Interview is COMPLETE!

I am so thrilled to report that the interview portion of the competition is FINISHED! This morning, I was picked up at my room at 8:42 to head to the interview holding quarters. As I prepared for interview, I spent quiet time talking with God, reading the word, catching up on current events and finally, completing a mock interview over the phone with my executive director, Matthew. It was a full morning but a very peaceful beginning to the day. Although I was a little bit nervous, I was ready and completely at peace when I went into the interview room. I realize with my whole heart that God already knows who the next Miss America will be and I am going to do my best and let Him work through me, especially in the area of interview. I can't wait to see what His plan is for me! The other focus I had directly before my interview was playing in my head the amazing interactions I’ve had with people all over the country, but especially in Wyoming. I thought of the parades, rodeos, and appearances I’ve made throughout my reign and remembered the precious faces that I’ve looked into. I knew that just as those people I’ve met wanted to hear my story and touched my heart, I was headed into the interview room to have another conversation just like that! So I walked into that room to face Kris Jenner and the others judges with pep in my step and hope in my heart!

It was wild to actually see the judges in person! After reading about them and seeing some of them on television and movies, it was such a huge change in perspective to see them as typical human beings, not just movie stars! I was asked a plethora of different questions on politics, pop culture, my platform, and my personal beliefs on different issues. The questions came quickly and I really felt like I kept my answers direct and concise, helping to lead the interview. As the interview progressed, the judges and I were laughing and truly enjoying each other’s presence. By the time I left that room, I had such joy, relief, and peace in my heart and I know that God worked through me and in me to help me be my BEST! I cannot stop praising Him in all that I do!

Following the interview, I ran up to my room, changed for rehearsal as a hostess waited for me and we headed to the theater for our first practice on the real stage. It was almost surreal to be at the theater I’ve dreamt of for so long. It was also incredibly special to think of my dear friend and the former Miss Wyoming, Alicia Grove, on that stage! We have shared so many special experiences and it is amazing to add this one to the list! J We rehearsed opening number, swimsuit, and evening gown, headed to lunch, and kept the rehearsals going afterwards!

We had a short break after dinner, which was WONDERFUL to catch up with the day’s events and have time to process all the amazing things that God worked in my life today. Then, we headed to PF Chang’s at Planet Hollywood for dinner! It was Miss Delaware’s (Maria’s) 21st birthday today and we celebrated with cake. I had a blast getting to know a more women and to finish out the night, we opened fortune cookies! It was pretty funny reading the papers and interpreting them ‘Miss America-style’! Miss Wisconsin had the best one saying that she would have success come her way this week! We’re all excited, that’s for sure!

My group (mu) is headed to do different video and photo shoots tomorrow morning at 7. I know it will be a big day but truly, each day has been more magical than the last. I feel so WILDLY blessed to be here and I am trying my best to soak up every second. My family and other Miss Wyoming Board members are arriving tomorrow and I cannot WAIT to see their shining faces! Finally, our family reunited in Vegas! Honestly, I think hearing about my family’s experience in Vegas will be more interesting than talking about my day here! Haha! Tomorrow I will compete in the area of Onstage Question. The question at this phase of competition will be something about my platform. I am so ready to shine! Thank you so much for all your prayers and excitement for me! I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow holds!

Work it! Work it!

Hello everyone! Just a quick update of a CRAZY, amazing day! This morning, 8 of the contestants and I went to the MG Studio to shoot a real life infomercial for Wen hair care product by Chaz Dean! Wen is a new sponsor for the Miss America Organization and we are thrilled to be using the Chaz’s cleansing conditioner product! We left our rooms at 7 a.m. with strict instructions to wash our hair with ONLY shampoo (no conditioner or product) and let our hair air dry completely. You should’ve seen our beautiful rat’s nests as we left the hotel! J

