Miss America's Outstanding Teen

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

I am finally feeling better after 14 days of being sick! I started feeling sick during the last few days of modeling for Sherri Hill, and it only continued to get worse in Orlando at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. However, I AM SO PROUD OF JAMESON!!

 To recap the trip: I left on Tuesday with two of my local directors (also Jameson’s local directors) and my mom (who adores Jameson). I rode down with them the whole way and basically just slept. I contributed to a few of the conversations in my deep, raspy voice. ;-) We arrived to the hotel around 4:00pm on Tuesday and quickly got ready for the first night of preliminaries. Jameson was doing fitness that night. It was really enjoyable to briefly meet the 2013 Miss America class in the lobby of the theater. Everyone was so welcoming and excited to be there! We all sat together to watch the show, and it was indeed a show. Jameson looked great in her fitness routine. I am pretty sure anyone in the audience would have loved to be able to do push-ups like Jameson’s! It was such a relief to finally see Jameson at visitation after night one of preliminaries. It was so hard not being able to text and call her all week, let alone only being able to see her thirty minutes a night.

Wednesday mainly consisted of staying in bed and resting. I had nothing scheduled until 4:45pm, so I took full advantage of the down time! At 4:45pm, I went downstairs to my Artistry by Amway consultation. It was such a privilege to be there and to receive a great Artistry gift bag. I got their travel-sized skin-care system, blemish control cream, their famous light-up lip gloss, and a whole make-up set! Let me just say, my skin LOVES it all…especially the toner that came with the skin-care set. After we got surprise gifts, we had individual meetings, a mini photo-shoot, and some make-up application tips. Who has ever thought to use mascara as a finishing eyeliner?! Get a fine point brush, stick it in your mascara tube, and apply it to your lash line. It instantly makes your eyes pop. After my consultation, we headed to the theater for night two of preliminaries. Jameson had talent that night, and she left everyone speechless. She ended up tying with Miss Arkansas’s Outstanding Teen for the talent preliminary award. Needless to say, I was one happy “sister.” After the show, all of the Miss contestants had a meeting with the Miss America board. It really hit me that night: sitting in a room with 52 other beautiful, talented, and smart women listening to Art McMaster and Sam Haskell speak about the Miss America competition week was quite surreal. I think all of the women would say the same thing. There was a general thought of “is this real!?”

 

Thursday was a great day to spend time with my Miss America sisters and make a decision about my swimsuit choice. We had a welcome meeting in the morning and a sponsor meeting in the afternoon. Catalina, the first swimsuit sponsor for Miss America, is sponsoring swimsuits again! They had preview options available, and we were able to pick two options to send in. I am oh so excited about the two options I chose. Another fun fact: the exact swimsuits that the contestants will be wearing at Miss America will be available for purchase in Walmart next spring: pretty convenient. Thanks to the Miss Florida board and Regalia, the contestants were then treated to a delicious dinner at Maggianos Italian Resturant. The Thursday preliminary show was extra fun. All of the Miss contestants got to introduce themselves on stage, and while I loved it, my voice sounded about nine octaves lower than it normally does, combined with a lot of “raspy-ness.” I felt it necessary to explain to the audience that I was sick and I didn’t always sound like that- thank goodness. Jameson looked stunning in her evening gown. She was the epitome of grace, beauty, and pure joy!

 Friday was another busy but fun day. We started the morning off with an extremely informative meeting. Everything from production, to rules, to life as Miss America was covered. Laura Kaeppeler, the current Miss America, spoke to all of us. I will write more about her speech in another post; however, I could not help but sit there in awe listening to her. Not only at her ability to convey her thoughts, but also at the reality of the job she holds. She said everything I wanted to hear: especially the part about Miss America being a totally selfless year. We had a break after the meeting, and it was then off to Disney World. It was a night filled with laughter, bonding, pictures, good food, and screams (the screaming did not help my voice!).

