Quality of LIfe Finalists...

Whew! Sorry I didn't get a post up yesterday - I was busy taking the final day I had (in good weather) to do some last minute shopping in Denver before heading to Vegas this week. I'm excited to say I've found some excellent bargains in shoes, handbags, jewelry and dresses (yes, I said dresses). In fact, I don't think I bought this many dresses since I was competing umpteen years ago (yes, there will be photos).

But I digress - It's time to 'catch up' on a few posts - so let's get this party started!

This post is about the Quality of Life Finalists for 2011. For those of you who are new to the whole Miss America Junkie posse --- The QoL award is given to the state who has "excelled in their commitment to enhance the Quality of Life for others through volunteerism and community service." In essence, every state has a 'cause' they personally choose to champion for their year as "Miss State". According to the Miss America website, the QoL winner is determined based on "depth of service, creativity in the project and the significant effects upon the lives of others." The photo is of this year's finalists - and their 'causes' include:

Miss Delaware Kayla Martell - Alopecia Areata Support & Awareness

Miss Florida Jaclyn Raulerson - Stop Bullying Now!

Miss Georgia Christina McCauley - "Let's Get it Straight" - Scoliosis Awareness

Miss Maryland Lindsay Staniszewski - Beyond Beauty: Building Self-Esteem and Positive Body Image in Girls

Miss Michigan Katie Lynn LaRoche - Bringing Awareness to Human Trafficking

Miss Minnesota Kathryn Knuttila - Inspiring America

Miss New Jersey Ashleigh Udalovas - Read to Succeed: Improving America's Future through Literacy

Miss Virginia Caitlin Uze - Uniquely You - Building Positive Self-Image

The Quality of Life finalists don't determine the Top 10 or who is likely to win on Saturday night --- but it does mean these girls have a great deal of actual substance to talk about during their personal interview with the judges. So - keep 'em in mind, but don't automatically go to the 'big dance' with one of these girls just yet! :)

More Posts to come! Have you been doing your research??? Everything you need is at one of these websites:

MissAmerica.org (although, it's really slow)
Miss America Organization on Facebook (look under the VIDEO CONTEST tab!!! or just the regular wall has lots of videos and photos)
TFTJ.com (stands for 'Turn For the Judges' - look up individual states in the right year)
AbbyBollenbacher.blogspot.com (i've been following Abby Bollenbacher for a few years - she seems to share my level of obsession from Ohio)

OK - more pictures to come! Stay Tuned!!! :)

crl

I Flip for Elvis and Miss America!!!

From "Marketwire"...

"In what could easily be described as playful pancake pandemonium, all 53 Miss America 2011 Contestants got "all shook up" in Las Vegas this morning as they joined together for the ultimate pancake breakfast announcing their support of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and their upcoming IHOP National Pancake Day fundraising effort set for March 1, 2011..."

Check out these photos!!! Seriously - Who doesn't love Elvis, Miss America and Pancakes???

More posts are on their way - but I wanted you to check these out first! :)

Bring on the Butter!

crl

P.S. - You can click on each photo to get a larger view!!!

Contestant Arrival Day!!!

Whoooooo Hoooooooo for the first day of introductions to the Ladies who would be Miss America! I've got a couple of photos here as well... these aren't official press photos, they're actually photos I found on Facebook from different 'fan' pages. BTW - you don't have to be an official 'fan' to see the Miss America Organization, or many of the "Miss States"... just look up Miss America, Miss Kansas, Miss Colorado, etc in your 'search friends' box and you'll be able to have a different peek at your favorite contestants (since I know all of you are desperately looking for new ways to get pertinent information before you choose your Top 15 - lol!).

Love the photo of (from left to right) Miss North Carolina, Miss Connecticut and Miss Colorado who were all on the same plane on their way to Vegas! Also - you can see all the contestants together outside Planet Hollywood for their 'Welcome Ceremony'. They were welcomed by Boyz II Men --- and if you have 34 minutes to kill, you can see the entire video of every contestant on the Miss America Facebook page (not super interesting even for me, so i'm guessing you'd have to be an insomniac to put yourself through it).

ALSO - you can start checking out videos created by the girls themselves on the Miss America Facebook page under "VIDEO CONTEST"... some are impressive, some not so much. As I've said before... Videos are a great opportunity to get a sneak peek at each girl before the whole pageant actually begins... and this is your chance to see who's well-spoken and who's a bimbo. :) Check it out here:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/MissAmericaOrganization?v=app_10442206389

So - Enjoy the Videos and start the short-list on your Top 15! We start preliminaries on Tuesday!!!

