The Scoop with Tanya Flanagan

Wesley Knight 0:00
This is a KU NB studios original program. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Tanya Flanagan 0:19
Good morning, and thank you for joining me for the scoop with Tanya Flanagan, I'm so happy you decided to wake up and start your day with me here on the scoop, where we talk about life, joy, funny moments, trending topics and so much more. We promise to keep you in the know and find out what you know. So let's get started. You

Tanya Flanagan 0:47
Good morning Las Vegas, and thank you for waking up and tuning in to join me for another edition of the scoop with me. Tanya Flanagan right here on 91.5k U N, V jazz and more. We are saying goodbye to my birthday month, the month of July, and ushering in the month of August, I had a great birthday month. I want to say thank you to all those who, in some way, one way or another, called me, sent a text, made a note on my social media, or maybe even stopped by the summer cool down that we had over at Silver Mesa Recreation Center recently and just shared a little bit of birthday joy with me, as always, on Sunday mornings, I try to bring you an interesting conversation and introduce you to delightful people who live in our great city and make it a better place to to live and to thrive. And this morning, I welcome to the show a beautiful woman, beautiful young lady that I've known for a number of years and always admired, her tenacity, her strength, her perseverance and her energy to continue to climb the ladder and crack the glass ceiling. It's a pleasure to welcome Miss Trina. Marie venezie Shaw, thank

Trina Marie Shaw 1:51
you for having me, Tanya, and when you said in a number of years, it's been two decades. But

Tanya Flanagan 1:56
I try not to tell people I only lie how old I might be, but every so often it's, you look fabulous. You look fabulous. Thank you, folks. I promise you, if you have not seen Trina, Marie is also Mrs. Nevada, which is huge. So today we're going to be talking about the title she wears, her pageantry competitions, her work in the community with junior league, her sorority ties and her affiliations there, and also what she advocates for. And so I'm going to leave a little bit of a teaser and let that slip out a little later in the show, but just

Trina Marie Shaw 2:34
thank you for being here. Thank you for having me. I'm so happy to be here. Thank you.

Tanya Flanagan 2:38
As I mentioned, you are, Mrs. Nevada, and I'd love to hear the story, because I really don't know the story of the journey that brought you into the space where you decided, because we mentioned we've known each other for for about two decades in the past, we've worked on folks. You often hear me sometimes talk about the Las Vegas Urban League young professionals. And so that was one of the spaces in which Trina Marie and I became friends, became acquainted, and I just instantly fell in love with one another. Was an easy bond for us.

Trina Marie Shaw 3:08
Y'all. She also volunteered me what to do. Let's just be real.

Tanya Flanagan 3:14
She's a good worker and so therefore. But what moved you in life that you decided to start competing in

Trina Marie Shaw 3:23
pageants. It's so funny, I get asked that question, and I always say, You know what? In 2012 I remember a director reached out to me and said, Hey, have you ever thought about competing with pageant? And I said, Absolutely not, you know, no, no, ma'am, no, sir, only because I saw it as you know, something you do on stage. And they twirl around, they go back, and I'm like, yeah, no, I want people to really consider me from my mind, right? You know, the world we live in. You pretty, you smart, pick and choose.

Tanya Flanagan 3:49
No, right stereotype there, Sophia, let you can't be both, right and we're both.

Trina Marie Shaw 3:56
Yeah, we're both. It took me about seven years later to realize that, you know what, let me just say yes to it. Because I started, somehow funny how things work out, but I started meeting people who were in a pageant world, and I saw they were advocating for a cause. So that's what caught my attention, gotcha. And I said, people are really serious about this crown and a sash. And I said, You know what, Sure, let me just say yes. Told my husband and or soon to be husband at the time, and he's like, Yeah, you should do it. And I, at that time, really, truly believe, and I still believe to this day, that if you really want to change and you want to grow, do something that you say you will never do, because it'll push you right,

Tanya Flanagan 4:38
it will Yeah, I'd never really had anyone word it or put it to me that way. But that's true, and it goes back to that space where people talk about facing and conquering their fears, getting out of your own way, doing something outside the norm, and finding out you know, you're more strong or stronger or more resilient than you ever thought you were. Yeah. And you know, maybe you've discovered just new things about yourself, and you reinvest, and you reassess your value by doing it, whether, regardless of what the outcome is, right, because a lot of times we don't do stuff out of fear or failure. But it doesn't mean that the first time you try, you're going to be successful, like when everything right, but you win because you evolve, thank you, and you improve. So the win is that evolution? Yes, right?

