Miss Manhattan 2010

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!

"I'm Gonna Make it After All!"

Well this week I finally did it...moved to the Big Apple! I had a lot of time to think throughout my 16 hour drive from Atlanta. I thought about what to expect at my job, what train I would take into the city every day, what to wear, etc. But for the most part I prepared myself to hate the people. I thought they would be the number one reason I would go running back home in December.

After growing up in the south my whole life I've learned we have a sense of "southern charm" you won't find anywhere else. Since I am so fortunate to have a dad that works for Delta Airlines I travel to the northeast many times a year and typically come home thinking "Northerners are so rude and obnoxious." I had a long talk during my drive with my Jersey-raised dad because I didn't know if I should keep my friendly ways in the city and let people assume they could take advantage of me. He told me, "Jack, just because you're moving somewhere different doesn't mean you have to change who you are." So when I came into the city last Monday morning I was prepared for people to run me down on the sidewalk and for no one at work to learn my name or talk to me (a lowly intern) until I proved myself worthy. Boy was I wrong!

I could not be happier at Peppercom. The moment I walked in the door someone greeted me and spent the morning showing me the ropes. He took me to lunch and introduced me to every single person in the office. Each person I met said "Let me know if I can help you!" in some form. All week I received Google Talk messages from various people asking how things were going and if I needed any help. I received an email my second day from Peppercom's co-founder, Steve Cody, after I commented on his blog telling me to "stop by" and meet him. Needless to say I was shocked! Maybe I've watched The Devil Wear's Prada one too many times. Whatever the case, I packed some tough skin to come work up here and I'm so grateful I haven't had to use it...yet.



I have also discovered that people on the street aren't all that different from down south. Yes, they may be wrapped up in their Blackberry's and many won't look your way, but I have encountered many helpful people. I even had someone offer to help carry my suitcase up the stairs the other day and another ask if I was lost (which I definitely was!) and needed help on the street. I've learned that if you ask anything with a smile and that "southern charm" I know so well, people are usually happy to help.

Now don't get me wrong, not everyone has met me with a smile and open arms, but I am so happy to be here and to remove the stereotype from my mind. I get so very frustrated when people assume all southerners wave Confederate flags and drive pickup trucks; I'm disappointed in myself for being just as guilty by stereotyping Manhattan people.

Note: I will NEVER consider myself to be a Yankee, but as Mary Tyler Moore would say, I think...

"I'm gonna make it after all!"