You can check out what I’ve been up to the past month by watching my new video blog here!

Love,
Laura

It was only fitting to be welcomed back to Wisconsin by a beautiful snow fall – fitting and coincidental as it seems I have missed most of winter this year by traveling to warm and sunny parts of the country during the normal winter months.

I couldn’t have asked to celebrate my 24th birthday with friends and family in a better way! I had a busy morning and afternoon at The Children’s Hospital as well as celebrating Dr. Seuss’s Birthday and Read Across America. That same night I had a great birthday dinner with friends and family, and celebrated in a way I haven’t celebrated a birthday in a very long time! It was wonderful to see the people I most care about and spend such a special “Miss America” birthday with them 

Had fun rocking Express fashions with my MAO sisters and friends, The Top 5 court from Miss America 2012: Miss California Noelle Freeman, Miss Arizona Jennifer Sedler, Miss New York Kaitlin Monte, Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson; Miss Wisconsin Raeanna Johnson; Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2011 Annie Jorgensen; Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2012 Elizabeth Fechtel and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2010 Jeannette Morelan.

I especially loved spending the afternoon at my alma mater, St. Joseph High School where the city of Kenosha, family, friends, and former teachers welcomed me with open arms. I was so thankful to my amazing family and friends who waited after the show to stand in line for up to 3.5 hours for an autograph and picture. I am truly blessed!

To end my tour in Wisconsin, I sang the national anthem at The Milwaukee Bucks game, where coincidentally none other than Mr. Aaron Rodgers was enjoying the game! Yes friends, I finally met him! He was a great guy – very nice and humble.

After leaving Wisconsin, many fun stops followed including meeting my Miss Wisconsin and Miss America sister, Terry Ann Meeuwsen. I enjoyed an interview with her on The 700 Club as well as getting to know her, and pick her brain for Miss America trivia over lunch.

Before I knew it, I was back in Wisconsin for another Homecoming gathering, except this time at my alma mater, Carthage College. This was a one-of-a-kind event, where Carthage truly went all out. I sang with The Carthage Wind Ensemble, The Carthage Choir and performed “Il Bacio” with live piano accompaniment from a former professor of mine, Mr. Gregory Berg. Being surrounded by Kenosha family and friends, and Carthage family and friends who have supported my musical efforts for four and a half years was incredibly heart warming. I also partnered with the Governor of Wisconsin at a press conference to introduce a new initiative on his part called “Book Bridge” – a literacy program for parents in prison to video record themselves reading a book that is then sent to their children. I was truly honored to participate in this incredible initiative that would not only improve literacy rates among inmates but also increase and encourage relationship building between parents in prison and their children.

I was able to advocate highly for my platform in the past few weeks. First, I met a man I have been dreaming of meeting – founder of The US Dream Academy - Mr. Wintley Phipps. WOW. What an incredible person!!! I sang beside him at a fundraiser in Nashville, TN for The US Dream Academy. As a supporter of The US Dream Academy, I was honored to participate to raise funds for such an incredible organization that provides mentoring and after school programs for children who are at-risk to become incarcerated, but also to finally meet the man I look up to, admire and respect.

I then met my Miss America sister Heather French-Henry, Miss America 2000, to be the keynote speaker in Louisville for the 3rd annual Safe Place Fundraiser. Safe Place is a nation-wide shelter for at-risk children to receive support, a safe place to stay and counseling, but they also provide a safe place for children of incarcerated parents to gather together. This year, they were on the cusp of having to close their doors due to a lack of finances, but with the help of Heather and I attending and attracting attention, the Safe Place raised over $250,000 dollars that day. To top off an already incredible day, I toured the Louisville Safe Place and participated in a group therapy activity with kids who currently have parents in prison. I cannot put into words how moving this was – to show kids who have parents in prison that even I, Miss America is and always will be one of them and that it’s OK. I will never forget that day at The Safe Place.

I shared that same story of The Safe Place in Washington, DC at the White House, where I met with a group of Domestic Policy Council members. I advocated for children who have parents in prison, shared my personal connection to my platform and explained how there simply are not enough national programs for children who have parents in prison. I strongly stressed the need for federally funded support groups and resources for children and families who have parents in prison. The Domestic Policy Council members are just beginning to research this topic and coming from someone who has done countless hours of research myself, they were shocked to see and hear shocking statistics that I believe, will truly allow changes to be made at the federal level for funding for support groups of children who have parents in prison.

I am off to Grand Rapids this week with Amway! Hope you all are staying healthy and happy

Love,
Laura

If I had to describe the last five weeks in one word, the only word I could think of that would completely encompass every fleeting emotion, would be “love.” I have been shown, and received and have tried to give an insurmountable amount of love to every stranger who becomes a new friend, to the kids and families at Children’s Hospitals, to the military men and women of the USO and everyone in between.