Trina Marie Shaw 5:29
Yes. So one of my favorite quotes that I say right now is, it's not about perfection, show up, learn, grow, get better every time. That's how you get to perfection. Whatever that means,

Tanya Flanagan 5:40
whatever that is for you. Yeah, right. So you mentioned in the space of pageantry and competing that you notice the women who are advocating or working on a cause. So what cause is it that you want ended up elevating or wanting to elevate, and why.

Trina Marie Shaw 6:01
So I kind of had an idea the first time around, but I really didn't truly know, and it was something that was very personal to me, and most people really didn't know about me or my life before. And so that first year that I competed, I kind of gave my, I want to say, 60% and I did okay. I did okay and so, but the fact that I did pick a platform, which is a mental health and at that time, I didn't have a platform name, right? Because my first year, you really don't know, but I knew I wanted to advocate for mental health. A lot of people don't know that my mom suffered from a mental health illness, and then I found out later in life that her mom did, too. And I was always a fear of mine that I didn't know if I would be able to, you know, if I would suffer for the same type of mental illness. And my mind was kept, so to speak, and I said, You know what? But keeping it inside and not be able to share that story, and seeing other people go through things, and even keeping an aside brought a lot of like, heavy weight, like that burden that it wasn't meant for me to carry on my shoulders. And when I realized that, I started to talk about it, I said, I'm doing this again, but I'm coming for the crown. And my husband, I swear, is the best pageant husband, because he was like, shopping with me, I'll get earrings. He's like, Nah, baby. Bigger earrings, bigger sparkle. And I was like, bigger than this. And I was a girly girl. You know me for years, pageantry is a whole other level. It is. And the one thing I also appreciate about pageantry, not even for the platform, but also taught me to learn how to put myself first, which I feel was hard for most, most women, but it taught me to, you know, care for myself, whether it be skincare, whatever it is, and set schedule you

Tanya Flanagan 7:40
because you have to present, yes, your best self. And in order to be the best product, so to speak, not to speak of it that way, but speak of it that way. To be the best product that you can be, you have to invest in yourself, in yourself, whether it's exercise, you said it's skin, hair, is all of it? Diet, yes, rest, yes,

Trina Marie Shaw 8:05
learning how to say no. So that's the first time I literally started saying I would tell people, hey during this period, I'm gonna say no, I appreciate you inviting me, but I have this goal that I'm trying to accomplish. So imagine we did that when we're trying to accomplish a work goal, personal goal, right? That was my personal goal. So it taught me to say okay, and those that appreciate you and love you, they're gonna say okay and respect your and respect your choice and tell me when the date is, so I can come cheer you on and respect your choice. Because too often I know I'm 100% guilty of it. I try to do all I've learned, I have improved because of the space I currently occupy. But it took me a long time to learn to

Tanya Flanagan 8:47
say no and to because I instead, there I am trying to do everything I have to do and do this right? You want to do everything you normally have to do. I even, I even had to learn to say no to recover from cancer properly, because for a while I wasn't slowing. I still thought I had to go to everything, still, even though I was trying to do cancer treatment.

Trina Marie Shaw 9:10
Oh, and that's real.

Tanya Flanagan 9:12
I did, yeah, I did that. I don't know. Could have been a therapeutic distraction from my condition, what I was going through, but I still had to at stumbling. You

Trina Marie Shaw 9:22
still felt like you had to show up, right? You didn't want to let people down, yeah, and I'm, I know I felt that way many times. I'm sure a lot of people, too can relate to that as well. Is that it's okay to say no, and again, those that love you, those that support you, they'll understand and the and the person, or whoever it is, that doesn't understand, then that kind of understand that kind of makes you realize, is it part of your core values? So pageantry too may help me to also identify what are my core values, and what do I want to advocate for, and what do I want to push, and mental health and even emotional intelligence was something that I wanted to advocate and push and let people know it's okay not to be okay and don't. Keeping aside. And culturally, lot of minorities keep it inside right now, which leads to suicide,

Tanya Flanagan 10:06
it does. And you mentioned talking about it, and the way you it sounded, it was almost as if the more you talked about it, the lighter it became. Began to feel like it was we talked we hear people talk about the testimony like, you have a testimony. Like, sure, there's this, this heaviness that's inside you, but if you were to tell your story, your story is intended to help someone else, hence, the space where you start to occupy the advocacy role. But how long have you been in the pageantry world? Like, how long have you been competing? At this point, you said 2012 right?

