While everyone already knows that I was involved in the Miss America Organization, I feel it is necessary to explain just how much this experience changed my life forever.
My freshman year of college was a growing experience for me. My whole life had changed from what it was in high-school. Around December I had recalled meeting a man named Jim Collins(the director of the Miss Arkansas Tech Pageant). He was one of my judges at River Valley Idol 2008, and he had discussed with me participating in the Miss Tech Pageant once I was a student there. As advertisements for the pageant were popping up all across campus, I couldn't squeltch my itch to compete! I thought to myself, "If Dr. Collins believed in me to do it 2 years ago, then surely I could still do it now!" So, for the next two months I prepared for the Miss Tech Pageant. Believe it or not I was overwhelmed by how much actually went in to preparing for a pageant. With absolutely no previous experience I was not expecting to go very far in the pageant world, but I thought it was at least worth a try. On February 26, 2010, I was awarded with the Nona Dirksmeyer Talent Award, Miss Tech Interview Award, and crowned Miss Arkansas Tech University.
My life was changed instantly.
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| On Stage Question at Miss Tech 2010 |
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| Swimsuit at Miss Tech 2010 |
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| Talent Portion singing 'Mercy Said No' by CeCe Winans at Miss Tech 2010 |
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| The moment my life changed as I was crowned Miss Tech 2010 |
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| Me with all the of the beautiful women I competed with that evening! It was a STEEP competition! |
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| All of the above photos are the courtesy of Steve Newby Photography. This was his professional crown shot taken 2 weeks after intially being crowned. |
From that moment on I hit the ground running. Dr. Collins had a full schedule of speaking at Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, Russellville Junior High School, and many entertaining events as Miss Arkansas Tech. I am so grateful to him for setting up all of those opportunities because each of those experiences prepared me for Miss Arkansas 2010 which was held in Hot Springs, AR the following July.
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| Thank you Dr. Collins for all of your hard work and dedication throughout my year as Miss Arkansas Tech 2010. I would have never experienced any of this had it not been for you! I am eternally grateful! |
As July got closer, I felt more and more confident through my preparations as Miss Tech. I cannot begin to describe how amazing my week at Miss Arkansas 2010 was! There are so many wonderfully bright and beautiful young women who participate in the Miss Arkansas Organization, and I am so blessed for having spent time with them and making friends with them.
Most people think that pageants are just about big hair, double sided tape, vasoline, and butt glue... I am here to tell you that they are TOTALLY wrong! The Miss America Organization is founded on four very important principles: Style, Scholarship, Service, and Success. As a title holder and role model in your community, it is imparitive that you are a well rounded individual who can meet these principles without hesitation. The Miss America Organization and the Miss Arkansas Organization (I'm biased) have shaped and molded me into a more well rounded woman. Without their guidance and encouragement to be a strong individual, I may not be where I am today.
I made so many wonderful friends the week of Miss Arkansas 2010, and met other young women who inspired me to grow as person. There are just not enough words to describe how absolutely amazing it was.
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| With my roomate at Miss Arkansas 2010 Vaness Johnson, Miss Frisco Springs. Love you boo! |
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| With my princess Kyrston Rice ( my mini me) at the Miss Arkansas 2010 Signing at the Hot Springs Mall! |
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| Finishing my peformance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on talent night for Group B! |
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| With one of my oldest friends, Hannah Williamson, who also competed in Miss Arkansas 2010! |
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| With Alyse Eady on Evening Gown night. She was crowned Miss Arkansas 2010 that following Saturday! |
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| Somer Allen and I tied for the Alpha Evening Gown Award! Totally unexpected but were both thrilled, especially to share it with each other. She went on to make top 5 that following Saturday! |
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| Evening Gown! |
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| With Miss Arkansas 2009 Sarah Slocum as I was awared the Top 3 New Comer Award and Top 15! |
As my year as Miss Tech 2010 came to an end, I just knew I had to do it all again. How could I give up an opportunity to better myself for another year. So in March of 2011 I competed in the Miss Ozark Highlands Pageant and was blessed with another opportunity to compete in Miss Arkansas the following summer! The night I was crowned MOH 2011, I was instantly blessed with new directors who were just as special as my first director Dr. Collins. Carol Martin, Michelle Johnston, and Ana Moncada were three very special women who played very important roles throughout my year as MOH. They did everything in their power to prepare me for another run at Miss Arkansas!
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With just a few of the beautiful women I competed with at Miss Ozark Highlands, again another STEEP competition!
Photo Courtesy of Max Slaugher Photography |
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Being crowned by my dear friend Mikayla Adaire, Miss Ozark Highlands 2010!