Saturday morning started off with a really exciting interview and a great lunch with two people from the Miss Georgia board. The day went by so quickly…I think the anticipation of final night was helping the time pass! We headed to final night not knowing the outcome but already so proud of Jameson. She made the first cut for top 15, and then the top 8. Our excitement was becoming hard to contain! By the end of the night, Jameson was named 3^rd runner-up, and Miss South Carolina’s Outstanding Teen was named Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. Jameson walked away with roughly $7,500 in scholarship money, as well as a full ride scholarship to Troy University. I can honestly say I have never seen so many intelligent, talented, beautiful, and sincere teens all in one place. The Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Organization is one I wish I had been a part of.

Leaving Orlando was bittersweet. I knew it would be awhile until I got to see Jameson again, but I also knew I would get some much needed rest to heal. I got home late Sunday night, and it took the whole next week to get better. I slept, read, slept, and read last week. I can finally say I am back to “me.” No more headache, fever, cough, etc. Thanks be to God! The week of rest was a hidden blessing. It made me slow down, evaluate a lot of things, and make sure I am in the right mindset before Miss America preparation really takes off. I am surprisingly thankful I was sick because the week spent resting was one I will wish I had in a few weeks from now. God also revealed Himself in some pretty significant ways and reminded me what it truly means to stop and take the time to hear His voice with an open mind and unguarded heart. More about this in my next post.

That’s it for now; although, I think I could write a novel with each post I write. My next post will either be about some amazing opportunities that have come my way with the Children’s Miracle Network and my platform, or about the things I learned during the week of being sick and resting. It will be a surprise…

-Love in Christ,

Leighton

Update, modeling, and more...

"He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved." Psalm 62:6

Life has been excellent, busy, fast moving, exciting... and did I mention busy?

As promised, I wanted to use this post to thank my sponsors; however, I first want to tell you all what I have been up to. First off, I was invited to attend the 2012 Miss Warner Robins pageant. It was so thrilling, yet somewhat odd, to be sitting in the audience watching a preliminary. I only competed in two locals during the two years I competed in Miss Georgia, and I only attended a few preliminaries where I wasn't competing. So to sit in the audience after having dinner with the judges was a bit surreal. The Executive Director of the Miss Warner Robins pageant, Marcy Waugh, treated me better than I ever could have imagined at my first paid appearance. The judges' dinner was delicious, the pageant was entertaining, and the stay at the hotel was relaxing. And I can’t forget to mention the yummy breakfast I was served! A few weeks later I went to the Miss Cobb County Pageant, where I got to attend the judges' dinner, introduce the mistress of ceremonies, and help with on-stage question. Sitting in the audience for this pageant was quite nerve wracking. I knew a lot of the contestants, and to know that only one girl would walk away with the title made for an interesting night of trying to sit still. My prayer was that each contestant would walk away having felt they did their absolute best. At the end of the night, the wonderful Maggie Bridges was crowned Miss Cobb County 2012.

In between the Miss Warner Robins pageant and the Miss Cobb County pageant, I was busy traveling, planning, and completing the grueling, yet exciting, task of Miss America paperwork! There are a lot of administrative things to get together, plus the re-writing and editing of the platform essay and resume. All of this to say, I owe Greg Blazer a HUGE "thank-you" for helping me with all the paperwork and forms.  There’s a good deal more to complete, in a shorter amount of time, compared to Miss Georgia.  I felt like a thousand pounds had been lifted off my shoulders the day it was all turned in. I also met with Thomas Barnette and his engineer to cut my new music - it's fabulous!! I am so excited about the new piece I will be dancing to. After Miss America's Outstanding Teen, I will be spending a lot of time in the studio choreographing, and then will meet with one of the 2012 Miss Georgia judges, Ivan Pulinkala, to get his input on my choreography. I will admit that pageant variations are much different than traditional classical ballet variations, each fun in their own way. I have no doubt in my mind Ivan will help "spiff it up” and help me combine technique and pageant style for Miss America. :-)

I later traveled to Jesup, Georgia for Jameson Kenerly's send-off to Miss America's Outstanding Teen. She has been an amazing sister queen, and I am still so thankful for the story we share (read my very first post for details). I am so excited to cheer her on in Orlando. I know she will make Georgia proud, and even more importantly, I know she will make God proud. She truly is an "outstanding teen."

