Miss America 2012

Wow…What a whirlwind! I feel like I was leaving for the airport only a few days ago anxious and excited for what the week would bring. Hours of rehearsal, and 3 full cans of hairspray later the pageant is over but the memories I made will last a lifetime.

We did on site filming all over Las Vegas–the Wynn, Bellagio, Palms, Fremont Street, and the Cosmopolitan. We even got to watch Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian! It’s by far one of my favorite shows of all time, but watching it in Vegas was a whole new experience.

One thing that I really loved about our Miss America Class of 2012 was that we all got along really well. There wasn’t a division among the girls and even after preliminaries began, jealousy issues didn’t surface. I have never been in a pageant, or situation where 53 women got along so well. I became especially good friends with a few of the girls and I know we will stay close for a very long time because we all share a bond…we have experienced something so wonderful, exciting, nerve-racking, and emotionally draining together. No past or future group of Miss State’s experienced exactly what we did together and for that reason I believe we will always be close. We laughed together, cried together, boosted each others confidence, and we prayed together.

My prayer leading up to Miss America, and all through Miss America week was that God would allow me to have no regrets. I knew that I had done the preparation I needed to feel my absolute best and it was time to give it all to Him. I prayed that the words I spoke, the questions I answered, the way I carried myself, and even my dance would all be a reflection of Him and His will for my life. I prayed that whoever wore the crown of Miss America, whether it was me or not, would give Him the glory and that she would have a heart for Him. That prayer couldn’t have been answered any more clearly. I got to know Laura in Orlando during MAOT, and she truly has a heart of gold. She wouldn’t dream of speaking ill of anyone. I think it’s obvious from watching her compete in Miss America that she is a genuine, gracious, and humble woman. I am so proud to call her my MAO class sister, my friend, and our new Miss America!

I know in my heart that God’s will is definitely at work in my life. His plans for me are more magnificent that anything I could ever imagine!

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11

God has truly blessed my life! I left Miss America with the honor of being America’s Choice, a preliminary talent winner, 1st Runner Up to Miss America 2012 and $27,000 in scholarship in addition to my Miss Oklahoma scholarship! I’m so blessed to be home in Oklahoma, where the land really is grand, our “waving wheat” is ORANGE and sweet, and our THUNDER rolls!!!!!