Trina Marie Shaw 10:39
So I was asking 2012 I didn't say yes until 2019 and I competed in 2020 Okay, 2020, 21 and then i That was the first year. And then when I said I came back, it was Yeah, covid. And then I came back, it was 21 I said, Okay, I'm coming for the crown. Was 2122 so I wanted 22 and also wanted 24 Thank you. Yes, I'm

Tanya Flanagan 10:58
gonna clap a lot. I want to kill your ears, folks, that I want to clap for Trina Marie, because that's awesome. It's awesome to set your eyes on something and to actually achieve it. But you have even expanded it beyond that, taken it another step further, and in that mental health platform, you have established a nonprofit. I did, oh my gosh, I had a lot of fun researching, even though I see you at a distance. We're in the same room. Sometimes we may even be on the same trip, but it's the things you don't know about the people that you know. So I had fun. So you have established a nonprofit.

Trina Marie Shaw 11:34
Yes, thank you. Like you, I know we connect in the same way that we do things, because it's in our heart, right? Not so much for the glory, so to speak, or whatever. We just do it because we feel like we need to. And so yeah, my nonprofit is called empowered minds achieve. And the one of the first pillars is mental health and emotional intelligence. And that first platform is called sparkle, turning darkness into light. And it's all about eradicating the stigmas. So I actually created, as I was competing, I created a program where I was able to work with youth and adults, but a lot of times youth and I, the first thing I did was I had this game that they will participate in. What they didn't realize is because they had to get so close, meaning they had to invade their three foot rule circle, whatever that circle of space. Rule is that they let the guards down. So now we can actually have very soft, delicate conversations, but genuine conversations of what they were having as a youth and younger, even middle school. I touched Middle School, and so I that the second platform that I have was, it's called Earth, smart, rethinking fashion and as yourself. You know, we love fashion, beauty, all those things, right? I realized that was part of the problem, and that was a challenge, too. I was a co chair for a fashion for program for Junior League of Las Vegas, and the President had asked me at that time, could you co chair? And I was like, because, you know, I was like, trying to take a break, and I said, Can I do what I want? She said, Yeah. I said, Okay, you said I could do what I want. So I literally challenged the schools that I work with, and we had about 240 students that they had to everything that we did, and we got donations. Like, what was a sponsor? Design collective by sentence was a sponsor, but they made repurpose, excuse me, yeah, repurpose cross body bags for the first challenge. And when I tell you, and you know, we have some very critical friends, you know, we aim for perfection. We

Tanya Flanagan 13:31
aim for very we have a very honest circle of Fashion Police, yes, to influence our decision. Yes, yes, yeah. And

Trina Marie Shaw 13:41
when we came, when they came to the actual so at the end, I'm gonna fast forward just a little bit. At the end of the year, I put on a New York style runway show. When I tell you VIP, I mean, we had some amazing, I don't want to go through all the sponsors coming to forget somebody, but from furniture set up for the VIP session. We had about 300 people that showed up. These kids walked down the runway, and they showcased their designs. And our friends, who are very particular, said, you literally could take the clothes and put it onto and hanger. But in that process, from the beginning to the end, one of the things I challenged him to do, which made me force myself to do research as well. Is why sustainability important? Because that we hear about it, but then, as a fashion person who loves fashion, I said, is it actually doable?

Tanya Flanagan 14:27
That's true. That is a key, yes.