When we arrived at the studio, we took “before” video and pictures while Chaz Dean assessed our hair condition and determined what he would need to do to help us look our best! The shoot was wild. The set was arranged just like small hair salon with 2 sinks and 2 work stations with mirrors and chairs. All 9 of us took “before” video and 3 of us taped additional footage with Chaz cleansing our hair on set (the other 6 were cleansed backstage). So this is the funny part…as I was waiting for Miss Oregon and Miss Texas to finish getting their hair cleansed, which included asking Chaz questions and having Chaz explain the product in detail as to fully inform customers how to use it, I was placed at one of the work stations with a hair stylist named Danny. We were in the shot with my face and hair in the mirror but Danny wasn’t actually allowed to do anything to my hair (since I still needed it to be cleansed with the Wen product) and we couldn’t talk since Chaz and the contestant needed to talk through the filming. It was so much fun to ‘act’ and have that role in the infomercial! Because we couldn’t talk, Danny and I kept making eye contact and smiling and he started running out of things to “do” to my hair. He continually sprayed the Wen hydrating spray on my hair and by the time I had sat in the chair for an hour, we had almost used the entire bottle! Too funny!

The shoot was moving very quickly and by the time my turn to be cleansed came around, we were almost out of time. So we got the camera rolling and Chaz asked me about my hair and the  hair issues I was having. We figured out how many pumps of the product to put in my hair (12) for best results and he started the cleansing process! 4 pumps into the cleansing, the director shouted that we needed to move onto the next scene! Cue my flexibility skills... Thank goodness I’ve gotten so much practice throughout grad school and my job with being flexible "in the moment"! Haha! Instead of Chaz finishing my hair, another stylist wrapped my hair in a towel and took me outside to the ‘backstage’ hair washing stations! She put the remaining 8 pumps of product in my hair and made sure I was totally taken care of!

Once I was brought back onto the set, I was put in Chaz’s styling chair and had a similar experience in that he began the styling of my hair and explaining which finishing products to use but as SOON as he finished his explanation, we had to move onto the next scene! Fortunately, this gave Danny the opportunity (finally) to actually work with me hair! It was amazing having it beautifully blown out and curled but never with a curling iron! My make up was touched up by the artist on hand and I lined up with the rest of the contestants for our final interview, “after” shot, and beauty shots! The interview was so much fun and the “after” shot went smoothly but the beauty shot was a learning experience for me! Even though I’ve seen models on t.v. “working” the camera, it was totally different doing it myself! It was so much fun to loosen up, really let me hair flow and move, and to smile and engage the camera! Just like I had seen in movies, the producer really did yell super encouraging things like, “yes, I LOVE it, work it” and my favorite, “look at that camera, love it, LOVE IT!!” It was SO high energy, ridiculously warm in the room because of all the lights, and very fast paced! After each contestant completed her shots, we took a few group pictures and we were outta there! It was an almost surreal experience to be a part of a shoot like that and I absolutely LOVED it! Plus, during the time when I had to be acting like Danny was doing my hair, it gave me a wonderful amount of time to reflect, be peaceful, and pray for the coming times. J

We headed back to the hotel and had 2 hours before dinner. I was able to get so much finished including prep for my interview tomorrow, a 27 minute nap, and beautifying myself for the film shoot after dinner! We ate dinner quickly at 4:15 and left the hotel shortly after that for more filming for the Miss America show!

Like I’ve mentioned before, make sure you’re watching on January 14 for some amazing entertainment! All 53 of us filmed for about 2 hours and with the wait time included, were out at the shoot site for around 4.5 hours. We finally got to head back on the bus during which ride I got to spend some awesome time with Miss Alaska! She just finished her teaching practicum and got her degree in December! How awesome! We had a great time exchanging school stories and it is wildly apparent that we are both so thankful for the support we have from our schools! Although I highly doubt any school could beat Rozet! J

I am now in bed, ready for interview tomorrow morning at 9:44 a.m. I can hardly believe that I am actually at my first judged phase of competition. I, along with so many wonderful people, have worked so hard to get to this point and I thank God that I am able to be in this position here and now! I am so excited to meet and converse with the judges and I pray that God’s light shines through me during that time, allowing them to see my heart, my passion, my drive, and really who I am! Thank you all so much for encouraging me with every word, prayer, and thought you send my way! I cannot wait to let you know how everything goes! I can hardly wait to see those of you coming to Vegas-it’s coming up so soon! Love!

What a beautiful day!

