top of page
Fit for a King
Words: Michelle Wallace IG @my.michelle.w
Photography: Sergey Yusin @sergey_yusin
Wardrobe: Jaxson Maximus @jaxsonmaximus
Make-up: Julia Brig @juliabrigmia
style | June 01, 2021
Ms Royalty International Contestant
Shines Light on the
“Shadow Pandemic”
The Creative. May 07, 2021
Jo-Anne Bowie Alvarez tackles intimate partner abuse through education and advocacy
As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, Miss Royalty International Contestant Jo-Anne Bowie Alvarez reminds us that Covid-19 has shown that we’re not always safe in our homes. The global pandemic has created what the United Nations has coined the “Shadow Pandemic,” with results of a recent global survey revealing how the pandemic has exacerbated the problem of domestic and sexual assault.
At the age of seventeen, Bowie was sexually assaulted and abused by an acquaintance. A year later, she again fell victim to partner abuse when an enraged ex-boyfriend cracked her rib and choked her as she tried fleeing in her car. During those times, Bowie says, she was unaware of the resources available for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, so her only recourse was to move to another state.
“People ask why women stay with abusive partners,” Bowie reminds us, “but often, this comes from a place of misunderstanding. The issue of domestic violence is complex and takes a psychological toll on its victims. You feel helpless and ashamed. You’re not always thinking clearly. Many times you don’t see a way out.” Adding to this complexity,
Bowie says, many victims have nowhere to go during this global pandemic. “But there’s
hope,” she says. “There are people working round the clock to help victims of domestic
violence, to get them shelter, resources, and counseling.”
Prior to the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 10 million individuals were victims of domestic violence each year, with one in four women and one in seven men experiencing physical violence by their partners during their lifetimes and an astounding one in three women and one in six men experiencing some
type of sexual violence. Prior to the pandemic, advocacy and education programs had
influenced the rates of intimate partner violence with incidences declining in recent years by over 60%, but amidst Covid-19, we’re now seeing spikes in domestic violence across the globe.
“It’s disheartening to see violence increasing during the pandemic,” says Bowie. “We must do more to ensure children, women, and men of all backgrounds find safety, love, and comfort in their homes and their relationships, especially as the pandemic
continues.” Bowie has traveled extensively speaking out against violence. As a contestant for Miss Royalty International, she’s built social media platforms designed to advocate for victims of domestic abuse. “When someone is experiencing an abusive relationship, it’s important they realize that it’s not their fault and that local and national resources can help create a plan for safety.” Today, Bowie is happily married and has undergone therapy to heal, but “healing is a process that takes many years,” she says. She encourages individuals to seek help through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at https://www.thehotline.org/ or
1-800-799-SAFE (7233). The hotline also staffs a 24/7 chat function.
“It’s disheartening to see violence increasing during the pandemic,” says Bowie. “We must do more to ensure children, women, and men of all backgrounds find safety, love, and comfort in their homes and their relationships, especially as the pandemic
continues.” Bowie has traveled extensively speaking out against violence. As a contestant for Miss Royalty International, she’s built social media platforms designed to advocate for victims of domestic abuse. “When someone is experiencing an abusive relationship, it’s important they realize that it’s not their fault and that local and national resources can help create a plan for safety.” Today, Bowie is happily married and has undergone therapy to heal, but “healing is a process that takes many years,” she says. She encourages individuals to seek help through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at https://www.thehotline.org/ or
1-800-799-SAFE (7233). The hotline also staffs a 24/7 chat function.
Bowie enjoys giving back to the community and telling her story helps her heal too. Join her on May 12th at the Marseilles Hotel from 6pm at the Market Event where she will share with you how to be a helpful citizen in the community. Bowie will also be sharing resources to anyone who has or knows of someone who is being bullied or abused. She will also be giving resources to anyone who knows of a child/children who have gone through immigration trauma.
For more information, visit http://www.missroyaltyinternational.com
bottom of page