Trina Marie Shaw 14:30
But I realized that it is. But more importantly, I found out the environmental impact that literally, in 24 years from now, if we don't change our over consumption, the fashion waste. We'll need seven Earths. We have one planet. We'll need seven to accommodate our over consumption and our waste seven. So when I think of like our nieces and nephews and what,

Tanya Flanagan 14:53
what are we leaving? What are what are we really leaving

Trina Marie Shaw 14:58
them? And are we that selfish? So I had to make a change. So I had to start with the fast fashion and tell me I've had withdrawals. Trust me, because it's easy just to go online and click and order and it's delivered and it's there. Are

Tanya Flanagan 15:09
you about to convict me? Trina, that's the goal. Look. Although I don't shop as much as I used to, I really don't. I really do not. I am able to honestly say maybe something key that's missing, but I don't shop as much as I used to, but this is just super interesting. So this is about me feeling guilt and deflecting, no,

Trina Marie Shaw 15:26
but, but we and I don't want people to feel guilty, but I do want people to feel something. So that's why I called it Earth smart, rethinking fashion, because I just want you to rethink, what is it that you're what is it that you really what we're doing to the environment? Can we still be fabulous? But

Tanya Flanagan 15:42
the beauty is the creativity in it, and the energy you're pouring into young people to discover that they have the minds to craft and to create, and then for people to see it. And I'm going to say, folks, I was trolling your social media, as people often do before they have a conversation sometimes. And I saw some of the fashion, some of the pieces, and a little bit of what was happening in the space on the runway. And I was like, that's cute. There was like a dress that looked like a cocktail dress of a pattern play creation. And it was impressive to see what came out of this, and I could see the glam and the coolness of how the runway was set like it was a real, you know, full on production, but it's really neat, and I love that the investment is in young people in the space of mental health. I have a good friend who does another nonprofit, and hers is more of a responding to families in a particular community in the historic West Las Vegas area. It's beautiful. And one day she said to me, these babies are looking like zombies. And it left me frozen in that there's a lot going on with young people. Oh, and people around them aren't seeing it. Don't get me started. She's dialed in in a different way. So when you mention youth, it was very powerful to me, because I'll never forget her saying this. She said, The babies are like zombies, and people don't see around them how disconnected these children are, and a lot of it, she said, and covid has not helped them. It has. The isolation has exacerbated the circumstances and made

Trina Marie Shaw 17:19
it work. They have a voice, so that's part of my platform too, which I've also included in the pillar of my nonprofit, is that they have a voice. Your our youth have a voice. Everyone has a voice. And I just want to make sure that their voice is heard, whatever that is, and you can't just assume because they're young, they don't know anything. They haven't lived a life. I don't think

Tanya Flanagan 17:41
they're discovering who they are, true, but and there's a conversation that can be had, because you're you're learning things about yourself, and you need to be somewhere comfortable with someone that you can say, hey, here's whatever the issue is as a young girl or a young boy, there's just things there. Life is evolving. Puberty is studying in friendships are developing. Choices are being made, and you need to understand how to

Trina Marie Shaw 18:03
navigate so important those it those whatever happens during that K through 12 dictates what's going to happen for the rest of the life, even before they get to high school. And I knew that I had something that was very powerful when I went to a school. It was a high school and there was a known gang member, and the instructor said, the teacher said he never stays. And I did something like a vision board, but I make it an affirmation board as we talk about things, because I got to keep it life. Life a light and airy. Excuse me, light and airy. And the fact that he stayed until the end of class and even joined in on our like picture at the end said, Okay, this is something that is unique, that is different, but I'm creating a space for them to be able to share, to open up and talk and communicate, but also giving them tools, because that's important too, right? You got to give them the tools and the resources to use to be able to get the help that they need, or help for somebody else that they need,

Tanya Flanagan 18:55
and at the very least, you, I think it's the most basic place of it. You're creating a safe space for a relationship, for a human exchange. Because whether we want to admit it or not, everybody needs someone. It's hard. We're not designed to be here alone. We know the most important principle is love one another, right? It is. And so you need that, and you won't connect with everyone, but that human connection that you're able to make with someone you can trust. And sometimes it can be for a moment in time, right? But you get what you need, the message comes. And then sometimes it can be for a lifetime. And those relationships help us to grow into who we are, to go through our hard days, to enjoy the fun occasions, the celebrations, because you have these different people and relationships, and it just makes a huge difference. We've talked a little bit about your work as a Mrs. Nevada in the pageantry space. We you've heard her tell you a little bit about Junior League and what she's done in that space. You're also a member of Delta, sigma, Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Trina Marie Shaw 20:03
I'm gonna keep you. Keep I'm gonna keep calm. But yes, I am.

