Hola Amigos!
Yes, I’m proud to announce that I’ve learned a bit (granted, a very tiny bit) of Spanish while in Spain the last few days! Sitting here on the long flight back, I first caught up on some much-needed sleep, and now thought I’d update everyone on this incredible trip I was able to take on behalf of my fantastic wardrobe sponsor and official designer, Joseph Ribkoff!
I flew to Madrid on Wednesday after spending the early part of the week in Lincoln, Nebraska. Travel took all of Wednesday day and night, so we arrived Thursday morning and hit the ground running with media interviews at a Joseph Ribkoff showroom. It was so much fun doing print and TV interviews with various Spanish media outlets in an area right in the middle of Madrid. That afternoon we also paid a visit to the American Embassy where we met with the wonderful Ambassador Alan Solomont, his wife, and staff. They were all so incredibly gracious, hospitable and generous, and it was such an honor and privilege to spend time with them.
In Spain, dinner is very late, usually around 9 or 10 pm, so there are several meals throughout the day prior… that’s something I sure don’t mind one bit! We had plenty of delicious Spanish cuisine, including one of their classic dishes, a potato omelet, which was really good! The weather was absolutely gorgeous, so we ate outside and enjoyed watching the people in downtown Madrid.
The next day we attended Cibeles Fashion Week. I had VIP seating at several runway shows, and had more interviews with fashion media in attendance. It was so much fun to be in the center of all the action, with thousands of people coming from all over the world for Madrid Fashion Week! That night we were invited to the Yo Dona party, where I walked the red carpet in a fabulous Joseph Ribkoff cocktail dress and had an amazing time.
Our last day of this wonderful, yet all too short trip, was spent at one of the top boutique stores in Madrid that sells Joseph Ribkoff, where I had the chance to meet, take pictures with, and sign autographs for many of the store’s patrons and Joseph Ribkoff fans! Enthusiasm for the comfortable and sophisticated style of Joseph Ribkoff is certainly alive and well throughout Spain, and it was so much fun to be able to share in that. The Spanish style is laid back, friendly, and easy going, so it’s certainly easy to enjoy yourself. All stores and businesses everywhere are closed from about 2-5pm, as during that time, everyone takes a leisurely lunch and a siesta. I found myself quickly becoming fond of the Spanish lifestyle!
Our last evening in the beautiful city of Madrid, we were able to stroll through much of downtown, which was bustling with people on this Saturday night. The square was filled with musicians, dancers, and costumed characters entertaining the crowds. After a little too much shopping on my part in the many unique and interesting boutiques and stores lining the narrow streets, we all headed to dinner at a lavishly decorated Spanish restaurant with Flamenco dancers for entertainment! Eating, talking, laughing, and enjoying the dances into the night, I was reluctant to go, but it was a perfect way to end a lovely trip.
Everyone we met embraced us wholeheartedly, and the hospitality and friendliness was incredible. Watching the vibrant culture of art, fashion, and music in Spain was unlike any other, and I certainly hope to make it back soon to discover more of this wonderful country, and reunite with our newfound friends. But for now, the adventures continue back in America! You won’t want to miss any of it, so check back often for updates as I continue my travels and near the end of my year. The time has flown by, and I certainly hope the next few months go slowly, as I’m loving every minute of it!
Adios!
Love and Prayers,
Teresa
September 19th, 2011
Dear Friends:
Sitting here on the long flight back from Germany, I realized so much has happened since the last time I wrote! First of all, my twitter handle has been changed to @MissAmerica, so be sure to follow me if you aren’t already, and spread the word!
Last week started off with a trip to Phoenix, Arizona with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. I had an amazing time visiting the Children’s Hospital there, as well as stopping by many of their key partner businesses and stores in the area to thank them for their support and fundraising efforts. While there, we even went to the MLB All-Star Game! Although I don’t know all that much about baseball, I predicted that the National League would win, and they did! It was so much fun, and the whole time in Phoenix was wonderful. Remember, you can donate to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals any time year-round by going to childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org. Here, you can also find out about their Miracle Jeans Day campaign, and be sure to continue spreading the word and telling your friends as well!
After leaving Phoenix, I was off to my hometown of Gering, Nebraska! I was able to make appearances there all weekend for our annual Oregon Trail Days festival, which was also celebrating it’s 90th Anniversary just like Miss America! The weekend was packed with parades, concerts, the carnival, contests, and events, not to mention trying to see everyone and spend time with friends and family! It was so wonderful to see so many familiar faces again and reconnect with many people I hadn’t seen in far too long! The weekend passed all too quickly, and by Sunday I was boarding my flight to London!