This past week I was in Atlanta modeling for Sherri Hill at the Atlanta Apparel mart. Not only was it a great learning experience working with Lu Sierra, top model and runway expert, it was so much fun trying on Sherri Hill dresses all week. My feet pretty much hate me, but that is just too bad! Another perk of the week was my fabulous roommate.  Ali Rogers, Miss South Carolina 2012, and I got to spend a whole week getting to know each other. Let me be the first to say she is amazingly beautiful...and not just on the outside. Wow. I could not have asked for a better roommate and Miss America sister. During the week, I also started thinking of evening gown options for Miss America. Thanks to my wonderful sponsors (I am getting to them in this post!), I will have many gown options to choose from. I cannot wait until they start arriving at the stores for me to go pick up. I also was able to go ahead and design an interview option...which I think I am going to fall in love with!

As I am writing this post, my room is a disaster because I am in the middle of un-packing from the Mart and re-packing for Miss America's Outstanding Teen in Orlando. I leave at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, August 14.  I will stop by the Rosen Centre Hotel to freshen up, then quickly head to the theater to cheer on my Miss Georgia OT sister, Jameson Kenerly!!!!!! I cannot contain my excitement. I will of course write a blog post right after I get home from Orlando to update everyone on the week. It's sure to be a memorable experience.

Now to my sponsors.....

Thank you, thank you, thank you. From Kia Automotive and Lasting Impressions in Columbus, Georgia to Frills and Fancies in Statesboro, Ga, I am already being spoiled beyond belief.

My car is still driving like a dream and I have so enjoyed the blessing of getting my car washed when needed at Fourth Avenue Car wash.  Being able to tan when I need to at New Life Tanning and get my nails done at SoYoung Salon and Spa is also very much appreciated. I truly feel pampered everywhere I go!

Urban Body Fitness (Stephen Smith) is an incredible sponsor that I could not live without; truly. My body is missing him recently as I have not been able to see him as much as I normally do.

Keith Pittman at Lasting Impressions in Columbus has already been so generous with letting me borrow dresses for any occasion I might need one, and he also has let me keep a few that I have fallen in love with. Yay! For those who do not know, Keith is a HUGE reason as to why I even started competing in the Miss America Organization.

Scott Marchbanks at Frills and Fancies has also been beyond giving. He has literally stocked my closet FULL with daytime dresses, casual outfits, and loads of jewelry from his boutique, in addition to beautiful cocktail dresses and gowns from his dress store. Those who are close to me know this, but to those who do not, my selections have always been very limited in the past due to financial circumstances. Huge thanks to these two men for helping me always feel like "Miss Georgia."

I am happy to say Gregory Ellenburg is also a clothing sponsor! I was able to meet with him while modeling at the mart and am thrilled about our choices. I can't wait to share them with everyone :-)

Rivertown Dental is my official cosmetic dentistry sponsor for the year. I already had my consultation and am scheduled to go see them again at the end of August. The whole staff is so personable, and they always make me feel right at home. I am extremely grateful for their sponsorship as well.

Matt Boyd Photography is yet another amazing sponsor for Miss Georgia. I had my official photoshoot a few weeks after being crowned, and it was excellent! It was for sure a fun-filled day spent with some remarkable people. Pictures are below...

Julio Cesar's Salon and Spa in Atlanta is my hair care sponsor.  Oh my gosh, let me just say Julio is amazing!!! He has set me up with hair care to keep my hair healthy (a big necessity since I am using heat on it all the time), and he has already cut it twice for me. Corey, who works at the salon, also shapes my eyebrows whenever I stop in. Spending a day at Julio's always makes me feel rejuvenated and special.

Family Eye Care in Sandersville, Georgia has been so gracious with their services. They offer free eye care and eye wear for Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen. I have not been able to visit the store yet, but am scheduled to go in September. More details on my special visit here coming soon.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

As always, this post is really long! With that being said, I will tell y'all about the last of my sponsors in the next post when I write about Orlando. Much love to you all...

-Love in Christ,

Leighton