Good evening, everyone! Hello from Las Vegas! I am just about to burst at the seams with excitement about all that happened today! I’m pretty exhausted though, so it’ll have to be short! J Thank you for all your kind messages throughout the night and day; your thoughts and prayers lift me up so much!

Ok, so this morning I got up at 5 in order to be ready for rehearsal. We weren’t coming back to our rooms until after dinner at Buca de Bepo tonight (around 10 p.m.) so lots of packing and planning were in order. Brittney and I hustled and headed down to rehearsal with the rest of the women after packing our bags. This morning, we spent a couple hours in rehearsal and worked our moves and opening lines for the Parade of States! Then, we headed to lunch. I found an ‘egg’ station and they cooked me eggs just like I have been making at home-it made me so very happy! I added some salsa and fresh jalepenos to that bad boy, threw in a salad and had a perfect lunch!

During lunch, I was able to spend some time with a few of the hostesses helping us out this week. They are such wonderful women and we are so very blessed to have them with us! It is the best feeling to know we have ‘moms’ all over the place to help us if we are in need and to encourage and support us in so many ways! Today, I had the opportunity to talk with one of the hostesses about her history with the Miss America pageant! She has been as hostess for 31 years, starting in Atlantic City, and travels to Vegas to take part in it all. It was so amazing to hear her perspective and see the love and passion she has for the program. No wonder the pageant weeks go by with such flying colors; these women love what they do and it shows!

After lunch, we headed back to rehearsal and learned the walking patterns for swimwear and evening gown. The song for swimwear is so fun and upbeat and we all had a blast “working” the music as we practiced our steps and poses! The women in my class are just hilarious-especially my roommate Brittney! Can she ever bust a move on the dance floor! Many of us spent time trying to figure out how to turn over our left shoulder (instead of the right) and we were all pretty dizzy by the time we got it figured out! J Just know that when you see us strut our sassy selves down the stage in swimwear, lots of laughs and energy were put into those walks!

After rehearsal, we all headed to our tent to prepare for the Express fashion show event. We changed into our dresses, provided by Express, for our onstage question outfit. The jewelry and outfit choices looked amazing, no woman in the same combination. We really were a glamorous group as we headed out in our buses to get to the mall!

When we arrived at the mall, we headed down to the basement where the fashion show would start. We all lined up in rows according to state name in a GIANT, glass-walled elevator. We practiced ‘stomping’ the runway and ‘smizing’ (smiling with our eyes) twice before the show started. Then, it was lights, camera, ACTION! The elevator rose up from the basement floor and as it reached the ground level, we were showcased from all angles to the public above! It was so cool! Of course, it reminded many of us of the Tower of Terror in Disneyworld in Orlando! J One at a time, we all walked out on the runway, each woman showing her personality with swinging hips, sassy turns, and beautiful smiles! My roommate accidentally lost a shoe along the way and recovered more gracefully than any woman I’ve seen! She was the star of the show and a tough act to follow!

As my turn came up to walk the runway, my heart started beating a little faster but I just kept telling myself, “long steps, short arm swings, and smile!” I was absolutely praying as I went out there and I had the time of my LIFE! The feeling of beauty and glamour I had as I walked down the stage was so incredible, unlike anything I’ve experienced before! I know so many of us were practically giddy after the walk because of how surreal the whole experience seemed! Although modeling isn’t currently a part of my life, I was beyond thankful to have the opportunity to experience that feeling! AWESOME!!

After the show, we all sat down in state order at tables with our autograph cards and people who watched the show came through to get our ‘John Hancock’s! I met a couple from Thermopolis  and a man who has been to Cheyenne Frontier Days for the past 4 years! It was wonderful to meet some fellow Wyomingites!

After the signing, we headed to Buca de Bepo for dinner. Dinner was simply scrumptious! I sat with an amazing group of women and we talked, laughed, and really got to know each other! As we worked through our courses, the anticipation built for the beautiful sundae presented to us at the end of the meal! Some of us had a small bite and enjoyed the splendor of the treat! Buca provided us with fruit cups in addition to the sundae, which was so thoughtful. Oh, and we got to finger paint! As part of the experience, all of the contestants signed their names on a giant canvas then  put one of their hands in spaghetti sauce and pressed it next to their signature! It was the tastiest signing I’ve ever done! After various photo opps and so much laughter and fellowship, it was time to head home. We changed in our tent then headed to bed!

