CELINE PENCE
Celine Pence is a New Jersey resident with a lifelong passion for helping her community. She graduated cum laude and from the Honors College of the University of Missouri in 2019 with a Bachelor of Journalism and minor in Business. While in college, Celine had several internships and positions as a producer, reporter, and anchor at companies such as Newsy, KOMU-TV (NBC), Upbeat Productions, and FOX 29 News. She also worked as a red-carpet reporter in London, interviewing celebrities such as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, James Cordon, Karen Gillan, Daisy Ridley, Simon Pegg, Anya-Taylor Joy, and more.
While working as a reporter, Celine constantly found herself drawn toward pitching and covering a wide variety of health and medical stories. Then, when interviewing a physician for a story regarding opioid use and suicide, she had a realization: she wanted to be on the other side of the camera. She wanted to be the one directly treating and helping others with their health-related issues. Celine shadowed a wide variety of physicians and worked as a medical receptionist before making the decision to go back to school. She recently completed her pre-health post-baccalaureate at Rutgers University, and is currently applying to medical schools while working as a patient coordinator at a physical therapy office.
Celine first began competing in pageants at the age of seven as a way to gain confidence. In 2007, after winning the National American Miss Jr. Pre-Teen title, she began her mission "Smile with Celine." She collected toothbrushes and toothpaste in her community and was able to make over 100 hygiene bags which were donated to a local shelter for distribution to the homeless. With the help of her dentist, Celine put together a presentation and coloring activities, and visited pre-schools to talk to children about the importance of dental care.
Today, Celine is passionate about mental health and suicide prevention awareness. She is a trained crisis counselor for the Crisis Text Line and a field advocate for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She has fundraised, donated, and walked in support of suicide awareness for the ASFP's Out of the Darkness Walk. Ultimately, Celine would love to see major changes in mental health initiatives, and her goal is to one day work with legislators to incorporate mental health training and screenings in schools.
In her free time, Celine enjoys singing, writing, spending time at the Jersey Shore, exploring new areas of New Jersey, working out, and spending time with her family and two cats.