This past week was a hectic, yet incredible week with my official designer Joseph Ribkoff, for whom I serve as a fashion correspondent and brand ambassador. On Sunday, we flew all day, and because of the time difference, it was 6 am on Monday when we arrived! We spent the day doing interviews with print and radio media outlets and fashion bloggers promoting Joseph Ribkoff and introducing their new fall/winter 2011 collection.
The second day we were able to go on a great tour of London on a double-decker bus and river ferry! We saw Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Bridge, and so much more! It was absolutely incredible to see so many iconic and legendary places in such a beautiful city! The rest of the day was spent with more media interviews, and then we had a great dinner at the famous Ivy restaurant!
The next morning we flew to Dusseldorf, Germany, where we ventured to a historic brewery, a famous sausage stand, and an amazing new artistic bridge to complete a German “triathlon” with Germany’s largest newspaper. The next two days were then spent in Frankfurt and Dresden, where I had the opportunity to take part in Joseph Ribkoff fashion shows held at the stores and malls. Huge crowds gathered, and I signed many autographs and took lots of pictures after every show. Whether or not those present could speak English, they were all so excited about Miss America! It was so much fun to help showcase my wardrobe provider’s stunning fashions in some of Germany’s best cities! I am so very fortunate to be able to work with such an incredible company and am continually blessed to have Joseph Ribkoff as a sponsor and partner this year. Remember, all of my official appearance wardrobe and day-wear is by Joseph Ribkoff, so if you ever see something you’d like to wear as well, you can find a store near you by calling the toll-free number at JosephRibkoff.com!
While at a fashion show in Dresden, a girl came up and introduced herself to me and I found out she had just returned to Germany that week after being an exchange student for a year at Chadron high school- a high school about 2 hours away from mine in Nebraska! She didn’t even live in Dresden, but was visiting for the day- how amazing that our paths crossed like that; it sure is a small world!
The last day was back in Dusseldorf for three more fashion shows, as well as a visit to a local children’s hospital to present a check from Joseph Ribkoff. The money was donated to support the clowns program there for the kids, which brought in professional clowns to play with the children, sing songs, do tricks, and help brighten their day.
At the hospital, we went to the room of a 17-year-old boy from Afghanistan who had been injured from war-related violence. The German hospitals take in many children from Iraq and Afghanistan and treat them for free as a voluntary service on the part of the doctors and nurses. This boy had been there before for many months, and was back again to get another operation, as his legs were very badly injured and he walked with crutches.
Although he couldn’t speak English, he presented me with a beautiful pink beaded bracelet that he had hand-made. After all, a gift, a smile, and a hug are all able to be communicated across any language barrier. This incredibly meaningful bracelet has now found a home on my left wrist, beside the purple wristband that many of you may now be used to seeing that says “Accept Yourself…Accept Others” for my platform. Now you can keep your eyes open for this new accessory as well; something I will never take off as it symbolizes a truly beautiful moment I will never forget.
Love and Prayers,
Teresa
July 25th, 2011
What a perfect Independence Day weekend! I hope all of you had a safe and memorable 4th of July as well! Being in Philadelphia for the holiday was truly amazing, as being around the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and so many other historic places helped me remember that the freedom we now enjoy came only because of the sacrifices made by those before us, as well as those made by our courageous armed forces. All weekend long, there were concerts and firework shows, and then on the 4th there was a huge concert with Committed, The Roots, Sara Barielles, Estelle, Boyz II Men, and Earth Wind and Fire! Then, they had an incredible firework show set to music that was absolutely amazing! Earlier in the morning, I sang God Bless America for the opening ceremonies, then was in the parade on the salute to the armed forces float with a member from each branch of the military: Navy, Air Force, Marines, Army, and Coast Guard. All I can say is, I’m so proud to be an American and so very proud of those that protect and serve our country each day! Make sure you take the time to thank the members of our military who are from your communities and towns for their sacrifice!
Following the 4th, I headed to Baltimore for a welcome home party for the Special Olympics Team USA! The team just got back from the games in Greece, where they received over 300 medals and many great ribbons as well! It was incredibly touching to meet and chat with the athletes, who, although tired from their long trip, were so excited. They showed me their medals, we took pictures, and then they started playing music so we danced the night away until it was time to go. How inspiring to see these special individuals truly living life to the fullest and making a difference!
