Miss Illinois Blog

The Miss America Experience

February 17, 2010 | BLOG #8 | by Miss Illinois 2009 Erin O'Connor

I landed in a very rainy cold Las Vegas. It was still a nice break from the sub zero weather back home. After arriving at the airport, I met up with some of the other contestants, including Miss Virginia and Miss DC. Little did I know Miss America 2010 was right there with me! Security escorted us to Planet Hollywood in a limo, it was quite the arrival. At the VIP check in, in a flurry of suitcases and hostesses and confusion, I met my roommate- Miss Arizona Savanna Troupe. As the days would progress, I would be so thankful that she and I were roomies. After settling into our suite, (and discovering we were connected to our friends Miss Washington and Miss West Virginia through a suite door!) We made our way to the opening ceremonies. The weather kept us inside, but couldn't contain our excitement. As I looked at my fellow contestants, I couldn't help but feel extremely honored and humbled to be counted among their number. That feeling would stay with me for the next ten days, and probably for the rest of my life.

The second day started very early (as most Miss America days do!) with the Children's Miracle Network IHOP pancake breakfast. We met some fantastic kids and their families, all great examples of Miracle Children. All the contestants learned how to make and flip pancakes from the friendly people at IHOP. After eating our fill we went to our very first Miss America rehearsal. For me, that day consisted of changing my outfit about 5 times so I could do various interviews. One for TLC, one for COMCAST, ect. It takes a lot of outfits to be a Miss America Contestant! The girls and I ate our first of many meals at Planet Hollywood's Spice Market Buffet. Throughout our time in Vegas we were very well taken care of, and very well fed! That evening we went to the Venetian for a photos and Gondola rides. As a first timer in Vegas, I was awestruck by the hotels! Our gondolier sang to us and guided us through the hotels shimmering canal. (Having been to the real Venice, I can tell you Vegas is much cleaner.)

The third day had more rehearsals, more interviews and more bonding with the girls. That night we participated in the Miss America Fashion Show! What a neat experience that was. The girls were lined up in a giant glass elevator below the stage. As the show began, the glass box rose from the floor containing all 53 contestants! Each girl had a chance to strut her stuff on the runway. After the fashion show and an autograph signing, we went out for Italian! That is where the picture of me eating the giant Sunday is from (see appearance photos). I didn't eat the whole thing, but definitely had a taste!

On the fourth day after interviews and rehearsals in the morning, we made our way to the Pole Position Raceway for go karts. This was my favorite appearance we did in Las Vegas! We were to race in smaller groups against each other, then the ten best scores would race in a championship. Before the racing could start, I needed a change of clothes! Those who know me well know I prefer wearing dresses to jeans, but my little sweater dress wasn't very fitting for the race track. The owner offered to let me wear a racing jumpsuit for the night. (See appearance photos). I was the only girl who was decked out head to toe! Maybe the jumpsuit gave me an extra edge, because my score qualified me for the championship run! Halfway through the championship however I heard a loud noise ahead on the track, as I rounded the corner I saw one of the go karts had run up on another! Our karts automatically stalled and we were surrounded by technicians who freed Miss DC and Miss West Virginia from their crashed carts. It was scary to see, but thankfully no one was hurt!

On Monday I had rehearsal in the morning, then was excused to prepare for my interview. This was the first phase of competition and I was ready to begin. Having met the judges the day before at a formal introduction with the girls, I felt comfortable looking across the podium at the formidable people seated there. My interview ran the gambit between politics, family life, my accomplishments as Miss Illinois and more. I left the interview feeling like I had showed them my true self, and that's all anyone can ask for. We got to unwind that night by attending a performance of "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Venetian. It was especially exciting for me when I was called up front to take a special picture with the Phantom himself! A former resident of Chicago, the Phantom wanted to take a picture with Miss Illinois. He was extremely friendly, but his mask and make up did frighten me a little bit!

By Tuesday night all the girls were ready for the first night of Preliminaries. As we were preparing in the tent, that same sense of honor and humility flooded through my body. When the beat started to the opening number, 'I got a feelin", the crowd cheered and the lights shined I got that feeling I always get when I'm onstage. The thrill of excitement and a sense that I'm in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. As the number went on I could see my family waving wildly from the back and cheering me on. I felt truly blessed to be representing my family, my state and all the girls I've competed with along the way. Tuesday night was talent for me, I had such a blast dancing the routine I had worked so hard on with my choreographer Karen Bloom.

Wednesday after a morning photo shoot and an afternoon of rehearsals came the second preliminary show. This night was onstage question. I wore a green cocktail dress supplied by Gregory Ellenberg and answered a question on Skin Cancer prevention. One of the really cool things about being at competing for Miss America, is that you are surrounded by former Miss America's all the time. I'd be standing backstage and all of the sudden Katie Stam would be talking to us, or Lee Merriweather would walk by and wish us luck. For someone as obsessed with pageant trivia as I am, it was heaven! That night after the show I found myself standing next to none other than Kirsten Haglund! I introduced myself and she said "Oh yes Miss Illinois! You had a great answer tonight, and I loved that green dress!". I went to sleep ecstatic that night.

