Miss Missouri Orientation
Another big weekend in ~Miss Missouri~ land has come and gone and I'm gearing up for the final stretch in my preparations for Miss Missouri 2019. The first weekend in April is special for all in the Miss Missouri family as it marks ORIENTATION.
O R I E N T A T I O N. for the job. of my (literal) dreams!! Being Miss America has been placed on my heart for quite some time now and to finally be put in this position of opportunity and ability is so surreal. I've wanted to compete for Miss Missouri since I was a little girl watching Miss America - now in my third year, I can confidently say that giddy, this-is-not-real-life feeling never goes away.
The Miss Metro St. Louis, River City, Fleur de Lis, and Forest Park sister queens!
For those who don't know, orientation is a day-long event for candidates and local directors to learn about the ins and outs of production, competition, events the week-of and life as Miss Missouri. In years past, orientation has included a "Miss America Serves" component with the national Miss America Organization involving serving in the Mexico community, but this year it consisted of a series of speakers, presentations, introductions, and informational sessions to prepare candidates for Miss Missouri.
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TOP OF THE MORNING TO YA
At the beginning of orientation, all candidates turn in money for their salute pages (aka, the advertisements for the official Miss Missouri program book) and pick up production t-shirts for the show. One of my goals this year was to sell the most salute pages out of any candidate. After sending nearly 412 emails to businesses across Missouri, cold-calling several dozen, and networking on social media, I designed and submitted 16 pages, exceeding my goal. More to come on the many businesses that contributed to my dream -- but y'all I'm so thankful for the many strangers/businesses turned friends and life-long supports who see the potential of Miss America in me.
Next at orientation, we discussed ticket sales, the golf tournament, our hostesses during the week (Hi, Haley!), and production. It's always so fun to hear about everything that will occur during the week and this year, production will feature only former Miss Missouri and Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen titleholders. We even have a former Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen and a former Miss Missouri on our judge’s panel. These are the women that I have aspired to be like and to have them all in Mexico to celebrate this organization gives me goosebumps. I truly CANNOT wait!
Kaycie Hall, Miss Pulaski County, and myself at orientation. I met Kaycie at Katelyn's tea party a few weeks ago!
A selfie with some of my favorite OT contestants - Schyller (Miss Columbia OT), Halie (MY OT!) and Kennedy (Miss Mark Twain OT).
The best part of orientation is meeting the other candidates and reconnecting with old friends. It's the last time that the entire group is together before Miss Missouri. With so many new contestants this year, I enjoyed meeting everyone and learning about their talents and accomplishments.
Miss Missouri is a full-fledged production and Loren Lewis, our producer, and Shelby Ringdahl, Miss Missouri 2013, along with all the production team, work so hard to ensure that the show is beautiful and aligns with one vision, while making each candidate feel confident and strong while onstage. The city of Mexico rallies behind the pageant every year and I'm so grateful for the many volunteers, dorm moms, pages, assistants, coordinators, local directors, sponsors...you name it...that contribute their time, money or talents to making this program fruitful for the young women that partake in it.
My director Mary Ann Owens + myself
The Metro St. Louis, River City, Fleur de Lis + Forest Park family with our fearless leader, Mary Ann!
One such volunteer that puts in a tremendous amount of time, money, and effort into this program is Mary Ann Owens, my local director as Miss Fleur de Lis. This may be a familiar name for some of you --- she was my director last year as well! I've seen firsthand how much a local director and strong local board can shape your Miss America experience and I've been so fortunate to have three local directors (Angie + Kari with the Miss KC crew and Mary Ann) that pour into this program, and poured into me, immensely. Before last year, I didn't wear high high heels, I didn't know how to style my hair and I truly did not believe that I could be Miss Missouri. I was the "road warrior" last year traveling to St. Louis upwards of 3 times a week and this year, I feel just as confident in my preparations for the job of Miss Missouri. I can be Miss Missouri, I know it. and to have a director who pushes me toward my dreams and has been such a steady, challenging force has been so special. to represent this board has been incredible.
Savvy Shields, forever Miss America
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MISS AMERICA. Someone pinch me.
Savvy Shields. Holy. I've never met a Miss America and meeting my first one brought tears to my eyes. Savvy was exactly what I needed to rejuvenate my spirit in this final stretch before Miss Missouri. She discussed social media branding, platform development, and preparing to 'just press play' at the competition, but she also discussed depression from body image struggles, comparison, and handling a long-distance relationship with the pageant life. Her goal: to make each person feel like a Miss America, and wow did she exceed that this weekend.
