Miss Illinois Pre-Teen Blog
May 25, 2010 | I would really love to know how it was just Christmas, and now, here I am, writing my final blog as Miss Illinois Outstanding Pre-Teen 2009. 2010 has just flown by! In January I anxiously awaited the Miss America Pageant 2010 so that I could see Erin compete on live TV! Erin, you did such an amazing job and I am so proud of you. Even though you were not crowned Miss America, I was happy to have you back in Illinois so I could finish my year out with you by my side. You are a wonderful role model.
February and March brought lots of activities and appearances. It is the time of the year that we refer to as "Pageant Season" and I was happy to attend several local preliminary pageants. This year I have traveled from the top of the State of Illinois, all the way to the bottom of the state. It was great meeting all of the contestants and directors, and seeing old friends as well. You all have a very special place in my heart and I will remember all the fun times we had.
Speaking of the bottom of the State of Illinois, I had a blast in April when Andrea and I had our final photo shoot with Sherie and Amy at Limelight in Metropolis. We were given the "royal treatment" while we were there. We got our hair and make-up done and then we got to take pictures all day in everything from evening gowns to our flannel shirts and Uggs! It was so much fun and I loved coming home with a southern accent! Andrea, I have to agree with you that you look like the American Girl and I look like your American Girl Doll. I will never forget that special day and the times we spent together at appearances over the year. You are a great big sister and I know we will always be close.
My year has closed with school finals, school plays and choir programs, poms, volunteering, and being with friends and family. May has never gone by so fast for me. I can honestly see why you need to take a year off from your "real life" at the "Miss" level, as I know I had just a small taste of what it would be like to be a Miss State Titleholder or even Miss America. As busy as I have been though, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I have grown so much this year and have accomplished and experienced more as a 12 year old, then some people do during their whole lives. A huge "Thank You" to the Miss Illinois Scholarship Program, and everyone who has any part in it, at any level, for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime and making my dreams come true.
A final word to all of the 2010 Pre-Teen Contestants, just be yourself and enjoy every minute of the pageant experience this weekend. Only one of you will win the title of Miss Illinois Outstanding Pre-Teen 2010, but the girls you are competing with will be your life long friends. You have your whole lives ahead of you to be whatever it is that God has planned for you. Be the best "you" that you can be and let Him show you the way. You are all very special and I can't wait to get to know all of you better this weekend. Miss Illinois Outstanding Pre-Teen 2010, whoever you may be, get ready for the ride of your life!
November 27, 2009 | Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day and I began my day in downtown Chicago. Erin, Andrea and I rode in the McDonald's Thanksgiving Day parade down State Street. There were so many people there, and it was televised nationally on WGN Television. Again it was great spending time with my pageant sisters. Thank you to Glen and Amalia for arranging this special event. After the parade I went home and celebrated Thanksgiving Dinner with my family. I am thankful for all of their support and love, and all of the other special blessings God has given me. Today I also performed on "Center Stage" at the Quad-City Festival of Trees. The Miss Illinois Teen and Pre-Teen Organization had a one hour time slot. A big "shout-out" to Alyssa Castro, Miss Mississippi Crown's Outstanding Pre-Teen; Carolyn Wehr, Miss Moline's Outstanding Pre-Teen; Kaitlyn Wehr, Miss Moline's Outstanding Teen, and Rachel Wirt, Miss Twin River's Outstanding Teen, for joining me on stage with their amazing talents. It was so great to see all of you again. Thank you to Rebecca Cutler for setting up this appearance and to the Quad-City Festival of Trees Organization for an amazing week full of memories for a lifetime.
November 25, 2009 | Last night I attended the Quad-City Festival of Trees "SugarPlum Ball". The ball is a dinner and dance for girls and their fathers. Everyone gets dressed up and has great time. This year I was asked to be the featured speaker and entertainment. After dinner I gave a brief talk about the Miss America Scholarship Pageant and how to get involved. I then sang "Boogie Woogie Santa Clause", a piece my vocal coach, Amanda Rohr, thought would be perfect for this event. Guess what, Santa showed up!!! After I was done, a DJ took over and I was surrounded by lots of little girls who wanted to get my autograph and a picture taken with me. I almost used up all of the 100 autograph cards that Rebecca gave me from Limelight Photography. A big "shout out" to my new fans, Carly and Mary, who followed me around the rest of the night.
November 21, 2009 | Today I rode in the Quad-City Festival of Trees Parade. This parade kicks off an annual Christmas Tree Decorating Event and other activities in my hometown area. It was great seeing the titleholders from Miss Blackhawk Valley and Miss Mississippi Crown. My mom took tons of pictures! I also got to meet Miss Iowa and Miss Iowa's Junior Miss along with the Miss Scott County Titleholders. A big thank you again, to Brad Zude, from Kimberly Car City in Davenport, Iowa, for allowing me to ride in a gorgeous white convertible with only 67 miles on it!
October 31, 2009 | Last night I attended the Children's Miracle Network Fundraising Event for Erin. Along with the help of Erin's family, the Illinois Scholarship Association, was able to raise a lot of money for Children Miracle Network. It was great to see both Erin and Andrea again. Andrea and I sold all of the "Miss Illinois" pins in our basket. There were tons of raffles and a lot of people and food. It was so much fun.
