Gig Harbor resident Danielle DeMott is making an impact here in Gig Harbor. Danielle, who works in the escrow department at Fidelity National Title and is also a model, is living a life dedicated to community service, being involved with nonprofits and raising money for various causes. “Anything I can do to help everyone I can,” she says. Danielle is doing this, and more, through her title as Ms. West Coast.
Though Danielle began her journey in pageantry at age 2, in 2018 she decided to participate in her first adult pageant, which would give her a voice to help other victims who are going through the same abuse she survived (narcissist/sociopath/psychopath abuse). She decided to reach out to her friend, Marlena Martin, who is the founder of the Women of Achievement pageant system, and made the commitment to compete. That year Danielle was crowned Ms. Elite Southern California 2018, which led her to connect with Terri Dingle, founder, and Christy-Anne Lopez, director and pageant coach, of Regency International Pageant system. Danielle was crowned Ms. West Coast 2019—and today she is proud to announce that she was crowned for a second reign as Ms. West Coast 2020.
Danielle’s pageant system is not based on outside appearance but on a beautiful heart/beautiful soul, intelligence, community service, elegance, poise, personality and philanthropy. It is these categories that the women are judged.
Along with the title of Ms. West Coast comes a lot of work. As Danielle says, “The title is a full-time job and brings a lot of responsibility.” Danielle’s role as Ms. West Coast is to empower and act as a role model for other women both young and adult, act as an advocate for humanitarian issues and be an ambassador and voice to affect positive change in the community.
Her platform as Ms. West Coast is Narcissist/Sociopath/Psychopath Awareness & Support. This is very personal subject for her, as she was in a truly unhealthy and traumatic relationship. “The pain, confusion and darkness almost forced me to take my own life. I was alone and lost everything I worked for my entire life,” says Danielle. “I’m blessed and grateful that I’m here today and able to talk about it because statistically victims of this abuse aren’t able to hold on. We as survivors are each other’s shoulder, because we are the only ones that know exactly the confusion and pain of what we go through. No family, friend or therapist can help—only us.”
To help support others who have experienced—or are currently in—similar situations, Danielle created a worldwide Facebook page (Narcissist/Sociopath/Psychopath Awareness & Support) to help other victims. “I literally get private messages sporadically throughout day/night from people that need help. And I answer each message myself, no matter what time it is.”
Born and raised in Southern California, Danielle moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she lived for more than a decade. She relocated to Gig Harbor in July of 2018.
Danielle shares that she became a single mother when her daughter was just 6 months old and raised her on her own ever since. “Today she is 23, married and just moved to Wyoming,” Danielle says proudly. “She and her hubby just bought their first house where they are living with their three rescue dogs.”
Danielle says she is blessed to call Gig Harbor home, where she lives with her boyfriend and his little boy. “I love this small town. This community feels like family. It’s safe, quiet, with a lot of local events. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever lived, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”
In her spare time, Danielle enjoys participating in adult co-ed kickball. She’s a fan of trivia, enjoys a good glass of wine, shopping the local farmers markets and creating woodwork projects in her wood shop. She is a nature lover and enjoys hiking and kayaking. Danielle is an avid sports fan too, and you’ll find her cheering from the stands at Tacoma Rainiers, Seattle Sounders and Seahawks games. Other areas of interest include fashion, painting, art, comedy shows, live music, laser tag and bowling (at Ocean5) and breathing in the fresh air on the back of her boyfriend’s motorcycle.
Danielle considers herself a very feminine woman but proves that she is much more than a pageant queen. She excels at many things many would deem “masculine.” From welding, flipping shingles on roofs, framing houses, landscaping and more, Danielle is not afraid to get her hands dirty.
“I’m most passionate about bringing and leaving love, light and kindness into every footstep I take,” says Danielle. “Smiling is contagious, and I’d like to spread that kindness with everyone.”
Her good works are not going unnoticed. Just recently she accepted the nomination for 2020 Woman of the Year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Danielle is making a difference not only in the Gig Harbor community but across the nation. Her willingness to give of herself to help others is a reflection of the light that shines from within and is spread to those around her.