After a great day in Baltimore, I headed over to DC for the first of a series of Let’s Read! Let’s Move! summer enrichment programs. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar read to the students, and afterwards, I was able to speak to the kids about the importance of reading, eating the right foods for your body, and getting outside to play. Then we broke in to groups to go play some games with YMCA staff. It was such a fun event and all the kids were a blast to be around! Continuing to learn and read, even in the summer when school’s out, is critical for students of all ages. Encouraging continued learning, as well as staying active and healthy year-round is so important to do for the young people around you… and the best way to teach this? Lead by example!
The next day, I was back to Maryland for Young America’s Foundation High School Conference. The foundation is a wonderful organization that helps provide young people with opportunities to learn about the founding fathers, constitutional principles, and government and politics in general. I had the opportunity to do several media interviews with outlets from the DC area, and then spoke to the group of students that evening. It is always so encouraging to be around other students my age who are passionate about public service and interested in learning all they can about our government! I even met some students who will be attending Patrick Henry College, the school I will be headed to next year! To learn more about the foundation, go to yaf.org.
Well, that brings us to this weekend! As I write this, I’m currently in Boise, Idaho for events with Amway and Artistry! Being my first time in Idaho, I’ve now officially checked 32 states off my list of states visited! This weekend included some local tv interviews for Artistry, as well as a huge conference for a group of Amway’s Independent Business Owners. I had the opportunity to meet many of them for an autograph signing, and then spoke to the group of about 3,000! Plus, just before Boise, we had another Independent Business Owner conference in Virginia of the same size where I was able to speak and play piano. It’s so inspiring to be around these groups of motivated and successful business owners who are dedicated to both scholarship and service, just like Amway! I am so thankful for the Artistry by Amway scholarship I earned as Miss America that will help pay for college next year.
Some of my favorite Artistry products this summer include: Tinted Moisturizer, which is perfect for a light, sheer summer coverage, plus contains SPF 15 to protect your skin; and 3-D Face Powder, which is a perfect bronzer and highlighter that adds some shimmer to your look as well! You can find these products and more by contacting an Independent Business Owner, or by visiting Amway.com/beauty!
Wow! Another hectic, yet fantastic week has come and gone! You can stay up-to-date on all of these happenings by following me on Twitter at @missamerica, as well as on the Miss America Organization page on Facebook! As always, thank you so much for your continued involvement, support, and encouragement; I simply can’t thank you enough!
Love and Prayers,
Teresa
July 12th, 2011
Hello Friends,
Summer has simply been flying by! Over the past few weeks, many new state titleholders were crowned across the country; in fact, I was able to attend the Miss Utah pageant last weekend! Congratulations to all of our new titleholders who will be competing for Miss America 2012! The competition is now officially set to be shown live on ABC on January 14th, 2012 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Be sure to mark your calendars, start spreading the word, tell your friends and family, and get planning those Miss America viewing parties!
The past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to make some exciting trips. First, I joined Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry and Miss America 1985 Sharlene Wells Hawkes for a visit to the Pentagon. It was so nice to spend time with my Miss America sisters, and we had a great time together sharing our similar stories and laughing about things only we could understand!
The purpose of our visit was to discuss partnering with the military to help promote and educate the public on the troubles veterans often face after their return from overseas. We spent most of the day with Colonel Sutherland, and also had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Susan Farnsworth in the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs Office to discuss the issue at hand. The highlight of the day was when we met with Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to further discuss veteran issues. While at the Pentagon we even dropped by the room where the President gives his briefings and had lunch in the Pentagon restaurant!
Following my Washington D.C. visit, it was off to Ohio for the Duck Tape Festival on behalf of Duck brand duct tape! After learning of my love for creating things out of duct tape, those at The Duck Brand asked me to judge the Stuck At Prom competition, where students make their prom outfits out of duct tape to earn scholarships! You can check out these amazing creations at stuckatprom.com. Then at the festival, I got to serve as Grand Marshall at the annual festival parade, where thousands of people lined the streets and fairgrounds of Avon, Ohio.
After the parade, I addressed the crowd and was able to share my story, including how I got started using duct tape, how I got involved with the Miss America Organization, and the similarities between the two: showing your personality, developing creativity, and embracing individuality! Then I had time to sit and talk and sign autographs. I loved getting to chat with the festival attendees, who all share my love for creating things out of duct tape! It’s always fun to tell people about the things I love to do, and how being Miss America has changed my life.
