Miss Minnesota week!

I think that this blog is long overdue and I apologize. Life got even more busy after Miss Minnesota week when I got back to "reality" and went back to work.

I started off strong with two days of blogs, but the little sleep during the week really caught up to me and I fell behind on the blogs. Forgive me!

Day 3 was exhausting yet fun all at the same time! The day started with a trip to the Veterans Home in which we were able to talk to the residents and their families, sing patriotic songs, and signing autographs. I left many different emotions as the military is extremely close to my heart. I come from a family with strong ties to the military and know how important these individuals are to our community. It was extremely interesting hearing their stories and was yet another reminder of the impact these individuals have had on my life. Freedom isn't free. There would be no way I could participate in the Miss America Program had it not been for these individuals who gave up so much so that I could have a better tomorrow.

After the Veterans Home visit, we headed for  our rehearsal at the Eden Prairie Performing Arts Center then prepared for Open Arms. Open Arms is a non-profit organization that cooks and delivers free meals to those who have specific nutritional needs that need to be met. I worked the salad line with three fantastic ladies - Miss Waseca County Sleigh and Cutter, Katie; Miss Frazee, Ashley; and Miss Morris Area, Cassie. We had SO much fun and only made a little bit of a mess :)

Day 4 marked the official start of the preliminary competition! The day started with personal interviews. I walked out after my interview feeling fantastic but also knowing God's Plan was already unfolding. I was at peace for the rest of the day and couldn't wait for prelims to start! I would be competing in onstage question and talent. I felt great about my onstage question and have never performed my talent better! I was feeling on fire and couldn't wait to see my family and committee for the first time all week. That night, I walked away with the Impact of Change scholarship award for my service work and platform which was sponsored by Tiffany Buszta. It was such an honor to receive this award! I also received my Bronze medal for the Duke of Edinburgh program which was a 3-month-long process.

Day 5 began with a visit to the Minnesota Autism Center (MAC), a K-12 school for those that fall on the autism spectrum. I had never heard of MAC, but I'm thankful Rebecca Yeh, Miss Minnesota 2013 introduced me to such a fantastic school! If you have never heard of MAC, I highly recommend looking into it. I left feeling inspired by the children that I met there. It was such a blast! After MAC, we headed back to the auditorium for rehearsal before the second night of prelims! This night, I would compete in swimsuit and evening gown. Again, I felt I left my heart on that stage and couldn't have performed any better. This night, I was honored to stand beside 4 other incredible women for the Tracie Joy McBride Quality of Life award. Congrats to runner up, Emily Kallis, and my roomie for the week, Kailee Ogden who walked away as the 2014 Quality of Life winner!! These two are incredible individuals and I am so happy that I had the chance to get to know them better throughout the week.

Day 6 was a fun day at the Mall of America with the 2014 Northern Lights Princesses! We enjoyed a morning with Radio Disney and spent the day making crafts, dancing and singing, and decorating crown boxes with our princess. My princess was Andi who is from Brainerd and has participated in the Brainerd princess program and who I've know for many years. The princesses were also crowned that morning so it was fun to see how excited some of the princesses were! It was a fun morning and I even got to see my Outstanding Teen, Molly :) The rest of the day we had some down time to relax and pack before the Crowns and Gowns gala at the Radisson Blu. The gala was a beautiful event put on by the Sister to Sister Program made up of former Miss Minnesota's. It was an emotional night for me because it was a beautiful reminder of the rich history and power of the Miss Minnesota Program. I was honored to be in that room with so many former Miss Minnesota's and so many people who tirelessly volunteer for this amazing program. It was a fantastic way to end Miss Minnesota week (but also the jam sesh and girl talk we had in our room with a couple of the other contestants!).

Day 7 was our last and final day. That night a new Miss Minnesota would be crowned and I felt very relaxed knowing that God's Plan for my life far surpassed the outcome of the pageant that night. I knew I had done everything I could have possibly done, left my heart and soul on that stage, and remained fully myself in the process! I knew I could leave that night feeling fulfilled. I didn't walk away as Miss Minnesota, but the friendships that were formed and the memories made were far greater than anything a crown could ever give me. There are no words to describe how fantastic the week was! I walked away that night as the Miss America Community Service winner for the work that I've done with the Alzheimer's Association and my personal platform promoting children and teen dementia education. That was a huge honor and I will continue to fight for a cure long after my competitive pageant days have come to an end. This is a life-long commitment for me.

Thank you for all that supported me on this journey! I know and understand that God has something greater in store for me and I can't wait to see what exactly that entails :)

With love and gratitude,
Bailey
Miss Brainerd Lakes 2013