Meet Janae McIntosh, Miss Nevada Teen USA, a sophomore at the University of Oregon who’s also the social butterfly and creative genius behind the social events for Delta Gamma. As the Director of Social Events, Janae orchestrates everything from chapter events to mixers with fraternities and sororities across campus. Her current project? A campus-wide pageant involving all the fraternities, appropriately named Mr. PHC.

Janae’s journey into event planning is both fascinating and inspiring. She recently shared her experiences in an interview, shedding light on how she discovered her passion and the exciting path that led her to where she is today.

“I was lucky enough to be recruited into pageantry, which was insane! I even had a straight shot into the preliminary round, which was a total blast.” Janae begins. Her entrance into pageantry was unexpected. “I didn’t really know much about the system beforehand, so I was super lucky in the preliminary. But I found that I really liked it because I have a stage presence and like to perform. I have a competitive edge to me, so I thought that was fun to compete with other girls.”

Competing in pageants introduced Janae to a whole new world. “From the preliminary, which is kinda like our local title, I went to state. I didn’t even know the USA system or that I had to go to state after winning my local title. I was so nervous during state because there were so many girls who were way more qualified than I was. I couldn’t even sit while waiting for my interview. I just kept pacing around the casino.”

Despite her nerves, Janae’s determination and talent shone through. “I did the interview, and it was super fun and very quick. I didn’t think I did very well on it, and a lot of things happened during state that made me think ‘this is crazy’ — like my earring fell out. But I was able to win, which was amazing. I thought to myself, ‘OMG, I’m actually pretty good at this!’”

Winning the state title opened numerous doors for Janae. “I got to meet a lot of amazing girls and have amazing opportunities. I’m now able to model for catalogs, prom dresses, and Monster Energy even reached out to me through the pageantry system.”

Although Janae considers herself “retired” from pageantry for now, she’s already planning a comeback. “I’ll be back into it when I’m 23, running for Ms. Nevada USA, which is the older division. And I can’t wait!”

Pageantry also connected Janae with an event planner who became a significant mentor. “I met an event planner through pageantry who needed an assistant. We grew really close, and I consider her one of my big sisters. She helped me a lot through pageants and gave me jobs in her event planning business. I loved how she conducted herself through events and how organized she was.”

Janae’s mentor, an event planner in Vegas, inspired her to bring that level of entertainment to Oregon. “Vegas events are insanely huge and crazy but so fun. I wanted to bring that here to Oregon. Being the Director of Social Events for Delta Gamma has been one of the coolest things I’ve done! I’ve loved every minute of it and learned so much about event planning and, honestly, about myself as a leader. It’s been such a blast creating amazing memories for my sisters and seeing everyone have so much fun.”

Janae McIntosh is more than just a student and a sorority member; she is a testament to the power of passion and determination. Her journey from pageantry to event planning showcases her drive to excel and create memorable experiences for others. As she continues to grow and pursue her dreams, there’s no doubt that Janae will continue to leave her mark on every event she touches.