The craziness of Miss Brainerd Lakes

It has once again been a busy week in the life of Miss Brainerd Lakes! What a blessing it is to make so many fun and exciting appearances in my hometown.

The Fourth of July is always one of the most fun times of the year. Molly and I kicked off our Fourth of July festivities at the Nisswa Turtle Races. Over 700 racers registered that day and Molly and I had the opportunity to be line judges to see which turtle crossed the line first. That night was the Nisswa Fourth of July parade which is always one of my favorites because I grew up in Nisswa. It's so fun to see some familiar faces in the crowd. This was definitely one of the biggest parades Nisswa has had and I was lucky enough to be a part of it! Thank you Dondelinger Auto for sponsoring a beautiful car for us to ride in.

The next day was the Brainerd Fourth of July parade. While this parade is always one of the longest, it is SO worth seeing the precious little girls faces light up when they see princesses! For years I've watched Miss Brainerd Lakes in the Brainerd parade and have often looked up to her. Now I'm that girl and I couldn't feel more blessed or honored!

The next day was Arts in the Park at Gregory Park in which Molly and I walked around to sign autographs and take pictures. It's a tradition for Miss Brainerd Lakes to be there every year and I was happy to carry on that tradition.

I then attended the Miss Northwest and Miss Northwest's Outstanding Teen pageant in Detroit Lakes. Chantal, Miss Northwest 2013, became a great friend during Miss Minnesota week and I was happy to be there to support her and see her one last time before she headed back to Boston. She was a fabulous Miss Northwest and I couldn't be more proud to call her a friend. I know she is going to make a killer lawyer.

The next day was the Miss Morris Area and Miss Midwest pageant. The outgoing queens, Cassey and Chelsea, also became incredible friends during Miss Minnesota week. Also one of my best friends and Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen sister, Corrina was competing for the first time in a "Miss" pageant. Though it was weird to see her onstage, I was so proud! Corrina has certainly come a long way and I know a Miss title is in her future.

Cassey

Corrina

Then it was off to Prior Lake the next day for a sendoff party for our 2014 Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen, Lauren. Lauren will leave is just a few days for the Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant. I can't wait to hear how awesome she will do!

I literally felt like I was living out of my car because two days later I was back in the car heading to Thief River Falls for the Miss Thief River Falls and Miss Riverfest pageant! Miss Thief River Falls 2013, Taylor, became a another great friend during Miss Minnesota week (seriously... these ladies are incredible!). I had never been to Thief River Falls before so it was fun to be at the pageant supporting Taylor! After the pageant, we were able to get some food at a local restaurant and catch up but also get to know the two new titleholders.

The Country Sampler Picnic was the day after, so I headed to the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd for a night of great food and fun. This is another Miss Brainerd Lakes tradition and was probably one of the most fun appearances of the summer! I signed many autographs and was able to meet some really great people from the Brainerd Lakes area. Molly, Lauren, and I along with our princesses also watched the pig races which is always great entertainment.

To conclude my crazy week, Molly and I handed out awards at North Central Speedway in Brainerd! We were lucky enough to get box seats because I certainly was not prepared for how loud the car races are! This was my first time ever seeing car races and it was so much fun. Plus it was fun to congratulate the winners and have the opportunity to pose for a picture with them.

With love,
Bailey
Miss Brainerd Lakes 2013

A Confession.

I have a confession to make. I told you all in a recent blog and on my Facebook page that I was okay with not making Top 11 at Miss Minnesota 2014, and that was no lie. I really am okay and it has given me an even deeper drive to continue competing, better myself, and raise awareness to Alzheimer's disease. I can promise you that.

But what I have done is something I regret doing. As my MAOTeen sister, Deon, said perfect; "Then, I read this horrible thing all pageant girls know as a bad word: the message board."

Yes, I read the Voy board upon my arrival home from Miss Minnesota week. I don't know why I did it. I know the negative consequences of reading these message boards. I know that comments left on the Voy board to not reflect me or my character, yet somehow I couldn't pull myself away from reading what anonymous people had to say about my performance. I yearned for some kind of explanation as to why, after months (even years!) of preparation, I didn't even make Top 11. I saw things I wish I wouldn't have; I looked too "tired" onstage, I wasn't fit enough, I wasn't a standout. You name it, I probably saw it. For days after reading these comments, I felt worthless. I felt I had let everyone down who predicted I would make Top 11. I was frustrated. I put everything I had on that Miss Minnesota stage. Every ounces of who Bailey is was poured onto that stage. To come back and read these comments about my performance was so unbelievably discouraging. I can't even put into words the despair I felt. For days I believed I wasn't worthy enough. That the reason I didn't make Top 11 was because I wasn't good enough, skinny enough, pretty enough, or smart enough to be Miss Minnesota.