What I loved most about Savvy is how comfortable she is with who she is, her truths, and her lived experiences. She did the same awkward mannerisms I did, she said her opinion with transparency and confidence, she talked about the "backstage past" vs the "highlight reel" of social media. I felt like we were best friends and she brought out the best in me - the quirky, awkward, silly, dream-chasing me. She is the Miss America I aspire to be and was such a breath of fresh air that I needed in the hustle and bustle of this life.
Selfies with Savvy :-)
Savvy won the title of Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen at the age of 13...and felt a taste in her mouth that people thought she could not do the job and that she wasn't capable. "You don't look like a Miss America," "You're not the same dress size that you were when you won." This struck me so hard -- you don't have any obligation to be the same person you were five years ago or five minutes ago, the words of other people do not define you.
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My GIRL! Savvy makes everyone feel like Miss America .
Savvy's talk was the perfect introduction to the new Miss America competition guidelines. Fundamentally the job of Miss Missouri and Miss America has not changed: she is an advocate, a role model, a voice for her state and country, an empowered woman and an ambassador. This year at Miss Missouri will look a little differently with the extension of the personal interview onstage, the final conversation with the judges and our social impact statements during the red carpet wear competition, but guys, I'm SO excited!! It will be so fun and special to be the first class to get to perform the new competition at Miss America.
I shed tears one other time during orientation and that's when my sweet, sweet friend Katelyn Lewis (our current Miss Missouri) gave her speech about life as Miss Missouri and things she wish she knew. Y'all, Katelyn and I were here LAST YEAR together !! and little did we know, she would become Miss Missouri. I teared up looking at her and saying, "Katelyn, you're Miss Missouri" and she said, "God already know who she is." I know this sounds silly, but seeing someone that I became friends with through this organization become Miss Missouri has made this dream so tangible and possible to me. Literally getting goosebumps talking about it - but my sweet Katelyn, you've done so so well sister. please be my friend forever.
Katelyn was Miss Fleur de Lis last year and I'm Miss Fleur de lis now!
After Katelyn, we rounded out the day with the most anticipated, nerve-wracking part: the contestant lottery. For those who are unfamiliar with this process, this is how candidates select where/when they compete in all facets of the competitions and the order in which they do so. You'll hear lots of things -- there is a strategy, do this, do that, Miss Missouri never wins in that spot, you can't go behind her/before/within 60 contestants of her. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. If you're Miss Missouri, they'll find you, and I prepared for the lottery with a content, peace in my heart that I'm ready to shine where I'm placed.
Because I sold the most salute pages, I had ~first dibs~ on where to go in the line-up. I selected my 'home' for the last two years: Sigma group, which means that I do talent on Wednesday night (the first night of competition), followed by red carpet wear, then on-stage interview...and finals should I have the opportunity to perform again. I'm the last contestant to interview of the entire pageant and I'm the last evening gown Miss contestant and for me -- that's so liberating. I cannot wait to close the show each night.
Orientation gets everyone in all the feels and this year was so special with Savvy Shields joining us. Hearing her speak on the realities of being Miss America makes me want this job that much more. She didn't compete until she was emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually mature enough to take on the job responsibilities associated with the title of Miss State - I am ready for the job and have never felt 1000% confident in saying that until this year.
H squared :-)
I'll leave you with this -- my Jesus Calling book, given to me by my pageant friend Megan Swanson, says this for April 7th:
"I am the Potter; you are MY clay. I designed you before the foundation of the world. I arrange the events of each day to form you into this preconceived pattern. My everlasting Love is at work in every event of your life. On some days your will and Mine flow smoothly together. You tend to feel in control of your life when our wills are in harmony. On other days you feel as if you are swimming upstream, against the current of My purposes. When that happens, stop and seek My face. The opposition you feel may be from Me, or it may be from the evil one. Talk with Me about what you are experiencing. Let My Spirit guide you through the treacherous waters. As you move through the turbulent stream with Me, let circumstances mold you into the one I desire you to be. Say yes to your Potter as you go through this day. "
Let circumstances mold you into the one I desire you to be. I've been turned away from more officer and leadership positions this year than ever before, there is uncertainty and drama in pageant life, and sometimes life is plain hard. but Miss Missouri will be hard. God willing, I'm ready for the hardest, most incredible, job yet.
real me