By Renee Larr

Angel Starks needs the help of her fellow Fishers residents. She is competing in a nationwide contest for Jet Set Magazine. Ms. Jet Set 2016 is a contest open to any women looking to make a difference in the world.

“The Jet Set Magazine contest started in May. The main focus of the competition is to be able to give back and be the face of the B+ Foundation, which helps families of children that have cancer,” Starks said. “So, you’ll go out after this and be the spokesperson for the foundation.”

The competition is open until August. Every few days, votes are tallied and those with the lowest votes are eliminated. Starks has to market herself to potential voters and keep them voting each day. Winners are determined from each state and then an overall winner is chosen.

Ms. Jet Set also is featured on the cover of the magazine and receives a $100,000 grand prize. Starks has definite plans for that money.

“I wanted to be a part of the competition because I used to be a foster parent. I adopted my two girls that I was fostering. I ended up giving up fostering, but I still want to give back to kiddos,” she said. “I still want to be able to do something that will make an impact on children. I decided I’m going to open a guardian home. I think that would be a great gift for me to give back to the kids in our city.”

The home would serve as a temporary housing community for children being removed from their homes and placed into foster care. Starks said she feels it’s damaging to a child’s self-esteem to sit through the process of being turned down by foster families. Her guardian home would prevent children from being present while a home is being found.

She also would like to use the money to take her sister on a vacation.

“My niece passed away on May 13 in a car accident. It was a tragedy to our family. My sister really needs to be with her family. My gift to her would be a break,” she said. “I’m definitely taking her on some trip. She’s never been anywhere. That’s because she has been so invested in her four children ever since she had them.”

Starks is an author, radio show host and a stand-up comedian. Her radio show, “The Angel Starks Show,” is broadcast on ampsradio.com and is an open forum for people to share ideas. Her book is titled “The Undercover Businesswoman: Don’t Let the Lipstick and Pearls Fool You.” She said the book makes it clear women do not have to choose between being beautiful and a smart businesswoman.

To vote visit, jetsetmag.com/model-search.