As many of you already know, this past weekend I was crowned Miss Manhattan. I didn’t tell very many people I was competing because I was “coming out of retirement” to do so. I started in the Miss America Organization after I graduated high school and realized I was in desperate need of scholarship money to pay my out-of-state tuition. It has always been a hobby for me and I’ve never let it get to a point where it determined my self-esteem or worth.
After Interview
After not participating for two years I found myself missing the different phases of competition. I have grown to love the adrenaline that takes over as I step into the interview room and have questions fired at me ranging from “How do you feel about (insert: universal healthcare, gay marriage, immigration border control, stem cell research, etc)?” to “What makes you tick and what ticks you off?” I could do without the swimsuit competition, but the idea of walking in a bikini and four inch heels in front of hundreds of people is the best motivation to hit the gym. Onstage questions have helped me improve my presentation skills and I love putting on a beautiful evening gown and feeling so glamorous. More than anything however, I have missed the opportunity to sing onstage. Graduating college and being in the “real world” I rarely have these opportunities, so I have missed the thrill of performing my talent.
The best picture so far of crowning, hopefully there are more!
So I went into last weekend’s pageant completely relaxed knowing that it truly was something I was doing for myself and no one else. I was beaming when I walked out of my interview because of how much fun I had and didn’t realize how much I missed being under the “firing squad.” On Saturday afternoon right before my talent I looked at the stage manager next to me and said, “Oh my gosh, I’m about to perform on a New York City stage!!!” Talk about a dream come true!
When the competition was over and we were standing onstage awaiting the crowning, I was on cloud nine. I didn’t expect to win and was simply so proud of myself for having the courage to compete again, so needless to say when they called my name I was in complete shock. I already felt like a winner and to have a crown put on my head was the icing on the cake.It has always been my dream to move to Manhattan so you can imagine how privileged and excited I am to represent the city that has made all of my dreams come true. In June I will travel to Albany to compete in Miss New York and I plan on going with the exact same attitude as this weekend. I already feel like a winner; the rest is just fun!
Amelia and Riley celebrating with me that night
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Side note: A special thanks goes out to my mama who flew in from Atlanta. She has always been my number one fan and to have her there to support me meant the world. My win is hers as much as it is mine and I didn’t do the cheesy “pageant girl crying” until she came onstage and hugged me. Thanks to my Aunt Joanne who has also sat through many pageants and had her car towed that day. Before the pageant while she was at the impound she told me, “You better win the damn thing!” Haha Thanks to my former boss Janene who attended her first pageant and was able to share in my special moment. Finally thanks to my Miss Georgia pageant family back home for all their love and support!
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