With her quick-witted answers and buoyant nature, one would never guess that the blue-eyed Bothell brunette Sarah Carter was once doubtful.

She couldn’t envision herself being in a pageant and didn’t think she had the guts to do it.

But that’s what made the idea so appealing.

“It was a challenge, so I said to myself it would take a lot of confidence to just kind of suck it all in and try out and just go for it — so I did,” Carter said of her first pageant experience, when she was a Seafair Princess at age 18.

Since then, she has competed in the Miss Whatcom County event for two years and is currently getting ready for her biggest pageant yet — her run for the Miss Washington USA crown. She will represent the community as Miss Juanita at the upcoming state pageant on Oct. 10.

“It’s just opened me up to the world of getting involved in the community. I really enjoy it,” Carter, 23, said of her pageant experience so far.

A recent Western Washington University graduate, Carter works for a financial firm and in her spare time enjoys volunteering for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. She is also actively involved in the C.H.O.R.E program, The Special Olympics and Meow Cat Rescue.

If she wins Miss Washington USA, Carter hopes to advocate for youth mentorship, including Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“I didn’t realize the hour I spent with my little buddy was like his whole life,” she said of the four years she mentored a boy while she was in college. “He looked forward to that one day. So it’s just really rewarding that you can see what you’re doing for them.”

She hopes to raise awareness about the program to encourage more men to become volunteers.

“There’s a lot of little boys out there who need that male influence … it means so much to them,” she said.

In the meantime, Carter, who describes herself as very driven and fun, is prepping herself for the upcoming pageant. Her coach, former Miss Washington USA Michelle Font, is helping Carter in all areas including interview, walk stylizing, posture, diction, stage presence, public speaking and wardrobe selection. In addition, she is working with a personal trainer at Mieko’s Fitness where she is put through intense workouts twice a week.

Carter also hopes to garner support from the local community.

So far, local companies such as Kirkland-based Mod Beauty Squad have offered her products and services to help her with the pageant.

Another sponsor, Bellevue-based dress boutique La Belle Reve, has also offered to loan her a gown to wear during the evening gown portion of the pageant. Boutique owner Olga Earle will also attend the pageant.

“That’s one of the things I’m looking forward to the most is just being able to play dress up,” Carter said of the dresses.

Visit Miss Juanita USA at http://gosarahcarter.bbnow.org/index.php.