A Weekend at Fred Meyers!

This weekend, Kylie and I got to promote the Fred Meyers' Sidewalk Sale and raffle in Garden City. We also promoted the Miss Idaho Organization while greeting people and signing autographs. It was very enjoyable to talk to the public in a very informal and everyday setting. I believe that you can learn something from every person you meet. This is the perfect year to take advantage of the surplus amounts of different people with much wisdom that God is putting before me to learn from.

There were many activities going on at Fred Meyers this weekend. We had the fun opportunity to be interviewed on live radio on 94.9 The River!

There was a small Corvette happening in the parking lot with some absolutely gorgeous cars!!

I am definitely a Fred Meyers fan, so spending two days at one was no hardship for me! Being gluten-free, they have a large health foods selection loaded with all sorts gluten-free goodies!

Miss Western Idaho

On the 15th of July, the Miss Western Idaho and Miss West River Valley Pageant took place in Weiser. I was really looking forward to coming to this pageant becausethis would be my first performance at a local pageant. I was very pleased with how accommodating and friendly the people were who ran the Western Idaho program. Whenever I see these volunteer board members for Miss Idaho, I am just in awe of their unending work and how much they sacrifice for the young women in the program. They put in their time and efforts because they genuinely care about us and believe in everything that the Miss America Organization does, as do those of us who participate and support it. These are remarkable people that we can trust to help guide and encourage us, not only throughout our year of service, but also throughout the rest of our lives. My year is still only in its beginning stages and I can already tell you that I am and always will be grateful for my directors and the warm and welcoming hearts on the Miss Idaho Board of Directors.

Miss Western Idaho 2010, Carley Campo crowned

Elizabeth Richins

of Weiser with the new 2011 title. She performed a fantastic piano piece and her platform is "Music Matters." Chelacie Fife of Fruitland was crowned Miss West River Valley by Jessica Richardson. Chelacie did an amazing contemporary dance that she choreographed herself! She happens to be one of my friends that I used to dance with, so when she won I was extremely excited! Both of the girls who won are very talented and deserving of their titles. It is espeacially neat to me that when two titles are given at a pageant, the bond that the two

titleholders have becomes a very strong friendship and makes the whole experience even more special. I can't wait to see the growth of their friendship by the time for Miss Idaho next year!

I also got to see one of my friends from the 2010 Miss Idaho Outstanding Teen Pageant! Ashley Shultz is one of the most humble and kind spirited girls I know. Honestly, if there was a definition for "beautiful inside and out" in the dictionary,

I'm pretty sure Ashley's picture would be right beside it. She is now the very first Miss Western Idaho Outstanding Teen!

Your Friend,

Katy Lootens

MIOT 2010

If you or someone you know is between the ages of 13-17 and is interested in being an outstanding teen for your area, log onto www.idahooutstandingteen.com for more information!

The Miss America Outstanding Teen Lottery!!

On Tuesday, July 13th, at three o'clock PM mountain time, it was time for one of the most exciting, yet somewhat stressful parts of pageantry to begin.....choosing my contestant number! Tami, Jaylee, my mom, my cousin Terry, and I met up at the Moxie Java in Boise and got ready for the games to begin. Creating the contestant order for nationals is a whole lot different than it is at state! We sat with my laptop on the Miss America OT website and waited patiently for the screen to change into a chart. After that, certain state names would pop up and that sate's representative/contestant would have 5 minutes to call and say what spot they would like to be in. There is 3 groups to choose from, the red, white, and blue groups, and each has a different schedule of competition during pageant week in Orlando. Before the lottery, I had been thinking for several weeks about what spot would be my ideal position. I preferred the competition order of the white group, and also really like the color white. As the lottery began, we expected to be called pretty early, but as time rolled on, we started to get a little antsy. An hour passed...then two....and finally, at around 5:30 my mom's cell phone rang. Only a few spots remained, but one of them was surprisingly close to my ideal number in the white group. I answered it and was asked my name. After I answered my name, I was stunned out of my mind to hear "Hi Katy, this is Caressa Cameron, MISS AMERICA "!!!!! I was so excited and did't quite know what to say at the time, but I managed to pull myself together and say what spot I would like. Then I got to talk to Miss America's Outstanding Teen, Jeanette Morelan!!! Idaho ended up being one of the last ten to pop up on the screen, which was very different than prior years, where it was one of the first ten! The wait and anticipation was all worth it and I got the spot of

White #6!!!! It was one of the very last spots in the white group, so it was very exciting to get it! We all had a blast and it made me look forward to nationals even more!

