My Last Miss America Post...for now

The women I spent pageant week seeing and sharing with were more than just my roommates Miss Wisconsin and Miss Minnesota.  These amazing women were truly a force and walking in a group with them, anywhere, made doors open and heads turn.  Yet able to command the presence of a room, they were equally skilled at being the kindest and most humble people in the room as well.

Along the way we found Miss Louisiana.  She looked like she had just stepped off the cover of a magazine and oddly enough we did find an outfit or two of hers featured in magazines.  A blond bombshell and mom who spends most of her year tending to her rough and tumble boys but spends a week each year unwinding in the glitter and glamour of the Miss America Pageant.  She is still active in the organization and as we walked around Planet Hollywood, she knew every face and they knew her.

Miss Pennsylvania showed up with her husband in tow.  One time we even had him pose as our official photographer.  The poor guy just wanted to get away but he was kind enough to take a photo with each of our cameras.  She is a tiny knockout brunette with a smile to brighten even the darkest room.  Standing in her presence made me feel like a ray of sunshine was always present.  Her conversation was always positive and filled with joy.  She often thanked her Heavenly Father for His many blessings and although she shone like a star, she was generous with her sunshine.

Miss Delaware was my partner when we walked over the big staircase at Miss America for the opening number and we spent many hours side by side fifteen years ago.  We would go on to attend the same university and continue to be friends over the fifteen year spread.  She is about a foot taller and has a tremendous presence.  She commands attention upon entering a room and her laugh is infectious.  She is in the business of show business and can be found doing all sorts of things.  Even though we are grown up, I still feel like her big sister.

Miss Rhode Island also stands tall and yet her presence is quite different than that of Miss Delaware.  Miss Rhode Island enters a room with a soft spotlight on her.  I watched many eyes focus on her as we entered and exited different venues.  She doesn't strut but rather glides through a room.  She smiles often and when she does her eyes twinkle.  As we discussed our dreams and aspirations we found out she had a few movie credits under her belt.  All of us promised to watch the movies upon our return thrilled that we were standing in the presence of a real live STAR!!

from front to back...LA, WI, RI, PA, MN, CT, OK, DE, DC (CA is missing)

Miss California went on to hold many titles in the pageant world, but currently is the mother to two girls whom she and her husband adopted after fostering for a few years.  To hear her journey made my heart ache, but to watch her smile at the mere mention of her children made me equally joyful.  She told stories of the pains and the joys of raising children who were drug exposed.  You hear about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and even smoke to an unborn child, but this woman and her sweet husband chose to raise these children as their own.  From the accounts she shared, it is NOTHING like raising healthy children. Her smile is still broad and she has even talked about opening her home again.  These two children are not her first experience, but they are the only two who have joined her family on a permanent basis.  She actually has a teaching degree but has decided to keep a more flexible schedule and works with an organization that trains children in etiquette.  She won the preliminary swimsuit competition in my group fifteen years ago and she still looks THAT good!

Miss Oklahoma looks a little different than she did fifteen years ago only because her hair is darker and longer now.  She still looks like a supermodel and has fulfilled her goals of becoming an attorney.  We like to call her Jerry Maguire as that is the sort of work she does today.  She was only able to spend one evening with us and that had truly been her only vacation in the past fifteen years.  She spoke softly and directly with a perfectly painted smile and honesty in her eyes.  Although young, she had the ease and nurturing spirit of a mother three times her age.  Due to her high stress life and job she is only a mother to her clients, but as I sat with her and listened to her words I am confident they are in excellent hands.

Miss District of Colombia wasn't too far away and easy to spot because everyone around her was constantly laughing.  She has a sharp and witty sense of humor and being in the news business, she was full of current events and information.  She is involved in all sorts of media endeavors.  I can remember Miss DC being the source of much laughter during our pageant days which has not changed a bit.

If you took the time to get a group of girls from college fifteen years ago and sit in a room to hear about their lives, I am certain you will find them more beautiful than they were in college.  Granted, we had fewer wrinkles and less body fat back then, but with wrinkles comes wisdom and grace.  Take time to reinvest in those special girls from long ago or even to a group of current moms and learn why they are inspiring.  I promise you will not be disappointed by the stories or wisdom they have to share.  You might find out that although beautiful on the outside, they are that much more so on the inside.  Thank you ladies for an unforgettable week that I will put on the records as being as impressive as my original visit to Miss America.