Miss Washington 2007 Pageant Week

Day One:
A Miss Washington summer once again…I am pretty lucky to be able to say that. The first day of Miss WA week we had the alumni luncheon, this is where past Miss Washington's come in and share what is going on in their lives and share some wisdom and advice to all the Miss Washington candidates. These women were amazing…and were full of so much talent. We then got to walk down the Tacoma Sheraton stairs one by one to meet and greet the Tacoma Mayor. This is one of our big photo opportunities each year.

Oh, I forgot…..when we first arrived to the Tacoma Sheraton we unpacked and this was the first time we got to spend time with our roommates for the Miss WA week. My roommate was Angelica Lewis, Miss Cascade. She is an amazing singer and is incredibly in shape.

Today we also started our rehearsals for the production numbers that we do at the beginning of the show and at the end. Last year they were hard and took many practices and never leaving them early. We seemed the first one down by the end of the night. This was amazing!!! Debbie's dance choreographed them and our theme for the year is Dream Girls.

Day two:

Today we got to split up into alpha and beta to go to either Mary Bridge or Good Samaritan Hospital. Last year I had the opportunity to go to Good Samaritan, so this time I went to Mary Bridge. I traveled with the Betas even though I am an alpha. Going to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital was definitely an eye opener. I have never been to a children's hospital like that. One of the children we visited was such a sweetheart, we was full of smiles to see a group of girls with crowns. We all enjoyed our time with him. Another little girl was excited to wear Miss Washington 2006's crown (the one and only amazing Kristen Eddings).

Rehearsals again…..what a time to bond with each other! We are always goofing off and talking about what is going on in each of our lives, school.

Day three:

The highlight of today is that we ate dinner at the Outback Steak House and enjoyed our evening on a boat ride. The boat ride is so much fun because everyone sits around and bonds. We each got a photo opportunity on the side of the boat the Henry took of us, and for the rest of the pictures we were just goofing around and being silly girls. Some of my favorite pictures yet are from the boat ride. I felt so bad for Elyse this night because she dropped her camera in the water, it was so sad but she had all of her pageant sisters to back her up with lost pictures but still losing a camera is such a bummer! We got back to the hotel late at night. Each night when we return to our floor we have a meeting with all of us about what we are doing the next day. We enjoy cute little snacks and popcorn, and then we turn in with a full belly!

Day Four:

Today we got released to our directors for the fourth of July. I have missed out on the Fourth of July with my family two years in a row. We always go up to our cabin and light off fire works, watch the big show and spend quality time together. But going to Miss Washington is an amazing experience and they all understand. When I got back into my hometown I relaxed and watched Dream Girls, ate dinner and took a nap.

When we arrived back at the Sheraton we went up to the directors suit and watched the fire works from the room. Then we all turned in for the night.

Day Five:

Today was interview day…..have I yet mentioned I am contestant one? AHhhh…how did that happen? What a joy of being the last vocal talent called out of the hat. Oh well, being number one is the first that the judges see, and will not be compared to anyone else. Well actually this program you are not compared to anyone else it's about how you compete with yourself and how you grow as an individual. That is one of the reasons I love this program so much….and well there are so many reasons I could go on and on……

My interview went great and I had a lot of fun with the judges. They were all so nice and intelligent. The ten minutes went by so quick I felt like I could talk to them for hours.

After we finished interviews for alphas we went to the farmers market. I was greeted by the president of MTC Sharon and board member Rebecka. They joined me to the farmers market…took pictures and looked at all the amazing booths with me. The Miss WA candidates also had a tent that we sat under and signed autograph sheets for the children. When beta was finished with their interviews we had a full dress rehearsal at the Pantages Theatre where we were going to perform the next day…..so excited J The Pantages Theatre is an amazing building and stage. It is so beautiful and we all felt blessed to be able to perform on it. It really felt like a Miss Washington Stage!

Day Six:

Preliminary night….The pageant was so much fun, and was everything I imagined it would be plus more. My whole family was there as well as pageant family and I was excited to be able to show them all the phases of competition. I felt that I did a great job, the best of my ability. I love to sing and I have never actually sang in front of my family before, so for them to be able to see me on that beautiful stage in my gorgeous talent dress singing with this huge voice they have never heard before felt great! My favorite part of all was being with all the twenty two contestants on stage all at the same time. We all represent Washington Stage incredibly in so many different ways. What all of us girls by the end of the night couldn’t wait for was the next day when we would find out who our new Miss Washington was going to be.

Day seven:

Today is parent breakfast, this is where Peggy and Charlie explained the roles of the parents for our new Miss Washington. Its kind of a heads up, and Kristen's parents also got up and spoke. They are such amazing people and its clear why Kristen is also such an amazing person. It was great to be able to see my mom again; I haven’t got to see her all week. She is my best buddy and will always be! When we finished breakfast we went to Freight House Square, it used to be an old train station and was transformed into cute little shops (but different shops you wouldn’t see in your home town!) My parents and grandparents met up with us there.

We had a final rehearsal and then it was back into the dressing rooms getting ready for the show.

Show time…..all twenty two of us performed Dream Girls for one last time together and it was time to drop twenty two to ten. It was unfortunate that I didn’t make the top ten, but the ladies that did deserved it and worked hard for it. I am so proud of them and all of us girls who didn’t make the top ten. This program isn’t just about who wins the awards but what you get out of the experience. I may not have one won Miss Washington that night but I walked away with a sponge of knowledge and I absorbed every bit that I could from this experience only to grow and learn from it.

Coronation…..down to two girls, Tina F. and Elyse U. two amazing women I might add….and they called out our new Miss Washington's name….there she was….Elyse Umemoto. I actually got a chance to know her a year prior; you see she was first runner up last year when I attended Miss WA as Miss Mason County. I was so proud of her and she worked hard for her new role and was so grateful for it. We again have another great representative for Washington State at Miss America. Congratulations Elyse….we are all so proud of you and what you are going to do with your platform in Washington State.

Tomorrow is time to pack up and say my goodbyes to my lovely pageant sisters….but no worries I know I will see them all again!

And last but not least....all the volunteers we couldnt have done this all with out you! Thank you for all your support and love that you gave each of us contestants this week! MTC board, thank you for all your love and support, you have helped me in many ways and I am thankful for each and everything you have done for me!