Oh hey, Colonel Sanders!

Can I still believe that I am blogging as Miss Delaware?!?!?!............NO.
Since winning Miss Delaware, I have already done so many incredible appearances.  No worries, people.  I am here to fill you in!

1st order of business - CHICKEN FESTIVAL!!

Chicken.  I hear that word and I automatically get hungry.  When I heard I was asked to appear at the Chicken Festival, I only knew two things....I was Miss Delaware...and I like chicken...grilled chicken, fried chicken, Chicken salad, chicken nuggets, barbeque chicken, parmesan chicken, chicken ramen.....seriously, everyone, if you don't want to go run out to Chick-fil-a.....then you should probably just stop reading.  I was escorted by my WONDERFUL business manager, Susan Collins, who took great care of me, even getting me chicken out of the 10 foot frying pan to eat and finding me a hat shaped like a chicken to wear around...typical.  I had the honor of being one of the people "cutting the ribbon" to start the entire festival! In all honesty, it was more of a "pretend to cut the ribbon but just drop it instead" ceremony.  Seriously?!?!  If you are going to go around making giant scissors, the least you could do is make them actually functional! Lame.  But cool, nonetheless.  I left the festival one happy camper!


Stay chill,

         Maria

Senator Carper and I just hanging out...not a big deal or anything...

Myself and Doug, the chick.



THANK YOU!!

Before I go any further, there are some people I absolutely have to thank!!

GOD. "With Him, all things are possible."

Mom and Dad - unreal what you have done for me these past 20 years.  Hopefully, this year, I can make you both even more proud!

Katie, Liz, Joe, Christine, Jack and Annie - the best, most loving, brothers and sisters that one could ever ask for...even though the first word out of your mouths after I won was "VEGAS!!!!" :) I love you guys!

My wonderful aunts, uncles, and other relatives - thank you for all the support you have shown, not just now, but through my whole lifetime.  It means the world to me!!

To my Aquinas Academy family - thank you for teaching me how to stand up for what I believe in, regardless of what anyone says.  Along with my family, you have taught me to stay true to myself and not compromise it for anyone!

Beka, Ali, Kristen, Sam and Catherine - The BEST friends that I could have ever asked for.  Your unconditional love and support no matter what is mindblowing to me. I love you guys so much :) 

My SVC family - you know who you are.  Thank you for sticking by me with or without my crown.  I know you will be in my life forever.  I love you.  Cats lax - I will rep you guys all day long.  Don't even care.

Christina Ryan and the Ryan-Kilcoyne school of Irish Dance - thank you for being my second family.  I love all my girls that I teach and you all make me so proud.

Alyssa, Chelsea, Melissa, and the rest of my Miss Delaware pageant sisters - I can't wait to work at so many events with you guys this year.  You want to eat clompers soon? I'm hungry.

Miss Delaware Board - you have already treated me like I was your own daughter.  Thank you so much for the support you have shown and will continue to show throughout my year.  It is because of you that all of this is possible.

Marisa - THE BEST DIRECTOR I could have asked for.  So proud to have called you my director this year.  Thank you for teaching me the ways of a Miss Delaware and telling me from day 1 when we met at the food court that I could be Miss Delaware. :)

Harry Roosevelt and the Delaware Safety Council - Thank you for taking me under your wing and giving little Miss Rehoboth Beach a chance to make a difference in her community.  I look forward to continuing my work with you to save lives throughout my state and nation.

Regal family - thanks for putting up with my crazy schedule!

My "little sisters" - you will be a part of me my entire life.  Can we have a date to Domino's Pizza soon?

To all those who have supported me with well wishes and prayers - it is these small gestures that makes me so proud to be representing Delaware. I hope to make every single one of you proud.

Anyone else I forgot? Um....just yell at me via text, phone call or blast me over good old facebook and twitter.  I am getting ready to go to an appearance so I will definitely add more...because the minute I leave, I will remember 10 more people.


Stay chill,
         Maria

my wonderful brothers and sisters

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

HI EVERYONE!!! My first blog post as Miss Delaware 2011 :)  These past couple weeks have been absolutely incredible.  The love and support that I have recieved has been overwhelming in the best way possible!!
  
