Moving From Pain to Purpose with Justice Enlow

Greetings Kings and Queens! Guess what? I have a new series on this blog. Go figure! Well I have been wanting to start this series for quite sometime because I believe it is important to talk about the struggles pageant girls go through on and off the stage especially with regards to their health. I too know what is like to suffer in silence with a painful, debilitating disease, but I made it my mission to use my story to live a life of purpose instead of being a victim to pain.

Related content: From Natural Suffering to Divine Healing: My Endometriosis Story

The first post in this series profile’s Justice Enlow, and her story will show us it is possible to move from pain to purpose regardless of circumstances.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a 24-year-old Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) graduate from Los Angeles. I live with my family in the suburbs where I work as the Director of Media and Marketing for my parent’s Christian based non-profit organization. A few years ago I started experiencing severe symptoms due to my endometriosis, and finally this year I was able to have a life-changing operation. Now in remission, I spend a lot of my free time helping other women find their diagnosis through social media and volunteering with the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound).

 

Describe your pageant experience and share any titles you have won.

I started competing in pageants when I was 21 to fulfill a secret childhood dream of walking across a stage in a beautiful gown. After my first pageant (a MAO local), I was hooked! I competed in one more MAO local pageant when I felt a call to compete in the USA system. I know that might sound strange, but I truly believe God had the idea of me competing in USA because He knew how much I would love the experience and be forever impacted by the organization. After competing at Miss California USA in the winter of 2016, I decided I was going to get serious about this new-found dream of being Miss California USA. The following summer I competed for the title of Miss Greater Inland Empire USA, my first USA local, and won! In last year’s Miss California USA competition I was a semi-finalist. I have been working my butt off since then so I believe this is my year! I will take the crown or not.



 

When were you diagnosed with endometriosis?

I was officially diagnosed with endometriosis in March of 2018 during my life-changing excision surgery. I had been facing symptoms that ranged from annoying to critical for around 10 years. Things became much more serious around two years ago when I began having horrible flare-ups and ruptured cysts on every cycle. At this point, no doctor even suggested endometriosis so I spent several months researching and finally diagnosing myself with endometriosis. That diagnosis was confirmed when I underwent my March laparoscopy, and my doctor discovered that I had been facing stage V endo.

Did the disease affect your ability to compete in pageants? If so, how?

 Before winning my first title of Miss Greater Inland Empire USA, I had been preparing to compete for another local title. After completing my interview, I began experiencing intense abdominal pain and feeling very faint. I tried to rally myself to overcome the pain and even made it onto the stage to introduce myself, but as soon as I stepped off stage, I collapsed and had to be hospitalized for three days. Even during those three days, endometriosis was never suggested as a possible culprit. At last year’s Miss California USA competition, I had a large cyst on my ovary that was causing me a lot of pain. Between areas of competition, I was living on my heating pad.

 

Even though endometriosis may have a negative effect on a female’s physical, mental, or emotional health, what are some things you do to incorporate positivity into your life?

I am a firm believer that there is always something positive to be found even in the darkest situations. For me, my relationship with God has been vital in remaining hopeful while facing this disease. God causes all things to work together for our good, so when I face a low day, I remember His promise. Endo is not something I would have chosen for my life, but God has used it to instill in me a compassionate heart, a strong sense of justice, and a desire to help other women who face endometriosis or similar diagnoses. I don’t believe God gave me endo, but He is using it to enrich my life with a community of strong warriors who I otherwise would never have known.

 

How are you able to move past the pain into living a life of purpose?

 I believe that everyone faces serious pain in their life. For some it is physical and for others it is emotional. It seems to be an unavoidable aspect of human existence. The one thing we do all have control over is what we allow that pain to do in us. Will we allow it to drown us, or will we use it to fuel love in our hearts? For me, I found a huge part of my purpose in my pain. I am so passionate about helping women find freedom in their lives, and my experiences with endometriosis have enabled me to truly understand pain in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise known. Pain can either produce bitterness or compassion. Compassion produces love, and love produces peace. I think we all have an ultimate calling to peace.

 

Are you currently spreading awareness of this disease? If so, how?

 I have been using my social media platforms as a way to help educate men and women on endo. I recently published a video telling my excision surgery story. That video caused many women of different ages and walks of life to reach out and ask for help. It is a beautiful reward for all that I have faced being able to help connect another woman to a doctor who will take their pain seriously! I also recently began volunteering with EndoFound as an educator. I will be visiting schools to help educate young people on endometriosis in hopes of getting earlier diagnoses for women in my community.

 

What is the biggest piece of advice you can give someone who is suffering in silence with this disease?

 If you are suffering, it is SO imperative to find a community of people who will validate what you are going through while encouraging you to move forward. I found that on Instagram through the many endometriosis support pages that exist. I wept when I found the first endo Instagram page because I felt like my pain was understood for the first time. It is easy to be hard on yourself when you don’t know what is “normal” for your disease. I was constantly beating myself up for not being a “better friend”, more reliable, and for not pushing myself harder. My endo sisters helped me realize that I was thriving even when I felt useless.

 

How can readers keep up with you? Please provide your social media handles.

I have an Instagram and Youtube channel dedicated to social justice, overcoming endo, fashion, music, lifestyle, and social justice. In order to follow me on Instagram, head over to @justicehopeenlow. My Youtube channel is called Local Justice and is listed under my name, Justice Enlow.