Bootcamp!

We had a fantastic time at the VANBROS boot camp to help with preparation for competing at Mrs. United States.  "We" refers to Mrs. Kansas, Mrs. Texas, Mrs. Tennessee, Mrs. Arkansas and me!  Bootcamp consisted of interview training, walking and stage presence training and girl time!  We ate out, talked alot, and had tons of fun getting to know each other before our trip to Vegas.  We also got to spend some of our time with the amazing young women who will be competing for the Miss Teen USA title on July 16th.  They are so poised and so mature! 

Valerie Hayes, The Pageant Coach,  (http://www.valeriehayes.com/) is fantastic!  She drilled us on interview and I know we'll be ready for Vegas!  Kim Forsyth is the most darling pregnant woman ever!  She worked with us on swimsuit and gown walking.  There is definitely a skill set required to walk in 6 inch heels!

Miss USA mania!

Miss USA was televised live last night from Vegas.  The show was fantastic!!  Of course I watched to cheer on Miss Missouri, Miss Kansas, Miss Arkansas, Miss Nebraska, and Miss Oklahoma.  They are all Vanbros girls. This means that they have the same directors as me!  You can check out more about Vanbros at

www.vanbros.com

Before too long I will be headed to Vegas myself to compete for Mrs. United States!!  The final competition is August 4th.  I have been excited since winning the Mrs. Missouri United States crown but now I am even more excited!!!  I will get to meet my Mrs. United States group of sisters and know a woman from every state.  How cool is that?

Our new Miss USA is Alyssa Campanella, Miss California.   Congratulations Alyssa!

Cicadas & Rain

Well, there has certainly been a ton of rain and a TON of cicadas in Missouri!  Last night I drove to Mexico, Missouri to see the Outstanding Teen finals and the final night of preliminary competition for Miss Missouri America.  Wow!  It was a GREAT show.  I was thrilled to cheer on my friend, Charlee Bisch, Miss Gateway Outstanding Teen.  Charlee looked amazing and lit up the stage!  Her mom, MeriLyn, is a friend of mine.  I am so so tickled to know this great family.  Here's a picture of me and Charlee.  Keep in mind... rain... dodging cicadas as I ran to my car over intermission!

Me and Charlee after the Oustanding Teen competition.

McKensie Garber captured the title of Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen 2011.  Her dance performance to "I Can Hear the Bells" from Hairspray was flawless. She was amazing and had the BEST cheering section ever!  Her mom, Denise, is so so proud and I am sure they are well into preparations for nationals!  Good Luck McKensie!

Photoshoot!!

What a fun photo shoot!!  I was showered with clothing from my director, John Vannatta.  This fantastic wardrobe is part of my prize package.  Each dress you see is now hanging in my closet!  Thank you Vanbros!!

Will Patterson is an amazing photographer.  Who else could say, "oh, that brick wall will be gorgeous or those wood chips make a perfect contrast with the outfit"... Will is amazing.  Really amazing.  And, super nice to boot!!

Lisa Proctor is an amazing artist.  She lives in Nashville and does makeup for the stars!  I could not believe that I was getting this star treatment on my first day in this new Mrs. Missouri adventure.  Lisa does her magic and makes you feel fabulous.

Hairstyles were created by Brent Peterson and Kelsey Miller of Envy Salon.  They were awesome!  Each outfit required a certain look and Brent and Kelsey would create it so effortlessly!  

Thank you John, Will, Lisa, Brent, and Kelsey!!