October 19, 2009 | Just yesterday I was in the Moline Dad's Club Halloween Parade, right here in my hometown. It was so much fun to see my Miss Blackhawk Valley sisters and the titleholders from Miss Mississippi Crown. They had great floats which had to do with the "Sci-Fi" theme. A special thank you to Brad Zude, from Kimberly Car City in Davenport, Iowa, for supplying us with a beautiful convertible to ride in. Also, thank you to Rebecca Cutler for arranging this appearance and driving the car. Next up, I will be in Chicago on October 30th to attend the Children's Miracle Network Fundraising Event with Miss Illinois, Erin O'Connor. Please join us for this special evening!
October 3, 2009 | Hello everyone! I just got back from the Miss Illinois Pageant and Judging Seminar and it was fantastic! We had some very important guest speakers. The first one was Taylor Fitch, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2009, who just crowned the new Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2010 just a couple of weeks ago. Taylor is amazing . Other guest speakers were Rick Brinkley, Staci Boyer, Michelle and Nicole Holmes, and Limelight Studios. If you ever have an opportunity to attend a seminar like this again, I recommend that everyone goes. Thank you to the Miss Illinois Staff for hosting this seminar. I had a great time.
September 7, 2009 | I have had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend as Miss Illinois' Outstanding Pre-Teen. I attended the Milan Indian Summer Festival Queen Pageant and rode in the Milan Indian Summer Festival Parade on Saturday. Today I rode in the Rock Island Labor Day Parade, one of biggest parades in our area. I absolutely love Labor Day Weekend because it always falls on, or around, my birthday. I am looking forward to attending the Miss Illinois Pageant and Judging Seminar on October 3rd in Springfield. I hope to see many of you there. Information is available at missillinois.org.
July 22, 2009 | Yesterday was so much fun because I went to the "Home of Superman", in Metropolis Illinois. I had my official pictures taken by Limelight Photography Studio. I will say that I have never been on such a long road trip before. We weren't able to get any outside shots because, again, it was raining, but hopefully we were able to get some great indoor shots! Amy and Sherie, you are amazing. Thank you for a wonderful day. Mom, thank you for not just making me look good, but great, for the pictures. Where would I be without you?
July 20, 2009 | I have been busy appearing as a "Visiting Queen" at many of my home town's local pageants and summer events. On June 23rd, I attended the Miss Henry County Fair Pageant. On July 14th, I attended the Miss Mercer County Fair Pageant, and on July 20th, I attended the Miss Rock Island County Fair Pageant where I performed my talent, "Everything's Coming Up Roses". Congratulations to all the winners at our county fairs. On July 23rd I will be singing the National Anthem at the Rock Island County Fair Senior Division Talent Competition. The talent competitions are very important to me as I won the 2007 Rock Island County Fair Junior Division Talent Competition. Good luck to all the contestants!
July 9, 2009 | Today I spent time with the Miss Blackhawk Valley titleholders. I attended the East Moline Rotary Club and we all performed our talents for them. We spoke about our platforms and the Miss America and Miss Illinois Scholarship programs. Thank you to Nancy Lee, Nola Lueth, and Judy Sawkins for inviting me to attend and thank you to the East Moline Rotary Club for a wonder luncheon, experience, and all of your support with the Miss America Organization.
June 4, 2009 | Happy 4th of July everyone! I went to Arlington Heights today for their 4th of July Parade and to the Arlington Heights Horse Track. This was my first parade as Miss Illinois Outstanding Pre-Teen and it was so much. I have never been to a horse track before so getting to go with my pageant sisters, Andrea and Erin, made it that much better. We had a great time eating fancy foods, signing autographs, and being interviewed in the rain. I had a lot of fun with my two new and great pageant sisters! I also have the best Director ever, Rebecca Cutler. Thank you for setting up this once in a lifetime experience.
June 20, 2009 | Congratulations to Erin O'Connor, for winning the title of Miss Illinois 2009! I am so excited to spend a whole year with you and Andrea Novak, Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen 2009! Congratulations to all of the contestants on doing a wonderful job!
June 19, 2009 | Today I spent the day at the Miss Illinois Pageant. I attended the "Miss Illinois Princess' Practice", and the Princess Luncheon. I had a great time meeting all of the girls. They truly are princesses this weekend and always! The Princess Program is wonderful. Not only did I have fun visiting with them this year, I also participated as a Miss Illinois Princess the past two years. Thank you Laura for putting on this great program. I am very sad to see you leaving as the Director. Good luck to Shelby, the new Director. I know this program is in very good hands.
June 1, 2009 | Wow! I can't believe I was just crowned "Miss Illinois' Outstanding Pre-Teen 2009". It is also an honor to be the first ever Miss Illinois Outstanding Pre-Teen. Competing at State was a lot of fun, but a lot of work too. We checked in on Friday night and went straight to rehearsals. The next day, we had our Interviews in the morning, practice in the afternoon, and made a special appearance at the "Illinois' Got Talent" competition. Sunday was the big day and we had a lot to do. We had a dress rehearsal in the morning and then about one hour to get ready for the pageant. I was so excited when I won! It was very special because everyone I love was there. I want to thank each and every one of them for coming to support me. I am very excited for the year to come and will treasure every moment of it!