Thursday brought about the final night of preliminaries and my chance to strut my stuff in evening gown and swimsuit. I had worked so hard with Staci Boyer so I felt very confident in my swimsuit. I really don't think I will ever love any dress more then I loved my royal blue Gregory Ellenberg dress. My Miss America Dress. Onstage I really did feel like I was walking on air and it was all over too soon. As I walked backstage I said to myself, "Now if that is all my Miss America experience is-I will be happy. I got to compete in this amazing space with the marvelous girls who I have come to love, how can I ask for more?" I knew I had stayed true to myself and represented myself well. The judges would either respond well to me or not, but there was no more I could do. I had given it my all. What a fantastic feeling to have!

Friday was probably the toughest day. The competition being over, there was nothing more we could do. I am a very high energy person, and I've spent my whole life working through long rehearsals. But nothing can compare to the Miss America Experience. After 9 days of working hard, forming friendships, competing and looking perfect through it all- I was exhausted. Thankfully I had amazing friends who were there to share in my feelings. On Friday we rehearsed the final act-the crowning. There we stood in our rehearsal clothes, Katie Stam was present looking relaxed and casual. As the rehearsal drew to a close, we found ourselves standing wishing to be released, and then something really exciting happened. Katie Stam appeared onstage holding the Miss America Crown and Banner. The gentleman filling in for Mario Lopez read off the teleprompter "The fourth runner up is... the third runner up is...!" the combination of nerves, exhaustion, happiness and excitement completely overwhelmed me and tears stung my eyes. I looked to my right at one of my best friends at MA, Miss Indiana Nicole Pollard. She too had tears in her eyes watching the rehearsal, we squeezed each others hands and enjoyed this special moment when everything was still possible.

On Friday night we attended the Evening of Dreams fundraiser. I found myself seated next to the President of DSW and one of Miss America's newest sponsors. The program included many former Miss America's sharing their stories, their insight and their advice. The most memorable moment of the night happened when Robin Leech invited Katie Stam's boyfriend Brian onstage to say a few words. After telling the hilarious story of their first kiss, which he concluded with "So for the record everyone- Miss America came onto me!" He went on to list the things about Katie he couldn't change. (She likes Oreos, she hates to work out) But there was one thing he could change about her, with that he dropped to one knee and produced a diamond ring. The whole crowd erupted into cheers as she said yes! We even serenaded the newly engaged couple as the track to "Unforgettable" played.

All day on Saturday I felt extremely calm. I knew that I had given it my all, and it was in God's Hands now. I went about preparing my station, putting on my make up and fixing my hair. The opening number began and I was completely overwhelmed. This was the last moment that I would still be able to dream, this was the last time that I wouldn't know! Very quickly the names of the girls chosen for the top 15 were read. I tried to keep track in my head how many spaces were left, but as the girls chosen started to fill the other side of the stage, I felt my heart sink a little. Soon there was only one spot left. I looked at the girls around me, we held hands an gave hugs, knowing that we would probably not be chosen. Just before the commercial break Clinton Kelly came out and gave us a shocking piece of news. The 15th girl was going to be chosen by-us! All of the sudden there were people shoving pens and paper in our hands and telling us we had 30 seconds to choose who we thought deserved to be in the fifteenth spot. At that point I couldn't even remember who had been called and who hadn't. I looked around at all my friends who weren't picked and thought, "How on earth am I going to choose between them?" (This is the moment of the show when there is a close up on my extremely shocked and horrified face.) I quickly picked some names I thought deserved to continue competing and I was thrilled when my friend C.C. Barber, Miss Oregon was chosen for the 15th spot!

A note about the "loser's lounge"... I always felt bad when I watched Miss America and the non-finalist contestants had to sit onstage and watch the competition. If you have felt this way, don't. One of the best parts of my Miss America experience was getting to sit onstage and cheer on my friends in the top 15. I was right there for all of the action, I had the best seat in the house! Each time a friend of mine progressed forward in the competition I got to watch from onstage! What a thrilling experience! I thought I would be devastated at not making the 15, but there were many girls who I thought would have made fantastic Miss America's sitting in the lounge with me. Don't feel bad for the girls sitting onstage, feel bad for the girls who aren't fortunate enough to have the Miss America experience. We changed into our evening gowns and made our way onstage for the finale where Miss Virginia Carissa Cameron was crowned our new Miss America 2010!

This was one of the happiest experiences of my life. No matter how tired I was, I awoke each day filled with excitement and anticipation. I hope to carry that feeling over into the next 5 months as I continue to joyfully represent my state of Illinois. I am glad to be home, honored to be your Miss Illinois, and ready for the next chapter in this amazing journey. Thank you all so much for your kind words and thoughts, God bless you all.

Erin O'Connor
Miss Illinois 2009