Friday, June 28, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
The Big Huge Thank you Post
It takes a village to raise a Miss Delaware and this adventure wouldn't have been half of what it's been without the many amazing people who have impacted my year.
The Miss Delaware Board, all of you have been so supportive and wonderful this year. Thank you so much for your advice, encouragement, and love. Everything you have done for me, and the past Miss Delaware titleholders is appreciated more than you know.
Sam Haskell, Marc Angeli, and everyone else at Miss America, hostesses and all, thank you for making all of this possible. You all make dreams come true every day, both for contestants and for those we meet. I have been forever changed by your efforts to make this organization into the empowering program it is today.
Mallory Hagan, I am so proud to call you my Miss America. You are real, true to yourself, humble, charming, and hilarious. It was an absolute honor to spend time with you this year, and you have continued to blow me away throughout your reign. Thank you for representing our class with so much grace, style, warmth, and "Mallory-ness" (I had to make up a word to describe you because you're so awesome.)
Lexie Madden, I'm not sure how we got lucky enough to be roommates, but when I go back and reflect on Miss America, almost every memory involves you. You are one of the most beautiful, gracious, and positive humans I've ever met, and you've made this year unforgettable. Most of all, thank you for making me laugh when I need it most, and for always lifting my spirits.
My other Miss America sisters, Aniska, thank you for being my "twerk team" sister and for always cracking me up. Anna Laura, you honestly have a heart of gold, and you make me want to be a better person. Taylor, you never fail to lift my spirits and make me laugh. Alexis, you inspire me and everyone around you without even trying to. You are one of the most incredible women I've ever met, and I am so proud of you. To all my other Miss America sisters, thank you so much for making my time in Vegas as amazing as it was. I love each and every one of you.
Paul Timmons, I could not have made it through this year without you. You have been my personal trainer, my confidence booster, and my mental health support all year. Thank you for helping me find confidence and self-worth that I had never tapped into before. You helped me realize that there is nothing wrong with embracing muscle and loving myself just the way I am, no crash dieting involved. Without you, I would not have been able to step on the Miss America stage confident, happy, and loving myself.
Chris Saltalimacchio, Where do I even begin? You were the first person to tell me that I could be Miss Delaware, and you never stopped believing in me. You've been there through the laughs, the tears, the late night phone calls, and the total and complete meltdowns. I would not be where I am today without your advice, help, positivity, and love. You have quickly become one of my closest and most cherished friends, and I love you more than I can ever express in a single blog post.
All of the former Miss Delaware Titleholders, thank you for setting such a wonderful example for me to follow and for making this the legacy it is today. Thank you for welcoming me into the sisterhood with open arms and for all of your kind words. Kama, thank you for being the reason I'm writing this post today. Beth, thanks for all of your kind words and encouragement. Aimee, thank you for everything you've done for me this year. Maria, thank you for being my friend and my partner in weirdness, and for knowing when there's nothing left to do but whine and eat doritos.
Mommy, aren't you glad you didn't successfully talk me out of competing? I know pageants aren't really your thing, but thank you for sticking by my side the past 2 years of competing. You're the best Mom a girl could ask for.
Dad, you always make me laugh with your funny impressions, switched up song lyrics, and movie references, and it's easy to see where I got my sense of humor. You have always supported me in everything I've done without question, and you've always believed in me.
Karen, I don't know why Step-Moms are always evil in Disney movies, but you rock. Thank you for taking me shopping when you know retail therapy is the only hope, and for taking me in as your own daughter.
Mom mom and Pop pop, thank you for spoiling me completely rotten for the past 21 years, and for always being there. I'm so thankful I'm your favorite and only granddaughter.
Aunt Lisa, thanks for the gym and sushi dates, and JP thank you for making me laugh and keeping me up on my current events.
Cory, you are the big brother every little girl should have. Thank you for teaching me to ride a bike, tie my shoes, and all of the finer points of Sussex County living.
Remi, you make me so proud and you always keep me laughing. Thanks for keeping me grounded and for giving me the best and most appropriate nickname ever.
Dillan, you never gave up on me, and you've been with me along every step of the way. Thank you for the pep talks, the late night phone calls, and for traveling all over the country for me.