Photo Courtesy of Max Slaugher Photography |
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With my three wonderful directors! They are such amazing women and now considered lifelong friends!
Photo Courtesy of Max Slaugher Photography |
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I love me some Miss Carol!
Photo Courtesy of Max Slaugher Photography |
Now that I was competing in Miss Arkansas for a second time, I was ready for the challenge. I truly competed to win the title. With my previous experience I learned the prestige and honor of competing and winning the title, and now I truly wanted to win it! From March until July I prepared as much as I could.
When it came time for May meeting the Miss Arkansas Class of 2011 was truly blessed with an opportunity to have a photoshoot with Mr. Tony Bowls in one of his gorgeous gowns! This was such a thrilling moment!
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I will never forget this opportunity! Thank you so much Mr. Bowls for making us feel like real models! Also thank you for donating beautiful dresses, shoes, and jewelry for our opening number!
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Miss Arkanas 2011 was even more fun for me that the year before! I felt more comfortable in my own skin and more confident in my abilities as I competed for the title! What was even more important than that was the true friends that I made while I was there. The returning girls who had been in Miss Arkansas before had a bond that was so special. Each and every girl who competes for the title works so hard, and knowing that brough everyone so close together. We all supported each other and wished each other the best! I am so grateful for the lifelong friendships I have now because of my experiences at Miss Arkansas!
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| We had a little down time during rehearsal...Why not build a human pyramid?! |
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| At the Autograph Signing with my roomate Rosalyn Taylor, Miss Heart of the Ozarks! |
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| With my Sweet sweet princess Abbi Kinder! |
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| With Miss America 2009, Katie Stam Irk! |
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| With first Runner up to Miss Arkansas 2x over! Lauren English! Such an amazing young woman! |
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| With group C after opening number! Love you all! |
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| The three muskateers! Me, Allie Brooks and Alex Farmer! |
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Miss Arkansas Class 2011
What an AMAZING group of young women! |
I realize that this post in getting lengthy, but how do you sum up something so touching and life altering in one post? Into a few pictures and descriptions? It's just impossible.
My last year at Miss Arkansas 2011, I made Top 10. I was honored and overwhelmed! There were 46 amazing goal oriented, talented, smart, and beautiful ladies who were very capable of being Miss Arkansas.
Although I will never compete again in the Miss Arkansas Pageant, it will live with in me forever. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, and I am so fortunate to have been blessed to be a part of it. I don't know what I did to deserve such an amazing journey, but I had it and I will promote it and brag about it until the day that I die.
I want to give a HUGE thank you to my directors Jim Collins, Carol Martin, Michelle Johnston, and Ana Moncada for being with me every step of the way and always encouraging me to be my best! Although there are too many to name I would like to thank all of you who have played such an important role through this time in my life! Your support and belief in me is what made made me so strong and got me this far! I am truly touched by your kind words, donations, and praying hearts!
I also would like to thank my amazing fiance for being there every night of competition at local and state pageants. I could not have asked for a better man to support me through all of my endeavors and I am so thankful for him being there every step of the way. I love you, Michael McCrary.
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| After I gave away my crown as Miss Tech 2010 |
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| After I was crowned Miss Ozark Highlands 2011 |
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| Greeting me at After Hours |
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| Such a wonderful supporter! |
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| After I gave away my crown as Miss Ozark Highlands 2011 |
Last but not least, I want to thank my parents! Wow. I am teary eyed thinking of all the support and love they have given me, not just through this experience, but throughout my life. Mom and Dad, without you I would have never been able to do this. Without you to tell my that my limit was the stars and that I could do anything I set my mind to, I would not be who I am today. Thank you for being by my side through every failure and triumph. Thank you for being my best friends. Thank you for all of your sacrifice and hard work to make sure I had every opportunity to be my best. I can never repay you for all that you have done. I love you so much.
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| Right after I won Miss Tech 2010! |
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| After Evening Gown at Miss Arkansas 2010 |
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| After I gave away my crown as Miss Tech 2010 |
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| After I won Miss Ozark Highlands 2011 |
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| At Miss Arkansas 2011 May Meeting |
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At the Miss Ozark Highlands Photo Shoot with Max Slaugher.
Photo Courtesy of Max Slaugher Photography |
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| After Evening Gown at Miss Arkansas 2011 |
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| After Swimsuit at Miss Arkansas 2011 |
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| Mom and I at the Miss Arkansas's Outstanding Teen Final Night |
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| After I gave away my crown as Miss Ozark Highlands 2011 |
Thank you God for blessing me with this journey. I pray that God used me through those titles and my experiences. I will never be able to describe how grateful I truly am for this experience, but I hope if you've made it this far through this post that you understand, just how awesome it truly was.
Until next time...