Tanya Flanagan 20:07
Keep Calm and I don't know we're gonna be good. We're gonna be coming. We're gonna behave. There we go. Yeah, yes, I love her. And if you cannot tell for our funniness in the studio, folks, we are from different sororities. She is a Delta Sigma Theta woman, and I'm an Alpha Kappa, alpha woman. And we love, love, love each other, despite what you people sometimes think, thank you. There that is. And then that was something else I want to talk about with you, or what you recently were featured at the healing and health conference. I was so your popularity

Trina Marie Shaw 20:47
is just blossoming. Yeah, I was actually on Fox before that. I'm so busy, so I haven't been able to post anything. So I said, after next week, I'll be able to post some things that have happened since the last several months. I'm really, like, three years behind in posting. To be honest with

Tanya Flanagan 21:01
you, I can't keep up with this last weekend. It's a lot I can't keep up. I'm just moving this week. Yes, okay, yeah, I have at least just like you, three posts that are good for me and good for other people that I can't keep up. But speaking of posting, I like to make sure before we get too close to the end of the show, people know how to learn more about you, how to follow, how to engage. Are there volunteer opportunities? Let's show your social media. Let's talk a little bit about website. How do people get to know Trina Marie Mrs. Nevada,

Trina Marie Shaw 21:29
better. So to learn more about myself, Trina Marie Mrs. Nevada, you can go to being like you're being yourself, being Trina Marie. So remember that show being Mary Jane, yeah, so think of being Mary Jane, but being Trina Marie, T, R, I N, A M, A R, i e.com. To learn more about the non profit, you can go to empowered past tense, but empowered minds achieve.org It is a 501 c3, organization. We are definitely looking for volunteers. You can go on the website and find out more information there, or send us a message. Or send us a message. And you can also go to most popular on Instagram, being Trina Marie, or empowered minds achieve so we are on other social platform as well, and it's pretty consistent across the board. If you

Tanya Flanagan 22:18
just go to those two being Trina Marie, that's like for people

Trina Marie Shaw 22:21
to be yourself. It's all about being yourself, whatever that is,

Tanya Flanagan 22:24
to be able to learn more. And I hope that you find the guests who come on the show enlightening and interesting. And if you're looking for a pathway, and it's something that you're interested in engaging in, we talked about the mental health component, but the nonprofit also touches on STEAM and STEM and it is just an all around program designed to give youth and families support that they need, but intentional with a thought process. If fashion is a passion for you, and the idea of repurposing items into fashion, and

Trina Marie Shaw 22:59
there's a lot I found out, there's a lot of people that have that need so that sure if you know, but I have a collaboration right now at the library district, the Las Vegas, Clark County Library District. We're in week four. We have five week sewing program, cool. And a lot of people didn't think, oh, it's free. People are not going to show up. Oh, these they've been showing up every single we're just finishing up our second project, onto the third project, and the Last Day is next Thursday. But as we're teaching the basics of sewing, the goal is to also teach about sustainability, the importance of it. So we our last class was last night, and we talked about thrifting and upcycling.

Tanya Flanagan 23:33
Oh yeah, I don't think I remember that you were had the talent of sewing, so working, so you create. I would, so I would take the challenge of learning with you. I have not done that type of work since I was maybe 13. My mother was an exit to my list. My mother was an excellent seamstress. So much so we talked about fashion earlier in the show. I didn't realize as a child I grew up, it was just second nature. It was common to me. I didn't realize I was living a haute couture life as a child, right? Because when someone's making clothes for you, they are measured for you. They fit you. So beautiful. So I have a short torso. So when you go into the store and buy things off the rack, they're usually made for models who are taller and they have, you know, the longer bodies and the mid smaller waist, or the larger hip, whatever it is, you know. And so I had short torso. And so sometimes the dress, when you have a short torso, dress is pucker in the back, and you're like, what's this extra fabric? Why can't I ever get a dress to just zip up? And it wasn't until I grew up and I realized the reason why I had never really had to deal with it. My mother was making my clothes. A lot

Trina Marie Shaw 24:41
of women, they say that men too. I'm coming to find men too. They want to learn how to hem their own things. Tailor their own things, which is awesome

Tanya Flanagan 24:49
when I see things that are made by folks. There was a colleague up at the state legislature in the last session, she had the most beautiful blouse on this someone had made her it was she was. Have these fabulous blouses that she would wear just and I am fortunate to have found the seamstress, and she does wonderful work.