My first stop after the crowning night was New York City. There, I began my whirlwind of a journey with a week-long media tour visiting outlets including Good Morning America with one of my Miss America judges, Lara Spencer, Fox and Friends with my Miss America sister, Gretchen Carlson, Wendy Williams, E! News with Giuliana Rancic, Inside Edition and many more. I also met many beauty journalists when I attended Artistry’s 5:01 party launching their new Replenishing Eye Cream Serum.

I then traveled to Atlantic City, New Jersey where I was able to visit the Miss America National Office staff in Linwood, New Jersey. I had a photo session, recorded The National Anthem, and toured many historic Miss America sites including the boardwalk where the famous “Show Me Your Shoes” parade happened. I also visited the Sheraton Hotel where my Miss America gown is currently on display.

After NJ, I headed to California for an Express photo shoot that was part of the “There She Is” campaign. I also was able to have dinner with one of my Miss America judges, Mike Fleiss.

From California we went to Phoenix, Arizona with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This was my first official Miss America appearance with CMN Hospitals. We toured The Phoenix Children’s Hospital where I was able to meet so many incredible young kids battling life-threatening illnesses yet still have the most incredible personality and love of life. I then went to The Waste Management PGA Tour in Scottsdale with CMNH.

Next on the list was Taste of the NFL and The Superbowl!! What an incredibly fun yet busy week in Indianapolis. I especially enjoyed spending this weekend with Art McMaster, CEO of Miss America. We began the first day with Radio Row, an incredibly huge media outlet where many former and current players are interviewed, and of course, Miss America! Although it was a sporting event with incredibly talented athletes, I had to laugh that Miss America was the most sought after interviewee the entire time! I was pleased to talk about The Taste of The NFL, an NFL sanctioned fundraiser that each year raises millions of dollars to fight hunger across America. I was able to meet NFL players and coaches including Eddie George, Kurt Warner, Mike Irvin, Tim Tebow, JJ Watt, Tony Dungy and many more. I participated in a welcome ceremony and reception for all volunteers involved with Taste of The NFL including former players from each NFL city who cooked specialty dishes specific to their location. Saturday night was the actual Taste of The NFL event, where I auctioned off a necklace and also helped with fundraising throughout the entire night. Art and I attended The Super Bowl as guests of Jim Ursay, owner of The Colts. We had a great time sitting in Mr. Ursay’s suite and had the honor to meet Meg Ryan, John Mellencamp, Jim Gaffigan and especially enjoyed watching Madonna’s half-time show.

I then traveled to Columbus, Ohio where I spent time with our corporate wardrobe sponsor, EXPRESS. I met with their lead stylists to view my wardrobe for the upcoming weeks and Spring/Summer. I also spent time with Lisa G, VP of Marketing for Express, and met many of their executives at The Express Leadership Conference, where I discussed Express’s partnership with Miss America Organization, my personal platform and my year as Miss America thus far.

Next, I traveled to Philadelphia where I presented a recent study on Children of Incarcerated Parents. This study was conducted by The Philadelphia Prison Society. I was honored to share my personal experience and being the child of an incarcerated parent, as well as raising awareness for the lack of and need of support groups and organizations for children and families experiencing incarceration.

I then traveled to Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC with The USO. I watched the annual Army vs Navy football game, and welcomed home 200 military troops from Afghanistan at the Reagan National Airport. I was incredibly honored to welcome these men and women home from serving on missions in Afghanistan and thank them for their dedication and service to our country.

I traveled to Michigan where I sang the National Anthem at a Detroit Red Wings Hockey game as well as shared the stage with Miss Michigan Elizabeth Wertenberger. We both shared our personal experience with our platforms as well as talked about ways The Miss America Organization has changed our life forever.

From Michigan, I was able to fly on The Amway corporate jet with Kurt Warner (Amyway Nutrilite spokesperson) and his family to Hawaii! I spent one incredible week on the beautiful island of Maui with our corporate sponsor Amway. I recorded public PSA’s, was able to meet and greet many of their Diamond Club members, as well as speak about The Miss America Organization, my personal platform and our partnership with Artistry. I then flew to Honolulu where I visited The Kapulua Children’s Hospital and met Cody, Hawaii’s Children’s Hospital 2012 Champion.

I was then off to Los Angeles for IHOP’s National Pancake Day! I spent three days promoting National Pancake Day on radio and television, toured the IHOP national headquarters and visited The LA Children’s Hospital. On National Pancake Day I made, served and ate an incredible amount of pancakes that all stacked up for a great cause.

Almost two months down, ten more to go. It feels impossible that a month and a half has already passed me by, but what an absolutely exhilarating time it has been. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

I can’t wait to tell you all about my Homecoming in Wisconsin in my next blog!

Love,

Laura