Today we’d like to introduce you to Tisha Savage.
Hi Tisha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a disabled entrepreneur, healthcare reform advocate, and the CEO + Founder of Revolutionary Pageants and the nonprofit Crowns for Change, road blocks in my path are something more common than night. Living with chronic illness, I have transformed pain into purpose by building an inclusive community focused on advocacy, accessibility, and breaking barriers in the beauty and fashion industries. My policy work has helped influence healthcare reform legislation and national conversations surrounding copay accumulators, patient protections, and removing the “luxury” label placed on life-saving medication. I currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee however I am born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. Hosting events still all across the Sunshine State. I am bringing Revolutionary back to my Floridian roots this October 25th for our Southeast Preliminary Pageant that will take place in Orlando, Florida at my old stomping grounds of the now Autograph Collection, Castle Hotel just minutes from Universal Studios.
I have been recognized Internationally as a creative and earning Best Rookie Director/Producer at the Global Beauty Awards last year. This year, our chronically ill and diverse community earned 55+ nominations and 7 wins, proving representation matters. From hosting adaptive fashion shows at NYFW to leading a powerful protest for accessibility rights when a wheelchair user was excluded, we continue to challenge industries to evolve, proving advocacy is more than a platform, it is a revolution. My graphic design work has supported brands and talent including Miss USA, Midland, Florida Georgia Line, ABC’s The Bachelorette, the NFL, Jake Owen, Chris Lane, and DJ Q45 of YMCMB.
Unlike many traditional pageant systems in the United States, Revolutionary was built on the belief that a title should be a tool for impact, not simply a crown for a shelf. Our National-level events combine competition, advocacy, leadership development, volunteerism, and real-world opportunities into one experience. Delegates have access to advocacy initiatives, legislative engagement, nonprofit partnerships, fashion opportunities, titleholder development, and community service projects that extend far beyond pageant weekend. We proudly welcome individuals of all backgrounds, abilities, genders, body types, nationalities, and life experiences, creating one of the most inclusive platforms in the industry. Whether competing in-person, virtually, or participating through our Crowns for Change Advocate Program, every participant has the opportunity to create meaningful change while building a legacy that lasts long after the final crowning moment. At Revolutionary, we don’t just crown winners, we develop changemakers, advocates, and future leaders. My struggles thus far as led me to the community I have built today. Providing a platform for individuals to share their passion for the causes they care most about.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have used my personal experiences with disability, chronic illness, and healthcare inequity to create real and lasting change within both the healthcare and advocacy communities. Through Revolutionary Pageants and Crowns for Change, I have transformed what is traditionally seen as a superficial industry into a purpose-driven platform centered around inclusion, accessibility, service, and advocacy. My vision extends far beyond pageantry as I actively work toward transitioning these organizations into nonprofit initiatives focused on supporting the chronic illness and disability community through grants, resources, advocacy programs, and policy reform efforts. Not to mention the pandemic really taking a toll on live music and events which was where my entire focus was. The road to get here has been filled with challenges and they continue on a weekly basis as I find myself trying to pivot and overcome hardships each week.
Because it has been such a hard road, I have become a strong voice in healthcare reform, actively participating in policy discussions and legislative advocacy surrounding issues such as step therapy reform, copay accumulator bans, and prescription accessibility. I support legislation such as the HELP Copays Act, which would require insurers to count financial assistance toward patient deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums while also closing loopholes that allow life-saving medications to be classified as “non-essential.” My long-term vision includes helping remove the “luxury” label often associated with life-saving medications and fighting for a future where access to treatment is treated as a human right rather than a privilege. I continue to openly state that this mission is bigger than myself and I am willing to dedicate the intellectual property and foundation I have built toward creating lasting systemic impact through crowdfunding, grants, partnerships, and nonprofit growth.
Beyond healthcare policy, I plan to continue to make a major difference in the disability community by creating safe, inclusive spaces within the fashion, modeling, and pageant industries. Industries where disabled individuals are often excluded or overlooked. Through partnerships with adaptive brands, accessible events, and advocacy-focused programming, we have helped individuals with disabilities feel represented, empowered, and valued. The impact of this work is powerful because representation changes perception: it challenges societal norms, breaks barriers, and proves that disability does not diminish beauty, leadership, talent, or worth. By combining advocacy, healthcare reform, inclusion, and visibility into one movement, we are able to help reshape multiple industries while giving people hope, dignity, and a place where they truly belong.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have used my lived experience with permanent bone damage, delayed access to treatment, and barriers within the healthcare system to become a powerful voice for healthcare reform and patient advocacy at both the state and federal level. Over the past year, I have traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and participated in several Chronic Disease Hill Days with organizations such as the National Psoriasis Foundation, Tennessee Hemophilia Foundation and NAMI Tennessee, sharing firsthand testimony about how step therapy, copay accumulator programs, and insurance barriers directly impacted my health and quality of life.
One of my most impactful accomplishments was helping advocate for Tennessee’s FAIR Rx Act (SB 2040/HB 1959), legislation focused on addressing conflicts of interest within the pharmaceutical and PBM industry. Through meetings with legislators including Reeves, Akbari, Jones, Behn, Johnson, Blackburn, Powell, and Oliver, I shared deeply personal stories about lifesaving medications being withheld, copays not counting toward deductibles, and spending years on waiting lists while my condition worsened. I believe it has been my ability to humanize these issues that has helped educate lawmakers and contributed to meaningful conversations that influenced support for reform.
