A Heart for Service: Ashley Reardon leads Miss Amazing at GCSU

By Natalie Ross

Ashley Reardon lights up when she talks about the Miss Amazing organization. 

“Miss Amazing has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life,” Reardon said. “It’s a space where girls are celebrated for exactly who they are. Being part of that helping build confidence, community, and joy is something I’m really proud to do.” 

As the current president of the Georgia Miss Amazing chapter, an organization on the Georgia College & State University campus, Reardon is dedicated to uplifting women and girls with disabilities. 

“ My parents are Christian and raised me in that way. Giving to people is just sort of what you did, especially with my dad,” Reardon, a junior nursing major, said. “He always emphasized just giving anything we had; we didn't need to help other people and expect something in return.” 

Growing up with an inspirational cousin

A native of Woodstock, Georgia, Reardon grew up knowing kindness and giving to others were important to being a human. Reardon said growing up with a cousin who had Autism also taught her empathy and understanding. 

“ It was really a journey with my aunt to figure out what helped him,” Reardon said. “ Seeing it from that way has also really helped directly with Miss Amazing. I am able to communicate with the parents better; they don't just need to know what we're doing, they need to know how we're doing it and all of these things. It really helped just build connections with everyone to relate with my aunt.”

Leading GC’s Miss Amazing

Reardon said she chose to attend GC because of the immediate understanding and compassion she saw from the nursing faculty.

“I talked to the head of the nursing school here and they were super sweet. They laid out the plan of like, ‘Okay, plan A is this, if this doesn't work, this is plan B, and this is plan C.’ And they made it really, a lot less intimidating,” she said. 

When she joined the GC community, Reardon said she knew she wanted to get involved with campus activities. And so began her journey with Miss Amazing.

Miss Amazing is an internationally-known nonprofit that was founded in 2007 that helps women and girls with disabilities find confidence, build friendships and be supported by a community. 

To date, the international Miss Amazing has worked with nearly 1,500 women and girls. 

Reardon said she was introduced to the Miss Amazing organization in 2024 during her freshman orientation. She was immediately drawn to the women at the Miss Amazing booth and decided to volunteer in the organization’s annual event. Immediately, her excitement and love for the program was noticed by the organization’s leadership at the time. 

“Ashley first volunteered with us in 2024, and her passion was clear from day one,” Caroline Pederson, the first state director of the Georgia chapter, said. “She jumped in wholeheartedly, showing real compassion and excitement for supporting our girls.”

Pederson also said Reardon attended one of the monthly meetings the executive board hosted, which led to more involvement. 

“We welcomed her in, and the rest is history,” Pederson said. 

As the current president, with her term expiring 2027, Reardon is responsible for planning the Miss Amazing annual event, recruiting event volunteers, communicating with participant parents and promoting the organization on campus.

Contrary to popular belief, Miss Amazing is not a beauty pageant, Reardon said. The event, which is at the heart of the organization, is a two-day celebration of women’s character and identity. The women, who are invited by Reardon and other Miss Amazing board members, spend a weekend on the GC campus attending workshops to learn about talents, to hear guest speakers and to prepare for the evening showcase that features an interview, formal attire and group dance. 

As the chapter president, Reardon oversees every detail that comes in and out of the annual Miss Amazing event, which works with around 20 participants annually. 

“People see the crowns and the dresses,” Reardon said, “but they don’t see the ramp-building, the accessibility planning and the 30 volunteers steaming gowns in the back. It’s a massive amount of work — but it’s the happiest work I’ve ever done.”

For Reardon, the responsibility has been transformative and life-changing. She said she has learned how to balance a leadership role on top of an already heavy nursing curriculum, develop communication skills and advocate confidently and effectively for participants and volunteers. 

“It pushed me outside my comfort zone,” she said, “but it made me a better leader — and a better future nurse.” 

And her dedication to the organization has not gone unnoticed. 

“Ashley stepped into the role of President this past August and she’s taken off with her ideas and excitement,” Savoie Srodulski, the current state director of Miss Amazing, said. “She’s helped lead meetings, brought new fundraising ideas and worked hard to spread the word about GAMA on campus. Watching her growth has been amazing.”

Over the next year and half as president, Reardon, who is expected to graduate from GC in 2027, said she hopes to expand Miss Amazing’s volunteer base on the GC campus as well as across the Southeast Region. Additionally, she has plans to bring new speakers, host new workshops and get the word out about the incredible impact the organization has on its participants. 

Reardon’s motivation is simple. She said, “I want every participant to leave feeling celebrated, loved and proud of who they are.”