It has been a long but a beautiful day. My heart is so overwhelmed with gratefulness for this opportunity! I can hardly believe I’m here with these amazing women in this incredible situation and you better believe I’m soaking in every minute of it! I can’t wait to tell you more tomorrow but for now, it’s off to bed! Love you all and thank you for your continued prayers! Also, please keep Miss Montana, Veronika, in your prayers as she is not feeling well.

Rehearsals have begun!

Can you believe it’s Friday already? Well, actually it’s almost SATURDAY! How time flies when you’re having fun and believe me, we’ve been having a blast! This morning was an early start with 5:00 a.m. wake up call for myself, getting ready for the IHOP breakfast appearance! Brittney and I got ready, donned our crowns and sashes and headed down to the event at Planet Hollywood with the rest of the gals. Everyone looked stunning in their dressy business wear and I could feel the excitement in the air as we headed down for breakfast and to meet a few of the miracle kids that have been directly helped through the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

As we got coffee, TURKEY bacon and sausage (haha), and hot pancakes for breakfast, the conversation livened and everyone got ready for the ‘biggest pancake’ and ‘highest pancake toss’ contests! Everyone’s ingenuity really shone as we figured out how to flip a pancake the size of the entire griddle-it was an experience for sure! Also, for all my coworkers at Rozet, I helped one of the 5 year old miracle kids through the food line. As soon as we reached the fruit, he pointed to the strawberries and melons he wanted by touching them with his precious little fingers! My intense training at Kindergarten lunch duty helped to prepare me for this moment and I was able to grab those pieces of fruit for him and redirect his pointing skills! :) We had a fun time together joking about germs and touching other people's food!

After IHOP, we headed to rehearsal. Get ready for a PRODUCTION at the Miss America pageant! You will all be blown away by the awesome ideas coming from the Miss America production team so make sure to watch the show live on ABC on January 14! Almost as soon as we started rehearsal, I was pulled for my ‘Tall Pony’ (a production company) interview, from which they will take segments and play them as I am hopefully called into the top 15 and further! J Our makeup and hair were done by the Express beauty crew and they made it appropriate for an HD shot. It was wild to see ourselves after being ‘made over’ for HD because the motto of “less is more” translates to a beautiful, natural look. However, most of us didn’t even look like we had make up on! I can’t wait to see how it turns out on screen. I waited for around 2 hours for this interview then headed over to Artistry by Amway for their separate interview. This lasted about 20 minutes then I was off to lunch!

The buffet at Planet Hollywood is AMAZING (so get your tummies ready) and we filled up on veggies, meat, salad, and there may have been a brownie or chocolate covered strawberry consumed by a few of the contestants! J Then we headed back to rehearsal. Because of the way rehearsal is structured, I had some time to kill before I learned my part so I took the opportunity to take a little snoozer! Apparently, this short time of rest was documented, as you can see on my facebook page! I pray these little naps will serve me well in the coming days.

Today’s structure provided some amazing time to get to know more of my sisters and it’s so fun to see everyone loosen up and really let their personalities shine through. So many of the women that I have met are talented, driven, motivated, kind, and personable. It is a joy to be around them! After a quick dinner at the buffet, we had about 20 minutes to get ready to head to the Phantom of the Opera!

We loaded on busses, headed to the Venetian and sat down to have our worlds ROCKED! The show was incredible. I hardly have words to describe it! Miss New York mentioned that in New York, the Broadway productions try to stay as close to the originals as possible and that the show we saw was very “Vegas-ized” compared to the New York Broadway productions. That is a perfect way to put it! The costumes and set were glittery and fabulous, totally over the top, and truly I could not look away once from the production! The chandelier was a moving prop and was positioned above our heads! At one point during the show, the chandelier catapulted straight towards us! I wish we could’ve had a snap shot of our faces at that moment! After the show was over, we got to get on stage on the stair case used during the ‘Masquerade’ number! We were able to meet a few members of the cast and I feel so incredibly blessed to have been up on that stage. It really made our eminent stage appearance feel like a reality and I cannot wait til we get to step foot onto our Planet Hollywood stage!

