A pageant queen revealed onstage she was a sexual assault survivor

Pageant queens are usually known for their stunning looks and philanthropic efforts, and rarely have an inspirational backstory they’re willing share with the world. Which is why the reigning Miss Nashville, Jeanette Morelan, truly surprised the pageant world by revealing a powerful secret to the judges during the Q&A segment of the Miss Tennessee pageant, the Huffington Post reports.

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When asked whether she thought Brock Turner received “too light” a sentence, Morelan refrained from giving the usual vague, politically correct answer that’s expected from pageant queens. Instead, she divulged on stage that she had been sexually assaulted herself. “As a survivor of sexual assault, I definitely do not agree with the sentence,” Morelan said. “Perpetrators, no matter how privileged, should be punished for their crimes,” she added.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan.com, Morelan revealed that she had been raped as a sophomore in college, and hadn’t told anyone of the assault for two full months. “When I was sexually assaulted, I didn’t talk to anyone about it for about two months because I was in such shock that it had happened,” she said. “I was so deeply ashamed.”

But why did Morelan choose that moment on stage to share her past? Well, according to the interview, she realized she had a unique opportunity to promote awareness on the subject. “I’ve always been seen as someone who’s been incredibly successful; I really felt like me sharing my story would help inspire other women to share theirs — not necessarily get up on stage in front of a large audience, but just to tell one person,” she explained.

Thankfully, Morelan seems to be happy with her decision to open up about her sexual assault. In a post on her blog, she wrote, “The moment I knew why I was at Miss Tennessee — when I got to stand in front of thousands of people and break the chains of shame that had held me as a sexual assault survivor for so long, and in the process, encouraged others to come forward and find their freedom.” Hopefully, Morelan’s example will help other sexual assault survivors to open up about their own experiences as well.

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