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Hello Virginia!! (added 6/19/09) So here it is… my last newsletter. I’ve been trying for a while to figure out how exactly I feel. I’ve gone through a range of emotions... denial was definitely a part of it J I’ve kept so busy up until the last minute (especially at the last minute!) that I really haven’t had time to think about the fact that Miss Virginia week is upon us. In the past month, life as Miss VA has not slowed one bit! I have spoken at four graduations in two days, including becoming the youngest commencement speaker at my old high school, Gar-Field. I also teamed up with Miss DC and Miss NY to raise thousands for the Susan G Komen Foundation. I’m proud to say that we ran the whole 5K too (be sure to check out Leigh Taylor’s blog to see how we did! http://leigh-taylorsmith.blogspot.com/)! My schedule was made even more taxing with all of the responsibilities that come with wrapping up my year. I’ve officially moved all of my stuff out of my fabulous apartment in Pebble Creek and into my parent’s living room… for the time being… but I’m used to packing and unpacking by now! So here I am, on the night before my final appearance as Miss Virginia before pageant week starts… a picnic with children of incarcerated parents that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. I haven’t cried yet , and I’m hoping the water works don’t overflow all next week! But I have already had many supporters (you know who you are) who have come to me in tears over the fact that my year is coming to a close. How am I taking it? It’s a strange feeling… being Miss Virginia has been so much more than a job. A job is something you do 9-5 with weekend breaks… Miss Virginia has been who I am for 365 incredible days, the best year of my life, and I worry about how I will handle things in a week when it will no longer be me. But the more I think about it, Miss Virginia will always be a part of who I am because being Miss Virginia, the experiences I have had and the people I have met, has shaped me into the woman I am today; I will carry that with me forever. So, how do I feel right now? I am ready. I am ready to springboard from this incredible year and use everything I’ve learned to tackle the next phase of my life. I have signed with one of the top agents in broadcast journalism and hope to break into the sports casting world soon! I will be moving to the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington and enlisting the muscles of every DC athlete I have met this year to help move me in! I have several projects in the works and appearances as a former including goaltending for the “Hockey Fights Cancer” game in DC, singing at the Washington Kastles tennis match on July 7th, doing a charity shoot-out at the Military Classic hockey game in North Carolina, and of course, much more with St. Baldricks. I feel like I have worked as hard as possible, and I am ready and excited to pass on the crown and support the next Miss Virginia as she goes on this incredible adventure and makes the year her very own. Having met all of the contestants, I am confident that next year will be exciting and amazing for our program. To the next Miss Virginia: don’t take one second of your year for granted, stay grateful, stay positive, be open to change, but stay true to yourself. Take initiative and do more than the expected, and always remember that beauty is as beauty does. You are ready and capable, and I know you will make us all proud. If you ever need anything, you know you can always call me. To the Miss Virginia board, especially Wendi who has become a great friend and who has poured her heart into making my year the best possible, Elaine who opened her home and shared her talents and encouragement, the Gudgers who stood by all of my crazy ideas and always let me be me, and the Musselwhites who have made me feel like part of their family, I am forever grateful and blessed to have you in my life. To my Miss Arlington family- Chip and Scott, you are like a second set of parents to me. Thank you for letting me sleep on your couch no matter how late I rolled in and listening to my rants no matter how crazy. Janet and Blair you are the sisters I never had. I doubt if I had blood sisters that they would be as incredible as you two are. I love you girls! And to the rest of the Arlington “mafia”, thank you for being my biggest fans! To the Blue Ridge Boys and Elaine, you all have been so wonderful for the past two years. Thank you for believing in me. Start up your pageant again so I can finally crown my Miss Blue Ridge Mountains successor! J To everyone who has opened their homes and hearts to me this year, Jeanie, Linda, Nancy, Helen, Joy, and Elizabeth, the Irby’s, Marla and Heather Baker, and the Clarks, thank you for going out of your way to welcome me into your homes and make me feel like Miss America every day. To the incredible volunteers especially Julius, Anne, Mark and Toni, and all of the local committees, thank you for your hard work and for giving so much of yourselves to this program. To my incredible sisters, Lexie and Andolyn, I am so proud of both of you and can’t wait to see what your bright futures have in store! To all of my wonderful sponsors in Roanoke especially those that impacted my life every day: Pebble Creek, Alexandria GMC, Cox Cable, Aaron’s Rentals, the talented stylists at Zee’s, Wheeler’s Dry-cleaning, Elderberry’s, FastTan, and the Encounter, thank you for your continued support of the Miss Virginia Organization and for everything you have generously done for me. Thank you to Erin and everyone at CMN across the state for introducing me to such special children who have changed my life forever. Kassidy's family, Libby, Alana, Allyson, Jacob, Brianna, Savanah, Jessie, and every one of new friends: you are my heroes. To all of the contestants both in the MVO and at Miss America, especially DC, MA, NY, SC, AZ, MT, IL, MI, VT, KS and HI, EVERYONE! It’s been a pleasure competing with you… now let’s go take over the world! Finally, to my family, I could never have accomplished anything without you. I love you with all of my heart. Mom, you are my best friend. Thank you for cheering me on no matter if I wanted to play hockey, join the military, be a reporter, or be Miss America. I will always be your little girl, even when I’m 100. Dad, I know you love having Miss Virginia as a daughter for more than just the free sports tickets J Thank you for being such a “proud papa”. Now maybe I’ll have a little extra time for “Ghost Hunters” and