Pageant Weekend Wrap

What a GREAT weekend!

As I mentioned here a few weeks ago I was asked to judge a Miss North Carolina preliminary pageant.

It had been a good 15-years since the last time I had judged and golly geez had I forgot about how much I really enjoy it!

This weekend brought back a FLOOD of memories and events I have not thought about in so long!!

All of the pageants I competed in, my close relationships with other girls, pageant directors and all the times I traveled across the state of Arkansas to entertain and make appearances.

AND.. all the time I spent on preparing for competition.

IT WAS A HUGE PART of my life!

One of the board members asked me why I got uninvolved with pageants and I proceeded to tell him that I put them behind me when I started focusing on my career towards the end of college.

I didn't have time for them anymore.

I was working weekends, overnights, you name it.

All in the sake of TV news.

Well, now I do have time.

Of course, there is no desire to compete at all but judging and helping to organize.

Let's move on to the weekend recap.

The competition was split into two days.

The first being a day full of interviews.

We met both the 'Miss' contestants and the 'Outstanding Teen' contestants.

Sent their bios in advance I spent an entire night before preparing specific questions for each of them based on their interests, college majors and platforms.

 Being the news junkie that I am a lot of my questions were current event focused.

For example: 'The recent death of Whitney Houston has brought the prescription drug problem in this country back into the limelight. What do you think should be done to solve it?'

I'm going to be honest.

There was only one contestant who really answered it properly.

 A couple of girls got emotional during their interviews.

I guess it happened last year, but in all my years I've never seen that before.

Maybe when talking about the loss of a parents or friend or something.

But, to break down in tears when talking about how bad you want to win?

Kinda strange.

 After our day of work we were treated to a fabulous dinner at one of Davidson's finest.

Toast.

 I dined on fish.

 And, we all got to catch up and get to know each other.

I met some great people this weekend that I know that I will be in touch with.

That is..

Since, they've already asked me to attend certification to be able to judge other preliminaries around the Carolina's.

 The pageant director Darlene and her daughter are amazing.

So organized and prepared.

They truly take their jobs seriously when it comes to the winners too.

 The competition resumed the next afternoon.

On stage questions, talent, swimsuit and evening gown.

 I was able to sneak a few pictures but unfortunately not enough.

The place was packed.

 I did manage to snap a few pictures backstage though!

Including a few of the crowns!

 And sashes!

 My beautiful friend Amanda.

A big thanks to her for helping reconnect with a part of my past I had forgotten about!

 I was able to snap a few pictures of the 'Miss' winner from last year who was giving up her title.

Gorgeous or what?

 Cute as can be.

 And, the Teen winner from last year who was also turning her title over to another girl.

 I wish I had gotten pictures of this year's winners but I didn't.

The professional there did take a few of us with the winners so maybe one day I'll see them?

They were both amazing!

Instead, you're left with a self portrait of me!

I rarely do it but sent one to my Mom when I was on my way to the finals showing her how I even stepped it up on a Sunday and put on some false eyelashes!

HA!

Such a great weekend!!

I can't wait to do it again!!

Venturing Back into the Pageant World

It's True.

Back in the day I was a 'pageant' girl.

No worries it was no Toddlers and Tiaras type of thing.

I actually started them when I was 12 or 13-years old after begging my parents.

I gave them up at age 17 and decided to gain my freshman 15 or 20 in college instead.

But, it's true.

I was obsessed.

 Believe it or not, I even represented the great state of Arkansas at the Miss Teen of America pageant back in 1991.

That's how I met my bestie Beth who we are going skiing with in Park City next week.

She was Miss Teen of Washington. 

Crazy or what?

Life long friends for sure.

I was only 15-years old.

The youngest contestant in the whole pageant.

I tap danced for my talent.

It was a scholarship type of pageant.

And, no.. I didn't win.

I didn't even make the Top 10.

After I retired from competing I was still VERY involved in the pageant world both in Arkansas and Louisiana while I was in college.

In fact, my job freshman year was working for the director of Little Miss Louisiana who also ran several other pageants.

And, my parents became pageant directors for Miss Teen and Pre-Teen of Colorado and I helped them out a lot too.

I have done everything from stuff envelopes, to organize applications to judge pageants.

Which leads me into today's post.

No!

I'm not entering a Mrs. pageant!!!

I'm sure that's what a lot of you were going.

HA!

I would need to shed a few pounds and start P90-X in a big way!

But..

I have been asked to judge a preliminary to Miss North Carolina which then takes the winner to Miss America!

It has been over a decade since I have come up with intelligent interview questions and decided on whether or not a girl's dress fits their body, or whether their talent is perfected.

But.. in 2-weeks I'll be joining this world again!

The pageant world!!

Who knows what type of opportunities I'll be getting myself into from here!