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Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Maple City pageant?
I competed at Miss Maple
City in February of 2007, because not only did the pageant date work
with my school schedule; I had heard good things about the local director(s). I wanted to be a part of a good team that was
going to help me succeed and support me at Miss Ohio (whether
I won or not).
What was going through your
head when you were announced as the new Miss Maple City?
I was truly surprised when they called my name for MMC! There were twenty wonderful young women competing that weekend
and I felt very honored & privileged to have been chosen to represent not only the Norwalk (Ohio) community, but also
to represent those young ladies whom I shared the stage with.
Tell us about your platform, “Change Our World: Build Character”.
I like to think my platform title is self explanatory, we can “change our world” by “building character.”
I am absolutely “in love” with my platform. It’s all about teaching young people the difference between
right & wrong, helping them make the right decisions, sharing with them what character truly is and establishing character
ed programs. People have asked why I chose to visit schools & bring my program to schools & not to parents. I tell
them it’s because I can be in every school, but I can’t be in every home. Character is something that is caught,
not taught. We need to develop and support character education programs for generations to come, because those students in
elementary & middle schools today; are our future leaders.
You participated in the reality
show, “Miss America: Reality Check”.
Tell us about your experience on the show.
Fun! Although, it’s not true “reality.” They tell you what to say & if they miss something on
camera they’ll tell you to recreate it! It was an extremely memorable experience, one that I’ll cherish forever.
I got to spend two weeks in a mansion in Southern California with my fellow Miss America contestants & 24/7 catering, filming a t.v. show! What else could a
girl ask for?!
What
would be your most memorable moment at Miss America?
My
most memorable moment was backstage in Vegas with Kirsten Haglund (Miss America 2008). She wasn’t Miss America then, though. We were rehearsing, I was sitting on
the steps & she was standing in front of me. To relieve some pressure off her feet from her Christian Louboutin’s,
she placed her hands on my knees and we just started chatting. I told her I thought she was going to do really well &
that I thought she “had it.” She just looked at me funny, made a silly noise through her mouth & we went on
talking!
When did you start singing
and how did you get into it?
I started singing at the age of 9. The first song I ever sang on stage was “Part of Your World” from The
Little Mermaid! My mom definitely encouraged me to get into singing, acting & dancing. I tried out for a song & dance
group called Y.E.S. Productions, which meant Youth Excellence & Service. We traveled across Ohio
& Pennsylvania performing at schools, DARE functions,
festivals, etc.; singing out about saying no to drugs & alcohol! I’m so thankful my mother drove me to countless
rehearsals, voice lessons and supported me every step of the way. I’ve been singing for nearly 16 years now!
What would be your most memorable
moment as Miss Ohio?
I will remember every second of Miss Ohio! From the
moment they called my name as Miss Ohio 2007 to the moment they named my successor (Karissa Martin, Miss Ohio 2008)! I probably
took 50,000 photos over my year, to help me remember because it’s something I never want to forget. I was able to make
over 250 appearances, travel over 30K miles within the Great State
of Ohio & travel over 20K miles outside the State of Ohio! Getting to compete in Las Vegas at Miss America, shaking hands with Barack Obama, speaking at the
National Character Counts! Conference in Anaheim, meeting
OSU legends like Coach Tressel, Gordon Gee, Mike Nugent & Eddie George. Everything!
Do you think you made a difference
during your reign as Miss Ohio?
I’m very humbled by this question. I hope that I left something as
Miss Ohio 2007. Aside from the additional scholarships I helped raise for MOSP and the donation of an apartment and vehicle
for the new Miss Ohio, I like to think I somehow continued
to raise that bar that each Miss Ohio before me had set.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss Ohio
ended?
It’s been a little over a year since I gave up my crown. I’m taking classes full-time in my final year
at Ohio State University. I work part-time for Fisher College of Business (at OSU) in the graduate
programs office and at a beautiful assisted living community where I assist with recreation/activities. I continually travel
the state making appearances and talking to students about good character. I’m on the steering committee & board
with Ohio Partners in Character Education, where I’m helping to plan a trip to Orrville,
OH; in September to visit the Heartland Character Chamber. I got married! And
we bought a house! I’m keeping myself very busy, and keeping myself sane, I can do so because of all my work as Miss
Ohio!
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