the P Nats. Brandon, you are the best brother in the world, and I am so happy to be your big sis. The text you sent me months ago saying that I was “the most awesome person on the planet” makes me smile whenever I look at it. Thank you for turning Heritage Hunt into the “Miss VA Fan Club”. You make me proud every day. Aunt Peggy and Uncle David, thank you for always being so excited about my achievements and doing everything you can to support me. I am so blessed to have such an amazing, loving family. There’s no way I can thank everyone in this newsletter and for fear of having an “Oscar Moment” and either leaving someone out, or being musically cued to hush up, I will just say this: Thank you to everyone who has selflessly and generously worked so hard to make this year the best year of my life. I hope I have proven myself worthy of this position and hope that I have and will continue to make you all proud. It has been an absolute honor and a privilege to serve as your Miss Virginia, a title that has forever shaped who I am, and who I know I can be. Darn it… now I’m crying. I love you all. All my best, always, Tara
Hello Virginia! (added 5/28/09) This month has been incredibly fun and at the same time, incredibly difficult. I can feel the end of my year rapidly approaching, and I don’t yet want to acknowledge that my time as your Miss Virginia is almost over, but the Miss Virginia 2009 production is already in the making. Mark and his team run an incredibly detailed show. I’ve already received songs to learn for production numbers, filmed a promotional spot for the pageant, and written my farewell speech for the program book. I realize that the attention must now be focused on preparing and welcoming a new Miss Virginia all in just one short month. But just because my time is winding down, doesn’t mean my service is done...Far from it... Festival madness took over the beginning of my month as I attended back to back Dogwood and Apple Blossom Festivals. The Dogwood Festival "Fun Bus" was definitely an understatement. It was terrific touring Charlottesville and hanging out with the Dogwood princesses who are some of the most wonderful high school girls representing the surrounding area. My favorite part of the Dogwood Festival was definitely the parade. To match the traditional color scheme of the two festivals, my friend Joy at “Reflections” gown store in Harrisonburg let me borrow a whole slew of fun, gorgeous, pink gowns (Thank you, Joy. You are wonderful!) I wore a HUGE light pink ball gown that made me feel awesome on my flowery float. At one point, we passed an old time country string band playing on their porch. I got a kick out of dancing to their songs. I felt like a princess in true Americana fashion. After the parade, Frieda, the president of the Dogwood Festival flagged me down and introduced me to a ribbon dancer who reminded her of the story she heard me tell that week while she and the Dogwood Princesses attended one of my Right Decisions, Right Now school presentations. For the past 3 years, every time I speak at a school I tell my “Ribbon Girl” story, a real-life tale that changed my life… I’d like to share it with you all: At Penn State, where I graduated from in 2006 , there’s a main road that leads to the heart of campus. Beside the road is a big wide open field where students hang out and study on sunny days. On one particular sunny day, my friend and I were driving down the road, and I looked over to the field and saw a spectacle of a girl. She was dressed in zany, baggy, hippy clothes and she wielded a long swirly ribbon. She was dancing like a wild woman flailing her ribbon across the field while guys around her played the drums and bongos... Well, I turned to my friend and we laughed together making fun of her before continuing down the road saying, “That girl looks like a fool!”. For some reason, a few minutes later a revelation struck me. I thought back to that girl, the “Ribbon Girl”, and I said to myself, “Who am I to be making fun of her? In fact… I wish I could be more like her...” Think about it: she is having the time of her life; she’s surrounded by people who love her and are excited to see her enjoying life and having fun... This "Ribbon Girl" does not care about what I think...and rightfully so... I learned two major lessons from this experience: 1. Be YOU! Be who you are. Do what you love to do, and there will be people who will come into your life who will love you for that person. 2. Be aware. You never know who is watching and taking a lesson about their life from the way you’re living your life... I’ve never met this “Ribbon Girl” and probably never will, but I think about her all of the time. Little does she know that she changed my attitude about how I carry myself and how I accept and embrace others...During the Dogwood Festival parade, I was excited to see a real life ribbon girl who let me dance with her ribbons and re-live my story. J Imagine my shock and joy too, when I came home to find a package from the school filled with hundreds of drawings done by students depicting themselves as the “Ribbon Girl”. I wonder if she knows how many lives she touched just by dancing free in a field on a beautiful spring day at Penn State? The Apple Blossom Festival was just as wonderful. I loved spending time with my good friend Katie Uze (as well as Wendi and Elaine) and party-hopping with my favorite ladies and some awesome celebs! I made many new friends: Eric Estrada wants me to partner with him to raise awareness of internet child predators; Devon McTavish, of the DC United soccer team, has vowed to shave his head with me when I shave for St. Baldrick’s in September for Pediatric Cancer Month, and Redskins great, Joe Jacoby (who went to high school with my dad!), wants me to sing the National Anthem at a football game for Shenandoah University where he now coaches! Speaking of National Anthems, last week I had the honor of singing at the 100th regular season Washington Nationals baseball game where I made even more new friends and got yet another fella interested in possibly shaving his head with me to the raise funds and awareness needed to fight pediatric cancer…!! While we’re on the subject of men and buzz cuts… One of the most incredible experiences I’ve had this year was taking part in a newish Miss Virginia tradition: touring the USS Virginia submarine in Groton, CT. Julius, our fabulous sponsor and volunteer photographer, took care of the trip's details and arrangements. He, along with my dad and I flew to Rhode Island the day before