Following the festival, it was back to DC to meet His Royal Highness Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and our Board Chairman, Sam Haskell for the first of a three-stop trip promoting the Duke of Edinburgh Award! We spent four days together and traveled to DC, Baltimore, and NYC for a variety of fundraising and promotional events for the award. His Royal Highness was so kind and gracious, yet so unassuming and humble, it was wonderful to spend time with him and work together to implement the award program here in America! We have formed a national partnership between the award and MAO, and I’m so excited to be the first Miss America to earn my own award!
Unwillingly, we had to part ways, as I then flew to Salt Lake City for Miss Utah! I had such a great time with all of the girls who were fantastic and put on an incredibly tough competition! Before leaving Salt Lake, I also got to see my judge from Miss America, Mark Wills, at one of his concerts in the area!
This weekend I’m in Philadelphia where I can’t wait to celebrate our nation’s 235th birthday back where it all began! I wish all of you a safe and happy 4th of July as we celebrate independence, freedom, and our pride as Americans. It is an honor and privilege to be representing this country as your Miss America!
Love and prayers,
Teresa
July 1st, 2011
Dear Friends,
The past month has flown by! I can’t believe it is June already and that I am halfway into my year. Our 2012 titleholders are beginning to be crowned, so we are officially in pageant season and in fact, I’m just leaving Nebraska, as we crowned our new Miss Nebraska this weekend! I can’t wait to soon meet the entire 2012 class in August at MAOT!
I started out in May with the exciting opportunity to sing the National Anthem at the Chicago Cubs game. This was the first time I sang the National Anthem for a professional sporting event, and despite the rainy weather, it was a lot of fun!
While in the Chicago area, I visited the Arabella House, which houses residents recovering and suffering from eating disorders. I meant a lot to me to be able to speak to the women there and hear their stories. I took their stories with me as I traveled with the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders to a local junior high school and spoke about the dangers and warning signs of eating disorders. The students asked great questions and I was glad to see they were eager to get involved. Each student who asked a question received a wristband from ANAD that said “Accept Yourself, Accept Others.” You can find these as well as other information on eating disorders at ANAD.org.
That night, I participated in a candlelight vigil remembering those who have lost their lives to eating disorders. The event took place in the Healing Garden of the Edward Hospital, Linden Center. The program consisted of song, speakers - some were patients in remission, some were family, counselors and doctors. It was a beautiful event and at the end, I helped to light the candles and everyone joined in singing “Lean on Me.” 20/20 was there and interviewed me on this serious issue, as they are looking to produce a program about it.
That weekend, I traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to participate in events for the American Heart Association and The Junior League of Omaha. I was a surprise guest at the American Heart Association of Omaha’s Heart Walk, where I welcomed participants from the stage and spoke on healthy eating. I had the pleasure of leading the one-mile walk for children with this year’s Heart Child, Abby and her family. I enjoyed meeting all of the young patients and their families and raising awareness for this important cause. Then, I had the opportunity to host the High Heel Dash for the Junior League of Omaha which was a blast! They had women’s races, men’s races, and relay races all in high heels to raise money for this wonderful organization!
After Nebraska it was off to Atlanta to work with Produce for Kids and promote healthy eating and cooking for children. Produce for Kids is educating families about the benefits of healthy eating with fresh produce through a complete marketing campaign hosted in the produce department of all Publix stores June 2 – June 29, 2011. For more information visit www.produceforkids.org.
While in Atlanta, I joined Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at a local Rite-Aid to help thank customers of the national drugstore chain for raising more than $50 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. While there, I met Parker Grelecki, a Miracle Child, who was helped by some of the money Rite Aid raised.
From Atlanta, I traveled to Indianapolis with our fantastic clothing sponsor, Joseph Ribkoff, Inc., participating in several events for the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. I sang the National Anthem at the Carburetion Day/Firestone Freedom 100 Race pre-festivities, rode on the Firestone Float through the streets of Indianapolis in the Indy 500 parade, and sang God Bless America at the pre-race festivities for the Indy 500 Race. It was a great weekend, full of so many events, including my first red carpet, where I rubbed elbows with many celebrities and famous Indy drivers!
After Indy, it was off to D.C.! I joined 300,000 Americans as they rallied behind our troops at the American Veterans Center’s 2011 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC. I rode down the parade route in a beautiful float, while performing “God Bless America.” The parade focused on the true meaning of Memorial Day - honoring those who have fought bravely to defend America’s freedom and the civil liberties of people around the world. I was so thankful to be a part of this wonderful tribute.