I mentioned earlier that I continue to advocate for the Safe Step Act, Help Copays Act, and broader healthcare reform efforts centered around step therapy protections and equitable access to treatment. I aim to consistently use my voice not only to fight for myself, but to ensure others living with chronic illnesses and disabilities do not have to endure the same preventable suffering I have experienced.
When it comes to the Pageant industry, my story is pretty unique when it comes to my willingness to completely challenge the traditional standards of the industries themselves. I have been on a mission to rebuild them through the lens of inclusion, advocacy, accessibility, and purpose. Through Revolutionary Pageants and Crowns for Change, I have been able to create one of the first systems to actively include MX titles for Non-Binary individuals in a mainstream setting while also advocating for major industry platforms, such as Pageant Planet, to expand their categories and representation options beyond outdated gender norms. Our system rejects many of the exclusionary standards commonly found in traditional pageantry, such as requirements surrounding marital status, gender identity, or able-bodied participation.
My work demonstrates intersectionality by intentionally creating space for individuals of all genders, ages, backgrounds, abilities, and lived experiences to feel seen and valued. Our competitions are open to participants over the age of five and include divisions that challenge ageism while emphasizing advocacy, volunteerism, service hours, leadership, and impact over superficial beauty standards. I strongly believe that a person’s disability, gender identity, or background does not define their ability to be a leader, advocate, or role model.
With my commitment to accessibility extending beyond words into action. During New York Fashion Week this past fall, when a promised wheelchair ramp was unavailable, Revolutionary + Savage Models stood in solidarity and walked the floor alongside their wheelchair-using model rather than leaving anyone behind. Moments like this reflect our leadership and unwavering belief in unity, dignity, and inclusion for all.
By standing against long-standing industry norms and “big wig” expectations, we have helped pave the way for greater representation for men, Non-Binary individuals, people with disabilities, and underrepresented communities within pageantry. Our work has already earned International recognition, including Best National Prize Package with Pageant Planet and our Male Titleholder Aaron Lloyd winning the first ever MR award of Best in Formal Wear, while continuing to push the industry toward a more compassionate and inclusive future.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up as a Florida native, I was always the creative kid. At just five years old, I was already fascinated by technology, teaching myself on an old DOS computer with the classic green-and-black screen. That curiosity never left. By high school, I was fortunate enough to use one of the first Apple MacBooks for our yearbook program, and our school became the first to produce a completely full-color yearbook. I had the opportunity to design the cover and work alongside an incredible team to create every page. Looking back, it was one of the first glimpses into the career that would eventually become my passion in graphic design, photography, branding, and creative storytelling. I was awarded that year by Congressman John Mica the Congressional Art Award in Saint Augustine, Florida.
Despite every stereotype, I wasn’t a cheerleader, I was proudly a band geek. I played the alto saxophone for more than eight years and immersed myself in marching band, jazz band, and symphonic band. Music, photography, art, and creativity were where I felt most at home. High school often felt divided by cliques, but I made a conscious effort to never limit myself to just one group. I had a close-knit circle of friends who were all unique in their own ways, while also supporting students across every activity and organization. Somehow, that balance led to me being voted Homecoming Queen, a reminder that authenticity connects people more than fitting into any one label ever could.
At sixteen, I entered my first pageant through the Miss America Organization system before finding my true home with Florida United States Pageants under the leadership of Pam Bolter. It was the first time I experienced what a pageant with a purpose could truly be, and that philosophy has shaped every chapter of my life since. Long before advocacy became woven into my career, volunteering was simply who I was. I was raised to believe that if you had the ability to help someone, you did. That mindset came from my grandfather, Ken, who constantly gave back to his neighborhood and community without expecting recognition. He showed me that service wasn’t something you did for attention. It was simply the right thing to do. I represented Miss Teen Saint Augustine, Miss Palm Beach and eventually Ms Florida United States!
Another guiding influence has always been Audrey Hepburn, whose words continue to ground me: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” If I’m being honest, I’ve spent much of my life using both hands to help everyone else. Living with chronic illness has taught me that serving others also requires taking care of yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and learning to extend the same compassion to myself has become one of my greatest life lessons.
Personality-wise, I’ve always embodied that classic Leo spirit. Outgoing, optimistic, communicative, fiercely loyal, and endlessly creative. I dream big, sometimes bigger than what’s considered realistic. My imagination was fueled by icons like Stan Lee and the worlds he created through Marvel, proving that incredible ideas often begin with someone willing to imagine what others cannot yet see. I’ve never been afraid to think differently or challenge the status quo. Today, that same imagination drives Revolutionary Pageants, Crowns for Change, healthcare reform initiatives, and the mission to remove the luxury tag from life-saving medication. The vision has never been the obstacle. I’ve always known where I wanted to go. The challenge has simply been finding the funding and resources to build something that’s far bigger than myself. But if there’s one thing my younger self taught me, it’s that impossible dreams are often just unfinished plans waiting for the right opportunity.
Pricing:
- Revolutionary Pageants entry fees start as low as $300 up to a full experience with high quality Regalia up to $2,200.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://revolutionarypageants.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revolutionarypageants
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revolutionarypageants/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tisha-savage/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/misstishamarie