the tour. Since we had some time on our hands, we swung by Warwick, RI to visit T.A.P.S., the headquarters of the “Ghost Hunters” reality show on the SciFi network, our favorite show! Unfortunately, we did not meet anyone from the show, but we did take some fun pictures in front of their office! I have a small confession to make: A little while back I wrote the Ghost Hunters asking if they would let me come on a hunt with them (You all have no idea how many times I’ve tried to pull the “Miss VA” card to gain access to any and everything...and I am forever amazed at the power of the crown...it often works), but I have yet to hear back from them… we’ll see… I’m pretty persistent! The next day we toured the sub, visited the sailors, and even climbed into the tower and other areas of the sub rarely seen by visitors. It was an exciting day for us all. My dad is so proud to be the father of “Miss Virginia”, and he loved that he could come with me on this appearance and share his military experiences. Thank you so much, Julius, for organizing such an awesome trip! The evening we flew home to Virginia, I had the pleasure of attending the “Newsbabes Bash for Breast Cancer” in Washington DC with Miss DC, Kate Marie. It was a party of phenomenal women from the DC news media raising money for the Susan G. Komen fund and organized by my friend, Angie Goff, from Channel 9. A fun rivalry has formed for this great cause as well! Kate Marie, Leigh Taylor (Miss NY) and I have formed the “Beauties for Boobies” team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure next month, and our goal is to out-fundraise the “Newsbabes” team! Log on to: www.globalraceforthecure.org/ to donate! The next week was spent attending three different golf tournaments across the state with my stellar golf swing J Check out Julius’s pictures from the Virginia Class Submarine tournament and count how many times he took a picture of me trying to hit the ball and totally whiffing. Contrary to what you see in “Happy Gilmore”, hockey players aren’t always good golfers! Well, that pretty much sums up the last 30 days. I’m looking forward to four more glorious weeks of Miss Virginia mayhem. It’s unreal to think that I only have one more newsletter left to write... I hope you all have enjoyed reading them as much as I have loved sharing my year with you! All my best, Tara
Hello Virginia! (added 4/20/09) Warning: this one’s going to be long! Some people believe that one person cannot make a difference. I have always know that being Miss Virginia carried the power to have an influence and make a difference in the causes that are important to me but never did I think it would be demonstrated like it has in the past month! Along with the national exposure I received due to my St. Baldrick’s project, I was also flooded with letters from people across the country. One letter shared this “Starfish” story with me: “One day a man was walking along a beach when he noticed a young boy throwing starfish into the ocean. ‘The tide has gone out, if I don’t throw them back, they’ll die’, the boy said. ‘Son’, the man said ‘Don’t you realize there are thousands of starfish and miles and miles of beach? You can’t possibly make a difference’. The boy picked up a starfish and threw it back into the sea…’I made a difference to that one.’” This past month, I didn’t raise half a million dollars and I didn’t cure kids cancer… but, I made a difference. After my first announcement about possibly shaving my head, I began a grassroots campaign to do everything possible to raise as much money and awareness as I could. I had to immediately plant as many seeds as possible in order to have a shot at the $500,000 goal. I drove over 5,000 miles last month and was getting an average of 4-5 hours of sleep a night as I was all consumed with this huge new responsibility in addition to my already packed schedule of Miss Virginia duties. Within a few days, countless MVO volunteers, local titleholders, and community members reached out to me offering to help. We wrote letters to every major talk-show host, sent press releases to hundreds of media outlets, politicians, celebrities, and even mass-called the Ryan Seacrest and Delilah radio shows! We tried everything! After a night of little sleep, sipping on my third Red bull, after doing a morning show interview and three school presentations, and after doing a newspaper interview in the car, Sherri McKinney called me while I was driving from Virginia Beach to Roanoke offering to help me produce a YouTube video in hopes of gaining more exposure. I don’t think she expected me to say “I’m 20 minutes from where you are, let’s do it NOW!”, but she invited me into her work in Richmond and she and her coworkers helped me create a YouTube video promoting my project… little did we know, just days later that video would be on the Greta Van Susteren show! Dr. Vakay (my dentist), Wendi, and my dad all called at the same time saying “Greta just said they’re going to talk about you!”—I had no idea! A few days earlier, Good Morning America had contacted me about possibly doing a phone-in interview but that’s all I had heard from national media before then. After the Greta spot, I was interviewed by the Washington Post for an article that was supposed to be a small blip on an inside page. The reporter soon called me back saying “Our editor likes the idea of a bald Miss VA so much; you’re going on the front page of the style section tomorrow!”. After the Post story went to press, I received a more deliberate call from Good Morning America saying that they had read the story in the Post, that I should expect to get a ton of media calls, and that they wanted the exclusive and could fly me to New York City tomorrow to be on the show! AH! Suddenly, the Miss Virginia team, especially Harlen and Wendi, went into overdrive. Calls were coming in from Good Morning America, Extra!, America’s Newsroom, and others. Not only did we have an already hectic Miss Virginia schedule on our hands, but we now had to fit in numerous fundraisers and a massive influx of interview requests. I am so grateful for everyone in the MVO and all of the volunteers who worked so hard to help me in my endeavor. When I got the call about GMA, I was in Virginia Beach with Linda Haas speaking at schools and all I had packed were school outfits... I didn’t want to wear my St. Patrick’s Day school outfit on national TV! The next day, I found last minute wardrobe for the show, did three more school speeches, drove to Washington DC, packed for NYC, flew out that night and the next