"It's not about the crown..." Week 19!

Well… this was a Thanksgiving to remember! Eleven out of the 14 family members who attended our Thanksgiving lunch caught the stomach virus, including me! It was awful! Mom is probably going to hand out gloves and face masks for our Christmas holiday get-together!

With several interview practices, workouts, and dance practices, I focused on preparing for Miss America last week. We received information about the dressing room backstage at Miss America. It is an outside tent with limited space. I must start labeling everything I own as soon as possible! We received the Miss America job description, something I will study and internalize. Soon, I expect the announcement of our judges and roommate assignments for Las Vegas! Competing in Miss America is becoming a reality!!

The Miss America contestants have a private Facebook group, and Miss Illinois recently asked if any of the girls are having Miss America nightmares yet. So many girls responded with dreams where they forgot their evening gown, or had to wear a thong bikini for swimsuit, or broke a leg during talent … haha! I haven’t had a Miss America nightmare yet, thank goodness!!

Tuesday, I met with Dawn Meyer (http://www.dawnphotographics.com/#) for an incredible photo shoot! Bombshell Cosmetics (http://beabombshellcosmetics.com/) offered to do my makeup and help throughout the shoot! Dawn is a very daring and creative photographer… I loved the photo session!

Thanksgiving was lovely! I spent time with my family, including my precious baby niece! There are many things for me to be thankful for this year! I am so thankful for my friends and family who have supported me through everything. I have the best boss and work under the most talented, caring council of directors. The Miss Arkansas Organization has opened many doors of opportunity for me already and blessed me with so many gifts! I am grateful for the support of my university, Ouachita Baptist University, and that I have plans to attend UAMS College of Pharmacy in the future. I could go on and on … I am so thankful for God’s blessings and faithfulness!

Friday, Mom and I drove to Blytheville for the 30^th anniversary of the Miss Northeast Arkansas Pageant. The Jerome family has always been instrumental in this pageant while impacting the lives of so many contestants. We celebrated with a luncheon at the Holiday Inn in Blytheville. I was honored to serve as the keynote speaker!

Mrs. Marietta Jerome asked me to share my pageant history. I shared a quote that I heard at the age of 18, my first year to qualify for the Miss Arkansas Organization, “It’s not about the crown.” I didn’t quite understand it at the time, but now that I have the crown … I completely understand that it is more about the journey. I encouraged the girls to recognize the beauty of the journey and not get distracted with the outcome of the pageant. “Realize the challenge to improve yourself in interview, public speaking, talent, fitness, and self-confidence,” I urged. I am thankful for the ways the Miss America Organization strives to transform good girls into incredible girls through the jewels of the journey! I value my journey as much as the crown. At the end of my year, the skills and life lessons learned during this Miss Arkansas experience will benefit me the most!

My two Stuttgart girls, Ashley and Cori!

Somer Allen, Miss Lights of the Delta 2012

Friday night, I attended the Miss Northeast Arkansas pageant and watched Somer Allen crown Mason Magouyrk. Congratulations to Mason on your first journey to Miss Arkansas! After the pageant, all the contestants climbed on a bus to tour Blytheville’s breath-taking Christmas light display, which features literally millions of lights. We stopped halfway through the display to visit Santa and take pictures. It was pretty cool outside, but I kept warm in my beautiful fur coat! I loved spending time with the contestants and getting to know each girl a little better!

Mason Magouyrk, Miss Northeast Arkansas 2012

Later Friday night, I caught the stomach virus. I was devastated to have to miss the Miss Lights of the Delta Pageant; it was my first absence of the year! I knew it would be a great pageant with lots of girls competing. Congratulations to Somer Allen, Miss Lights of the Delta 2012! This was Somer’s last opportunity to qualify for Miss Arkansas before spending 4 months in Uganda, Africa. Read more about her upcoming trip on her blog (http://idwellinhope.blogspot.com/).

Next week will be an exciting and busy week! It involves Christmas parades, non-profit fundraisers, and a special reception at Ouachita Baptist University (http://media.obu.edu/2011/11/ouachita-to-honor-miss-arkansas-kristen-glover-with-nov-28-reception/ )! Of course, I will be preparing for Miss America with a few mock interviews. I will keep you updated on Miss America announcements!