Happy New Year!!
It is almost February so I figured it was about time that I updated you on what my life as Miss South Dakota has been like.I am going to break it into a few segments since I have so much to share!
After I was able to spending some time with my family at Thanksgiving I jumped right back into work. I was able to help judge a local Miner County Snow Queen pageant where I had a wonderful day meeting young ladies, watching and judging a separate talent competition, and enjoying the show. The next morning my mother and I were off to my Miss America talent costume fitting and dress fitting once again in Minnesota. Sending praises to Satin Stitches for a beautiful costume that was well beyond my expectations. The final product is outstandingly stunning!
Once I arrived back in South Dakota I headed to Lake Preston where I had the chance to share my message on the dangers of distracted driving with a group of students 7th-12th graders. The school and principal were so very welcoming! Thank you for having me.
Once December rolled around the reality that Miss America was only a few short weeks away really started to become the priority. Working out with my trainer, Pam Stern from Power Shop Gym Brookings, SD, on a regular basis was a must. To anyone the thought that you may have to be on national television an a bathing suit is enough to highly motivate anyone I think! She is a great trainer and for such a long time I was so very scared of lifting heavy weights. I always assumed that they would bulk me up a lot - my muscular legs actually slimmed down to my excitement!
I was planning on heading out to the Hills to Hot Springs to enjoy the "Holiday in the Hills" where there are events that go on and a parade every year that Miss South Dakota participates in. I was not able to attend this year because my family and I flew out to Massachusetts to attend my Grandfather's funeral. We were there for a few short days before we flew back to South Dakota. It was nice to see my family but not under those circumstances.
My mom and I took yet another trip to MN for my dresses. When I got back I visited Hamlin School and talked to the students about my platform. The next day I went to Huron Middle School, where I once attended, to talk with those students. It was funny to see how much smaller the building looked now that I was well over 5 feet :). After I was done talking with the middle school students a family friend escorted me to Holy Trinity School to meet a number of young children! We wanted to tell them about my trunk show coming up so they could see all of my "pretty dresses". This one little boy sticks out in my memory. I walked in and he was at an easel painting (he was only in kindergarten) and looked very shyly at me until I started talking to him. After that, he lite up like a box of fire crackers and searched for anything to say that would really impress me. What he came up with? "I've gots a Spongebob Yogurt". What a cutie, that was the best line he had.
Next, I geared up to showcase all of my wardrobe and my talent for Miss America at my largest trunk show in Huron. Miss South Dakota 2006 Callee Bauman emceed it for me and she did a great job. Not only that but I had some amazing entertainment there. The HS Orchestra, dance team, gymnastics team. It was quite a production. I will not take credit for any of it besides showing up! My mom and a group of wonderful women took time preparing the event for me. We raised ALOT of money which helped me out immensely with my Miss America expenses. I even had the chance to have a "tea party" (which really was cookies and lemonade) with a number of little girls and 1 little boy! It was so much fun!
The following day I spent some time stopping by the Men's Sertoma group in Huron. I gave a presentation for them and told them about the Miss America organization. Thank you for your service to the community.
On my final school visit before Miss America I went back to the other side of the state and visited with Spearfish Middle School (500+ people). It was a beautiful school and it is about as old as me! I couldn't believe it. It looked BRAND new! I had the chance to do a news story done by Austin Hoffman and meet with a group of people about speaking at a very unique program in May of 2011 for high school freshman. I am looking forward to that! That evening my boyfriend's grandmother set up a fundraiser for me at a local restaurant in Spearfish that has just opened called the Bum Steer. I had a great night of signing autographs and meeting people. This one woman I had the chance to talk with for a long while about Miss America, my platform, Tennis, Louis Vuitton, her sister that is an actress in Hollywood, and the Spearfish Chamber gave me her contact information for the future. I was blessed to meet her and I said goodbye to her husband and her as they left for the evening. To my surprise I see her coming up the stairs 20 minutes after they had left with something in her hand- her mother's air loom Louis Vuitton purse! She handed it to me and said "Here, I think you would get more use out of it."! I couldn't believe it. Now I use it all the time and think of her!
The next day I went off to Hot Springs to meet my parents for my second trunk show in Hot Springs. We had a lovely time. Thank you to Lorena Reichart for emceeing it for me. You did a great job! In our free time we visited Mount Rushmore and enjoyed spending some quality time with some of the board members.
During this time I spent numerous hours preparing for talent, swimsuit, and interview with the AMAZING Mitchell Olson. Thank you so much for your help!
Next, I took a very short breather at Christmas where I celebrated with my family.
My final days leading up to the pageant were chaotic and a mad rush to finished what needed to be finish and pack!!!!
Before I sent my things off I had one final trunk show in Brookings. Holly Hoffman came to emcee it and Alex Hoffman entertained.
Feeling pretty good I went for a final interview before I left for Miss America with KSFY on the morning show. It was a blast!
Here is a link to the story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRdxxtBlVWg
I'll be back to tell you about my Miss America experience!
