It’s hard to believe that it was just one week ago that I was given the honor of representing our state as Miss Washington 2008. Every day since has been busy, and every moment has been a joy.
The first and most daunting task of the week was hurriedly choosing my talent selection for the Miss America pageant which will be broadcast live January 24th on TLC. I think that God played a tremendous role in the selection process. Long story, but the end result is that I couldn’t be happier about the piece that I am playing and all of the excitement that will come with it! I am so grateful and so fortunate to have the assistance of Dr. Merilyn Jacobson as I prepare to play piano on the Miss America stage.
One day was spent filming clips for the TLC reality series that will be aired on Friday nights, December-January leading up to the Miss America pageant. Thank you, Charlie for allowing us to borrow your beautiful home for the filming, and thanks to Jeremy, our videographer for being patient and laughing with me (hopefully not at me) as I attempted to remember the lines.
Peggy and I enjoyed a day trip to Seattle where I was exposed to the wonders of MAC. I never knew there could be so many tools (aka brushes) involved with makeup, and although when I left I thought I knew what each of their intended uses was, I am once again stumped.
Friday I had a chance to visit my friends at Weddings with Joy in Olympia (http://www.weddingswithjoy.com/) before embarking on an eventful road-trip with Mike and Peggy to Eastern Washington. Thank you, Angela for being generous enough to provide all of my evening gowns and cocktail dresses for the weekend trip to Tri-Cities!
We spent the weekend in Kennewick for the Miss Tri-Cities pageant. Thank you to Dot Stewart who helped make my first pageant as Miss Washington more luxurious than I could have ever imagined. It was so great to see several of the 2008 Miss Washington contestants again one week after our incredible adventure together! I had the privilege of sharing a dressing room with Kristin Cox, Miss Tri-Cities 2007 for the duration of the show. I am so grateful for that time – Kristin I admire you with all my heart and I am so thankful for our friendship. I hope everyone will join me in sending Kristin our greatest support as she prepares to compete nationally at the Miss America Sweetheart pageant this September.
One of the highlights of the week was stopping during the trip to eat in Union Gap at Miners. Although my high school and college baseball teams have been ranting about these burgers for years, nothing could have truly prepared me for the surreal size of my deluxe burger. I am not at all ashamed to say that I ate the whole thing… along with my chocolate-banana milkshake. When I left I felt like my name should have gone up on a wall or something, but it didn’t.
Speaking of really good food, Mike, Peggy and I also had the pleasure of attending the judge’s dinner just before the Miss Tri-Cities pageant. They sure had their work cut out for them. The Miss Tri-Cities contestants were an outstanding group of young women. Congratulations to our new Miss Tri-Cities, Kyna Harris – Welcome to the Class of 2009!
I want to end now by saying THANK YOU to all of those who have supported, loved, and encouraged me throughout my journey to the Miss Washington stage. I am fortunate to have family, friends, and a wonderful community that have always believed in me and my abilities. I think confidence is contagious, and I am so grateful to have had positive and encouraging relationships like these my entire life. I am looking forward to sharing all of the wonderful experiences this year has in store with all of you!
With Ben Preslee Klein - Elvis Tribute Artist and entertainer at the Miss Tri-Cities Pageant!
Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen - Tori Knight!
Kristin Cox - Miss Tri-Cities 2007
With Roy and Noreen Skagen at the post-pageant celebration!
