It takes amazing strength of character to turn your own bad experiences into something that can help others. At just 17 years old, Miss Pacific Coast Teen Peyton Marchie is doing exactly that with her community service initiative, The Purple Path to Safety: Advocacy and Awareness for Children Overcoming Abuse.
Get to Know Miss Pacific Coast Teen Peyton Marchie
A student at Aberdeen High School, Peyton says it was her step-mother who got her interested in pageantry. “My stepmom competed in pageants when she was younger and asked if it was something I would be interested in,” she says. “I ended up falling in love with the program!”
She competed in her first program as a sophomore about three years ago. In her first year, she says she received the Living Your Platform Award and, in her second year, she was runner-up. When she went to state as an open titleholder, she won the Most Improved Award. “I truly feel like going to state that year was one of the main reasons I was able to win this year,” Peyton says.
When she won the title she had been after, she says the feeling was surreal. “When I won, I felt all over the place,” she describes. “I was so happy, but I was also crying, and I forgot where to walk and what to do. I had so much anxiety because this was something I really wanted, and I had worked really hard to get to where I am now.”
Peyton plans on attending Central Washington University in the fall and is undecided on what she will major in. “I’m really excited about starting this next chapter,” she says.
Helping Grays Harbor Children With Purple Care Kits
Peyton says she has dealt with domestic abuse for most of her life. “For a long time, I never felt comfortable sharing my story,” she shares. “I went through a lot while trying to heal, and I’m finally at a place where I feel ready to share what happened to me and encourage both kids and adults to speak up.”
Sharing her story with others and finding a way to support those going through what she did, especially children and teens, was the catalyst for her Miss Pacific Coast Teen community service initiative, The Purple Path to Safety: Advocacy and Awareness for Children Overcoming Abuse.
One of the primary ways she is serving the community is through Purple Care Kits, which are distributed to children when they are entering domestic violence shelters, being picked up during domestic violence calls, or being transported for forensic testing. The kits are designed to provide comfort, care, and dignity during an incredibly difficult moment.
Each kit is tailored to the child’s age:
- Teen Kits: universal phone chargers, hygiene items, snacks, gel pens, journals, and a blanket.
- Kids Kits: blankets, stuffed animals, coloring books, crayons, stickers, snacks, and tissues.
- Infant Kits: baby blankets, hats, socks, wipes, pacifiers, teething toys, crinkle books, puffs, yogurt melts, thermometers, and baby nail clippers.
“My stepmom originally came up with the idea for the care kits, and we bought the first batch of supplies out of pocket,” says Peyton. “It quickly became something that local shelters really loved, and we want to make it something that continues long-term. We just ordered another round of supplies using the donations we recently received.”
Another facet of her initiative is self-defense classes at Grays Harbor Grappling Academy, which her dad owns. A marine veteran and a BJJ black belt, he taught the first class. “I chose to include self-defense because it’s important for women to know how to protect themselves in situations where they could potentially get hurt, whether that’s in a domestic abuse situation or out in public,” explains Peyton.
The classes also act as a fundraiser. All donations for the classes support the Purple Care Kits.
Finally, she bravely shares her own story at schools in the area. “It has been so much fun getting to speak with students and present to them,” says Peyton. “I’ve seen how my story has made an impact on some of these kids, which makes me really happy knowing they are taking what I’m sharing and advocating for themselves.”
Her talks include discussing red flags in relationships and resources available to children and teens. If your school would like to have her, reach out to her via email at marchiepeyton@gmail.com.
Peyton plans on continuing to create Purple Care Kits and speaking at schools even when her term as Miss Pacific Coast Teen is over. “This past month of service has been amazing, and this project means a lot to me,” she shares. “Since I’ll be leaving for college soon, I’m exploring ways to make the care kits and outreach more sustainable while I focus on school. I’m really hopeful I’ll be able to find a way to keep it going.”
You can help by donating via venmo, @misspacificcoastteen, or shopping her Amazon Wish List.