morning I was on Good Morning America. Robin Roberts is incredible! For those of you who don’t know her story, this time last year, she shaved her head on TV as she battled breast cancer so she was very supportive of my effort. When the producers told me Robin Roberts was excited to meet me, it was like someone telling me Brad Pitt has a crush on me. I was pumped! I also got to meet Diane Sawyer, one of my favorite journalists! Directly after, a car picked me up from the ABC studios in Times Square and took me to FOX to be on “America’s Newsroom”. Afterwards, I met with Guy Jacobson from the Redlight Children Campaign then it was back on a plane to DC to be on the “Washington Post Live” show that evening before I got to relax for dinner with Miss DC, Kate-Marie Grinold. I may not have won Miss America, but I definitely felt like I had a Miss America schedule that day! After the national media tour, I received hundreds of e-mails. People shared their personal stories with me. Others told me that they never thought they would look up to a pageant girl but they hoped their daughter grew up to be just like me and now their stereotype has been shattered and they see what the Miss America program and all of its titleholders stand for. Dozens of people confided in me that they had lost their jobs and were struggling financially but still felt compelled to give what they could. I was brought to tears daily and humbled daily by how many had taken to my project. I realized that my partnership with St. Baldrick’s could do more than raise money for pediatric cancer research; I was in a position to help redefine beauty. I think we have all been self-conscious or criticized at one point or another for the way we look. As Miss Virginia, sometimes I feel like I may not meet the beauty expectations people have of me. By offering to shave my head and show that beauty is as beauty does, I can draw attention to the need to re-evaluate how we, as a society, deem someone “beautiful”. Because it’s more than your hair. It’s more than your make-up, clothes, or weight. It’s about doing beautiful things for others. About a week later, the Washington Post called again to tell me that they had been flooded with calls and letters from readers wanting to know about me. They did follow-up articles and put me in their March Madness basketball-style “Gossip Bracket” in the “Hometown Heroes” region. Readers could send in their picks… Shockingly to me, I won the “Hometown Heroes” region to make it to the “Final Four” where I was in the company of Oprah, Michelle Obama, and the Palin’s. The last week of fundraising was insane and I had pretty much run myself into the ground and gotten sick. Thankfully, many people were working to help me. Sol Tucker, a celebrity party planner, planned fundraisers for me free of charge and I was excited to see many local titleholders and my new friends, such as Andy Baldwin, come out to support me! At a fundraiser at the Hudson in DC, I met the Rowell family, and 9-year-old Breanna who was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year ago. Breanna has a significant bald spot on the front of her head from her surgery. She wears a scarf to cover it and refused to take off the scarf until I arrived at the fundraiser (I was split between two fundraisers in the same night, the first at the Crystal City Sports Pub, thanks guys!). When I arrived, she proudly showed me her bald spot and said she wasn’t afraid since I was going to be bald too. She gave me two scarves of my own and some great advice: “Don’t be ashamed to show the world you can be bald and beautiful”. I won’t. I also got to hang out with Allyson, Libby, and a new friend, 4-year-old Alana, to kick off the Salem Red Sox baseball season where the team auctioned off the first base for St. Baldricks! Numerous businesses such as Joey’s Hotdogs in Richmond (donated 100% of a day’s sales!), S&K, Applebees, Shackelfords, and other restaurants, professional athletes, organizations, schools across the country (including one inner city Philadelphia charter school that raised $200!), all helped fundraise. I am in awe and am so grateful for everyone who has gone out of their way to support this cause. On April 11th, though I was optimistic that a huge cardboard check from a celebrity might roll in, I did not meet the $500,000 goal and could not shave my head at the St. Baldrick’s event. I was disappointed but I realize in one month we worked together to raise $24,000 for the kids and that is no small feat. The Miss Virginia Scholarship Fund and the Children’s Miracle Network will get $3,000 each, respectively. Art McMaster even came out to the official event at the Crystal City Sports Pub to show his support! I will continue to fundraise and I’m confident that after my reign is through (which is coming up too soon!), I will raise enough money and shave before 2009 is over. I am thankful to the Miss Virginia and Miss America organization for allowing me to pursue this unconventional idea when many would have immediately shot me down. Being Miss Virginia is what you make of it and I am thankful that I represent an organization that does not make the crown define me, but allows me to help define the crown. After attending the Miss Virginia workshop and meeting all of the girls, I have to say that I am so impressed with the women who are competing to wear and define the crown next. I know that every single contestant could carry this title well and bring their own unique qualities and passions to the job. I am proud to be a part of an organization that celebrates such incredible women. I want the next Miss Virginia to remember that every day you can make a difference in someone’s life and it doesn’t have to be through an extreme fundraiser. Not long ago, I was a guest at Boones Mill Elementary and the janitor there was tasked with escorting me into the auditorium. He wore his nicest outfit, we took pictures together, and he told me he had been looking forward to having the honor of escorting me for months. A couple of weeks ago, I received a package with pictures to sign from Boones Mill and a letter from the janitor, thanking me for letting him escort me because he said it was the “highlight of his life”. Whether it’s at a rodeo, a dairy convention, a school, or a fair, meeting Miss Virginia may be the highlight of someone’s life and every appearance should be treated with that appreciation, grace, and respect. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make a difference. Who you are makes a difference every day. All my best, Tara
