Miss Muscatine

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Miss Muscatine 2015 is Kristen One!

Crowning Moment!

Sister titleholders - Miss Pearl City, Christy Scimeca; and Miss Riverview, Stacy Phipps

Friday, January 9, 2015

My India Mission Trip Dec 17, 2014 - January 4, 2015

My trip to India was both the best and worst experience of my life. Never before have I been taken so far out of my comfort zone. As I know and expected, the Indian culture is completely different than our own American society; talk about culture shock! I went to India to volunteer and work with homeless children. Our group wanted to make a difference in their lives but I know that it was clearly our lives that were changed forever. I travelled with a group from my cousin's church, Living Waters Lutheran Church from Peoria, IL. Our group's lead family's parents were both from India and they knew six of the India Hindi dialects. Please know as you read this blog, I will be describing the harsh realities I witnessed. To honor the Republic of India Government's wishes and to respect the children, I cannot post pictures of our group working with the beautiful people of India.

Paul, Sumitha, Sunar and Suneet, Sophie and I with one of our guides

When we first met with the "street kids", everyone was watching the other group. For the kids, they had ever seen blonde, blue-eyed Americans before. For our group, we had ever before seen children that were so neglected, hungry and craving for love. The amazing part was all the kids were so excited to meet and see us! They couldn't stop smiling. It was contagious. Our first meeting with the kids they performed dances for us, we talked, and gave them gifts for Christmas. We also learned about each other. Over that first meeting, I learned that the kids all had mothers, but that did not mean much. In order to have food and money, the mothers had taught their children to beg. The harsh reality is that the younger and more sick you looked, the more money passerby's will give you, to take home to your mother. When the girls were old enough, they went to work in the brothels with their mothers. The relationship between mother and child was not one of love, it was a means to an end.

The second time we met was when the kids performed their dances for the community. Until this point, we did not met the kids where they lived. It was explained to us that if we met the kids on the streets and passed out gifts, we would be swarmed. India has an unimaginable number of homeless people trying to service, with no government assistance or programs available. There are many amazing people and organizations working to stop the hunger and poverty in India, but the need is simply too great. Everywhere you look, there is a homeless person forced to beg for food to feed themselves. They have no clean drinking water, no shelter, no family and no help.

The third and final time I was able to meet with the kids was on the streets, where they live. Christmas morning on the side of a polluted river, we finally gained enough courage to pass out food directly to those kids and the surrounding homeless people. As we walked up, we were treated with giant smiles and hugs. After passing out breakfast, we were able to look around. The water source where they went to the bathroom was also their primary drinking water source. Most didn't have clothes let alone blankets for the cold nights. They didn't know what school was. The list is endless. . .

What struck me the most is that even in having nothing, the children were full of life. They couldn't stop smiling or playing around. In the worst situation I have ever seen, they were filled with joy. They have never heard of "retail therapy" before. They didn't need it. They were truly thankful for everything they were given and had. That cannot be said for children in the US.

This was one group of many I worked with in India. After such an experience, you can't help but look at your own life and think how much we take everything for granted. Be grateful for what you have been given and what you have in your life because there are others that couldn't even dream for a fraction of what we all have.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Iowa Sweetheart

Wow, what can I say about the National Sweetheart Pageant in Hoopeston, IL?! It was INCREDIBLE! I loved every minute of it! This was the opportunity of a lifetime and such an incredible learning experience. I went to the National Sweetheart with two goals in mind: to represent Iowa to the best of my abilities and to learn what I can improve on for the future. With 42 other amazing contestants, a great community, and unbelievably-giving volunteers, I learned a great deal about my talents, voice and platform. Thank you to the Miss Iowa Scholarship Program, Miss Muscatine Scholarship Program, Miss Iowa Aly Olson, Le Chic Prom and Pageant and to my family and friends for your love and support as I proudly wore the Miss Iowa Sweetheart banner!

A little history about the National Sweetheart Pageant...

"As is common to most festivals, a pageant was held to name a local girl, chosen by popular vote of the persons in attendance, to reign over the celebration. In 1939, local judges were responsible for selection of the Sweetcorn Queen.

In 1940, the canning and canning-related industries of Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin were persuaded to send a contestant to Hoopeston to vie for the title. Since the festival and pageant now had persons in attendance from several states, the name "Hoopeston Sweetcorn Festival" was changed in 1941 to the "National Sweetcorn Festival" and "Miss Sweetcorn" became "National Sweetheart".

