Post Miss USA 2011

                           One thing is for certain, time does not stand still.  After my incredible 4 weeks in NYC and Las Vegas for Miss USA, I returned home and immediately got ready to travel to my next adventure, a Mizzou Study Abroad to The Netherlands, Belgium, and France. I spent a month studying for my Senior Capstone course, Developing the Dynamics of Democracy. Not only did I learn a lot--it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.

                   Upon my return in August it was Back-to-School time! As I have traveled around the state this year speaking to schools, one of my main focus areas has been the importance of education and learning. I participated in Chi Omega recruitment and rush activities on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia.  Our main philanthropic fund raiser supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It is such a great organization to be involved in & Chi Omega has done amazing work through the Make-A-Wish Foundation partnership.  We were able to grant three wishes in the Columbia area; one in particular to an adorable little boy named Luke who wanted to go on a dream vacation to Disney World:)

I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to go back to Joplin, MO. Several months after the May 22 tornado which killed 160 and injured hundreds more, I went back to do what I could to continue the rebuilding effort there. I joined the group of almost 700 volunteers, led by my friend, Dr. Neil Riley and the Columbia Rotarians, picking up debris as the clean up goes on. The pride of the whole state and country is represented in Joplin where massive improvements have been made since I was there with Farouk Shami (owner of CHI products) in late May handing out beauty supplies to shop owners who had lost everything.  Since that horrible natural disaster, there have been over 47,000 volunteers in Joplin and even though much progress has been made, more work is needed. I urge everyone to go there and volunteer to finish the clean up and rebuilding. It is an amazing journey and amazing people. I am so proud to be a Missourian.

                    On September 2, I traveled to Kansas City where I had my VanBros and Associates photo shoot for the Miss Missouri USA 2012 program book. It is always wonderful to work with Will Patterson, photographer, and Lisa Proctor, make up artist, and the rest of my support team. Of course, I made a stop by Sassy Chic where the amazing Ashley Litton and Danielle Bounds selected cocktail dresses for me to wear in the shoot. I am so lucky to have such wonderful sponsors and friends.  Even when my reign as Miss Missouri USA is over, I will always shop for my dresses at Sassy Chic :)

It was also great to work with Allyce King Swimwear, meet Allyce, and model her fantastic swimwear! I love her glamorous designs and my amazing director, John, had selected jewelry and accessories to go with each swimsuit.  

 

I have so much to be thankful for as I think about my year as Miss Missouri USA 2011 & time at Miss USA 2011 and I look forward to finding out what the future has in store for me:)

Miss USA 2011

It is so surreal that Miss USA 2011 is over. Throughout my reign I have been busy traveling, making appearances, and preparing for the national pageant. Now that I am home from a three week whirlwind in New York City and Vegas-- all I can do is look back on the incredible experience that I was fortunate to have.

Arriving in Las Vegas wearing my Miss Missouri sash three weeks ago I had no idea how Miss USA 2011 would completely change my life. Each and every single day was filled with a photoshoot, an appearance at a pool or restaurant, an event with one of our amazing sponsors, a charity event, dinner party, or night club appearance. All of that combined with rehearsals made for one busy trip that went by way too fast.

Upon arrival and registration, we immediately had our high fashion photoshoot with the world famous photographer, Fadil Berisha. All of the photos turned out gorgeous and fierce!

The Miss USA pageant has a long history of partnering with the Best Buddies Organization and we had so much fun getting to meet some of the kids in Las Vegas. My lil buddy Terrill showed us all some dance moves and dress tips :) I think all of the contestants agreed that this day was one of the most special events we got to take part in.

 We went up in the Paris Eiffel Tower for a magnificent view of the city and all got to sport our Chinese Laundry wedges :)

The Red Carpet Welcome event really kicked off the competition when we all got to officially introduce ourselves to the public and crowds of Las Vegas.

Another amazing event involved long time sponsors, OPI. The contestants got to reveal the new 2011 Miss Universe Collection at OPI's unveiling ceremony. I got to sparkle in "Crown me, Already".