Hello Virginia! (added 2/19/09) Now that I've had time to recuperate after Miss America and sort out the whirl-wind that it was, I'm ready to tell you all about it! My ten days in Vegas were honestly some of the most incredible days of my life. I have never worked so hard or felt as blessed as I did at Miss America. I am madly in love with every one of my fellow contestants and can't wait to have our next reunion. I am proud of each of the girls and especially proud of Miss New York and former Miss Virginia contestant, Leigh-Taylor Smith who won a swimsuit preliminary award and placed in the top 5, and also our new Miss America, Katie Stam who is truly a positive role model to all and an amazing woman who will do the title proud. I am honored to call all of the contestants my friends and know they will be with me for life! We are even talking about renting a Winnebago and going on a cross-country trip together… now THAT would make a good reality show! Now, I may not have made the top 15, but I was a finalist in a couple of categories of which I am very proud. I was named a Quality of Life finalist, an honor given to the eight contestants who have done the most in their communities to improve the lives of others. Also, many of you may not know, I was one of the top 10 "speedsters" along with my rock-star roommate, Miss Kansas, when all of the contestants raced go-karts! Woo! (On the other hand, I did get a real-life speeding ticket today… my first and hopefully only one as Miss VA… after driving 3,000 miles a month, though, I will say that I think my miles:tickets ratio is pretty good!). While in Vegas, we were treated like stars! We dined at fabulous restaurants like Koi and P.F. Changs and we received VIP treatment at many events including gondola rides at the Venetian and prime seats to watch the Phantom of the Opera (which was INCREDIBLE!!!). We also met a few real stars! While at the Venetian, Joaquin Phoenix stopped by to say hello (though he was nearly unrecognizable in his new career as a rapper…). Mario Lopez was our fabulous host (I made a great impression on him when he came to rehearsal and saw my chocolate-stained sweatshirt… he'll be calling me soon, I'm sure!). And, Clinton Kelly apparently thought my evening gown was one of the best in the pageant (perhaps I could be a guest consultant on "What Not to Wear"?). When it came to the competition, I felt relaxed and confident that I had prepared the best I could. I was very happy with the way my interview went and I walked out knowing the judges had a good idea of the type of Miss America I would be. I loved my evening gown, was happy with the hard work I had put in to my swimsuit figure, and I sang my heart out leaving everything I had on the stage. The week was such a blur that I didn't really have time to appreciate where I was until the last night of preliminary competition. All of the contestants stood on stage while Kirsten Haglund closed the show singing "So it Goes", by Billy Joel. As I stood on the stage listening to her sing, I looked out into the audience and it suddenly hit me. I saw the flashing lights, the signs and fans from across the country and couldn't help but tear up. I was at Miss America. What an honor. On the final night I waited anxiously hoping and praying that they would "call Virginia"… but no one called my name. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't disappointed or that I haven't shed many tears wondering what I could have done better and hoping that I haven't let anyone down. Then I read over my last newsletter to remind myself what it's all about -- I may not have made the Top 15 but I carried myself all week in a way that made me worthy of the opportunity. I also thought back to an experience I had when I first began pageants (some of you may have heard this one…). The second pageant I ever did was Miss Greater Springfield a couple of years ago.. There were only six or so contestants and I didn't win…. I didn't even place. Scott Freda, one of my Miss Arlington directors, was a judge and I was such a dud that he didn't even remember me being in the pageant when we talked about it last year! But, even though it wasn't obvious then, I had it within me to become Miss Virginia just a couple of years later. Well I went to Miss America and I didn't win… I didn't even place. But, though it may not be obvious to some, I know that I have it within me to accomplish great things and that's what will define me. Besides, hanging out in the "Elimination Lounge" wasn't as bad as you'd think. I was in very good company. J I want to thank everyone who has believed in me. I received SO many letters and e-mails of encouragement, inspiring and thoughtful gifts, and in-person support. Thank you to my family and friends who found a way to get to Vegas to cheer me on, especially the Miss Virginia local titleholders and volunteers, my state judges, the Miss Virginia board members who prepared me and worked so hard for my benefit, my mom, dad, brother, uncle, aunt, mamaw, Ric and his family who flew all the way from England, my fellow Air Force ROTC cadets, and my many hockey teammates that made the trip to hang a Lady Icers jersey over the balcony at the pageant. I am so grateful to you all! At the end of the day, I did the absolute best job I could do. I have no control over what the judges saw or didn't see in me that week, but I DO have control over how I carry myself from here on out and the legacy I leave. I am proud to be home and serving as your Miss Virginia and honored to be back and busy doing the greatest job in the world! All my best, Tara Hello Virginia!!
I
want you all to know that I am giving 1000% to make you proud as Miss
Virginia and at Miss America. When I'm standing onstage Saturday night
waiting to see if my name will be called, I will be thinking of everyone I've
met this year who has given me so much love and support; everyone who will be
on the edge of their seats saying "call Virginia, call Virginia, call
Virginia!". I want them to call Virginia so you all can jump up
and cheer and be excited. I wholeheartedly believe that I am capable of
becoming the next Miss America… and I very well could… or I could not even be
named into the Top 15. Regardless of the outcome, I am honored to be
your Miss Virginia and I am so grateful for your excitement and
encouragement. In my mind, what matters most is that I always carry myself in
a way that makes me worthy of everything I've been blessed with this year as
Miss Virginia. I promise you all that I will. Thank you for believing in me.
Hello Virginia!! Last night, I met my new favorite person in the whole world. His name is Jacob. He is a three-year-old cancer patient at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk. He loves his light-up tennis shoes and taking pictures with his disposable camera, and after watching the Norfolk Admirals play, he loves hockey and wants to learn how to skate! He is the happiest, most spirited person I've ever met. I met Jacob at an appearance that epitomizes what I want my year to stand for, breaking stereotypes and getting a whole new demographic excited about the Miss America program, a charity shoot-out with the Norfolk Admirals to benefit Children's Miracle Network. Before the game, I was invited to the Admirals morning skate. Jay Rosehill, the player who was doing the shoot-out with me, was a bit nervous and wanted to see what I could do. HE was nervous?! The Admirals are a part of the American Hockey League, a direct feeder to the NHL. I was about to take shots from future NHL players in front of 4,000 people and HE was nervous? All nerves were cast aside when we thought about the real goal: raising money for CMN. All evening before the game, donations and pledges were taken that gave money to our charity for every shot of Jay's I blocked during the intermission. At the start of the game, I got to help my favorite fella, Jacob, drop the puck and watch him jump with excitement as the fans cheered him on (his light-up shoes emphasizing his joy)! Next up, during the first intermission, Jay took 10 shots on me. I blocked six and I can't wait to hear how much money we raised! This wasn't my only charity shoot-out this month. A week ago, I did a similar program with the Virginia Tech men's hockey team and raised $160. I took shots from fans and players (check out the video on YouTube!) and even raffled off a "Miss Virginia" jersey signed by the Virginia Tech team and me! And next week, I'll be facing shots from Washington Capitals players for a feature video they are doing to promote Miss America and the Children's Miracle Network to NHL fans! I also was invited to spend Thanksgiving with the Caps for "Miracle on Seventh Street", a program that served Thanksgiving dinner to over 500 needy children and their families. Now that I think about it, this really has been a month full of hockey! I was interviewed and featured on hockey blogs like www..onfrozenblog.com (thanks for everything, John Keeley!) and the "Puck Daddy" blog that gets over a million hits a day!I have also been featured on and contacted by several television stations, including the Big 10 Network, that will be flying a crew in from Chicago to cover my Caps shoot-out next month! Even the wife of the Washington Capitals majority owner, Ted Leonsis, is a new fan and has invited me to the owner's box for a game! Things are really taking off and I'm so excited for what's to come!! I have learned that combining hockey and my Miss Virginia title for charity will not only gain more fans from hockey lovers, but get positive and excited attention from mainstream media. People in Virginia are taking a second look at the Miss America program and they see what we're all about: scholarship, talent, community service, and positive role-models! It's a phenomenal feeling to watch my goals come to life! Since we're getting into the holiday season and wrapping up Thanksgiving, I think it's appropriate to end my November newsletter by telling some of the things I am grateful for: I am grateful for every hug I get from a child, every time someone tells me I've made their day, all of the host families and volunteers across the state that have opened their hearts and homes to me and given their time to help me, my incredible family, friends, and the Miss Virginia board for all of their support and love, all of the contestants in the MVO: you all are the most amazing group of girls and some of my very best friends. I'm thankful for every awkward moment I have had (and there have been many!) because they all bring a story that I can share with laughter, for all of the new friends I've met at appearances who can't wait to watch Miss America and cheer me on, for the Miss Virginia sisterhood and the MAO state titleholder sorority (some of the most incredible women I know!). I'm thankful for those wonderful loaner dresses and gowns and grateful each time I take a picture on my camera or type on my computer courtesy of Julius. For every free smoothie, spray tan, hairstyle, and manicure, every mile I'm on the road in my sponsor car heading to an appearance, and every time I sleep in my apartment I am reminded of how blessed I am. I could go on for pages… I'm thankful that every morning I get to wake up as Miss Virginia 2008. Thanks to you all and Happy Holidays! All my best, Tara Hello Virginia! (10/31/08)
After returning from LA, I was honored to be a guest speaker at the Open Door Resource Center silent auction fundraiser. The ODRC is an incredible organization headed up by my new friend, Linwood Alfred. The organization provides resources for those infected with HIV/AIDS in the Richmond area. I spoke about today’s youth being the “AIDS Generation” since we have never known a world without the disease. Linwood and my other friends at ODRC are working hard to make the next generation the “AIDS-FREE Generation”. Later in the week, I visited the Richmond Children’s Hospital, a Children’s Miracle Network hospital where I toured their facilities and saw the wonderful specialized care they offer. I look forward to going back again soon! Afterwards, I met with Rebecca Worth, a designer from Sylvan Spirit, who will be designing a line of jewlery inspired by me: “strong, yet feminine”. This week I also visited my sponsors at Elizabeth Arden and went on a $500 shopping spree (my Mom will be very excited about this on her birthday in a couple of weeks!), and I was given a surprise, edgy new hairstyle for the fall from the talented stylists at Zee’s!
Next up, I headed to Northern Virginia for the Marine Corps Marathon! The Saturday before the marathon, I lent a hand at the Kids Fun Run. The enthusiasim of the young atheletes was awesome; not even the rain could put a damper on our fun. For those of you who have never dealt with naturally curly hair, the rain and dampness inspire my curls to have a mind of their own… But before the kids run, I was having a good hair day as a guest at the Washington Capitals/ INOVA blood drive. The burning question on the minds of the many CAPS fans donating blood that morning: How do I attach the crown to my goalie helmet. ..The question set my imagination churning…a helmet with a crown on it could face down any slap shot, I’m sure! After the blood drive, I went straight to the kids run where my smile and my hair continued to grow! Rain or shine, good hair day or bad, I am loving every second of my time as Miss Virginia!