We headed back on the busses and are ready for a brand new day of rehearsals and a fashion show showcasing Express tomorrow evening at the mall! During the day today, I was able to spend quiet time in contemplation and I am just constantly “hit” by the fact that I am at Miss America, getting to experience things that I just never thought I would! I am so thankful to God and to all the people that have supported me to get me to this point. I am encouraged, having a blast, and so excited for a new day tomorrow! I am going to head to bed now but please know that I love you all very much! Thank you for the continued messages and love being sent my way! Good night!

We have arrived!

Hello! The first day of actual Miss America events are COMPLETE! All the contestants arrived today by 2 p.m. and we “got the party started”! This morning, I had my first fitting with the Miss America wardrobe team in our big white tent (the one you see the contestants running in and out of on national television). It was such a rush to be inside the room where all the magic is made! The quarters are tight but each woman has her own space and I know that everything will flow smoothly. I tried on each of my competition outfits, as well as the new outfits sponsored by Express! The wardrobe team works so quickly and was incredible in their patience and flexibility!

After fittings, I got my room assignment! Here’s the big news we’ve all been waiting for! (Drum roll, please!)…The fabulous Miss Washington is my roommate! Brittney is an incredible woman with all the character and class in the world! Plus, she’s 24 like me so we’ll be going to bed as early as we can! J We’re so excited to lift each other up and support each other through this exciting adventure.

Matthew helped me to move into my new room and we got absolutely EVERYTHING unpacked! Garment bags, dresses, rehearsal outfits, “casual” outfits, shoes, jewelry, all assembled with care and precision! I pressed all the shirts and outfits so that if I am in a time crunch, I can just grab and go! Unfortunately, as I was pressing the last shirt, I burned my arm (woops) so please pray for quick healing! J

All of the contestants met downstairs at 3:30 for the official Miss America arrival ceremony. We wore our new Express outfits and looked absolutely FABULOUS! Watch out for the beautiful picture on their website and on the Miss America website, too! We took lots of pictures, then headed up to our rooms to change for dinner and meetings. I was able to get in a quick phone call home and was so excited to talk with my mom and sister, Stephanie! I am so incredibly thankful for my family and for ALL of you supporting me! Your texts, emails, messages, and phone calls mean the world to me and encourage me so much!

Dinner was pizza (hahah) and salad! There was much salad consumed. I had a delicious vanilla protein shake before dinner and a wonderful salad at dinner! The different organizers and heads of the Miss America organization spoke with us about safety, organization, scheduling, production, and encouragement to get through the week. One beautiful saying tonight by Sam Haskill was that if we know who we are, stay true to that, and maintain that knowledge, we will succeed! It’s so vital that I spend time in quiet reflection like this to stay grounded in who I am and what I believe in!

It was AMAZING to see my Miss America sisters again! It seems like Orlando (the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition) was forever ago, but we all picked up right where we left off! It is going to be an amazing 10 days with these women and although we might be exhausted by the end of it, I am so deeply grateful and humbled to be a part of it all! Thank you for helping me to get this far. I praise God every quiet second I get for opening the doors that brought me to this point and for continuing my strength and energy! I am headed to bed for an early appearance at IHOP tomorrow morning! Love you all!

One glorious day down, many more to come!

Oh my GOODNESS! Talk about living the dream! I met my co-director of the Miss Wyoming Scholarship Board, Matthew Rubin, at the airport in Las Vegas! I snuck up behind him (at least I thought I did) and he turned around holding a beautiful sign that read, “Miss America 2012, Catherine Brown!!!” It was such a blessing and an amazing statement of believing!

A former Miss Wyoming Board member, Shirley, picked us (and our combined 8 bags) up at the airport and we stopped for water and headed to the hotel! There are huge banners and electronic billboards with Teresa Scanlan’s beautiful face advertising the Miss America pageant! This is so exciting!