Prelim Competition got me in to the top 16 for finals airing live on NBC June 19th

I am proud to say that I made top 16 semifinals in the 2011 Miss USA pageant. I was even more proud when I found out that the public viewers voted me #4 during the swimsuit compeition :)

I owe it all to my amazing friends and family (who by the way were the largest cheering section in the entire theater) who have been supporting me this entire year. As the winner was being announced all I could hear was the loud "M I Z - Z O U" chant that brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. I love you guys.

Even more important than all of the amazing events and appearances I got to experience in Vegas, I made some of the best friends I could ever ask for. These incredible women and I share a bond that is unlike any other... we are the 2011 Class of Miss USA and I know that some of our friendships will last a lifetime.

I am moving on to the next chapter of my life soon and I know I wouldn't be half the woman I am today without having experienced Miss USA 2011. The people I have met, knowledge I have gained, and experiences I have taken part in mean the absolute world to me. I am truly blessed.

Forever and always your Miss Missouri USA 2011

Joplin

I entered the 2011 Miss Missouri USA pageant off of a whim to say the least and I never could have forseen or imagined how much winning the title would have changed my life.

I have been working as an intern in the Governor's Office in the state Capitol and traveling around Missouri at least a couple times a week. I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunities of meeting incredible people and attending all sorts of events. Visiting children in schools and hospitals in addition to attending charity events and appearances have been the most humbling experiences of my life.

Throughout this process, I have been preparing for the 2011 Miss USA pageant. I always knew I wanted to do my best to make Missouri proud, but I never could pin point the exact personal reason that I wanted to be Miss USA. That all changed after my visit to Joplin with founder and owner of Farouk and Chi products, Farouk Shami.

Mr. Shami actually got his start in Joplin, where he attended beauty school in the mid 1960's. After hearing about the tragic devastation, Farouk got to Joplin as soon as possible to begin handing out personal hygiene products to victims in addition to thousands of dollars worth of supplies to local beauty salons to help them get back on their feet. I have never seen someone as genuinely compassionate as Mr. Shami... he truly has a love for helping others and does so with such an incredible spirit.

Miss Missouri USA has been a wonderful and exciting experience, but it wasn't until I got to go to Joplin with someone representing the Miss USA pageant, Farouk Shami, that I realized it was something so much more. Farouk wanted to give to these people and brought something so basic such as shampoo and conditioner. He went there, talked to the victims, made residents feel like the rest of the United States truly cared. I was able to be a part of that, and what I realized was that this is what Miss USA is really all about in so many ways.

I think I have always been a compassionate person, but I feel like I have really been able to connect with people and that others respond to me because I care so much about them. Wearing a sparkly hat and sash puts me in the position to help on a larger scale than I have been able to do before. I would be so honored to do that as Miss USA and would be honored to represent the United States in the Miss Universe Pageant and bring the title home to the USA.

NYC MEDIA TOUR :)

I can honestly say that the Miss USA 2011 New York City Media Tour was one of the best trips of my life. I got to meet all of the wonderful and beautiful contestants in addition to touring around the city, appearing on national television, and helping out with the USO.

Thank you so much, MUO, for giving me such an incredible experience.

Tune in to the 2011 Miss USA pageant broadcast live on NBC Sunday, June 19th!!!!



To kick off the media tour, I had the most amazing opportunity to attend the Jimmy Fallon Show with Miss Kansas USA, Miss New York USA, and the beautiful Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih :)





We got to tour around NYC and Times Square on a giant tour bus!

 We were fortunate enough to meet the incredible Mr. Donald Trump at Trump Tower :)

 We got to go on the Regis & Kelly Show, the Today Show, AND Fox & Friends!!!!

 The 2011 Miss USA contestants welcomed sailors off of the USS Iwo Jima to kick off Fleet Week!

We also had the opportunity to help build bikes with the USO. We built 40 bikes that will be donated to military children who have a parent deployed overseas.

Send-Off Party & Benefit

Thank you to my wonderful family, friends, and community for throwing me the most incredible Send Off Party & Benefit that I could have ever imagined. Your continued support has meant the world to me. With live music, good food, great friends & family, you all really gave me a night to remember. I will always be thankful :)