Ready, Set, Go!

Three.....Two.......One....... The race has officially begun! Of course I have not been literally running a race, but it definitely feels like it. The weekend of January 7th began a whole new chapter in my life. The excitement and wave of emotions I felt after the Miss Muscatine pageant was astronomical. I could not believe all the support and love that surrounded me. From the excitement of pageant day to the planning and hard work that followed there after, I was ready for the challenge. I am so thankful and blessed to have the opportunity to represent the Muscatine Community throughout my year of service and cannot wait to be actively involved!

When you believe you can, anything is possible no matter how impossible it may seem. My parents have always taught me to dream big and shoot for the stars. No matter how difficult things seem, if you work hard, are motivated, and have confidence amazing things can be accomplished. Being crowned the 2017 Miss Muscatine was a dream come true! My days following Miss Muscatine have been anything but dull. From meeting with sponsors like Le Chic Prom and Pageant Boutique and 8 One 8 Fitness to making multiple appearances, I have been one busy gal! Not to mention three days after Miss Muscatine I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed! 

As a major advocate for Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness, I have been actively seeking opportunities with the Muscatine Police and Fire Department, New Horizons in Muscatine, and with the Partnership for Drug-Free Iowa (PDFI). Since being crowned, I became a co-editor for best of videos for PDFI, toured the Muscatine Police and Fire Department, learned the status of prescription drug abuse and overdoses in Muscatine, finished my third children's book, and am continuing to pursue more opportunities. 

Not only have I been active in my platform, but I have been active in the community. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" Every single year across the United States people come together to answer that question including myself. In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act which made the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday a national day of service. To partake in this initiative, I collected several bags full of clothing to donate to Goodwill in Iowa City. 

Rounding out the past few weeks, I attended the Miss Burlington Pageant this past Sunday. Five wonderful women competed and the competition was tough. I was not jealous of the judges. I had company while traveling to Burlington, Taylor Wiebers, Miss Iowa 2015. Many titleholders in the Miss Iowa Class of 2017 attended including Miss Iowa 2016, Kelly Koch. It was wonderful to see so many friends! Congratulations to Cheyenne Prowant, the new Miss Burlington. 

“Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.”

– Jack Canfield

As I look to the week and year ahead I can not help but think how blessed and lucky I am. This quote  sums up the last few months of my life. If you don't try, you do not know what you can be capable of. Half of the journey is about failing and learning to pick yourself up. This is how we grow and become stronger. Have Faith and Believe.

Handing over the Crown

“Expect nothing, appreciate everything” works perfectly for my year as Miss Muscatine. One year ago today, I never expected I would be switching out my softball cleats to put on pageant heels and win this title. Needless to say, I appreciate every single person, event, and opportunity that has come my way in 2016. Being a part of the Miss Iowa Class of 2016 has created such a different perspective in my life; creating new friendships, new memories, and even more love for those in my life. Endless amount of thank you’s to those who have helped me throughout my year; my entire family, Kindra and Ashley (Miss Muscatine Scholarship Program), Michelle and Jessica (Legacy Pageant Consulting), Jon Hunt (818 Fitness), Heather and Stacy Delong (Le Chic Prom and Pageantry), and Salon Halo. My biggest thank you to former Miss Muscatine, my best friend and my mother, Kim Sywassink for allowing me to follow in your footsteps 24 years later.

Throughout my year I was about to be involved with multiple events: Blue Zone Project, Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals, Special Olympics, Community Clean up, Humane Society, MHS cake Auction, Fundraiser Nights, Health Fair, Diabetes Walk, Race for the Schools, Live happy festival, Young Athletes Volunteer, Parades, Row Raiser, Relay for Life, Bill Riley Talent Show, Ragbrai, Bridge to Gap Expo and many more throughout Miss Iowa week.

For now, here's a little bit of what has been going on in the last few months as Miss Muscatine...

(Fourth of July parade with my little princess Kadence, we had a blast waving to everyone and throwing out candy! It's been a great year with my little princess)

(Special Thank you again to my sponsor Salon Halo in Bettendorf, Iowa- my girls did a fabulous job on my hair every single time I went in)

(These pictures are amazing when all of the Special Olympic Athletes had a chance to go to the Gems baseball game and participate the 7th inning stretch. Each of these athletes have such a special place in my heart and it was a great opportunity to spend over 400 hours with all the athletes)

(I had the chance to help with the Relay for Life event and we had such success in the year, raising more and more money for cancer)

(These pictures show the greatest part of my summer. The Special Olympic Athletes had a chance to partner with Crossfit and create an event called "Row Raiser"- this event helps raise money for all Special Olympic states in the US, to find out more information for this coming summer visit www.rowraiser.com. These athletes had a BLAST and I can say it truly touched my heart, even leaving me in tears a couple times)

(Another great event this summer was finding out all about Special Olympics, I had the opportunity to attend the State Conference for three days, learning endless amounts of information about what is behind the scenes in all the Special Olympic events)

(Two events in one day: I had the chance to talk and meet with all the Ragbrai participants, it was such an amazing day watching all of the riders come into Muscatine, Iowa to dip their bikes into the water. Secondly, I had the chance to judge the Bill Riley Talent Show, how fun being able to be a judge instead of being judged! We have amazing talent in Muscatine!)

(This girl has a very special place in my heart, Sydney Mead, our impact player for Quincy University Softball Team. Syd now has been cleared of Leukemia and is such a strong willed, beautiful young lady. I am so glad I am able to be closer with Syd since the summer.)

(Day of Service with the Softball team was great! We were all able to help around the community and volunteer time to those in need!)

