Catholic New World staff writer Michelle Martin talks with Erika Harold.

Erika Harold, Miss America 2003, is no stranger to controversy. After moving through the Miss America pageant system on a platform of teen abstinence from sex, she competed in the national pageant on the platform of teen violence prevention, which was chosen by the Illinois state pageant organization. Shortly after her coronation, she began drawing connections between teen violence and sexual activity, drawing howls of media protest. Now, after finishing her year as the reigning Miss America, Harold will speak at “Educating Minds, Inspiring Hearts: The Chastity Education Initiative,” a Nov. 15 benefit dinner sponsored by the archdiocesan Respect Life Office.

The Catholic New World: Why did you take on the issue of abstinence?

Erika Harold: It stems from my own personal commitment. I’ve had the commitment of remaining abstinent until marriage for as long as I can remember, and it’s brought me nothing but positive benefits in my life. I feel empowered that I’ve never had to worry about diseases or pregnancy. Apart from the physical benefits, I feel I respect myself more because I’ve made a decision that seems to be counter-cultural right now, requires a lot of self-respect, and in turn people treat me with more respect. It’s really about setting a higher value on yourself, saying I am not going to give myself to anyone until they give me a lifetime commitment and a wedding ring on my wedding night.

It wasn’t just important for me to have this commitment. Nobody was sharing it with my generation. I was in health class, and the teacher was telling us ways we could prevent pregnancy, and abstinence was not on the list. I raised my hand to add abstinence to the list, and he kind of looked at me like, “Well. That’s not really realistic.” I knew there were other people in this class who felt the way I did, and I thought “If I have information that can save lives, I owe it to my generation to be able to share that.

TCNW: How do teens react to your message?

EH: I think the myth is that if someone’s going to go into a high school or a junior high and try to talk about abstinence, they’re going to get heckled. I found … kids excited about this. I’ve had kids applaud when I tell them that I’m a virgin and I’m saving myself for marriage. I tell them this not just a moral issue. This is about self-empowerment.

One reason it was so important for me to focus on this as Miss America is that you’re not seeing this in the media. The media portrays this idea that every young person is sexually active, and so for those young people who aren’t sexually active ... they’re not seeing themselves represented. I wanted to be at least one voice that was saying “I support what you’re doing.”

TCNW: Why did you insist on speaking about abstinence as well as teen violence?

EH: There was pressure for me to completely (drop) abstinence from my platform, and I realized that would be profoundly hypocritical. I had spent the past four years talking to people about standing up for what they believe. If … I dropped any mention of abstinence (as Miss America), then I would have negated everything I shared in the classroom. You have one year in your life to have the visibility and prominence of being Miss America, and I thought it would have been a waste to not talk about abstinence.

Youth violence prevention is a very important issue, but it’s not controversial. When you talk about abstinence, and particularly abstinence until marriage, it becomes more controversial. And that’s why you need to have the crown to share it.

TCNW: Why is promoting abstinence until marriage seen as controversial?

EH: I don’t think a lot of adults really believe that young people are willing (or) capable of doing it. I was speaking at an inner-city school in Chicago and I said, “A lot of people would have me just give you condoms and say that’s that. What would that communicate to you, if I just gave you a condom and said, ‘Be safe’?” And this girl raised her hand and she looked kind of angry and she said, “When people just give us condoms, it means they don’t really think we can be abstinent and they don’t really care to help us.”

TCNW: How do you connect youth violence prevention and abstinence?

EH: Both issues touch on the way someone views themselves and whether or not they feel they’re deserving of respect. ... I think the issues are linked, especially when it comes to making positive decisions. If one makes negative decisions in one area of their life, they’re much more likely to do so in other areas.

TCNW: Given that connection, were you surprised at the controversy?

EH: I think I was surprised at the level of animosity that some people had about this issue. It was disconcerting, because for young people who were viewing this, it had to make them feel bad. When I talk to young people about pregnancy and disease, I don’t have to convince them that it could happen to them, because it either has happened to them or to someone they care about. They are interested in hearing about the alternatives.

TCNW: What are your future plans as far as school and beyond?

EH: In the fall of 2004 I start Harvard Law School. I won about $75,000 in scholarships through my participation in the Miss America organization, so every last scholarship dollar is going to be put to use. …

My ultimate aspiration is to one day run for the presidency, and being Miss America was one of the most incredible political educations I’ve ever experienced. Each and every day you’re trying to promote an issue to diverse constituencies, you have to interact with the media, you’re attacked quite often, you can’t attack back, and you really start to find out for yourself what is most important and what you stand for when things get tough.

For information on the benefit dinner, call Gussie Zawaski at (708) 424-2011 or Mary Clare Starshak at (312) 649-9151.

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