Outside of her modelling career, Brooks Koepka's wife, Jena Sims is also philanthrophist and is known for her charitable work towards inclusivity. She recently attended a charity event organized by non-profit, 'Best Buddies in Palm Beach'.
The organization works towards the "inclusive living" of disabled people. The gala was held at the Kravis Center for Performing Arts in Palm Beach County, Florida and had initially aimed to raise $400,000. However, Jena Sims shared in her Instagram post that the gala ended up raising $472,000.
Sims also shared some pictures from the night captioning the post, "Inclusion Rocks" with guitar and a yo sign emojis. She sported a black dress, matching heels and a messy bun as she posed with her fans and other attendees. From the carousel post, it appeared that the gala also included an auction, an elaborate dinner and a dance floor.
The SI model has been an advocate for "children facing challenges" through her non-profit 'Pageant of Hope' that she founded in 2005.
"Every single participant leaves a winner"- Jena Sims on her non-profit 'Pageant of Hope'
Being a model, Jena Sims, is no stranger to pageants and she used that experience to create one of the most inclusive pageants in the world, especially created for children and teenagers facing challenges.
She spoke to SI Swimsuit about what prompted her to start this initiative during a photoshoot in Mexico and she said that the feeling of "rejection" was a big aspect behind it.
"I did pageants myself, and it freaking sucks losing a pageant. Rejection is so real. So I wanted to create the most inclusive pageant in the world,"
She further added:
"Every single person, every single participant leaves a winner in the Pageant of Hope. We work with kids, teens, boys and girls with disabilities and terminal illnesses."
The 35-year-old started 'Pageant of Hope' as a way to give back to the community and according to her website, this initiative has travelled to several countries already including Australia, Cuba, Nassau, Ukraine, Gautemala among others. It has also been to 17 states in the US.
'Pageant of Hope' is a branch of Has-Been Beauty Queens (HBBQs), a non-profit consisting of Jena Sims and fellow former pageant winners. Together they work towards cultivating a feeling of self-love among children as well as making them feel empowered and confident. The non-profit has a very unique way of doing this.
"We do a little mini makeover. We paint their nails, do their hair, do makeup, but the big transformation is when they walk across the stage," she said.
Sims further talked about how special these moments are for the children.
"You see them come in and they’re so shy and then they walk across our stage and they’re practicing all their poses and they start waving to the crowd and working with the crowd and taking all these pictures. Then we have the coronation at the very end. (When we) place that crown on their heads, they light up," she said.
The social media personality often receives letter from participating children and their parents. She talked about the positive impact 'Pageant of Hope' can have on children.
"I know that (the positive impacts are) definitely everlasting. I think because I am so much more than my outer beauty, I (wanted) to create this pageant where we celebrate inner beauty and not just have one winner," Sims said.
SI Swimsuit had even included her work through 'Pageant of Hope' in her rookie reveal video.