It's so much more than just feeling like a princess!
When I first decided to compete in the Miss Atlantic Coast pageant, I thought it would be a fun way to meet new people and to get more experience in interviewing, performing, and presenting myself. I was right. It was all of those things. And then I was honored by being awarded the title Miss Atlantic Coast's Outstanding Teen 2011. I felt like a princess! It was truly amazing.
I am so grateful to my mentor, Shana Williams, who is the current Mrs. Delaware. She is as kind and wonderful as she is beautiful and I have learned so much from her.
Everyone involved with the Miss Outstanding Teen pageant is just great. It's like a big extended family where everyone wants the best for everyone else. I've made friends and met some great people.
The title also opened opportunities for me. I love dance! I've been dancing at the American Dance Academy in Hockessin, Delaware since age 4 and now I am helping young dance students to love dance.
I've been lucky enough to make some appearances as Miss Atlantic Coast's Outstanding Teen as well. The Polar Plunge for Special Olympics was very rewarding (although I must admit that I never really appreciated the meaning of "polar" quite as much as I do now).
But I think the very best part about my pageant experience so far is that it has given me a chance to be heard on something that is very important to me. I am very concerned about the fact that young people are spending more and more time in front of TV sets, video games and computers and less and less time outside being physically active. I started "Active Kids Now" to try to help. There is a special page on it here in this blog. Please check it out.
So, what's next? I will be competing in the Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2011 competition in March. I'm very exicted. Stay tuned.