(My favorite people, Special Olympics athletes were able to attend a Quincy University football game and watch all the players. They have such big smiles and loved every second!)

(Coming to an end, I was able to run around Muscatine getting people to donate and sponsor the Miss Muscatine Scholarship Program! Endless amounts of thank you's to those who have helped every single day!)

...

As most you know, I am a big lover of quotes, so here are few that have touched my heart lately...

 Time to hand over the Crown tomorrow....

Hope to see everyone at the Miss Muscatine Pageant tomorrow night at 7pm! It's going to be one for the books! My year as Miss Muscatine is one that I will forever carry with me throughout the years. I am so glad I was able to be surrounded by such amazing people, pushing me to strive to be the best that I could be. Lastly, to everyone reading this, I highly encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone, to do something courageous, spontaneous, and make the memories you thought you would never have. I am forever grateful for this opportunity, thank you for letting me represent our community, and for the last time, thank you from yours truly, the 50th Miss Muscatine 2016, Kaylee Jones.

 ... It's now time to trade in those pageant heels for softball cleats

 "life is like a balloon, if you never let yourself go, you'll never know how far you can rise"

Experience it all

As I finally have time to sit down and write about my week at Miss Iowa, I first want to simply say 'thank you'. I could not be more thankful for the people I have in my life, every single person has impacted me in such a positive way. I am going to give my list of thank you's first and then I will show you what an amazing week I had.

First, thank you so much to my family. My mother especially, you have gone above and beyond to be the greatest woman in my life. You have showed me the footsteps to take, I have been honored to follow a great path you have provided. You helped me throughout each day to be prepared for Miss Iowa and I took away the greatest part of all: I am thankful for the experience. I may not be wearing the Miss Iowa crown but I surely carry the pride of giving my all and representing Muscatine with my entire heart. My sisters, you three have been nothing but supportive and loving through the whole process, you have made looking into the crowd have a meaning. I love nothing more than seeing my three best friends look up to me. Now, it's one of you three's turn! My grandparents, step grandparents, father, step dad, aunt& uncle, and also my best friends who came to watch me. Thank you, all of you have made my day each and every day. If I could put into words what it means to me to have you be by my side then I would give all the love and blessing to each of you. You all are wonderful and hold a special place in my heart.

Second, thank you to Kindra Plett and Ashley Brown, the two greatest people to have by your side when you need to prepare for a pageant. My first pageant was a brand new experience and I am beyond pleased with how I have grown as a person. Kindra and Ashley made me have more confidence, hope, laughter, and gratefulness for the journey. Every single day since winning my Miss Muscatine title, they have been available, day in and day out, on the good days and bad days. I can not wait for the next 7 months as you two have impacted my life in such an amazing way. Thank you both for all you have done in preparation for Miss Iowa. I am grateful for what I have learned.

Third, thank you to those who helped me for the process of the pageant, Legacy Group Pageant Consulting, Le Chic Prom and Pageantry, everyone on the Iowa pageant board and to my 16 new best friends (all Miss Iowa contestants), and my pageant sister Sophia Aguirre. Legacy, you have helped me prepare for interview and on stage question with such discipline and confidence, I would not be in the position I am today without you both. Le Chic, I have never felt so beautiful in a gown and such a different, unique gown, thank you so much for making me feel wonderful. Iowa pageant board, each one of you has been by my side and pushing me to grow as a person, without all the events, the talks, and just being a friend, my first experience would not have been as great. To my 16 new best friends, you each have impacted me in a different way, I am truly happy to have you each in my life, your smiles, laughter, courage, and beauty is something I will forever strive for. Thank you all for the amazing week, one I could never ever forget. Sophia, thank you for showing me the ropes, you have such beauty and shine like a star, you are a blessing to many. Also, congrats to Kelly Koch for becoming our new Miss Iowa! Can't wait to see what the future holds for you!

NOW, it's time for my AMAZING week. 7 days, about 5 hours of sleep a night, yet the memories are priceless.

DAY ONE: Show Us Your Shoes Parade and Crowns and Gowns

 DAY TWO: Friendly House, Senior Star and Ridgecrest (Senior Living Homes). Greatest Grains for dinner and check out the Miss Iowa apartment with Taylor!

DAY THREE: Iowa City for a special, fun filled day at the UI Children's Hospital, Etiquette training session with Natasha Sottos and dinner at Biaggi's. I have to say, this day was my favorite: to see all of the Children's at the Hospital was amazing and I have a heavy heart for each of those children. 

DAY FOUR: Meet with Rotary and Fairytale Fashion Show

DAY FIVE: private interview, service project &lunch with Kiwanis! Then off to Antonella's for dinner!
It's prelim night #1 tonight...Swim and Talent!

quote learned from Thursday: "The bigger the hair, the closer to God"

DAY SIX: packaging boxes to send to our military (filled with food, toiletries, and entertainment), helped bag meals for Kids Against Hunger and lastly, a lunch with Optimist Club, along with competing in evening gown and on stage question. 

DAY SEVEN: Lil and Junior Miss Iowa Pageant

God always has a plan and this is just part of your journey. Instead of focusing on all the bad, be thankful for all the good. Each day you have is a blessing from God. 

I could highly encourage anyone to step out of their comfort zone and do something spontaneous, to be courageous and make those memories you never thought you would have. Competing for a pageant was the last thing to do on my list, but I am thankful my sister and I made a bet to try it. I couldn't imagine myself doing anything other than this right now.

Thank you again to everyone who made this week amazing.
I pinky promise to still fulfill each day as the best Miss Muscatine.

Kaylee