Until Next Time!

crl

Miss America Crownings 1957-2007

This is a Fabulous Video of the Miss America crowing moments from 1957 - 2007!!! I had no idea they used to crown Miss America while she was sitting down!?! And I'm lovin the White Gloves! I've started quizzing myself on how many of the 'runner ups' I recognize - not just the winners themselves!!! :)

P.S. - The Contestants arrive in Vegas TOMORROW (Thursday) --- which means my posts will start to pick up! It's all about to get VERY EXCITING!!! :)

crl

See ya later, NY!

Wow, New York, you have sent me off in style with unbelievable support, encouragement and motivation.  Last night was the final send off party at Therapy in New York City before I head to Vegas.  My mom was here for a few days to help me pack; I had a final rehearsal and walk through with directors and friends; and I was back on national television with Thomas Roberts.  How lucky am I?  

So many people came out on Monday night to support me - huge thanks to Appolonia Cruz and Scott Alan for performing, as well as my surprise from John Flannigan.  You picked such perfect songs to sing with such beautiful thought behind each one.  Thank you to the Miss New York board of directors who were all present, in I <3 Miss NY t-shirts, and just full of warm hugs and wishes.  Thank you to my roommates who have put up with dresses and suitcases strewn about our little NYC apartment, and JoJo for helping me make that mess! I said it at the party, but every single person that was there who evening and those with whom I have come in contact in the past 6 months has affected me in a way that will make me a greater person in life, and at Miss America.  I can't believe it's here, but I am ready.  (Ok, I still need to finish packing, get an airbrush tan, manicure and pedicure, but I'm pretty ready.)

In New York, I have the world at my fingertips, and that, almost more than anything, has prepared me for this job of Miss America.  I am humbled, honored, ecstatic, and fired up to represent the best state in this country with a message that resonates in New York and must spill into the rest of the country.  Because I'm in this great city, I have access to things like national television outlets and fantastic people like Thomas Roberts, who has supported me unconditionally in this venture.  So on my day before departing for Las Vegas, I headed over to Vartali Salon for a new cut and color, and there was an MSNBC car waiting for me downstairs to take me straight to Rockefeller Center for this live interview.   

Thanks for watching, thanks for voting, thanks for supporting and thanks for loving.   I'll be tweeting, [hopefully] blogging, and maybe even some v-logging with the amazing girls at Miss America - check in during this exciting week!  See you on the flipside :) 

"Pack up all my care and woe,

Here I go

Singing low

Bye, bye, blackbird."

Final Update before the Miss America 2011 Pageant

Hello everyone,

I wanted to write an update to let you all know what I have been up to since my last post. The past few weeks have been incredibly busy, and yet it feels like they have flown by so quickly. Somehow, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years came and went! And this Thursday morning I will be on a plane headed for Las Vegas, NV to represent my home state in the Miss America Pageant!

November ended as quickly as it began; I celebrated Thanksgiving morning in the Philadelphia Parade on ABC with our own Miss America 2010, Caressa Cameron, and my sister titleholders, Miss New Jersey and Miss Pennsylvania. It was such a treat to spend time on the warm tour bus with the girls, and catch up. After the parade, my Executive Director and I were on the road again, headed home to celebrate all that I am thankful for, with my family. This year I am thankful to have the chance to live out my dream of becoming Miss America. And I am thankful to have loving supporters from all over the world and even in my own small town. And I am thankful for the power of prayer and for the freedom that we are privileged to have every day thanks to the brave men and women giving their lives to protect our country.

After Thanksgiving, I attended a three parades- including the Wilmington Parade where I was so thrilled to share the day with a close friend, Miss DE USA 2009, Julie Citro. I was also able to support a few friends in the Miss DE USA Pageant, speak with several local groups including the Sussex County Council, and even perform in "The Nutcracker" in my hometown company, the Diamond Dance Company. I held a few parts including the "Dream Fairy"- which has always been my favorite piece!

Throughout December I continued to rehearse my talent selection, workout in the gym with Brittany, have wardrobe fittings, meet with mock interview panels, my hair stylist, and a makeup artist (Tiffani Mitchell- check her out!). It certainly was not as easy as that sentence may read, but I know now that all the hard work is behind me and I have done all I can. From here, I plan to do my very best in each phase of competition, stay positive, and give it to God. Because, I know He has a greater plan for all of us.

