After an entire week spent with the 31 contestants at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant in Zionsville, it was finally Saturday. There is so much going on Saturday of pageant week: the morning brunch sponsored by the local directors, the main parade in downtown Zionsville, my autograph session at Earth Explorer Toys, lunch at the Cobblestone Grill, and the final night of the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.
Each year the local directors association puts on a Saturday morning brunch for the contestants and parents at the Miss Indiana Pageant. Every contestant gets a chance to get up and reflect on their week at Miss Indiana. I talked about how grateful I was to have the support of Zionsville, the Lions, and all the merchants and volunteers who make pageant week possible. I wish more people could hear all the local titleholders talk about their experiences because I really think it would draw more volunteers and supporters to the program. It is very powerful to hear these young women talk so passionately about the program in their own words in an event that is not scripted or rehearsed in any way.
Over the years titleholders have really poured their hearts out at the Saturday brunch. It is hard to forget Megan Meadors and her emotional address in 2009, and how she secretly had colored stones put in her crown to represent each of the local titleholders competing that year in the Miss Indiana Pageant. Megan dreamed of becoming Miss Indiana so long, and when her dream finally came true, she packed an entire year into six months. Erica Eisenhut packed an entire year into six months as Miss Collegiate South 2010, and Erica is from Knox County just like me. These women have been incredible role models, and I'm working hard to leave a legacy like Erica did as Miss Collegiate South.
After the brunch its back on the little busses to head to downtown Zionsville where we are meeting at the staging area for the 2011 Miss Indiana Parade on Main Street. This year there we several new twists on the Main Street Parade. All the contestants brought their own signs and had a special sign carrier to walk in front fo their cars. Team Presley put together a really special sign for me. It is a poster-size sign with my name and title, plus it has my blog address and my platform logo. The most special touch on my sign was the "Thank You Zionsville" that is at the top. The merchants of Zionsville do so much to support Miss Indiana and you can never stop thanking these supporters for their generous contributions.
In the Parade I rode with Princess Giavanna. Giavanna was my princess for Miss Indiana Week and we had lots of fun together. The Miss Indiana Princess Camp is a really fun program that pairs princesses with titleholders. We do a princess luncheon and the princesses get to do a special production number during the pageant. Plus they get to ride in the parade and practice their queen wave!
After the parade I did autographs in downtown Zionsville at Earth Explorer Toys. You really have to see this place to believe it! They have so many great toys and gift ideas, so this is the place to go for a special gift. It is never too early to start gift shopping for that special child in your life, so drop by Earth Explorer Toys in downtown Zionsville. My new friends at Earth Explorer Toys had a table set up for my autograph session, and they let me hang signs in their window all week promoting the Miss Indiana Pageant. I had lots of future titleholders come by for autographs and pictures.
From Earth Explorer Toys I went to Cobblestone Grill for a late lunch with the 31 contestants. This is our last meal together during pageant week so it is really special, and the Cobblestone Grill is a fabulous place to eat in Zionsville. I couldn't think of a better place to enjoy a great meal and think about all the great memories we have from pageant week. After lunch we got a little bit of time to rest and relax, and then it was on to the Zionsville Performing Arts Center for the final night of the Miss Indiana Pageant.
I was named a top ten finalist at the Miss Indiana Pageant! Making the finals was an amazing experience, and it represented accomplishing my last goal for Miss Indiana this year. I had been prepping pretty much every week for six months to get ready for Miss Indiana, and I did constant mock interviews. And when Brad Brown read my name as a finalist, lets just say the sounds of my family and friends cheering and yelling my name was the biggest reward.
My trip to the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant was an incredible journey, and I am very grateful to all my family, friends and supporters who helped make my top ten finish possible. I won't try to name everyone because I don't want to risk leaving someone out, but please know I thank every single one of you from the bottom of my heart. The Miss America Organization is a network of people who support young women in their communities, and I am honored and humbled to have represented the program with pride and success.
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