Trina Marie Shaw 25:08
So actually, for I went to the Beyonce concert on Saturday. That was a cowboy cargo. I was in my skirt. I made myself, Oh, it was a purpose. I repurpose it. I turned a pair of jeans into a tennis skirt. Oh, so I had the pleats and everything at the bottom, that's cute, and then added some red sparkle to add a little bit of red to it. Yeah, that's fun.

Tanya Flanagan 25:30
That's one fun thing I'll say about a Beyonce concert. She inspires people to get so creative. I saw folks in body suits with flags around the bottom as like bolo or wild pant legs, just all kinds of creativity that she just inspires in people and

Trina Marie Shaw 25:50
arts and crafts is part of therapy for mental health. Believe it or not, there's research that, do you support music too? I don't, but I know someone that does, and he's fantastic. He's here in Las Vegas. Donnie Lee,

Tanya Flanagan 26:03
okay, yeah, I remember years ago having a car. I did an article many, many years ago in my days as a reporter, and the woman did music therapy to help people who were having mental Oh, it's so beautiful. It was a method of copious I see with the arts and crafts, the sewing, all that fits into it. So can we look forward to a trunk show

Trina Marie Shaw 26:21
from me? Yes. Oh, I'm not there yet. Oh, but wait, wait, but you can see a design of mines at the Sahara West library actually have a repurposed design there with two other

Tanya Flanagan 26:30
designs. Yes, have to check that out and that part of the city. But or inspire you to have the idea to do a trunk show. Let the kids do

Trina Marie Shaw 26:40
a I do have, I do have a goal of hosting a repurpose or upcycled fashion show, for sure. And I have my location of mine already. I'm not gonna say it out loud right now, but I do have something in mind that I want to plan soon. Yes,

Tanya Flanagan 26:54
well, I'm excited about that. It has been another thing, and I there's so much honestly that we can talk about. I mean, we're down in the last couple minutes of the show. You are also one of the top real estate agents in the valley. Thank you. And a photographer, yes,

Trina Marie Shaw 27:08
I don't shoot that much anymore. I do. I still have the photography business, but I was called or volun told recently by someone, so I just did a photo shoot recently for someone. I'm very special. So hopefully and you'll see those pictures soon, you'll know who the person is when they come out. All

Tanya Flanagan 27:24
right, I'm sure you're out there listening, thinking, what does this woman not do? I mean, I've listed patents, photography, real estate, non profit, Junior League, sorority. This is a woman who is busy, and I say, Thank you for carving out your space in our city and giving back, oh, absolutely right. Because it takes something to respond to the call to action, you know, and it takes recognizing that you have the energy to do it, but then also being focused enough and mature enough to not over extend yourself so that you're actually effective in the spaces. And I hear you saying, Yes, I do this, but I've also cut some things back so that I am effective in the spaces where I am doing the work. So I tip my hat to you for sharing that message yes. Say

Trina Marie Shaw 28:16
yes to the things that serves you right, your your purpose, your passion, and say no to other things, and being okay with it, and being okay if people get upset, because then that lets you know right away, okay that person's not supporting me, right? Because it's easy for us to support people, so we need people to also support us too. Yeah, so I appreciate you supporting

Tanya Flanagan 28:34
me. You're welcome. Thank you for allowing me to be able to do it, folks, thank you once again, for tuning in to the scoop with me. Tanya Flanagan, here on 91.5k U, N, V, we are in August. I will tell you to continue to hydrate. It's been a pleasure to have you here. Trina, everyone. Have a great week, and we will see you next week, same station, same time. I want to thank you for tuning into the scoop with me. Tanya Flanagan, and I want to invite you to get social with me. I'm on Facebook and Twitter. My name is my handle, T, a n, y, A F, l, a n, a G, A N. You can also find me on Instagram at Tanya Alma nice Flanagan, and if you have a thought, an opinion or a suggestion, don't hesitate to shoot me an email to tonya.flanagan@unlv.edu Thanks again for joining in. Stay safe and have a great week. You.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai