Hi all!
This is going to be a loonngg blog post, so grab a cup of coffee, a soda, or a pizza and join me! :)
What an utterly exhausting and exhilarating last ten days I have had! I am so happy to be back in the comfort of my own home, and back with my family, but I'm not going to lie, I miss my girlfriends (and being treated like royalty! lol). After you spend ten days with women who are not only beautiful, but supportive, uplifting and fun, you are bound to miss them. I have 51 new friends, and I couldn't be more excited. I am looking forward to going to visit some of them in their home states, and I have already decided that I WILL be at Mrs. America next year. It will be a fabulous reunion with members of my class, and I want to be there for the next Mrs. Ohio!
The entire pageant experience was such an adventure. I got off the airplane, and was greeted by cameras and videographers. I felt like a celebrity! Those cameras remained throughout the week to capture every event and record the memories. On day 1, we arrived at the resort, got settled in our rooms, and met some fellow contestants. That night we had an orientation dinner where we dressed up in evening gowns and met all the staff members, and introduced ourselves. There were some pretty humorous moments...like when Mrs. Nebraska said that her and her husband like to joke that being married to each other feels like ten minutes.....under water! :) I received a very beautiful Mary Frances evening purse that night from Elaine Marmel for not giving up on my dream of being Mrs. Ohio and competing 5 times. Day 2 was spent touring old Tucson, complete with pink cowboy hats. We had a ton of fun that day! I hope you all have seen the pictures and videos. If not, please check out my Mrs.Ohio America 2013 Facebook page, the Mrs. Ohio America Pageant Facebook page, and also the Mrs. America website! Other activities that we participated in were going to a downtown café where we presented the mayor of Tucson with a gift from our state, a cocktail dinner in the Marmel's suite where we presented the hotel manager our state gifts, and seminars provided by Vault Denim, the major sponsor of the Mrs. America pageant this year. We even received 2 free pairs of jeans, and their full skin care line...and it's all awesome! We also had a contestant gift exchange one night at rehearsals. Imagine all the loot from 51 other contestants! The remainder of the time was mainly spent rehearsing with Frit and Frat, the choreographers of the pageant. They are hilarious!! And, even if you have two left feet (I'm fortunate that I don't!), they will make you shine! Rehearsals are exhausting...but also a lot of fun and great bonding time with the other ladies.
The preliminary and final competitions were just incredible. I cannot even accurately describe the atmosphere! The best description would be that it reminds you of what the feeling is like for the Emmy's, Oscars, Academy Awards or something like that. DeAnna Holliday, Mrs. Ohio America 2012 told me that when you get out to Mrs. America, that is when you really realize what you have accomplished, and it's so true! Even my husband made the comment that he didn't realize what a big deal this was until he got there to see it all, and when he did, he realized that being Mrs. Ohio America is a HUGE achievement. These women are all so beautiful, smart, accomplished, committed, and compassionate. And, I am one of them! It was an honor to be among them, and to be able to stand on that stage as the representative of my state. I was blessed enough to make the top 15 (that was a big goal of mine), and I couldn't be happier! Someone asked me if I was disappointed that I didn't go further...my honest answer...no! I believe that God set this journey in motion. I became Mrs. Ohio America at just the right time in my life, and if it was my time to be Mrs. America, that would have happened as well. Yes, it would have been awesome to be Mrs. America...but I believe that God has a different path for me, AND I believe that He chose the right woman to represent all of us. Just a few moments with Austen (Mrs. Texas) would leave you feeling the same! I cannot wait to see her represent our nation in China at Mrs. World. I am so proud of who she is as a woman, wife and mother, and I think it is so incredible that she is making history as the very first African American Mrs. America...the same year as the 50th anniversary of the Martin Luther King speech!! How cool is that?!
To wrap this all up, I am excited to represent my state for the remainder of the year and look forward to all the opportunities that come my way. There are some of you reading this who have considered competing in this pageant, but have let fear or insecurity hold you back. I am telling you to take a leap of faith and do it. There are some of you reading this who have competed before (maybe more than once) and have been disappointed, and maybe even felt devastated. Don't give up. It took me 5 times! Your time may be coming. Do what it takes to improve. Believe that you have everything it takes to hold this title. Surround yourself with people who support you, believe in you and want to see you excel. Back away from those who are negative or want to squash your dream. Dreams are placed in our heart for a reason. I am willing to help you in any way I can. Please don't hesitate to contact me and we can talk it over. And, don't let anyone steal your sparkle!! :)
Much Love,
Teri
Mrs. Ohio America 2013
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Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Be True to You
I can't believe that in less than two weeks, I will be leaving for Tucson, AZ to compete for Mrs. America! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I have been so busy preparing for this adventure, as well as working and getting two of my sons ready for college and the other children ready for school. It is non-stop activity around my house!
As I have been preparing, there have been moments that I have questioned my own judgment and decisions. I think that when you are making any big changes or decisions in your life, this is human nature. However, I want to share something that I have learned throughout the five years that it took me to get to this title....no one can be a better you. Trust yourself, trust your instinct and follow your heart. Leading up to the Mrs. Ohio pageant, I had made the decision, that crown or no crown, I was leaving it all out on the stage. I wanted to walk away with no regrets, and the feeling that I wouldn't have changed a thing. In my past performances, there was always something that didn't feel quite right....the clothes, the hair, the make-up, or my interview and on-stage performance itself were keeping me from being my best self. Some of this was due to letting others influence me as to what they thought I should be. At other times, it was due to my own insecurities, and the pressure I placed on myself to be exactly what the judges were looking for. But, you know what? None of us knows what the judges are looking for! And just because they didn't choose you, does not mean that there is something wrong with you. A wise friend once said to me, " a different judging panel, a different day, equals a different result". That is so true! So, do what you need to improve upon your interview skills and onstage skills, and get the advice you need as far as your "look". But, do this while staying true to who YOU are. I am doing exactly that as as I prepare for Mrs. America, holding on to my convictions, and making decisions based on what is comfortable for me what is best for my family. As Judy Garland said, "Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else".
Please keep me in your prayers over the next couple of weeks as I finish my preparations and travel to Tucson! :)
Hugs!
Teri
Mrs. Ohio America 2013
As I have been preparing, there have been moments that I have questioned my own judgment and decisions. I think that when you are making any big changes or decisions in your life, this is human nature. However, I want to share something that I have learned throughout the five years that it took me to get to this title....no one can be a better you. Trust yourself, trust your instinct and follow your heart. Leading up to the Mrs. Ohio pageant, I had made the decision, that crown or no crown, I was leaving it all out on the stage. I wanted to walk away with no regrets, and the feeling that I wouldn't have changed a thing. In my past performances, there was always something that didn't feel quite right....the clothes, the hair, the make-up, or my interview and on-stage performance itself were keeping me from being my best self. Some of this was due to letting others influence me as to what they thought I should be. At other times, it was due to my own insecurities, and the pressure I placed on myself to be exactly what the judges were looking for. But, you know what? None of us knows what the judges are looking for! And just because they didn't choose you, does not mean that there is something wrong with you. A wise friend once said to me, " a different judging panel, a different day, equals a different result". That is so true! So, do what you need to improve upon your interview skills and onstage skills, and get the advice you need as far as your "look". But, do this while staying true to who YOU are. I am doing exactly that as as I prepare for Mrs. America, holding on to my convictions, and making decisions based on what is comfortable for me what is best for my family. As Judy Garland said, "Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else".
Please keep me in your prayers over the next couple of weeks as I finish my preparations and travel to Tucson! :)
Hugs!
Teri
Mrs. Ohio America 2013
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