Miss America 2011!!!!

One January 11^th, I headed to Las Vegas Nevada for what would be one of the highlights of my year as MIOT. I was going to attend and perform at the Miss America Pageant!! I was bursting with excitement when my family and I were driving to our hotel from the airport and saw the massive billboard with the picture of Miss America 2010, Caressa Cameron on it! The first night we were there was the first night of the preliminary competition. To actually see the Miss America stage for the first time in person was a feeling I cannot begin to express! Forty-three of the Outstanding Teen titleholders came to Vegas for the pageant. It was so wonderful to see them all again! Unfortunately my roommate Maggie, Miss Tennessee Outstanding Teen, could not make it; so that was a bummer. The national directors and our host, Miss Nevada Outstanding Teen, had some very fun events planned for the Teen contestants while we were in Vegas.

On the second day of the prelim competition, we rehearsed all day in preparation to perform the fitness routine that we were taught at nationals in Florida! I will never forget the first time we all set foot to rehearse on the Miss America stage that was sparking with glitter. That night we performed “Our Time to Shine” for thousands of people and the energy that we got from that performance was incredible!

The next day was our fun day that Miss Nevada OT, Angela Foremaster, planned for us. We first went to the dolphin exhibit at the Mirage Hotel where we got to take pictures in the water with the dolphins! Afterwards, we toured the Siegfried and Roy Secret Garden that was full of different wild cats like lions, tigers, and cheetahs.

My favorite part of the day is when we went to the St. Rose San Martin Hospital. There we were given a presentation on the Children’s Miracle Network and their partnership with the Miss America Organization. We listened to the stories of local people who have been impacted by the efforts of CMN and Jeanette Morelan, MAOT 2010, gave a speech on how CMN has helped her little brother with crones disease as well as how it has impacted her whole family. Hearing these testimonials made me realize that the work all of us Outstanding Teens do and the money we raise for CMN is truly making a big difference in others lives. These accounts reminded me that you never know what curve balls life may throw your way, and thank the Lord for an amazing program like the Children’s Miracle Network to help us through those times. After visiting the hospital we made our way to the fabulous Las Vegas sign where we took tons of pictures and concluded our eventful day in time for the last night of prelims.

The following day was the reopening of the DSW Shoe Parade, which hadn’t been a part of the pageant since it was based in Atlantic City. We were able to spend time with the Miss America contestants who dressed up as a representation of their states! Miss Idaho dressed as the “Gems of Idaho”. Each Teen contestant was paired up with a former Miss America for the parade and got to walk with them. My former Miss America was none other than Heather French, Miss America 2000! She was such a joy to get to know and is now one of my favorite Miss Americas. The parade took place at the Arc of Triumph at the Paris Hotel and was a definite hit! It was so cool to be a part of the comeback of the parade!

Saturday, the day we had all been waiting for had finally come. It was finals night at Miss America and the crowd was PACKED! The energy in the auditorium went to a whole new level as the contestants were broadcast live on ABC.

Kylie Kofoed, our beautiful Miss Idaho 2010, did splendidly in every event of the competition! She is a genuine gem of Idaho and I am so proud of her for everything she has accomplished!

In the end, Miss Nebraska, Teresa Scanlan was crowned Miss America 2011!!!! At only 17 years of age, Teresa has wisdom, talent, and grace well beyond her age. I couldn’t be happier for this incredible young woman. She was the first Miss America I saw crowned in person, and I am certain she won’t be the last!

The entire trip was so much fun and I probably won’t believe that I was actually a part of it for a long while.

Thank you to my family who took the time to come and enjoy this amazing opportunity with me, to Miss Nevada Outstanding Teen for arranging a fun-filled day for me and all the teen contestants, and to all the Miss America Organization and sponsors for making dreams come true every year.

Your Friend,

Katy