To all of my friends, Shelby, Abby, Veronica, my AXiD sisters, thank you all for always being there for me to text/call when I need to talk, and for also being there to have fun on my days off.
Shoutout to Christopher Nolan for creating the Dark Knight Trilogy, and JK Rowling for creating my favorite fictional wizarding trio.
Thank you to all of the people I've met this year who have inspired me to be a better version of myself.
Most of all, thank you to my Lord God for the many blessings He has given me, and for His unending grace and love.
The Miss Delaware Board, all of you have been so supportive and wonderful this year. Thank you so much for your advice, encouragement, and love. Everything you have done for me, and the past Miss Delaware titleholders is appreciated more than you know.
Sam Haskell, Marc Angeli, and everyone else at Miss America, hostesses and all, thank you for making all of this possible. You all make dreams come true every day, both for contestants and for those we meet. I have been forever changed by your efforts to make this organization into the empowering program it is today.
Mallory Hagan, I am so proud to call you my Miss America. You are real, true to yourself, humble, charming, and hilarious. It was an absolute honor to spend time with you this year, and you have continued to blow me away throughout your reign. Thank you for representing our class with so much grace, style, warmth, and "Mallory-ness" (I had to make up a word to describe you because you're so awesome.)
Lexie Madden, I'm not sure how we got lucky enough to be roommates, but when I go back and reflect on Miss America, almost every memory involves you. You are one of the most beautiful, gracious, and positive humans I've ever met, and you've made this year unforgettable. Most of all, thank you for making me laugh when I need it most, and for always lifting my spirits.
My other Miss America sisters, Aniska, thank you for being my "twerk team" sister and for always cracking me up. Anna Laura, you honestly have a heart of gold, and you make me want to be a better person. Taylor, you never fail to lift my spirits and make me laugh. Alexis, you inspire me and everyone around you without even trying to. You are one of the most incredible women I've ever met, and I am so proud of you. To all my other Miss America sisters, thank you so much for making my time in Vegas as amazing as it was. I love each and every one of you.
Paul Timmons, I could not have made it through this year without you. You have been my personal trainer, my confidence booster, and my mental health support all year. Thank you for helping me find confidence and self-worth that I had never tapped into before. You helped me realize that there is nothing wrong with embracing muscle and loving myself just the way I am, no crash dieting involved. Without you, I would not have been able to step on the Miss America stage confident, happy, and loving myself.
Chris Saltalimacchio, Where do I even begin? You were the first person to tell me that I could be Miss Delaware, and you never stopped believing in me. You've been there through the laughs, the tears, the late night phone calls, and the total and complete meltdowns. I would not be where I am today without your advice, help, positivity, and love. You have quickly become one of my closest and most cherished friends, and I love you more than I can ever express in a single blog post.
All of the former Miss Delaware Titleholders, thank you for setting such a wonderful example for me to follow and for making this the legacy it is today. Thank you for welcoming me into the sisterhood with open arms and for all of your kind words. Kama, thank you for being the reason I'm writing this post today. Beth, thanks for all of your kind words and encouragement. Aimee, thank you for everything you've done for me this year. Maria, thank you for being my friend and my partner in weirdness, and for knowing when there's nothing left to do but whine and eat doritos.
Mommy, aren't you glad you didn't successfully talk me out of competing? I know pageants aren't really your thing, but thank you for sticking by my side the past 2 years of competing. You're the best Mom a girl could ask for.
Dad, you always make me laugh with your funny impressions, switched up song lyrics, and movie references, and it's easy to see where I got my sense of humor. You have always supported me in everything I've done without question, and you've always believed in me.
Karen, I don't know why Step-Moms are always evil in Disney movies, but you rock. Thank you for taking me shopping when you know retail therapy is the only hope, and for taking me in as your own daughter.
Mom mom and Pop pop, thank you for spoiling me completely rotten for the past 21 years, and for always being there. I'm so thankful I'm your favorite and only granddaughter.
Aunt Lisa, thanks for the gym and sushi dates, and JP thank you for making me laugh and keeping me up on my current events.
Cory, you are the big brother every little girl should have. Thank you for teaching me to ride a bike, tie my shoes, and all of the finer points of Sussex County living.
Remi, you make me so proud and you always keep me laughing. Thanks for keeping me grounded and for giving me the best and most appropriate nickname ever.