Your Friend,

Katy Lootens

MIOT 2010

On the phone with Miss America!!!

Seattle Visit and The Pageant

Last week I took a trip up to Seattle to initially record the rest of my album that will be coming out this fall!!! The week was completely full and I spent it with my Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Joe. The first few days we spent at their cabin on the beach, which was very relaxing. When we got back to their house, it was time to hit the city and start recording hardcore at Diskeyes Productions and Clatter Studios! The music that is on my album is a mixture of Celtic and Classical selections and I am so excited to see and hear the complete product! My aunt Cheryl runs the Mercer Island Children's Choir and has worked in the recording industry for many years as well as been a performer in the Seattle Opera Company! When her and I get together we have a blast working on music, shopping, and going on long refreshing walks, talking about everything.

The timing of the Miss Washington pageant happened to work out perfectly and correspond well with the schedule for the week and I was able to make an appearance there! The day of the pageant, I met a new friend, whose name was also Katy! But it got stranger.... she also goes to an arts school, like me, has one sibling, a brother who is 22, like my brother, and she is 17 years old....like me!! It was quite a coincidence; but the largest difference between us was that she actually lives in London. She was just in Seattle visiting her aunt, who happened to play the violin on my album! That afternoon, Katy, Aunt Cheryl, and myself, went shopping downtown. We went to Bebe, Nordstom, and my ultimate favorite of all time, Betsey Johnson!!! I was first introduced to Betsey by my aunt when I was in the 7th grade and have been addicted to her fun and feminine fashions ever since. I have even gone as far as applying to the actual university that she attended, so maybe her brilliance will rub off on me.

That evening, we went to the pageant and it was quite an exciting event! The crowd was very into what they were spectating. It was, by far, the loudest and most energized audience I had ever been a part of at a pageant! I was also able to meet the contestants of Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen and MWOT herself, Victoria Renard. She was such a sweet girl whom I can't wait to get to know more at nationals! Miss Idaho, Kylie Kofed, did a phenomenal performance that night, as well as the hysterical act of Miss Washington 2009, Devanni Partridge. In the end, The Miss Washington 2010 title went to Miss Greater Vancouver, Jacquie Brown. Congratulations Jacquie!!

I had such a lovely time at the pageant, thank you to the Miss Washington Organization for welcoming Miss Idaho and I to the event.

Your Friend,

Katy Lootens

MIOT 2010

Marsing's Annual 3rd of July Celebration!

When doing mock interviews and trying to establish what it was about Idaho that I valued the most, my hometown

of Marsing is the first thing that pops into my head. Marsing is a small town on the Snake River, known for its rural beauty as well as Lizard Butte and St. Chapell Winery (and of course, our family grocery store, Snake River Mart). These are all special trademarks to be known for, but the most special of all is the people within the community itself. Marsing has always been my home and plays a strong role of who I am today. Although I don't attend school there any longer, it is my safe haven and support group. Growing up, I have become so grateful to live in a town filled with generous and caring individuals and I had the pleasure of giving back to them on the 3rd of July. My wonderful voice teacher, who is basically a grandmother to me, brought her band, Freestyle, to perform at the celebration by the river at The Spot Pizza Parlor stage. The band did around three hours of nonstop great music of all different genres. I was able to sing three songs with the band as well! I sang my talent piece, "The Laughing Song" from the opera Die Fledermaus, "Starry Starry Night", and "Dream On". Many of my family and friends came to watch and support me, as well as my director Tami and her family! I felt very honored but also a little nervous to sing in front of the community that I have grown up with my whole life. It turned out to be quite a thrill and an experience I will hold near and dear forever. This may have been the most special appearance I have made yet because it was my way to say a big thank you to my community, whom I am so proud to represent and support. After the performance, the annual fireworks display done by Big Johns Fireworks and the Marsing Volunteer Fire Department put on a fantastic show, as usual:) Thank you to Susan Watson at The Spot Pizza for putting on this fabulous event, the band Freestyle for being so kind and loving to me.

To all of those who came, I love you all. Thank you Marsing.

Your friend,

Katy Lootens

MIOT 2010