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Keaton Varden

@keatonvarden

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🌈 Hi, I’m Keaton!
🎤 Street Interviews & Portraits 📸: @keatonvardenphotography
🏙️ Seattle & Everywhere ✈️
💌 Contact me & other links! ⬇️

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The Miss USA pageant saved me.

I know that sounds dramatic, but let me explain.

In the summer before my senior year of undergrad, my sisters took me to Vegas to celebrate my birthday. At the time, I was dealing with a debilitating chronic health condition, and I was still years away from getting a diagnosis and treatment for it. I remember waking up in the hotel room with no motivation to get out of bed. Life felt grey.

As we walked around the strip, I noticed groups of young women wearing sashes. As luck would have it, we just so happened to be in Vegas the same weekend that Miss USA was taking place.

Something about Miss USA sparked a feeling of excitement in me. A feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Immediately after returning from my trip, I signed up for my first Miss USA state pageant. Prep for the pageant gave me something to look forward to. A sentiment I so desperately needed at that time in my life.

A few months later, I placed 2nd runner up in my first pageant ever. Mind you, I had never been to a pageant, or even known anyone who had competed in one. From there, I was dead set on competing at Miss USA one day.

Since then, I’ve been a repeat finalist in Miss DC USA and Miss Washington USA, have won three state titles and one national title in other pageant systems, but my dream to reach the Miss USA stage has remained constant.

Now, I have the chance to finally realize that dream, but I need your help. This year, I’m hoping to represent my home state of Washington at Miss USA, but that depends heavily on public voting. If you want to support me in getting to the Miss USA stage, click the link in my bio to vote. You can vote FOR FREE once per day by scrolling all the way to the right.

I believe God has left this dream in my heart for a reason, and with your support, I believe we can see it through. ✨👑💜

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It's officially the summer season and it's time for a little refresh around here 🌸

Hey, I'm Truc-Quan, flower lover and landscape artist based in Seattle, Washington. I can't believe it's 3.5 years since I moved to Washington from California and what's even wilder is Modern Meliora is almost 6 years old 🥳

I create art to bring more sunshine to Seattle and help people romanticize more of life. My artwork reflects not only the beautiful PNW landscapes and flora but also my own travel experiences navigating life itself. Each piece is a love letter for this beautiful world that we get to live in 💌 🌎

Some facts about me:
🌸 I have an adorable cat named Cleocatra 🐱
🌸 My favorite flowers are hydrangeas
🌸 I always have a blanket in my car for emergency picnics (it has come in handy sooo many times 😅)
🌸 I'm an old soul at heart and love finding vintage treasures
🌸 I love hosting and planning fun party games for my friends and family
🌸 I used to be a competitive swimmer!

If you're new to my art page, drop a comment and say hi!! Thanks for reading this 💞

Special thank you to the photographer behind these beautiful pictures @keatonvarden @keatonvardenphotography. Go check out Keaton's page to see more of his amazing work!

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👋🏽 Hi everyone! If you’re new here, my name is Keaton, and I’m a local Seattle content creator (Main page: @keatonvarden), photographer, hiker, and so much more! 🧡☺️

✨ Just a little bit about me before I start posting all of the lovely pictures that I’m able to capture of people: I moved to Seattle two years ago from Tennessee, and I’m originally adopted from Cambodia! 🇰🇭 I was adopted as a baby, actually given a predicted medical birthday because the orphanage did not have any record of it, and throughout my life, I feel like I’ve had so many different hobbies, interests, and I just get passionate and excited about so many different things that sometimes it’s hard to choose! 🤣🤣🙌🏽 I was a gymnast for four years, calligrapher, tennis player, theater nerd / Thespian president, plant enthusiast, and of course, a photographer! 📸 on my personal page, I focus more on the content creation side of things with Seattle stranger interviews, local things to do, vlogs, and so much more! I’d love for you to check that out as well! @keatonvarden