The Junior Chamber of Commerce assumed the sponsorship of the festival and pageant following World War II and has continued to the present. They followed the same format until 1952, when the Jaycees invited the 1st runners-up from their respective states' Miss America pageants. At the same time, judges from the Miss America circuit were invited to judge the pageant. The idea was to bring national recognition to the pageant, as well as provide a training pageant for girls who may wish to reenter their states' Miss America competition in future years. The same traditions and goals remain a vital part of the National Sweetheart Pageant today.

Nine contestants from the National Sweetheart Pageant have gone on to become Miss America and four of the current 2015 Miss America contestants have been State Sweethearts.

The judges for this event are from the Miss America System and the girls compete in private interview, swimsuit, evening gown, on-stage question and talent. The National Sweetheart Pageant takes place the week leading up to Labor Day each year."[National Sweetheart website]

2014 National Sweetheart Contestants with Miss Hoopeston

After arriving on Monday, our busy week began with visiting local industries, touring the Webber family farm to learn about the agriculture industry, shopping the quaint shops of Hoopeston, visiting nursing homes, enjoying the Sweetcorn Festival carnival, completing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with the help of the Hoopeston Fire Department, being guests of honor at the Wellington Lion's Club Ice Cream & BBQ Social, and enjoying potlucks and meals served by the Hoopeston Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Lion's Club, Silgan Canning, Women Making a Difference, Jaycees, Hoopeston Jr. Women's Club, Auxilliary Post 384 plus McDonald's, Subway, the Pump Bar and Grill, Autumn Fields and Mr. B's Cafe with daily stage rehearsals. I was so proud to share this amazing small-town Midwestern hospitality with Sweethearts from all over the country.

Driving my first tractor!

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

It was a special time to reunite with my Miss MN 2013 pageant sister, Rachel Latuff!

What a great way to celebrate my 23rd birthday in the middle of Sweetheart Pageant week! They stopped rehearsal to sing "Happy Birthday" to me and helped inhale 8 dozen cookies from the Cafe Delight local bakery.

My Birthday Selfie!

I rode in the yellow car of my dreams for the annual Sweetcorn Festival parade! Each contestant dressed in a costume representing her state and decorated her shoes, like the MAO "Show Us Your Shoes Parade" in Atlantic City. I bedazzled my Miss Iowa Opening Number black jumpsuit and heels with the Iowa Hawkeyes theme, sat on my Iowa fleece blanket and proudly waved a Hawkeye flag. Go Hawks!

Though I did not make it through to the Top 16, several of us created an experience backstage that was very special. The Paper Plate Awards! During our backstage pizza and doughnut party, I helped the impromptu Paper Plate Committee come up with a special award for each of the remaining 27 Sweethearts and we held our own Awards Ceremony, hosted by the incredible Massachusetts Sweetheart, Charlena Kennedy! Everyone at National Sweetheart received an award this year!

My PP Award: Most likely to make history!

Our Hostess and fellow teacher: Brenna

That week would not have been possible without some key Sweetheart volunteers. First, thank you to my host family, Brenna and Justin Schroeder. You opened your home to us and allowed some fun, crazy times during the week. :)
Thank you for letting this Hawkeye girl enter your Illini territory!
To my beautiful, sweet Southern Girl, Miss Mississippi Sweetheart, Laura Lee Lewis! Laura Lee, I am so grateful to have met you and to become Forever Friends! We were perfectly matched! Never forget..."You can't touch this... Duh, da da da!"

(Hoopeston does not have a hotel, or even one within a 20 mile radius, so Sweetheart contestants are hosted by local families.)

Other key players that made this week possible were the Sweetheart Volunteers. Chaperones, drivers, organizers, Pageant directors and sponsors were what really made this week so incredible. Everyday, you were there cheering us on and encouraging our passions and dreams. You are truly professionals at running a national-level pageant!

Mr. B's Cafe

And lastly, the City of Hoopseton embraced us as their own and treated us like Royalty!

Congratulations to Kalie Wright, our new National Sweetheart from Idaho! A beautiful woman, inside and out.

So, to the future Miss Iowa runners-up: If you get a call from the Miss Iowa Executive Director asking if you would like to be the next Iowa Sweetheart at the National Sweetheart Pageant, your answer should be "YES!" and make it happen! Thank you for that call, Leslie!

Enjoy a few more candids of my incredible week!