Peggy Garabekian- Miss Armenia United Nations 2023

• Biography: I was born in Tehran, Iran, on December 27th, 1994, but I spent most of my early childhood growing up in New Delhi, India. I am proud to be of Armenian descent and remain true to my Christian faith, core values, morals, and culture. I have my bachelor of science in kinesiology and I’m currently studying to complete physical therapy school in order to become a doctor of physical therapy.

 

• The first pageant I competed in was the Miss Asia USA 2015 pageant when I represented Armenia as Miss Armenia. Among the countless rehearsals and pageant related events I participated in, I was blessed enough to also contribute to different communities through giving back. For instance, through Miss Asia USA, I participated in events indorsing resolutions to world issues such as the former First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” movement to stop child obesity and the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony of 2015, which supported acceptance and inclusion among individuals with and without intellectual disabilities. Through a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, I competed against 57 countries in the evening gown, national costume, swimsuit, and on-stage question segments of the show. I was very fortunate to have made it to the Final Five. I ultimately won Third Runner-up, won the Miss Congeniality title, and received the People’s Choice Award for having the most supporters.

 

• Following my experience as a delegate for the Miss Asia USA pageant, I began working as a pageant assistant starting from 2016 for the same pageant production, Virgelia Productions Inc. This new involvement only opened more doors for me in the pageant world. I now had a different perspective, understanding, and respect for the efforts that went into creating a pageant. While before I was on the stage rehearsing, performing, and competing in one pageant, I now worked behind the curtains, helping to plan, organize, and execute an entire show for multiple pageants. With this new responsibility, I was given the chance to offer feedback on the quality of segments and researched, developed and pitched stories that reflected the unique sensibilities of the production. This opportunity served me very well since I gained so much more insight as to what really goes into successfully creating a pageant show.

 

• My modeling career skyrocketed through and after my pageantry experience. It gave me the opportunity to begin modeling for print, television, and photography. And so, I began collaborating alongside designers on fashion course, style, and creative vision. Along with this, I was fortunate enough to assist photographers, videographers, modeling coaches, and fashion directors through onsite and offsite photo and video shoots. I am now signed to a modeling agency and I couldn’t be more thrilled since I now represent my agency’s top brands through special events like fashion week. Even more exciting, my modeling experience allows me to help other models by rehearsing, critiquing, and refining their routines.

 

• I now also work as a pageant coach for Virgelia Productions Inc. I am beyond enthusiastic since I can draw from my education, involvement and knowledge base to accurately evaluate the qualities of each delegate. Moreover, due to my background in pageantry, I help them in recognizing and exploiting their strengths, aid them in forming a strategy for attaining their goals, and refine and perfect their pageant presentation. With my knowledge as both a delegate and a pageant production assistant, I serve as a well-educated business professional, mentor, as well as confidential advisor, who can offer each delegate honest leadership, backing and encouragement for every feature of competition.

 

• My participation in volunteerism and charity work holds a large and profound place in my existence. Throughout every period of my life, I have made it a constant standard to consistently help others however I possibly can, even if it comes down to self-sacrificing one’s own energy, time, efforts, etc. For instance, during my pageantry experience, I’ve organized, executed, and participated in ethnically diverse fundraiser galas where real-world matters were examined, such as gender equality, violence, education, etc. Moreover, I aided to resolve and prevent homelessness in Los Angeles through diverse donation events. Meanwhile, through my church, Christ Armenian Church, I’ve aided in establishing and achieving coat and toy drives for children in Artsakh who fell victim to an ongoing war and raised money for new furniture and bedding for them. Throughout the ongoing years, I’ve also worked with Operation Christmas Child in setting up donation drives to collect toys, school supplies and hygiene items and delivered them to children in need globally. From 2010 to 2019, I volunteered at Unified Young Armenians and was able to successfully help other communities as well through it. I effectively organized and partnered with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in arranging blood drives, toy drives, and clothing drives. By continuously expanding my platform, I began holding a more active role in my community. For instance, through the organization, I helped propose, organize and work with Glendale’s City Council in the renaming of a street sign to a historical landmark for Armenian history and established the first Armenian-related street name, Artsakh Avenue. Having a role in such a historical event such as that was extremely gratifying for me because I had the privilege to witness the triumph and happiness in the eyes of my fellow Armenian citizens. Moreover, I was a key organizer of the Annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration Candlelight Vigil and March comprising of thousands of attendees honoring the victims of the Armenian Genocide. This is an exceptionally significant event since it holds a deep-rooted meaning to not only the Armenian people globally, but for anyone who believes in justice and human rights. I contributed to telethons aiding Armenian American orphans and disabled children’s fund and held clothing, food, toy, and winter drives for homeless shelters in Los Angeles, as well as for the orphans, children, and in-need families in Armenia. Due to our relentless determinations, we were awarded by the Mayor of City of Glendale, Ara Najarian’s Commendation for the organization’s intellectual leadership on March 29, 2019 and received the Certificate of Recognition from Assembly member Laura Friedman of the 43rd Assembly District for organizing the First Annual Unified Young Armenians Fundraiser Gala. Ultimately, my efforts and determination in ensuring the betterment of my community was effective and I became president of Unified Young Armenians from 2018 to 2019.