Matthew and I spent the afternoon finalizing outfits and jewelry for each outfit. It was a grueling process but everything is labeled, bagged and ready to go! I am so thankful we had that extra time together to put the finishing touches on my Miss America wardrobe!

Then, Matthew and I had a little fun! We donned our jogging attire and hit the strip for about an hour and a half! I t was one of the most eventful runs of my life! We met so many people, snapped a couple neat shots, saw the lights of Vegas as the sun continued to set, and browsed a couple of hotels as we made our way down the strip. It was a test of agility as much as it was an endurance run trying to make it through all the people and up and down all the stairs to make it down the strip!

We ran back to the hotel and got ready for my fitting with Express. They are a new Miss America sponsor and I am so thrilled to be wearing their product! It was so fun to see many of my Miss America class sisters again and made the experience feel so very real. The Express hosts had racks of dresses set up for us to pick our Onstage Question outfit. They helped us each to pick out a perfect dress and accessorize it beautifully. I LOVE my dress and the accessories that go with it! Can’t wait for everyone to see it! J We showed our fashion show/arrival ceremony outfit and the Express stylists helped to adjust and enhance every aspect of the outfit so we all looked as perfect as possible!

Matthew and I had a delicious dinner of PF Changs and are ready to rock and ROLL tomorrow! I check in tomorrow with the Miss America organization at 7:30 a.m. and will take part in my second round of fittings, this time with all my competition gowns! I will keep you as updated as possible as the whirlwind continues! Thank you so much for all your love and support!

Las Vegas Bound!

Wow, I can hardly believe that I’m sitting here waiting to board the plane to Las Vegas! I woke up this morning thanking God for this amazing opportunity and for a blessed and peaceful trip (and to get a handle on the butterflies in my tummy)!

I want to take this time to thank absolutely everyone for how you have stood by me, supported me, believed in me, and shown me so much love and kindness throughout this journey. So many of you have been here for me my entire life and have seen me grow and mature as a woman. I am so thankful for your presence. The people that I have met within the past 6 months as I hit the road and began a new chapter in my life as Miss Wyoming and as a speech language pathologist in Gillette have made such an impact on my heart and I am overwhelmed by all the support and love you’ve shown me! Words really cannot express the joy that bubbles over in my heart, but I hope you know that I love you all very much.

Now, just to fill you in on the last whirlwind month, I had a busy last few weeks of school in Gillette then headed to Texas to be with family over the holidays. My family, friends, and coworkers in Gillette were amazing in their well-wishes, send off parties (especially my speechies), prayers and time of fellowship! I was able to finish all of my IEP paperwork for the month of January and part of February, complete all 58 of my progress reports for my students’ report cards, and leave my office sparkling in preparation for another speech therapist to take over for me once I begin my new job in January! ;) It’s always good to be prepared!

I traveled to Sheridan for one last meeting with my Board of Directors (a 2 hour drive), headed to Laramie in the morning for my hair appointment (a 5 hour drive), then headed to Denver for my flight to Dallas (a 2 hour drive). Talk about a long day! It was amazing to see my sorority sisters and former roommates Allie Thompson and Hannah Fete in Denver!

My time in Dallas with my family was incredible. I was able to spend some time relaxing but did a LOT of much needed shopping in preparation for Las Vegas! With daily work outs, voice lessons, practice, and time mentally preparing, my days were pretty full! Just how I like them! J I did take time to teach my family how to “rope.” I recently was given a beautiful pink rope and have been practicing roping steer (actually, a hay bale with a plastic steer head shoved inside of it) and wanted to share that with my family! We set up a wire chair and had a blast practicing swinging and throwing the rope! The members of my family are a bunch of naturals!

As I head to Las Vegas, I have spent much time in prayer focusing on my ability to shine as God’s light for others, for opportunities to bless and lift others up, and for my energy, clarity of mind, and peace during the days in competition. Thank you for standing with me in my believing. I am so thankful and proud to be able to represent Wyoming at the Miss America competition and I know with the amazing support I have received and with God at my side, all things are possible! Oh, and don’t forget to vote at www.missamerica.org/videocontest/contestants/wyoming.aspx to help me reach the top 15! Much love to you all!