Jennifer Lynn Robinson’s path to Mrs. Classic Universe began when she was hit by a truck 14 years ago in an international competition to honor over 40 beautiful women.
Triple A Mid-Atlantic trial attorney Robinson fell to the ground in May 2008 while en route to a routine doctor’s appointment. “I tried to get up, but I couldn’t,” said Robinson.
Robinson suffered several fractures to his face, eight broken ribs, and a collapsed lung. Her left eye was bleeding and she lost her peripheral vision. She tore her Achilles tendon. Robinson said she spent a week in the intensive care unit at the University of Pennsylvania and received physical, cognitive, and speech therapy for over a year. she lost her balance. She suffered a mild traumatic brain injury.
Six months after the accident, Robinson returned to part-time work, but never returned to court.
in 2011 Robinson started his first business as a fundraising and events consultant. Its business has evolved into purposeful networking, teaching business professionals and corporate leaders how to be socially attractive. After three years, she decided to try public speaking. She’s landed hundreds of corporate gigs and gave a virtual Ted X talk at the University of Arkansas at Monticello in 2020.
In 2021, she decided to join the Mrs. Classic Universe pageant. she won
Linda Samuels, executive director of the Arizona-based Classic Universe franchise, said: “She looked at herself and she didn’t think, ‘I don’t have what I need.'”
These days, Robinson is a regular on Philadelphia’s red carpets and swanky style parties. We chatted over lunch recently, discussing survival, life’s unexpected pivots, and Robinson’s pageant meltdown.
Answer edited for clarity.
Why would a woman who has never entered a beauty pageant want to enter a beauty pageant in her 40s?
i will be 50 years old. Participating in this beauty pageant traditionally appealed to her not only to celebrate young, skinny women with 5-foot-10 blonde hair.
what was your platform?
Help people with invisible injuries. After I healed physically, my brain damage went unnoticed by people, and they said things like, “You look fine.” Can not? ”
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How was it far away from your element?
We knew evening dresses and resort wear would be part of the pageant. But when I got there, there were a lot of women who obviously had a lot of pageant experience. I stopped on the spot. But I got this revelation: quitting is not who I am.
Wait, were you a pageant girl without a walk?
I had a walking coach. When I practiced, she would tell me, “Pull your shoulders back, stick your chest out and look confident. Smile. You forgot to smile. I put it all together.”
What are your thoughts on the swimsuit competition?
We had a choice of swimwear or resort wear. I was the only contestant who chose not to wear a swimsuit.I didn’t feel comfortable wearing just a swimsuit and high heels on stage.. I wore this really short Lily (Pulitzer) caftan. All the other women wore bikinis and thongs and were oiled. I wonder what these judges think of me?
What did you learn from this experience?
A life-changing situation made me believe in myself again.
do you feel beautiful?
everytime.
Is that crown heavy?
I like the weight of the crown.
What’s the best perk?
My family always jokes that I’m a diva, a queen, an extra. Now everyone has a reason to call me Queen and treat me like one.
Would you encourage other women over the age of 40 to compete?
yes. I learned a lot about myself. And I know this: whatever your boundaries are, there’s always a way to get past them. What can we all do to challenge our boundaries?
