Miss Spontaneity

From an orphanage in Haiti, to a one-room schoolhouse in Keating, to the Miss Oregon USA stage—at 21 years old, Sophia Yervasi has already experienced more than most. This fall she plans to transfer to EOU and work toward completing her bachelor’s degree in business. 

Adopted by a Baker City family when she was a toddler, Yervasi faced bullying in elementary school, which led her parents to enroll her in one of Oregon’s last functioning one-room schoolhouses. With first through sixth grade students all together, Yervasi said the class never totaled more than 25 students. After the torment she’d experienced, Yervasi found comfort and friendship in the tight-knit group. 

“I was there from third to sixth grade, and it taught me to act more mature because you’re a role model for the younger kids. I had to live by example,” she said. “It was a great experience and I’m really grateful that I got to go to school there.” 

But things took another downturn a few years later when Yervasi’s mother got seriously ill in 2009, and then she lost two grandparents and her pet dog over one summer in 2012. 

“It made me feel like everyone around me was going to die,” Yervasi said. “It felt like a constant pain in my chest, like someone squeezing my heart, like darkness. That was really confusing because I had never felt pain like that before.”

With support from friends, family and her church, Yervasi said she developed an inner strength and the pain faded away. 

“Most people outside my close friends and family didn’t even know I was depressed,” she said. “A couple times I attempted suicide.” 

Before one attempt, Yervasi was planning on saying goodbye to her best friend Kara Bennett, but when they locked eyes Yervasi changed her mind. 

“The second I saw her I just started bawling … I’m pretty sure that saved me that day,” Yervasi said. 

Almost a decade later, Bennett and Yervasi are still close. This year, they’ve channeled their friendship into a new endeavor: competing in Miss Oregon USA. They made a spontaneous decision to sign up together after watching Miss Universe, and now they will represent Union and Baker Counties in the November pageant. 

“I hope to learn about marketing and how to deal with stress better, and it’s good motivation to keep getting fit,” Yervasi said. “I’m in a time of self-discovery. Whether I win or lose, I’m going to gain so much out of this.” 

Each contestant selects a platform or a cause they’ll promote if they win the pageant. Yervasi hopes to spread awareness about depression and anxiety. 

“If we talk about it more, people can figure out how to get through it,” she said. “It’s really sad to think that maybe I wouldn’t be here right now … and if my story can help anybody else, then it’s worth sharing.”

In the first six months of 2020, Yervasi lost about 85 pounds. Entering Miss Oregon USA became an additional motivator for pursuing her fitness goals.  

“I struggled at first seeing the other people and how they all look like models, but then I realized I’m doing this for myself and I’m going to put my best self forward,” she said. “I’m nervous for the swimsuit portion, but I’m excited for how empowered I’ll feel afterward.”

And Bennett, a junior at EOU, will be by her side through it all. 

“Especially when you start comparing yourself to others, it’s helpful to have somebody there with you,” Yervasi said. “We’re going to share a room in the hotel for the weekend, we get to shop for our dresses together, and we can motivate each other.”

Regardless of the final scores, Yervasi hopes to spread awareness about the pervasiveness of depression and anxiety among teens. And her positive, spontaneous attitude is bound to come out unscathed. 

“Whether I get top 10 or not, it’s going to be a great experience,” she said. “I’m doing it to push myself and to build even more confidence—also, I think it’s going to be fun!”

If you or someone you know is experiencing severe depression or having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.