On Sunday, the actual Marine Corps Marathon, there were blue skies and sunshine as our backdrop. I met up with our photographer extraordinaire, Julius, and Miss DC 2008, Kate-Marie. Together we cheered on the runners which included my new friend, Andy Baldwin from the Bachelor. (Yes, he is both an Officer and a Gentleman). The determination witnessed at the finish line has inspired me to add “compete in a marathon” to my “bucket list”... I better start hitting the treadmill now!
October ended with a weekend at my alma mater, Penn State University, where I was asked to drop the ceremonial puck at the Penn State Icers hockey game. As many of you know, I was the starting goalie for the Lady Icers while I was in college. After the game, I was invited to take a special role at the Icers/ Lady Icers auction fundraiser. To my surprise, when bidding for “Brunch with Miss Virginia!” opened, I was shocked to see several Icers players dominate. There was a back and forth of bids before the auctioneer’s gavel sounded “SOLD!” I ended up raking in nearly $200 for the Lady Icers! Thank you to my new friend, Jamie Zimmel, #14 on the Icers, and his teammates for supporting women’s hockey! J
In other news this month has been a wondermonth. I am really starting to get into my groove with “Right Decisions, Right Now” presentations. I have already spoken to thousands of children as Miss Virginia and I feel like I’ve given and received nearly as many hugs! I’ve also racked up thousands of miles on the road. I’ve started to map my territory by leaving an autograph and picture at every gas station, rest stop, and restaurant I visit along my many road trips. I think I’ll call it my, “Miss VA Was Here” Campaign. Keep an eye out for them!
One road trip I wish I didn’t have to make was to a hospital in Norfolk to visit Tamika Mills, my good friend and local titleholder who was in a car crash. I was excited when I arrived, though, to see so many other supporters from the MVO community join me at her bedside. I saw the same outpouring of support when I visited Pat Irby, long-time MVO volunteer and friend who is bravely fighting breast cancer. I have been reassured that both Tamika and Pat will be just fine, but please keep them both in your prayers. I am so proud to be a part of such a wonderful and caring organization.
Looking ahead to my schedule, I have some exciting things coming up! I will be the goalie in a charity shoot out with Virginia Tech’s men’s hockey team and fans to raise money for CMN on November 21, and I have another charity shoot out in the works with the Norfolk Admirals (www.norfolkadmirals.com) minor league professional hockey team later that week! I am also looking forward to keeping busy with many more RDRN presentations (three in one day next Monday!). Along with my hectic appearance schedule, I am also working with my amazing Miss Virginia prep team to perfect my song and wardrobe. I’d also like to thank the many groups of volunteers across the state who have formed mock interview panels as preparation for Miss America. We are Team Virginia… See you on the road! All my best, Tara PS: I’m writing this during a rare visit to my parent’s house and I have been told to inform you all that my dad is cool. J
Hello
I know I'm a little bit late on my newsletter but they kept us pretty busy in LA!! Before I get to LA though, I'll recap on what happened right before I left: The week before I
jet-setted to That week, I also did
two appearances with Miss That night, I was a
guest at the Goodwill Charity Fashion Show at the French Embassy in The next day Kirsten, Leeann, and I met up again, along with Andrew Baldwin from "The Bachelor" TV show, for USO Casino Night. We played Vegas Style gambling games with fake money for prizes for the Wounded Warriors who joined us. The next morning, it
was back to the I was off to LA the
next morning but the trip wasn't too smooth. I was supposed to leave
Roanoke at 10am… instead, my flight got cancelled so I drove four hours to
Dulles Airport and finally left close to 10PM and arrived in LA at 12:30am
(3:30am our time!). I'm sure Miss Now, I know you all would love to hear everything about the reality show… and believe me, I'm dying to spill the beans… but I can't. L I can tell you about all of the wonderful excursions we went on while we were in LA between breaks in filming. The first weekend was super fun and super busy! We started off with a tour of Warner Brother's Studios. We pranced around the set of "Friends", saw where they filmed "Annie", "Don't Mess with the Zohan", and even where the famous upside down kiss happened in "Spider Man". Then we made our way to the set of "Ghost Whisperer" and met actor/comedian Jamie Kennedy. After a lunch break, it was time for the Ellen Show! Ellen had a special assignment for the Miss America contestants - lure George Clooney to the set! We chanted and sang and tried our best but George was a no-show. We did, however, snag Mario Lopez for a few minutes and that was not too shabby! Next up we were guests on the KTLA morning show then headed to IHOP to promote National Pancake Day to benefit Children's Miracle Network. After flipping and stacking and eating, I discovered you can have lots of fun with a pancake! Later in the day we headed to the Los Angeles Zoo and saw some beautiful and some disturbing things… As best as I can put this in G-rated MAO terms, one chaperone excitedly called all of the contestants over to witness "the miracle of life", what she thought was a kangaroo giving birth… well, this particular kangaroo happened to be a boy and it was definitely NOT giving birth! Needless to say, she was the joke of the day! Another fun event was visiting the LA Angels baseball game. We got to just relax, be casual, and have fun… but the ball players definitely knew we were there! We spent most of the game waving "yoo hoos" at whoever was looking our way. I doubt the coaches were very happy! On our days off, we were guests at several incredible posh restaurants, including the Balboa Bay Club where "The OC" TV show was filmed. We also met the Mayor of Manhattan Beach on the pier. I felt like I was in some crazy movie and this was supposed to be our days OFF from filming! The rest of the 3 weeks
was spent on location filming "Countdown to the Crown". I'm
dying to tell you something so I'll tell you all as much as I can: the place
we were filming is haunted… and I mean HAUNTED! It's known for being
one of the most haunted places in the world and there have been several documentaries about
it... My roommate, Miss In short, I've determined that reality TV is a far cry from reality, and the Miss America Class of 2009 sisterhood is more amazing and more valuable than anything I could have ever imagined. Sometimes filming the reality show got to be frustrating and nerve-wrecking and exhausting but I know there are 10,000 girls across the country that would love to be in our place and I am so grateful for this opportunity. Who can say they've been on a reality TV show? Now I can! So, I'm back in good
old VA and ready to get back to work! I just found out last night that
tomorrow I am giving a 20-minute speech on a very unfamiliar topic which just
proves that you're See you on the road!