Dillan, you never gave up on me, and you've been with me along every step of the way. Thank you for the pep talks, the late night phone calls, and for traveling all over the country for me.
To all of my friends, Shelby, Abby, Veronica, my AXiD sisters, thank you all for always being there for me to text/call when I need to talk, and for also being there to have fun on my days off.
Shoutout to Christopher Nolan for creating the Dark Knight Trilogy, and JK Rowling for creating my favorite fictional wizarding trio.
Thank you to all of the people I've met this year who have inspired me to be a better version of myself.
Most of all, thank you to my Lord God for the many blessings He has given me, and for His unending grace and love.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
One Week to Go!
June 22nd 2013, 7 days until I crown a new Miss Delaware, 367 since I was crowned last year. The big question everyone keeps asking is "How are you feeling?" The conception is that it's bittersweet, that I should be starting to cry, and becoming nostalgic, and slightly emo. Honestly, I'm not sure if this is normal for pageant girls but all I'm feeling is the "sweet" part of "bittersweet."
I'm not saying that I would trade this experience for anything, being Miss Delaware has been the most incredible and life changing year of my life. I have traveled to parts of Delaware that I didn't ever know existed (Shout out to Bear, Hockessin, and other related Northern DE towns,) met amazing people from the Vice President of the United States to brave children at AI DuPont Hospital and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I've been in the starting car at a horse race, learned a thing or two about NASCAR and professional wrestling, gone back to prom, taken the ferry more times than I care to count, and traveled all the way to Orlando and Las Vegas. I have lived and experienced more in the past year than in the 20 years prior.
Being Miss Delaware is a busy and lonely job. I have spent more hours in my car than in my home, moved back to Selbyville away from all of my friends and sorority sisters at UD, and strained a lot of relationships in the process. When you win Miss Delaware, you don't realize that 30,000 miles, 356+ days, and countless appearances later, you are just left dog tired. I don't say this to complain because I would never ever complain about what has been the single greatest experience of my life. I say this so y'all can understand where I'm coming from and why I'm so stinking excited to move to the next chapter of my life. I've loved serving my state and the wonderful people in it, but it is time to move forward and give the spotlight to another young woman.
I cannot wait to see which girl is going to be carrying on the Miss Delaware legacy next year. She is going to have the most busy, wonderful, and crazy year of her life, and I am so excited to go to Atlantic City in September to watch Miss America! I am so excited to know that another lucky girl is going to have the same experiences and opportunities I've had this year, and I can't wait to move back to Newark, start my job and my internship, and move on with my education.
I am thrilled to announce that next year I will be embarking on 2 professional journeys once I return to the University of Delaware. I will be an ESPNU Intern for UD and will be reporting from the sidelines and on other sports related special interest stories. Broadcasting has not been my career ambition, but my year as Miss Delaware and my involvement with the Miss America Organization has opened this door for me, and given my love of sports and of being on camera, I couldn't pass up this chance to explore a new path. I will also be a campus representative for Kaplan Test Prep Center at UD. I will be helping other students who are looking to further their educations by helping them find options to improve their scores on the LSAT, MCAT, GRE, and other graduate school exams. Again, this is an opportunity I wouldn't have received had I not been Miss Delaware this year.
Spring semester I am applying for (and hoping/praying/crossing all my fingers and toes that I get into,) a study abroad trip to London for January-mid May. Freshman year of college I studied in Spain for a month and it was without a doubt the highlight of my college career. After spending a year at home in slower lower, I think city living in Europe will do me some good!
So, to sum everything up, my feeling about crowning a new Miss Delaware:
Excited, anxious, thrilled, grateful, humbled, thankful, loved, happy, peaceful
This has no doubt been the best year of my life thus far. I have seen and done things that I never thought I' have the chance to, and I will hold these memories in my heart for the rest of my life. Having said that, there comes a time when we must move on, let go, and take a leap of faith. I am determined to make the next year of my life even better than this one.
The big thank you post is coming soon, stay tuned!!!
Monday, June 17, 2013
One Week from today, Miss Delaware Week begins!
Vote for your favorite Miss Delaware Contestants by visiting www.missde.org
The contestant with the most votes will earn a spot in the Top 11 and will compete on the final night of competition for the title of Miss Delaware!
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