 

• Life Ambition: One of my life’s ambitions is to become a doctor of physical therapy. Growing up, I’ve witnessed and worked with individuals and patients that have underwent a traumatic physical incident that left them either partially or completely incapable of having control over their bodies. This left them with very limited movements and completely disfigured their lives. Witnessing the immense toll this had on their physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional state was enough for me to further pursue a career in physical therapy. Due to my experiences, one of my ambitions is to work in a field that permits me to help others master adversities, learn, adjust and accomplish their own ambitions. Through physical therapy, the patient will undertake the rehabilitation and recovery course, while I get to witness a degree of determination and will power hardly seen in daily life. There remains a huge personal reward and happiness in knowing that I had a responsibility in seeing the patient’s quality of life and purpose reestablished. Personally, working as a doctor of physical therapy, it’ll serve as a stage to glorify the Lord throughout making a positive influence in peoples’ lives.

 

• Volunteer / Charity Work: Unified Young Armenians (UYA)

• Volunteered in the organization Unified Young Armenians (UYA) and became President (April 2018 – April 2019)

• Partnered with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) in organizing blood drives, toy drives, and clothing drives (2016-2019)

• Proposed, organized and worked with Glendale’s City Council in the renaming of a street sign to a historical landmark for Armenian history (June 2018)

• Organized the Annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration Candlelight Vigil and March comprising of thousands of attendees honoring the victims of the Armenian Genocide

• Organized toy, clothing, and winter drives for orphans, children, and in-need families in Armenia

• Participated in telethons aiding Armenian American orphans and disabled children’s fund

• Organized clothing drives for homeless shelters in Los Angeles

 

Christ Armenian Church (CAC)

• Helped organize and execute coat and toy drives for children in Artsakh who fell victim to an ongoing war

• Helped raise money for new furniture and bedding for children in Artsakh in need

• Worked with Operation Christmas Child in setting up a donation drive to collect toys, school supplies and hygiene items and delivered them to children in need globally

 

Miss Asia USA (Virgelia Productions Inc.)

• Participated in international events, such as the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony 2015, in indorsing acceptance and inclusion amid individuals with and without intellectual disabilities

• Participated in events promoting solutions to world issues, such as the former First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to fight child obesity

• Participated in ethnically diverse fundraiser galas where real-world issues were discussed, such as gender equality, violence, education, etc.

• Participated in fundraisers, clothing and food drives, in aiding to resolve and prevent homelessness in Los Angeles

 

• Why did you enter the pageant? This pageant has held a strong stride, making it one of the best pageants encompassing diversity and inclusion, both of which are factors that I find to be extremely important in today’s progressive society. I have always prided myself in working in and surrounding myself in environments with diverse individuals where it better allows me to learn from their backgrounds, cultures, customs, and values. That said, this pageant only allows me the opportunity to expand my embracement of diversity. Moreover, it will equip me with the necessary tools in growing my platform within my community. In doing so, I will be able to better help my community in taking action in serious world issues concerning climate change, food insecurity, violence, education, health care, homelessness, etc.

 

• Which world leader inspires you? Nun and missionary Mother Teresa, known in the Catholic church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, is one of the most important world leaders that inspires me still to this day. While she faced many hardships and criticism, it didn’t deter her from selflessly devoting her entire life to caring for the sick, poor, and disadvantaged. In the process, she defied stereotypes, broke limitations, and educated the world the true spirit of charity. Through her humanitarian efforts, she established soup kitchens, a leper colony, orphanages, as well as a home for the dying destitute. This selfless devotion sparked charitable consciousness globally and continues to work as a constant reminder of where my values and goals lie.

 

• What do you like about host country India? India has a special place in my heart seeing that I spent a good portion of my early childhood living there for over 3 years. My family raised me in New Delhi and I could confidently say that my period in India served as one of the most influential stages of my life. While I love and greatly encompass India’s rich culture full of vibrant colors, astounding history, wide range of food, poetic songs, etc. into my own life, what I like the most about India is the life lessons I learned and still carry with me until this day. I will always hold their life values as a grounded staple of what I put my importance to. The people’s spirit in making the best of every situation and their gratitude for everything they have, however miniscule we may see it, is truly inspiring. I always saw people from different classes, backgrounds, and upbringings and understood that despite their dissimilarities, they all shared the same values. They were thankful of every opportunity, they shared each moment of happiness with their families, and despite any and every hardship, the people of India kept their faith and spirit alive in one another. It not only helped me and my family overcome our own hardships in India, it has helped shape and align my perspective of life and my morals accordingly and I couldn’t be more thankful for India’s influence.

 

• Favorite Food: Gulab Jamun