AUGUSTA, Ga. ()– You could call it a pageant with a purpose: Miss Mission USA.

This newcomer in the field of pageants focuses on celebrating women whose goal is to improve the lives of others. Organizers look for the most exceptional women around the country to represent their culture, their country, and their advocacy.

And this year, Miss Mission Georgia is from right here in the CSRA.

Abigail Mongillo is a 21-year-old young woman from Martinez. She is the eldest of 8 children… 5 of whom were adopted privately and through foster care. She talks with Jennie before heading to the national competition in Orlando, Florida.

Mongillo is using her platform to advocate for foster care and adoption. She is passionate about connecting children with the right families.

She says a national adoption organization, Adoption-Share, has revolutionized the process.

“Waiting families can fill out a very extensive form and then these social workers are also filling that out for the child. And the social workers say ‘this person matches everything’ on this extensive list. We work with the creators at eHarmony to create this. So it’s a very extensive matching program and it has honestly revolutionized it. We’ve had so many adoptions happen from this program. It was that little puzzle piece that was missing.”

Watch the clip above for the full story!