Last weekend, I joined Miss California Arianna Afsar, for an appearance at the 2011 Association of the U.S. Army Symposium and Army Ball in Long Beach, CA. First, we made a visit to the Long Beach VA Hospital to greet the patients and spend some time with them. Following the tour, we had lunch with hospital nurses/doctors, as well as some military families who have been helped by the VA’s programs.
The next day, we spent a beautiful sunny afternoon at the Long Beach Yacht Club, the perfect setting for AUSA’s Annual Family Programs Volunteer Appreciation Lunch. I joined several high ranking officials in thanking these volunteers for their many hours of service to help take care of the needs of families of local soldiers. The 2011 Army Ball was appropriately themed “Hollywood Salutes the Soldier” as the room looked straight out of a movie with all of the military personnel in their dress uniforms. I joined guest of honor Lt. General Richard P. Formica and other celebrities at the event, and performed White Water Chopsticks on the piano. It was a memorable evening!
I am currently in Nebraska and have been working hard all week promoting the Miss Nebraska Pageant and the Miss Nebraska Scholarship Program! Many states crowned their new titleholders this weekend, so a huge congratulations to all!
I hope you are all enjoying the start to a wonderful summer!
Love and prayers,
Teresa
June 13th, 2011
Dear Friends,
What a wonderful month to kick off with! I have been so incredibly busy since my Easter break, and in just the last ten days I have already traveled to Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Nebraska, and today, I am writing you from sunny Miami, Florida!
What an amazing time and the events and people I have met are all so incredible! I have had the privilege in the last month to have so many “firsts” as I look back on the month of April where I worked with our friends from Keep America Beautiful in Philadelphia and New York! I also had the opportunity to work with the USO in DC which I always love and was invited to be a part of their annual awards dinner.
April continued to be filled with highlights that also included going to my first Phillies game, where I performed God Bless America! And later this week, I will be visiting the famed Wrigley Field to perform for the Cubs, live on FOX, on Saturday, May 14th! Tune in especially if you are a Cubs or a Giants fan!
But for those of you who love football, you will appreciate my stop home in April for a Huskers game! It was the Spring football game and over 60,000 fans were in attendance as I was invited out into the stadium to be welcomed home by my home state. The roar of the fans and the welcome were an unbelievable feeling that made me so very proud to be the first Miss America from the state of Nebraska! Stepping out onto the field, (of course, I was wearing my Joseph Ribkoff red dress for the Huskers) was such an amazing feeling. I will never forget that moment. I have been so blessed to have the support of my home state and I was so reminded of it on this very special day. Of course, the day was not over yet as one more surprise was planned for me when I was invited to Nebraska Press Association with over one hundred media outlets present and I was able to speak and express my sincere appreciation to them for their overwhelming support. My special thanks goes to Allen Beermann, former NE Secretary of State, and President of the NE Press Assoc., for his support and the invitation to be a part of these wonderful events! That weekend I also had the opportunity to go to the opening of the amazing new TD Ameritrade Stadium where the College World Series will be held! I got to perform my piano piece at the indoor dinner and then we were treated to an incredible fireworks show!
As the month of April wrapped up, I was able to travel to Tennessee and work with Bridgestone America to help spread the message during the month of May for Teens to be careful and responsible especially during Prom Season with their driving. I was able to record PSA’s that will be distributed to stations across the country and soon it will be posted on our Facebook for you to see! As I left the corporate headquarters of Bridgestone, I traveled through the spectacular Smokey Mountains to see the blue grass of Lexington, Kentucky!
A fundraiser with The Miss Kentucky Organization was my first stop along with visiting the Children’s Hospital of Kentucky with Miss Kentucky. I was thrilled to be a part of this special fundraiser that was themed “Hats Off To Miss America!” I loved it; it was so much fun, while fundraising for our state organization!
On April 30th, I was able to speak to over 16,000 Amway representatives in Louisville, Kentucky! The reception I was given was incredible and they were such a welcoming group that hosted me and allowed me to share my journey with them. I was so proud to have the opportunity to speak to this audience and express my appreciation for the support of Artistry from Amway as our official cosmetic and skincare sponsor. They have been a wonderful supporter of our program and this LTD Summit gave me the opportunity to express my thanks to them and meet thousands of the Independent Business Owners that make Amway what it is!
