Call of the stage gallery
![five young women in evening wear, some with sashes, wave from a stage](https://utahstatemagazine.usu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CalloftheStage-webopener.jpg)
Each year, contestants take the stage to share their points of view and celebrate their cultures at Utah State University competitions. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put many of those events on hold in 2020 and 2021. This spring, contestants in the Miss USU competition were able to compete in a modified format to reduce the risk of infection. Some contestants used the opportunity to disclose difficult experiences they have endured and called for random acts of kindness. Ultimately, it was a pitch to share our stories that won the crown.