(Sept.
04) A couple of weeks
ago I realized something that I hope every future Miss Virginia realizes
early on in her reign - Yes, it's my year… but it's not just my year. I received an
e-mail from Miss Virginia 1960, Catherine Daniel, telling me how proud she
was of me and that I was doing a great job. She also shared with me some of
her most memorable experiences as Miss So, with that being said, here are some of the highlights from what I've been doing in the last month: At the beginning of
August, I had the honor of visiting the Marines at I will always have a
special bond with those who serve our country. A good friend of mine
and former Lady Icers teammate, Lauren Shaw, is currently in Next up, I made the
exciting trip to In On a side note (because
I think many of you will get a kick out of this story), a few days before I
went to "Graceful"
was my response. Let's hope I got this out of my system before Miss Now on to more
highlights: I am now a spokesperson for Speaking of the Propeller Club golf tournament, while I was there, I sunk a $1,000 putt for CMN and met a wonderful gentleman, Geoff Clark, whose company, Kitco Fiber Optics, sponsored me at the tournament. Recently, Mr. Clark's family was in Roanoke and invited me to join them for dinner which brings me to now, the end of my second month, where I've seen many things come full circle: I met Mr. Clark, his
wife Sandy, and his granddaughter Madison at the Hotel Roanoke for dinner and
it was such a treat! Mr. Clark and his family are new fans of the Miss America program. They have seen through meeting me, how much this program and it's contestants touch lives. Because of this, Mr. Clark has offered a generous donation to the Miss Virginia program and I hope he knows how very thankful I am for his support! It's impossible to talk about everything I've done this month in one newsletter or it would be WAY too long (as it probably is already!)! I will say that I've been very busy and loving it! In the past 3 days I've spent 20 hours on the road and I'll be honest, I'm getting a little tired of my CD's. If anyone has any suggestions of books on CD or musicians that I need to check out, please send them my way! I'm looking forward to what the next month has in store for me… and it's hard to believe the next newsletter will come from LA!!! All my best, |
|
"To whom much
is given, much is expected." Luke 12:48 A few nights
ago, I stopped at a Sheetz gas station off I-81 around midnight on my way
back to Little did they
know, they all had made MY day! Everywhere I go,
people are so excited to see me. They present me with gifts, flowers, and
shower me with compliments to thank me for being there. Thank ME?
Thank YOU! I am living my dream and it's thanks to everyone who is
supporting me and every other participant in this program; everyone who is
still excited about Miss I have been so
blessed in the first month as Miss Even on the days
where it looks like nothing is scheduled, I'm still keeping pretty
busy. Caitlin Uze called me one day and left a message saying
jokingly, "I looked on the appearance page and it says you've got
nothing so why aren't you picking up your phone?!" J
Well, I missed her call because I was meeting with Senator Jill Vogel to to
talk about joining the national "Helping I have also had many
meetings with sponsors and potential partners. I am now working with
the Foundation For A Better Life (www.forbetterlife.org)
on their national campaign, and the rumors are true: Miss I've gotten to do so
much already but I believe that my favorite times so far have been the times
that I touched the life of a child. I was at Children's Which brings me back
to "To whom much is given, much is expected". Every second of
this last month has been great but my greatest times so far haven't been
riding in parades waving to adoring fans, it's been dancing with the kids at
the fair after the parade. It's been the times where someone at a gas
station told me I made their day when really they made mine. It's
inspiring a three year-old cancer patient to feel like a princess again. I am so blessed to
have this title and the support of so many. I am constantly thinking
about what I can do to give back. It's been a month and I hope I've
been making you all proud. I am so proud to be your Miss |
|
July Newsletter I'm
sitting with my brand-new laptop (thanks Julius!), in my pajamas, wearing my
crown and sash, with a million thoughts running through my head. I'd like to start off by thanking everyone
who has helped me get to where I am today.
My incredible family, friends, Ric, my directors and committees (both
from Blue Ridge and I
want to thank all of the contestants.
YOU Hannah,
you are an inspiration. I have some big shoes to fill and I will work my
hardest to follow your advice and "leave it better than I found
it". I
am grateful, honored, and ready for this job.
I have always believed in striving to foster a servant's heart; for
those who serve the most, grow the fastest.
I will represent this great organization with class and I promise I
will never take one minute for granted that I am Miss We
are all a united team working for a common goal and with passion for this
program. All
my best, |