The Summit with Amway set the tone for the week, as I hit the ground running on May 1st with my official wardrobe provider, Joseph Ribkoff, who sponsored my Kentucky Derby events and pre-Derby festivities. I was scheduled to do interviews with the media and also a store visit at the Willow Tree that specialized in Ribkoff clothing. The store visit was wonderful and I even had a surprise visitor, Heather French Henry, Miss America 2000 who welcomed me to her beautiful home state! The next day, I participated in the 56th annual Derby Parade that had a wonderful theme of Heroic Adventures this year! The parade was incredible with blue skies and over 250,000 fans! Then, the following day, I attended the Kentucky Derby celebrity luncheon at the famed Churchill Downs! What a thrill to be a part of this event with celebrities that included Kate Gosselin, Chili from TLC, Raven Symone, etc. and to see the legendary track and clubhouse; it was a special week to top off my visit to Kentucky!
As I quickly got ready to depart (yes, 3AM!) I headed off to Peoria, Illinois for Congressman Aaron Schock’s annual Youth Leadership Summit. I got to speak to about 500 high school students to discuss lessons I’ve learned about success and leadership. The whole day centered on this theme and I had an incredible time meeting these determined students.
On Saturday I was welcomed back once again to my home state for a one day visit to the Strategic Air and Space Museum. I was able to speak to a group of excited home state fans, answer questions, take pictures, and then tour this incredible exhibition!
Then on Sunday I was off to Miami to work with Amway again, and the Hank Kline Boys and Girls Club!
The excitement continues this month and I will continue to share my travels and experiences with you. Thank you all for your support! As I travel this great country, I am so very proud to serve as your Miss America 2011 and hope you will continue to check back and enjoy my travels along the way!
Love and prayers,
Teresa
May 10th, 2011
Dear Friends,
Wow what an exciting month!
It kicked off in New York City where I had the pleasure of meeting with the folks from Keep America Beautiful to discuss the upcoming Great American Cleanup which I’ll be a part of in March. Their office happens to be in the Empire State Building so of course, I had to make a quick trip to the top. Lucky for me security found out I was Miss America and I received a private escort to the top where I got some great photos. The views were incredible! Before I left New York City I made a stop at Jovani. It was dress heaven! I got to pick out some pieces for the coming weeks. Everyone was nice and helpful I had a fantastic time trying on all the different dresses.
Next it was onto a weekend in Philadelphia to continue my role as National Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH). My first stop was to a local IHOP where I spent the morning flipping pancakes and shooting promotional videos for National Pancake Day. After some great breakfast pancakes I headed to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to visit with the children. All of the children were so incredible and despite their struggles we had a fantastic time coloring crowns and taking photos. It was nice to hear their laughter and boy they loved to smile.
One of the reasons for my visit to Philadelphia was to join young performer Ethan Bortnik for his CMNH benefit concert at the Keswick Theater. Playing piano since the age of three and composing original pieces by seven years old, Ethan was the youngest member of “We Are the World 25 for Haiti” and is now the youngest performer to ever go on a nationwide tour. He can play almost any song by ear, has over 200 pieces memorized, appeared on Oprah, Jay Leno and so much more. He is a joy to be around and an inspiration to watch. I was honored when he asked me to play my competition piece White Water Chopped Sticks and then sing a solo in the finale. You can learn more about this great young man at ethanbortnick.com.
Before I left Philadelphia I had to visit the famous Philadelphia Art Museum and stand on the top of the steps like Rocky Balboa! I even tried my first Philly cheesesteak!
For the first time since being crowned I returned home to Nebraska! I flew in for my homecoming festivities and upon my arrival to my little hometown of Gering, I was greeted with a giant billboard that said “Home of Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan.” It was amazing to see everyone back home again and after a quick visit with family and friends I embarked on a whirlwind tour throughout the state. In one day I spoke to Community Christian School in Scottsbluff, had a press conference, VIP meet and greet, received the keys to both Gering and Scottsbluff, attended an evening event and then that night I flew out to North Platte where I hit the ground running! I spoke to two more high schools, had another press conference and attended an event at the Golden Spike - which is the largest rail yard in the world! The top five girls from the Miss America Pageant, Miss Vermont, my roommate Miss Connecticut and Miss America 2004 Ericka Dunlap joined me for my remaining events. It was so good to see them we had a great time chatting and catching up.
