2011 Nationals - Interview

Personal Interview was Friday morning. This was the competition that I feared the most. We would have to go into a room with 8 tables and 8 judges. We only had about 1 minute with each judge to make a good impression.

Each judge has one question that they stick too and asks it to all of the contestants within that age group. I tried to remind myself to look them in the eyes, sit up straight and smile. Honestly I don't remember any of the questions because I was so nervous.

While we were in the interviews, Ken Mayes, the National Pageant Director, was in meeting with our parents. My mom said she was very impressed with him and that he talked about how and why the NAM pageants were started. He and his wife could see a strong need to help young people have better communication skills and be better at interviews. They also felt strongly about getting young people involved in their communities. So the National American Miss pageant was born.

As each group of 8 contestants finished the interviews, we would come in to where the parents were and they would stop what they were talking about and clap and cheer for us. Even though I was in the last group (Utah - near the end of the alphabet), there were still lots of people and cheering.

2011 Nationals - Rehersals

 Almost all of the rehersals had a theme, which made it fun to see what everyone would come up with. We had crazy hair, patriotic, pajama. Most of the time, the state queens practiced seperately from the other pre teen competitiors. We learned choreography and had fun.

2011 Nationals - Day at Disneyland

 We got up bright and early to get over to Disneyland for the Pre Teen Group photo in front of the Castle. I love how it was all decorated for Christmas. Thanksgiving week was definitely a crowded week at Disneyland, but I still managed to get a picture with Minnie Mouse.

Me and Olivia (Miss Wyoming)

 While we waited for everyone to get to the castle for the 10 am photo shoot, we got to meet, talk, and take pictures with each other.

Raina and Me

 You can tell these photographers meant business because they were giving us instructions and lining us up about 10 minutes before 10am. You will see in these next few pictures that it was a beautiful day and the sun was VERY bright. The photographers had us keep our eyes closed until the very last minute.

 As you can see, there are more girls than states. If you look close, the banner colors with tell each of us apart. The girls with the red banners are state queens. The girls with the blueish/gray banners are either were runners up in the state pageants, won or were runners up in optionals, or were state cover girls - advertising. The other way to tell are the crowns. The winners of the state pagaents have different crowns that the other girls. The girls that won their state pageant are all competing for the title "National American Miss" and all the other girls can compete for the title "All American Miss".

 Stretching out our mouths before the picture.

And right at 10 am, they took the picture and then we all left to spend a great day at Disneyland with our families and each other.

2011 Nationals - 70's Party

On the night of check in and orientation, we had a 70s party.

 For some of the fun scavenger hunt, we were put onto teams. The team I was on was "Team Character". During the 70s party, each team was given 1 roll of toliet paper and had to make a runway outfit.  My team WON!!

We had lots of fun, as you can see.

 My Dad came along and took all the photos for me.

2011 NAM Nationals - Check in & Orientation

2011 Nationals for National American Miss was held in Anaheim California, right across from Disneyland. There are 6 divisions that are participating, which means lots and lots of great girls from all over the country. My division is the Pre Teen State Queen division which is 10-12 year old that won their state pageants. As part of my winning Miss Utah Preteen, I agreed to represent our great state of Utah during Thanksgiving Week at Nationals, so my whole family came with me to cheer me on.  Luckily, one of the prizes that I won at State was travel expenses ($350) and that paid for our drive down there.

We checked into the Anaheim Marriott. It is a very nice hotel. My brothers were excited.  I then went to Pre Teen check-in with my Mom.  While we were waiting, we meet some of the other contestants like Miss Maryland and Miss Louisana.

At check in, we received a state contestant banner, which we would wear during our competitions. We also did not wear our crowns during actual competitions. Otherwise, during rehersals and everywhere else, we wore our state banners and crowns. Well, the crowns are pretty heavy, so we didn't wear those all the time. There were 36 Pre Teen State Queens, including me, at Nationals. It was really neat to be able to meet girls from all over the country.

NAM definitely wanted us to have fun. They had a scavenger hunt ready for us. One of the items was to get a photo taken with the current National American Miss Preteen and the All American Miss Preteen.



Lexi Collins (2011 National American Miss Pre Teen), me, and Michaelah Wheat (2011 All American Miss Pre Teen)



Along with meeting new friends, I also got to see some old friends. Miss Arizona, Raina Donati, was at my state pageant and actually got to crown me as I won in Utah.

Cassandra (Nebraska), me, Raina (Arizona), and Jada (N. California)

 During the orientation, we also had the parade of queens. This was my first time on the NAM stage. My thoughts were "smile and wave"! It was fun to be on that stage.

Me and Breanne Maples (my associate state director, her parents are the state directors). She was the main director at the Utah state pageant. Breanne is so sweet, very happy and knew exactly who I was. Maybe my banner helped, but I still was happy that she knew me and remembered me from this summer.

Me and my mom

The Children's Justice Center - Dollhouse Tea Party

We, the sister NAM Utah Queens, got together to volunteer with the Children's Justice Center. Each year they put on a Dollhouse Festival and have donated dollhouses of all kinds there to be bid on to raise money for the Children's Justice Center. I saw some great dollhouses, very creative, that I wish I could have had.

We got to the Provo Library early to help set up for the Mad Hatter Tea Party. It was food, fun, storytelling, and more. All the proceeds went to the Children's Justice Center for abused children.

 We waited to greet each of the children and their families who were joining us that day.

The Mad Hatter did all the emcee-ing and was happily speaking to everyone!

 We met the current Miss Provo, she was getting ready to compete in the Miss Utah pageant.

 We even got to sit down and enjoy the treats too!

 It was so fun being around these cute little kids, helping them and watching them have so much fun.

 If you want more information on the Children's Justice Center, my mom put a link on the side of the blog. Just click on it!

My Fantastic Sponsors

I have been so lucky to have great sponsors for this experience. I guess there are some particpants who have the ability to cover the costs and not need to go out and talk with people for sponsors. I am not one of those people. My mom and dad also felt that going out and talking with people was all part of the learning experience of NAM, National American Miss Pageant. Part of what we are judged on is personal interview - or one on one communication. By me going and speaking with people and businesses, I would be practicing this valuable trait and gaining more confidence. I practiced with my mom and dad, what to say, how to say it, and most importantly, looking them in the eyes if I was face to face with them.  I admit, making those first few calls, I was nervous. But after a while, I gained confidence and felt more comfortable speaking.

It is hard asking for sponsors, I have to be honest. But in addition to just asking for sponsors, I was also hoping to help my sponsors feel a part of my journey. I hope they did. They made my experience possible. I am becoming more confortable speaking one on one and in public. I am so grateful for their generosity.

For my state pageant, many of my family members sponsored me.
My parents
My Grandma & Aunt Mary
My Grandpa & Grandma Pat
My Nana
My Uncle Erik & Aunt Christy
My Uncle Chris & cousins

For my nationals pageant, I was sponsored by some local businesses.
6 Degree Nutrition

Macey's Grocery Store

Dry Creek Dental - Dr. Sheffield Lloyd

As well as my photography sponsor

To all of you, thank you thank you thank you for being a part of this experience with me.