Opening Number!
Where do I even start to begin? This time last week, I was
rushing through my days, trying to squeeze in all of my last minute pageant
preparations. There was a trip to the nail salon to have my fingers & toes
painted the perfect nude shade, a trip to the Ah Spa to have my hair styled by
Annie (a true hair artist who I am also glad to call a supportive, caring, and
ultra-stylish friend), even a run to Sephora to pick up some last minute
must-haves (liquid eyeliner and tan-in-a-can, if you’re wondering). When Friday
arrived, it was time to wake up ultra-early and start the trek to the Thousand
Islands. I say trek because instead of driving straight up, we had a very
important pit stop to make—my sister’s road test in Herkimer, NY. By the time
my mother, sister, fellow pageant sister Ashley and I arrived in Clayton, NY,
we were pretty exhausted—but so excited for pageant weekend to begin!
From the start of rehearsals on Friday evening, it was clear
that we were all a part of something very special. I can honestly say that this
was the strongest group of girls that I have ever competed with. That is a
pretty serious claim, considering I’ve competed in the past with girls who have
gone on to win their state title! But what made this group of young ladies so
special was the fact that I really believe that each and every one of us was at
the top of our game this past weekend. We all realized quickly that this was
not a pageant that we would want to judge—each girl brought something special
to the table, and each of us would have made the region proud as Miss Thousand
Islands.
All of the lovely ladies competing, our fabulous hosts, stunning star princesses, and reigning royalty!
That being said, the judges definitely got it right in
crowning Olivia Grant Miss Thousand Islands 2014! I was fortunate enough to
share a dressing room with Olivia (and some other fabulous gals) this past
weekend, and she is beautiful inside and out. I know that is a cliché saying,
but just meet Olivia, and you’ll know why I chose it. Her platform is unedited
beauty, and it is all about shattering the idea that there is just one mold for
beauty in our society and embracing the fact that everyone is beautiful in
their own unique way. She has an amazing voice (and I had to sing right after
her, a tough act to follow!) and she sparkled on stage in each area of
competition. I am looking forward to following her year of service, because it
is clear that she is going to do great things.
3RU Madison, Me, 1RU Michela, Miss TI 2014 Olivia, Miss TI 2013 Lonna, and Miss NY 2013 Nina!
Olivia took home the crown on Saturday, but other special
awards were given out as well. Kristina Blackstock was our Miracle Maker (she
raised the most money for the Children’s Miracle Network), Madison Manuel was the
Community Service Award winner and 3rd runner up, and Michela Moe
was the Talent Award winner and 1st runner up. I was incredibly
excited to have my personal best plaement EVER at an MAO local, as I won the
Interview Award and placed 2nd runner up. I have had a goofy smile
on my face since Saturday, because I couldn’t be happier with my performance
this weekend. However, my weekend would not have been as wonderful without
those around me making it so special:
Dad, Mom, and Shannon: Thank you so much for putting up with
my pageant preparations, particularly over the past few weeks! I know that you
are glad that I am finally leaving you “On Your Own”, without requesting your
feedback on my non-stop talent rehearsals.
Peter and Laura: Again, I can’t thank you enough for taking
the time to drive up and watch me compete! It meant so much to me to share my
special weekend with you.
Chris: You are a miracle worker who took my talent
performance to the next level in under an hour. You are always there to support
me in whatever pageant road I decide to walk down, and your kindness and
friendship has meant so much to me over the last year. I can’t wait to start
preparing for the next locals with you!
Shelby, Sue, and Gary: Thank you for giving so much of your
time, your money, your efforts, your energy, and your passion towards running
the Miss Thousand Islands Organization. You run, without a doubt, the most incredible
local in the Empire State. You treated all of us competitors like we were
winners from the start, supported us in our journey, and because of you, we all
walked away from the Opera House this weekend a better version of ourselves.
Lonna: It is clear that you committed to making an impact as
Miss Thousand Islands, and I think that each and every one of us competing
learned something from you this weekend. You are strong, you are smart, and you
are stylish. It is sad to see you leave the world of pageantry, because I think
I would have absolutely loved the chance to compete with you at a state
pageant, but I wish you nothing but success and happiness as you move on to
your future!
Katherine: I am so glad we got to compete together after
being twitter friends for so long. I love the genuine passion you bring to your
talent performance. I also love your honesty and great advice! I look forward to
continuing our tweeting and seeing you succeed in the future.
Kristina: You had me laughing all weekend, and you deserved
your Miss Congeniality award (I totally voted for you!) I wish that we lived
closer together, but I will be letting you know whenever I’m your area so that
I can come pig out on cookie dough with you!
Morgan: As a former Miss TI, you knew the ropes and helped
all of us out this weekend. You carry yourself with grace, and your passion for
CMN and MAO is evident to everyone you meet. I am so glad to have met a fellow
hospital sister and will hopefully see you at future Miss TI events!
Ashley: Thank you for putting up with our crazy ride
upstate! You are wise beyond your years and I know that you have an incredible
future awaiting you, both in pageants and other areas of your life. Don’t ever
give up on your pageant dreams, because I want nothing more than to come cheer
you on like a crazy lady when you next compete!
Emily: I am obsessed with your hair and your awesome dance
moves! You are so kind and sweet, and I will be cheering you on as you continue
to compete this year!
Taylor: You have a truly beautiful voice and a great sense
of style! I hope that your move to NYC brings you nothing but happiness, and I
hope that we will be seeing each other on the stage at NYC locals this spring!
Madison: You impressed me from workshop because while
you might be young, you command attention both on and off the stage. You are
passionate about helping others, have an awesome talent, and a haircut I am
insanely jealous of. I cannot wait to see you continue to compete, because you
are going to be a force to be reckoned with!
Michela: I love the fact that you have brought your island
attitude and dance moves to New York! You are a great competitor, and you have
the same aura of class and style that your icon, Kate Middleton, has. Have a
great senior year—I’m hoping it involves a trip to Miss NY at the end of it!
Vern & Julia: You both are the perfect combination of
beauty, style, sweetness, and sass. You had me cracking up back stage one
minute, and practically tearing up the next because of your kind words. You
both are going to kick butt on the Miss NY stage in a couple of years, and when
you do, I will be your biggest fans.
The Miss TI Organization: I could keep going on and on with
individual thanks, but there are so many people involved with Miss TI that this
would turn into a novel instead of a blog post. To the board, thank you for
your support in ensuring that pageant weekend is a success for all of the
girls. I appreciated your input at workshop and your smiles and kind words
throughout pageant weekend. To the former titleholders (Ann, Alison, Corri,
Kristina, Kristan): WOW. Not only do you all still look like you could win the
pageant, but you are incredibly kind and it meant so much to me that you
continue to give back to the pageant year after year. Thank you for your help
both on and offstage and for continuing to be examples in the community after
your reigns came to an end. To everyone who helped backstage, to the sponsors
who provided our meals, to the parents, to the local community, THANK YOU. This
weekend could not have been so special without each and every one of you.
This is a long post, yet it still does not come close to
matching the outpouring of love and support that I encountered this weekend.
The Miss Thousand Islands Organization is truly special, and I look forward to
supporting them in the years to come.
My favorite picture of the evening! I think it is very clear how genuinely happy we all are for Olivia!
For now, it’s time to hang up my dresses and unwind. But
before you know it, local pageant season will be in full swing. I am looking
forward to continuing to give it my all this year, and hoping with all of my
heart that you will see me on stage with Olivia this summer as a fellow
competitor!
Love,
Sarah
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