The following day the girls and I attended a Morning Prayer breakfast where Mr. George Garlick a great supporter of the Miss Nebraska Scholarship Organization, presented them with a $50,000 scholarship donation to be given annually to each Miss Nebraska. To top it off the scholarship was named in my honor the Teresa Scanlan Scholarship Fund. I was touched to say the least.
The humbling honors continued, after a day of making the rounds with the girls we attended an evening event where we all got to perform our talent from the pageant. There I was presented with a key to the city, as well as becoming an honorary Admiral of the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. It was wonderful to see the people I had met through the Miss Nebraska pageant and have a chance to thank them.
The next day we visited Omaha’s Children’s Hospital, had lunch with a lot of the former Miss Nebraskas. At our final evening event, Jalee, Jacquie, Emoly, Caroline, and Brittany performed their talents one last time before we had to say goodbye, ending my incredible homecoming week.
I said goodbye to Nebraska and was off to Los Angeles for IHOP/Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s National Pancake Day promotions and activities. I did a few media tours, a video shoot, visited Children’s Hospital of L.A., and visited the Hollywood IHOP where some of the local titleholders who will be competing for Miss California in June helped me greet guests, flip some pancakes and do more media interviews.
The past few weeks have been going so fast it’s a little hard to keep up, but I promise I’ll get the hang of this blogging thing and keep you updated often, so check back soon!
Love and Prayers,
Teresa
March 3rd, 2011
What an incredible time the past few weeks has been! Before traveling to Canada, I had the opportunity to visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington D.C. I went into hospital rooms to meet with wounded soldiers, who were so excited to see Miss America. It was astounding that they were so happy to see me and thanked me for visiting them, when they are the ones who have protected my country and made it possible for me to grow up the way I did, win Miss America, and live the life I do. They are the reason I’m here today, and I owe them my life, as they have risked theirs for me. They are my heroes and I respect them and look up to them more than anyone in the world.
Next, I headed to Canada to go to the Joseph Ribkoff offices in Montreal, where we met all the staff, toured the departments, and had a video and photo shoot. Everyone was so incredible and Joseph Ribkoff himself was fantastic. As we talked, he told us he had started his business over 50 years ago with just a $1,000 loan from his mother and $3,000 from his brother. Now Joseph Ribkoff has exploded and is present in 23 countries, including being sold in 1,000 boutiques in Canada and 1,300 in the US. We had several TV and print interviews for several days, as many Canadian media outlets were very interested in interviews and photos, so we had a great time!
Afterwards, we flew down to Dallas, Texas to begin promoting “Taste of the NFL,” the Super Bowl’s largest charity event dedicated to “kicking hunger in America.” We headed over to the NFL media center, where the Black Eyed Peas were having their press conference. Then we “made the rounds” with lots of interviews throughout the press room; Yahoo Sports, ESPN Las Vegas, CBS Sports, and so many others! Everyone wanted an interview, so both days were full! We met so many fantastic people including Jerry Rice, Mike Ditka, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker, Adam Sandler, Hugh Jackman, Jamie Foxx, etc! Saturday night was the Taste of the NFL event, and after twenty years, it was the largest turnout ever! There were over 3,500 attendees, and we raised over one million dollars for food banks across the nation! Buddy the Cake Boss was a huge supporter of the night, as I assisted with the unveiling of his Taste of the NFL cake, presented Roger Staubach with his birthday cake, and then even got my own birthday cake from the Cake Boss to celebrate my 18th birthday! It was beautiful white fondant with a real crown on top! We had so much fun, and must have taken at least a thousand pictures. Then we went backstage to meet Martina McBride before her performance. She did a great job, and I really enjoyed her show!
On Sunday we were able to witness the big game in a beautiful suite in one of the lowest levels, so we had a great view! The game and half-time show were incredible, and we had so much fun! All-in-all, the weekend was an amazing 18th birthday, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more! I’ll have a hard time topping this one!
After the Super Bowl, I flew straight to Hawaii to meet with Amway’s most successful Independent Business Owners, recognized as the “Diamond Club.” I also met with Amway’s marketing advisory committee and had the chance to try soon-to-launch Artistry products during relaxing facial and makeup applications. Hawaii is such a beautiful state, and I would love to visit again!
After Hawaii, I flew to the East Coast and visited an American Signature store in North Jersey, where I met with fans and encouraged young women to dream big with their Miss America Youth Collection furniture. I was also on hand to collect canned goods to support a local food bank. I enjoyed meeting everyone! To find an American Signature store near you, click here.