💌 Shortly after moving to Seattle, I fell in love with my amazing partner, Sean, and every day feels like an adventure with him! 💗 We have four fur babies: one Maine coon, and three black cats: Skoga, Ace, Zero, and Indigo. I love my life, partner, and our little fur family 😭🫶🏽

🏙️ One of my favorite things ever since I moved to Seattle is meeting all sorts of amazing people here, and of course, I love photographing people and making people feel seen, heard, and special! My goal with your session is to not only make lots of memories and have fun, but of course capture beautiful moments with you and provide you with photographs that you will cherish for years to come! Book your session today and I’m already looking forward to it! 📸

#SeattlePhotographer #SeattlePhotography #Seattle #SeattlePortraits #SeattlePortraitPhotographer

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When the sun comes out in Seattle, it changes our mood for sure. ☀️

Waterfront Park fan and friend @keatonvarden met local Gia and she said it perfectly, “when the sun comes out, I feel like everyone as a community comes together more.”

We love having you at the waterfront, Gia. 🙌

Thanks to @keatonvarden for getting to know the many people that come to enjoy this Park!

#SeattleWaterfront #DowntownSeattle #SeattleCommunity

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the meadow is totally named olalla because its giving ~ ooh la la ~ 🌼🪻✨

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We think our Community Connections Committee member Sina (she/her) is onto something here....Sleepless in Seattle 2.0?

We and Waterfront Park fan @keatonvarden caught up with @sinasam_public earlier this year at our firepit social and she said everything we've always wanted to say about living in this city. The sunshine, the sunsets, the Pike Place flowers, the smiles—#Seattle, you really are something special.

Come find out for yourself soon 👉 Waterfront Park, Pier 62, you know where to find us.

#SeattleWaterfront #DowntownSeattle #Seattlecommunity

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Brunch, strolls, and slowly convincing myself to travel less because wow, it actually feels so good to spend more time in the city and hang out with friends. Thank you friends! Love you guys 💚 @keatonvarde @seany_98 #Seattle #PNW #Brunch

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Keaton’s hot take: I’m never home. Honestly… he’s not wrong 😂 But this summer I’m attempting something new: staying in Seattle / Washington for most of the summer. To soak up the PNW and be present with family and friends 🏔️🌲💕 @keatonvarden #Seattle #PNW #Washington #Travel #Staylocal

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PART TWO: Seattle Freeze? R&B artist @pjaye2x said he hasn’t experienced that at all. From Mississippi to Waterfront Park, he’s been signing autographs, taking pictures, and feeling nothing but love. Fellow hip-hop and R&B artist @southpugetmusic said it best: when you carry yourself a certain way, people just approach you.

Drop a 💙 if you feel this way too! Shout-out to our friend and Waterfront Park fan @keatonvarden for getting to know our community through these conversations.

#SeattleWaterfront #DowntownSeattle #HipHopArtists #OverlookWalkSeattle #SeattleConversations

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What does it mean to help build something that becomes part of your community forever?

For @southpugetmusic, it means watching his kids play on Pier 58, a pier he helped build and getting to share the views from Overlook Walk with friends like @pjaye2x, another spot he’s very familiar with.💙

Our friend + Waterfront Park fan @keatonvarden brings another Community Conversations moment. Shout-out to the many construction workers and contributors who made this place possible! 🔩

#SeattleWaterfront #CommunityConversations #Seattle

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💬 SPOTTED our C3 committee member, Sina (she/her) at our firepit social last month ( *ahem* notice the beautiful weather)! She shared a nugget with our friend @keatonvarden that has stuck with us: Diversity and inclusivity in public spaces doesn’t happen by accident—it takes real intentionality to shape a place where everyone feels genuinely welcomed. 🫶🏽

This is how we show up at Friends. Come as you are, this park is yours. 🧡🩷

Thanks for being a part of our community, @sinasam_public!

🎥 @keatonvarden

#SeattleWaterfront #SeattleCommunity #DowntownSeattle #Pier62Seattle

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scenic sea stacks, sea stars, & scared of heights
(say that 3x fast!)

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