Let me just start off by talking about the actual day I won!  As most people can tell by my COMPLETE LACK of waterproof mascara, I obviously was not expecting to win.  You prepare so much, but you never expect to ever hear your name called as Miss Delaware, let alone on your first try.  Being in the top 2 with my beautiful roommate and friend for Miss Delaware week, Chelsea Lee Ray, was the most incredible feeling....even though it looked like I was going to faint and never wake up.  Hearing my name called was surreal.  For those who don't understand my completely ridiculous reaction...here we go...
       A year ago, I was a sophomore at Saint Vincent College (let's go Cats Lax!!).  I made some of the best friends who remain that way to this day.  I was so happy where I was and looked forward to a great TV internship for my junior year.  Nearing the end of my year, the bomb was dropped that I was not able to go back.  Needless to say, I was completely devastated.  I put my parents through hell and back because of it.  "Everything happens for a reason," was all my mom would say to me.  Yeah...okay...  Months later, I was contacted about the Miss Rehoboth Beach pageant.  I had Irish Danced for 13 years and competed nationally and internationally so I had my talent portion down.  When it came to platform, I chose the Special Olympics.  I had volunteered with them for over 5 years and felt that it would fit in perfectly.  Honestly, was I entering this pageant just for the experience? Maybe.  However, things became a lot more real the day that I won.  The first phone call I got that night was from my older sister.  She told me that her college roommate had been texting while driving, collided into a truck, and was in a coma.  She died a week later.  Less than a month later, I was at an Irish Dance show.  Durng the intermission, my mom called.  She said my sister was coming home from college for Christmas break and had been in a terrible car accident.  Luckily, because she was wearing a seatbelt, she survived.  These two events in my life completely rocked me and my family.  I knew from that point on that "things happen for a reason."  I was given the incredible gift of being Miss Rehoboth to jumpstart what is now "Project 16-26: Drive Safe, Drive Smart," a program that goes into schools and across the state to speak about the importance of safe driving.  Those events, along with numerous others, led me to standing in the top 2 in the Miss Delaware 2011 pageant with the thought "ALL THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON" running through my mind.  Hence the reaction that my friends still make fun of me for....oh well.  
Well, now that I know that my mom was actually speaking the truth, I know that it is God's will that I am where I am.  This year is not only completely dedicated to Him, but to the families that have lost loved ones or have had those closest to them injured because of a car accident.  I can only hope that through my work as Miss Delaware 2011, that lives will be saved because of my story to tell!


Stay chill,
          Maria

ps. ALWAYS wear waterproof mascara...you never know what will happen!

Enjoy some of the pictures from the 70th Anniversary Miss Delaware 2011 pageant :))

Opening number!

Preliminary swimsuit winner! (my secret? Eat more big macs. Then run it off.)

Talent (Lord of the Dance! and the Lord only knows what face I am making...)

Preliminary Evening Gown Winner (Thank you Debbie and The Red Carpet)

Top 5!! (aka. the only picture that I don't look I am about to pass out)

Top 5 question (that I practially bombed...fail.)

Announced the winner!! (Chelsea, you were an incredible friend and roommate!!)

The reaction you just read about...Good Golly...

"The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him."
Exodus 15:2

Congrats to our new Miss Delaware

Top Ten Finalists! Way to Go Girls!

Chelsea Lee Ray

Jessica Tilley

Erin Magnin

Marci Smith
Kristina Maynard
Stephanie Bailey

Maria Cahill

Steffi Homes

Alysaa Murray

Chelsa Betts

#NY4Marriage

You've seen it on my twitter (@clairebuff) many times as I have retweeted and posted some of my favorite videos for Marriage Equality by the Human Rights Campaign.  Here's another....well and maybe a few more favs while I'm at it :)

Broadway Actors for Marriage Equality -- GO Broadway Impact! Jenny, Rory & Gavin!



Vanessa Williams - former Miss NY & Miss America!



Sean Avery - NY Rangers Hockey Player



And of course, every day New Yorkers -- 58% of them.



Oh yeah... and I did one too :)

Miss New York Announces Top 11!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Miss New York Organization is happy to announce that there will be a TOP 11 announced on Saturday June 18, 2011 in the final night of competition for Miss New York at The St. George Theater.

The contestant receiving the highest number of FAVORITE CONTESTANT votes will make this year's TOP 11 and have a chance to compete to become Miss NY 2011.

To Vote click here: http://missny.org/2011Pageant/votefav.html

Votes are only $1.00 each, but you may vote as many times or in whatever quantity you want! Voting will close Friday evening, June 17th, following the Miss NY Preliminary. Voting will be available at the St. George before and during intermission at the Friday night show. The 2011 favorite contestant will be announced at the Miss NY Gala where she will receive an additional scholarship for this award.

It will not be announced during the Miss NY finals, who the favorite contestant is.....this will add greatly to the excitement of the Miss NY Competition.

Spread the word and GET OUT THE VOTE!!!