March 5, 2010

Hello friends!

It’s already been 5 weeks since I was crowned and it only feels like days! I’ve been to nine different states so far, including Hawaii, and have seen two oceans!

I kicked off my role as the Goodwill Ambassador to the Children’s Miracle Network last month at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After my tour of the hospital, I met with some of the patients in the arts and crafts room, who were eager to start making paper crowns! I can’t wait to meet more of these little champions across the country. I will carry their uplifting spirit throughout my year as Miss America.

From Philadelphia, I flew to L.A. to start working with IHOP to raise awareness for National Pancake Day. I started by visiting a local IHOP where I greeted and chatted with customers while a production company shot b-roll. The b-roll would be used to promote National Pancake Day. After the IHOP visit, I went to the Children’s Hospital of L.A. where I played with patients in the game room and made crafts with them. The day before National Pancake Day I participated in a tremendous satellite media tour with radio stations across the country to promote IHOP and Children’s Miracle Network. It was a long day, but it was worth it to get this important message out. On National Pancake Day, I appeared on KTLA’s morning show to promote the event and participated in a pancake tossing contest with the anchors, where I served as the referee. It was so much fun! After KTLA I visited the IHOP on Sunset Boulevard where I mingled with customers and demonstrated how to make pancakes for the media. I thank everyone who came out for National Pancake Day. With your donations, we were able to raise $2.1 million for Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities! IHOP also surpassed its goal to raise $5 million in five years, raising a cumulative $5.35 million since first celebrating National Pancake Day in 2006. Impressive!

After the delicious success of National Pancake Day, it was off to Hawaii with the Artistry Cosmetics/Amway Global team. I was so excited to spend some time with my official skincare and cosmetics sponsor, Artistry by Amway, and also because I’ve never been to Hawaii! I had a great time meeting with their Diamond Club members on the beautiful island of Maui and participating in promotional photo and video shoots that will be used during my year. The weather was perfect – I wish I could have stayed longer, especially after I felt that warm white sand between my toes!

After Hawaii, I flew to Michigan to work with Amway once again on Read Across America Day at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Amway graciously donated 200 books to the hospital and I had a great time reading them to all of the children! It was an absolutely amazing day. What I love , especially about children’s hospitals , is that they’re still kids. They’re still playing their Wii Games and they still have the energy to challenge their moms!

Now, I am currently in New York working with Artistry by Amway on a photo shoot. I’ll be here for the next few days participating in several media interviews and special meetings are also planned for me. I’ll fill you in later about the exciting events in the months ahead! If you are in the NYC viewing area on Monday, you can catch me on Good Day New York in the morning! I will also be appearing on Fox Business Channel’s America’s Nightly Scoreboard that night. Be sure to tune in!

Now, I look forward to my Homecoming and I can’t wait to see my family and friends! They have all been so supportive and I will look forward to sharing these special moments with you in the weeks ahead. Thank you for sharing in my journey….all the best.

Warmest wishes,
Caressa

March 5th, 2010

February 8, 2010

Dear Friends,

I can’t believe last Saturday night I was crowned Miss America 2010 and my dream came true! I keep biting my lip to make sure I’m not dreaming and it is hard to believe that a week has gone by since that incredible moment of standing on stage with 52 incredible women, who I competed with and who helped to make my journey to Miss America so memorable!

As I flew to New York, it was truly a thrill to begin my week as Miss America with Regis and Kelly then to visit Fox & Friends, with Miss America 1989 Gretchen Carlson who interviewed me on Tuesday and offered her beautiful words of encouragement! I was then surprised when I was invited to appear on one of my favorite shows, the Wendy Williams Show, and had the opportunity to talk to Wendy - I loved it! I also did a segment with Inside Edition and they focused on the fact that I was bullied as a child, but came out of my childhood a stronger person for it!

The next day, I hopped on a plane (and yes, missed the blizzard in the Northeast- I will say- my timing is perfect!) and I went off to Superbowl XLIV! I was invited to be a part of the Taste of the NFL, which helps to support food for the homeless and raises the awareness to help those in our own country who are in desperate need of help. I was proud to support their efforts and hope that this year they surpass all of their goals!

Media outlets from around the country were present and I had wonderful national interviews such as ESPN radio, Yahoo Sports and Jamie Foxx’s radio show, and enjoyed a press conference with the Superbowl half-time performers, The Who. I met celebrities like Queen Latifah, Carrie Underwood, NFL stars like Roger Staubach and Joe Montana, and so many others that were on hand to support the The Taste of the NFL events.

On Sunday, the energy was in the air and the game was amazing. I feel blessed to be able to kick off my first week on the job as Miss America in such a wonderful way!

This week, I will be off to Ohio to meet with two of our new sponsors, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, who already have me stepping out in style, and also American Signature Furniture! I am excited to meet with them and become familiar with their team and their products as I begin to travel the country and promote our sponsors on my tour.

In just another week, I will be off to visit the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and begin my role as the Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network. It touches my heart to have such an incredible opportunity in front of me to touch the lives of these remarkable children- I am honored to be their ambassador and will look forward to meeting these children as I tour the country this year.

I would also like to thank my cosmetic and skincare sponsor, Artistry Cosmetics, exclusively from Amway Global for sponsoring our scholarships and also helping me to look my best this year! We sincerely appreciate your support! Also, from the moment I arrived in New York, I have been dressed in my fabulous new wardrobe that has been generously supplied by the Joseph Ribkoff Company- I thank you!

Please stay tuned and look for my updates! I have so many incredible moments ahead, and I hope that you will enjoy reading about them.

Thank you for your support of our program and I hope you enjoyed the 2010 Miss America Pageant- I can’t wait to see it myself! I am anxious to watch the talent segment again- I thought that it was such an incredible show- we hope you enjoyed it as well.

Warmest regards,
Caressa Cameron
Miss America 2010

February 8th, 2010