
Speaker 3:
But you know, even though that happened during that time, I ended up passing that year with a 4.0, which is crazy to me, and what I learned from that experience is that you never know what life is going to throw at you.
Speaker 3:
There's always going to be a curve ball.
Speaker 3:
There's always going to be something traumatic that happens, because if you've never been through anything, then you're not living and you just keep on living and something is soon to kind of throw, and so that was probably one of the biggest ones for me, and what I took from that, what I really learned from that, was that you have to put so much value on or, excuse me, my why is my family, why I do anything that I do, is because I want to make my family proud and I want to just be able to create a legacy for them, and a lot of my family members look up to me because I've done things that many didn't think was possible, and so from that experience, I just constantly stayed in contact with family, with friends even though it may have been virtual, with my friends that were local there, and I realized there was nothing more important than family, and truly nothing more important than that, and to see how my strength and my resilience during that time transitioned to my brother and my eldest brother and I was, because they were just devastated by the news and I had to be the strong one, even though I was far away, because they actually saw my dad's body. So it was a very difficult time. I learned so much from it how to be more supportive, how to be a better listener, how to be empathetic to larger crowds, because it was a search party, so it was many people that I also had to empathize with who wanted to give out condolences. So, yeah, I learned the value of family at that time and how important family was, and to never take your parents for granted. Never take your family for granted, no matter what the circumstances.
Speaker 2:
Well, thank you so much for your willingness to be vulnerable and sharing that experience with us. That was very touching, for sure. Well, so let's circle back again, and now let's talk about the upcoming pageant.
Speaker 3:
Yes, so it's in, it's doomed right it's. It's coming up, yeah, it's right around, it's in three weeks actually. Yeah, oh, wow that's really soon. It is in three weeks, that is very game time. It's game time and where is it going to be held. So it's going to be held in mcdonough, georgia. Okay.
Speaker 2:
I taught school in McDonough, georgia, for 10 years. I did which one.
Speaker 3:
So is it at the Performing Arts Center? It's going to be at the gosh. I should know the name of the hotel, but we just expanded because there were more contestants that competed, so we'll.
Speaker 2:
That's okay, we'll come back to that.
Speaker 3:
But it's going to be in McDonough, georgia in I don't remember the name of the auditorium right now, but um you can stream it, I'm sure we can figure it out. I'm sure people can look that up. I'll be able to share it with you, and it's three weeks.
Speaker 2:
Oh, are the nerves sitting in? Are you feeling? How do you feel?
Speaker 3:
No, I feel pretty good yeah.
Speaker 2:
Yeah Well, that doesn't surprise me actually.
Speaker 3:
I have a really amazing team. I've been preparing for a long time, so now it's just up to me to make sure that I perform. Yeah Well go out there and do all that you've trained.
Speaker 2:
Absolutely Well, you have a fan here, Two fans here. Kiana's here with us, of course. She always is recording. So I mean, like I said, she's on the cover of North Buckhead Neighbors in this upcoming issue and has just wowed our entire team and so we are in your corner. I am very proud that you're representing the residents of North Buckhead.
Speaker 3:
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2:
I know that they are too, and I'm so excited for you. Thank you, it's been just such a joy meeting you. So if our listeners want to learn more, they want to, and I know that. I believe you have a GoFundMe page that's helping to raise funds for all of the I mean pageantry is expensive people.
Speaker 2:
Yes, it is. It is expensive, very expensive sport you would like. It is a very expensive sport. I love that. If you would like to help support Tenille, I strongly recommend that you reach out. And what is the best way for them to do that?
Speaker 3:
Yes, so you can find me on social media. On Instagram at Tenille Fay it's spelled T-A-N-E-I-L-E-F-A-Y-E. It's spelled T-A-N-E-I-L-E-F-A-Y-E, and on Facebook at Tenille Simmons, which is just my first and last name. Wonderful and there you can find my GoFundMes. They're linked in my bios.
Speaker 2:
Thank you so much again for being here. It has been an absolute pleasure. We wish you so much luck and success in the future. With this, I just know I'm going to be cheering you on in the next competition.
Speaker 3:
I appreciate it. I just ask for prayers, prayers, please. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2:
Well, we will be praying and ask all of you listeners, you guys, to say a prayer for Ms Tennille as well. She is absolutely. I just wish all of you could see her and meet her like we have, because she is a very touching person, she touches the soul.
Speaker 3:
Thank you, and you are too, with your great energy, honestly, well thank you.
Speaker 2:
I think good energy reciprocates. It does, it definitely does. Well, that's all for today's episode. Thank you so much, atlanta. I'm Stacey Risley with the Good Neighbor podcast. Thanks for listening and supporting the local businesses and nonprofits of our great community.
Speaker 1:
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast North Atlanta. To nominate your favorite local businesses, visit GNPNorthAtlantacom. That's GNPNorthAtlantacom.
