A MESSAGE OF CONVICTION — Madalynn Anderson of Toronto was diagnosed at the age of 2 with glomuvenous malformation, a rare vascular condition that left the side of her face in hues of purple and red. The strength she embodied as a result of her diagnosis led her on a journey to be herself and compete in various pageant competitions throughout her life, including vying for Miss Ohio. Anderson recently achieved the title of Miss Columbia Homecoming. -- Contributed

TORONTO — It happened long before the bright lights of the Miss Ohio stage ever found her.

It occurred years before the gowns and interviews became part of her world, and it came about prior to her creating that important message she carries with her daily … a message full of conviction.

For Toronto resident Madalynn “Maddie” Anderson learned long ago what it meant to walk into a room and feel every pair of eyes settle upon her.

She was only 2 years old when doctors diagnosed her as having glomuvenous malformation — a rare vascular condition that painted the left side of her face in shades of purple and red.

For years, that birthmark felt as if it were a barrier between her and the remainder of the world.

She once believed that mark was merely a constant reminder of how she was meant to shrink rather than shine.

But now, at the age of 23, Anderson stands on the threshold of dreams she once thought belonged only to other girls.

Maddie, as she is known to her family and friends, will soon be competing for the title of Miss Ohio.

Not in spite of her birthmark … but because of the strength it helped her discover.

Her community service initiative, entitled “Beyond the Beauty Mark: Embracing Differences, Defying Odds,” is more than just her platform — it is the story of her life, stitched together through years of learning to see herself through a kinder, more sympathetic lens.

GLOBAL AMBASSADOR — Toronto resident Madalynn Anderson serves as a global ambassador for the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation. She works to increase awareness, acceptance and access to treatment for individuals who possess vascular birthmarks and related conditions. Anderson attended the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation’s national conference in October. The event took place in New York City, where she spoke with foundation President Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon. -- Contributed

“Your value doesn’t decrease because of someone else’s inability to see it,” Anderson commented, her voice steady with the kind of certainty that only comes from lived experience.

“I used to believe my birthmark made me less,” she added. “Now I know it is what makes me powerful, and I want others to feel that, too.”

That desire to lift others has become the heartbeat of her work.

Anderson explained her journey to the Miss Ohio stage first began when she was a contestant at the Jefferson County Fair during its royalty competition.

She noted she was inspired by former Miss Ohio Laura Current.

DAILY GOALS — On her road to the Miss Ohio pageant in June, Madalynn Anderson of Toronto makes it a daily priority to share her life’s story about true beauty with others. Whether during classes in which she learns or the ones in which she teaches, her goal is to make sure others hear her message –– “Difference is not something to fix –– it is something to celebrate.” -- Contributed

According to Anderson, Current complimented her, telling her it appeared she possessed a passion for community service and was a “small-town girl” who has “a great story to tell.”

Anderson decided she would join the Miss America organization and compete in local preliminaries for the opportunity to be in the Miss Ohio pageant.

Last year, Anderson competed in Miss Ohio following her winning Miss Chillicothe.

This year, she will compete in the Miss Ohio pageant following her winning the title of Miss Columbia Homecoming.

This year’s event will take place during Miss Ohio Week, scheduled for June 14-20. Preliminaries are set for June 18-19. The finals will be held June 20, Anderson said.

Other avenues a contestant can take is through a direct entry title, where one “basically pays for a title,” Anderson explained.

Her title win not only earned her a ticket to compete in the pageant, but a $500 scholarship.

The winner of Miss Ohio will go on to compete in the Miss America pageant in September, Anderson said, noting there are still additional pageants in which to complete locally on the road to Miss Ohio.

A part of the Miss America scholarship organization, which is the largest scholarship provider to young women in the world, Miss Ohio’s mission is one of simplicity: To empower young women to achieve their potentials through scholarships, personal growth and professional development.

The Miss Ohio pageant is the official state preliminary competition for the national Miss America pageant, with the winner representing Ohio at the Miss America competition for a chance to win the national title.

The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program has been selecting representatives for the Miss America stage since 1922.

When she is not competing in local pageants, Anderson hosts a podcast which is dedicated to amplifying the voices of people who possess visible and invisible differences.

She offers these individuals a space where honesty is welcomed and authenticity is celebrated.