Some of my favorite appearances this season were spent with the Delaware State Police. No... I wasn't in any trouble! But, I was sure to ask if my crown could ever get me out of a speeding ticket! Completely hypothetical :) State Police Troop 3 from Camden and I visited local special needs classrooms for children of all ages from 5-21, and we even visited the pediatric floor at Kent General Hospital. While there, Santa, Spiderman, Rudolph and myself along with dressed troopers delivered presents and holiday cheer. The next day, members of Troop 1, and all the characters listed before visited A.I. DuPont Children's Hospital with me and we spent the entire day going from room to room sharing the holiday spirit. I had no idea how emotional this process could be, even though I have been through room visits before. One of the children became overjoyed when I entered the room and she had been waiting for me all day! She announced over and over, "Miss America, Miss America!!!" She had lost her hair as a side effect of chemotherapy, and it was a joy to tell her that I, too had lost my hair. Experiences like this just warm my heart, and remind me of the power of the crown. Her entire room had been decorated in a Princess theme and I knew that she dreamed of becoming Miss America one day. I had the unique opportunity to show her that her dream can come true, regardless of how many strands of hair she has right now.

Also, in December I had quite a busy weekend filled with traveling to Johnstown, Pennsylvania to pick up all of my Miss America wardrobe from The Bridal Suite, perform at their town's Christmas Pageant and ride in the parade with my new friend- Cali, Miss West Virginia! My Executive Director and I rushed home to Delaware to celebrate my send-off to Miss America with friends, family and supporters. A new friend, and fellow "baldie", Candie was surprised by her boyfriend with a trip to meet me and see all of my wardrobe at the send-off! I was in tears the minute I heard how far she had travelled just to meet me. Thank you Candie, for making the trip- YOU are beautiful on the inside and out!

In the past few weeks I have been able to visit with all of my incredible sponsors including Salon Rispoli to be sure my hair is perfect, Sun Dazed Tanning to give my skin a healthy glow, Webster Cosmetic Dentistry for a straighter and whiter smile, Brittany Dempsey at Lifestyles Fitness Center for a slim and fit swimsuit body, and celebrity stylist, Christie Maruka from Fashion Fix NJ for providing my wardrobe for the Miss America appearances! Thank you all for your all of your support and for believing in me, even before I became Miss Delaware! And thank you to Ronnie and Deborah from The Bridal Suite for providing my beautiful evening gowns and cocktail pieces that I love so much! I feel like Miss America already!

To bring you fully up to date, I have been on a local media tour lately on local radio stations, television stations and local newspapers to promote the pageant and the chance to vote for the "People's Choice Award". The next two days will be filled with packing, and taking care of a few last minute things before I leave for Las Vegas!

Please know that it has been my honor to be your Miss Delaware, and I get chills up and down my spine with a big smile on my face when I think of the opportunity that lies ahead of me. I still am in awe that I could be your Miss America in less than two weeks. I know that I am ready, and I have done all that I can to be the best version of myself. Your love and support has meant the world to me, and without all of you, I would not feel as confident or prepared as I feel now. Please continue to keep me in your prayers and of course--- keep voting!!! :) If you haven't voted yet, there is still time! Voting closes January 13th!

Be sure to watch me compete LIVE in the Miss America Pageant January 15th on ABC at 9pm Eastern Time. I hope to make all of you proud!

God bless you all and may 2011 be the best year yet!

With all my love-

Your Miss Delaware,

Kayla Martell

First Post for Miss America 2011!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen...

Everyone's favorite time of year is just around the corner... That special time when we all unite around a common purpose and love for all things that sparkle! Yes - it's time to Crown a NEW MISS AMERICA!!!

In multiple years past, I've compiled emails for friends and family which I've sent out daily. But this year, rather than bothering your inbox with my silly, but exceptionally thoughtful emails, I decided to officially begin this blog. Just for fun, I'm going to post some of my emails from previous years (kinda like a high-light reel for pageant people) so we can re-live some of the bright spots as well as the big upsets (can we say, Vermont and "Talent Winner" in the same sentence?). Might be a bit confusing, but I'll do my best!

Also - This year, I'm THRILLED to report that I'll be making the trip to Las Vegas, to watch the 90th Anniversary of Miss America Live and IN PERSON! Not only that, but I'll be reporting live for my radio station - which means I'm hoping to get even more inside scoop than normal! Perfect time to launch a blog --- I'm sure you'll never be the same! :)

So - get ready! The big day is January 15th on ABC! OH - and please note... this year, "DSW PRESENTS... Miss America!" Two of my favorite brands partnering together for Fabulous-ness!!! :)

Now... back to hunting down my tiara... :)

crl