I was then off to New York City to participate in the ultimate Toy Fair, where I helped promote the 90th Anniversary Miss America Madame Alexander doll. La Casa Hermosa provided me with a beautiful royal blue gown, which was the inspiration for the gown the Miss America Madame Alexander doll wears. They made a blonde doll especially for me – we looked like twins in our matching outfits! And there is still time to order this limited edition Madame Alexander doll, please click here.
Today, I was a guest on the Gayle King radio show. It was great to meet her and to talk about National Pancake Day and fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. You can listen to the interview here. I also met Lisa Ling in the green room, which was fun! After Gayle King, I taped an interview for America’s Nightly Scoreboard which airs tonight on FOX Business News channel at 7 p.m. ET. It was a fun interview, so make sure you all tune in!
So much to look forward to over the coming weeks, so check back for more updates! Thank you for the support and encouragement I continue to receive daily; I so appreciate it!
Love and Prayers,
Teresa
February 16th, 2011
“Ladies and gentlemen, the 90th anniversary Miss America; your Miss America 2011 is… Miss Nebraska Teresa Scanlan!”
….And with that announcement by Chris Harrison on ABC, my life changed in an instant. With great changes come great opportunity, and let me tell you what a great opportunity it is to be your new Miss America! I know that it is by God’s will that I was crowned that night, and I know He has amazing plans for me throughout the upcoming year. I am so excited to begin my year as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, as well as an advocate for eating disorders awareness and prevention. The Miss America Organization has truly changed my life in every way, and I am so honored to be able to share those experiences and help other young women on their journey to fulfilling their aspirations. I now have a national voice to promote this wonderful program and its educational opportunities, as well as promoting healthy lifestyles throughout every age, race, and gender. I hope to be an advocate for societal and attitudinal change, as we work together to promote positive body image and self-acceptance, one person at a time. You can find more information at myneda.org or anad.org.
After being crowned just a few days ago, this week is already off to an incredible start! My journey began with traveling to NYC on Sunday, then beginning my national media launch on Monday with Fox & Friends, where I participated in an interview with Miss America 1989 Gretchen Carlson. I had the opportunity to meet Gretchen and 48 of my new Miss America sisters, who attended our 90th anniversary pageant presented by DSW, so it was great to see her again. Following Gretchen’s interview, I traveled to ABC’s The View and met with Joy Behar, who was one of our distinguished judges and asked me some of the most challenging questions during my interview. I was so happy to see her again, and she really helped make our 90th Miss America Pageant exciting, and one that captured the media’s attention. Joy herself said during the pageant, she had a renewed interest in our program and did not realize until she was a judge how important education is to our program. We were thrilled to have her and as I walked on the set of The View, I was welcomed by all and even Barbara Walters met me back stage to congratulate me! I also met Piers Morgan backstage who wished me luck! That afternoon, I was off to do Inside Edition, plus phone interviews across the state of Nebraska!
On Tuesday, I went to Times Square to ring the NASDAQ bell with our Chairman, Sam Haskell and our skincare and cosmetics sponsor, Artistry by Amway. Their company executives along with their Independent Business Owners, helped me ring the bell and it was featured on CNBC, KTVU, CNBC India, NDTV, Business News Network, CNBC.com, Itsaboutfinance.com and Fox Business Network.
After NASDAQ, I was off to The Wendy Williams Show which was so much fun! The interviews continued with outlets from radio, print and TV in Nebraska all afternoon. My home state is so excited, and the support is absolutely incredible - it feels amazing to be the first Miss Nebraska to become Miss America and I’m proud to represent Husker Nation! I owe many thanks to each and every person who was so supportive and encouraging throughout my life and on the road to Miss America.
This morning, I was off to do national radio on Sirius/XM channels Broadminded, Morning Jolt, and Shade 45, and had an interview with AP TV. This afternoon, I have meetings with our national partners and tomorrow, I will be working with Artistry for a special event for health and beauty experts from some of the top magazines in the country.
I am so looking forward to sharing my experiences and travels with you as I begin this wonderful journey and represent this incredible organization during our special anniversary year. I hope to make not only Nebraska, but all of America proud, and will do my utmost to represent the amazing young women of this nation. Thank you for your support and for believing in the young people of our country.
Also, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/missamericaorganization and Twitter @MAOTravels!
Love and Prayers,
Teresa
January 19th, 2011