Through each of her conversations, she invites listeners to step into stories that challenge society’s narrow definitions of beauty and worth.

It is, in many ways, the kind of space she once needed, herself.

Anderson’s journey has been marked by determination that stretches far beyond the stage.

A graduate student in the University of Pittsburgh’s Physician Assistant School, she has completed her bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation science, summa cum laude, in only three years time. She earned a certificate in psycho-social issues in rehabilitation along the way.

Today, she serves as an anatomy teaching assistant, blending her love for science with her passion for helping others feel seen, understood and cared for.

Her résumé reads like a testament to perseverance.

She was her class valedictorian at Toronto High School in 2021, as well as a four-sport athlete.

She was an OHSAA scholar-athlete and Delta Zeta vice president of administration.

Anderson was a national scholarship recipient and global ambassador for the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation, as well as the Love’s Reflection campaign.

Yet, whenever she speaks about her accomplishments, she does so with a humility that softens each and every word.

Her performing arts presentation for Miss Ohio, entitled “I Mean It,” is an emotional reflection of her journey toward self-acceptance.

It is a piece she describes as her “HERstory,” shared openly on a stage she once feared she would never belong on.

Beyond the stage, Anderson leads #MaddiesChallenge, a fitness and wellness initiative that encourages people to find joy in movement, rather than pressure in perfection.

“Wellness is not about perfection, it’s about progress,” she stated. “Whether you are a former athlete or just starting your journey, fitness should empower, not intimidate.”

Her own athletic background runs deep.

Anderson was a four-sport athlete in high school and a 2020 Ohio state champion in cheerleading.

Later, she served as a Division I women’s basketball manager at the University of Pittsburgh, traveling and practicing with the team, while building relationships with coaches and organizations across the country.

Those experiences, she said, shaped her resilience.

They taught her the value of showing up — fully, consistently and wholeheartedly.

As a first-generation college graduate, Anderson knows the weight of opportunity.

She understands the doors and possibilities that education can open.

Maddie remembers the scholarships she applied for.

She recalls the long nights of studying, the determination to keep going even when the path felt endless and steep.

Today, she hopes to become a physician assistant, serving patients with that same type of compassion she once needed as a child navigating a visible difference.

“When I step on the Miss Ohio stage, I am not hiding behind perfection,” she shared. “I am standing proudly in the skin I was born with because beauty isn’t about fitting into society’s standards — it is about creating your own.”

Her honesty is disarming.

She speaks openly about the stares in grocery stores.

She talks about the curious questions asked to her.

She discusses those moments which made her feel as if she were an outsider before she even understood the meaning of the word.

“For a long time, I was afraid to show the true me,” Anderson said. “I believed being different meant I was destined to be held back. But real beauty lives in our differences. What makes us unique is what makes us beautiful.”

She explained the Miss America organization helped her embrace that truth.

“Instead of asking me to hide who I am, they celebrated it,” she recalled. “They encouraged me to show up exactly as myself.”

“Because of Miss America, I learned that sometimes the very thing you think holds you back is what makes you stand out the most,” she stated.

Her advocacy has grown far beyond the pageant world.

As a partner with Love’s Reflection, she helps bring moments of kindness to places such as Akron Children’s Hospital and local hospice facilities.

As a global ambassador for the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation, she works to increase awareness, acceptance and access to treatment for individuals who possess vascular birthmarks and related conditions.

“Whether I am speaking in a classroom or a hospital room, connecting with families at community events, sharing conversations on my podcast, or attending national conferences, I use my story every day to highlight the real beauty of vascular birthmarks,” Anderson added. “Difference is not something to fix — it is something to celebrate.”

From the little girl who once tried to hide her face to the young woman now stepping into the Miss Ohio spotlight, Anderson’s journey is one of courage, compassion and quiet, steady transformation.

She carries with her the hope that others — especially children who look in the mirror and feel unsure of what they see — will learn to stand a little taller because she chose to stand tall first.

As she prepares to walk across that stage, she does so not to fit any type of mold, but rather, to break one and to show that beauty is not a standard … it is a story.

And hers is still unfolding, one brave step at a time.

Anderson has created her own website for those interested in learning about her story. Photos and information can be found at madalynnanderson.com.