I don't know when it happened, but I finally stepped back from my mini obsession with the Voy board and allowed God to heal the brokenness and pain I was feeling as a result of my stupid action. To my surprise, I found the answer to my question not from the message board, but in Christ. I have always known that my worth is found in Christ and in Christ alone, but after a few days of reading the Voy board, I had lost sight of that. I was trying to find my worth in the opinions of people who foolishly hid behind the anonymity of a silly message board instead of in my Lord and Savior.

It was a very humbling experience for me. I wasn't going to share this experience because of the fear that I would be judged for reading the Voy board. I didn't want others to think any less of me for believing and reading what so many people encouraged me not to do. 

But then I realized, no. I needed to share this experience with those around me. I made a mistake. I'm human. I'm not perfect. Though I'm still afraid of what people might think of me, I know I'm not the only contestant to have read the Voy board and go through the same feelings I did.

My ultimate purpose for writing this blog is to encourage those who do post on message boards to stop. You can have your predictions for Top 11, I have no problem with that. It's fun to make predictions, then see how correct you are! But my hope is that instead of posting it on the message board, you would keep it to yourself. What may seem like an innocent and almost entertaining post about who you believe will make the cut, can hurt and tear down a contestant more than you know. Whether they are in your prediction or not. As much as a shock as this may be, Miss Minnesota contestants are human. We have thick skin, but words hurt more than anything in this world and can pierce even the toughest skin. You can never erase what you read. Not even the best Miss Minnesota or Miss America.

Regardless of your opinions about the new Miss Minnesota or Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen, they are still our state titleholders. Publicly bashing them on an immature message board will not change that. Instead of nit-picking on what their hair looks like, what clothes they wear, their makeup, or what they have or have not done with their platforms, lets uplift both of our state titleholders. Both are preparing to compete in their national pageant and need the support now more that ever before. This is about to be one of the most challenging yet exciting years in both of their lives. Both Miss Minnesota and Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen are far greater than outer beauty. This simple fact is important to remember as we uplift our state titleholders during this transitional time in their lives.

I would personally like to see more positive things on the message board. I love reading positive comments, especially about the work that local contestants do with their platform. This is such a huge part of the Miss America Organization, yet often gets overlooked for more trivial things like wardrobe and hair/makeup. For example, my roommate, Kailee won the Tracie Joy McBride Quality of Life award and didn't get NEARLY as much recognition as she deserve. Kailee is an incredible woman of Christ and was such a bright light for all of us during the week. I certainly wouldn't have been able to get through the week without her, and I know it was the same for many others. Instead of grumbling about the women who were not a finalist for Quality of Life, lets celebrate how incredible Kailee is and how deserving she is.

As I reflect back on my Miss Minnesota week, I have a compete understanding in the Plan and Purpose God laid out for me that week. I knew in my heart that it was not my year to win Miss Minnesota. God laid that on my heart many months before Miss Minnesota week, and I was fine with that. But I did know I was there for a specific purpose and that purpose was made clear towards to end of the week. I still left Miss Minnesota week feeling so full and happy. I didn't need to make Top 11 to feel worthy. I am in a way better place than I was last week, and I can say that with complete confidence. Your prayers and kind words mean the world to me. I couldn't ask for a better support system. From the bottom of heart and with everything I have, I thank you. 

With love,
Bailey Wachholz
Miss Brainerd Lakes 2013

Kiddy Parades, Culver's, and Disney World!

Life did in fact move on after Miss Minnesota week with various appearances around the Brainerd Lakes area!

Last week was Brainerd History Week in celebration of the 100th year anniversary of various buildings in downtown Brainerd. My sister queens and I along, with the Crow Wing County Dairy Princess, participated in the Teddy Bear Kiddy parade right in downtown Brainerd. The kids were adorable and many of them were starstruck at seeing so many princesses! It was a fabulous reminder of the power that a crown can have. I may not be Miss Minnesota, but to those little girls who shyly asked for an autograph, I am. I could impact their life in such a simple way just by saying hello to them. How incredible it is to be a part of such a great and powerful program!

That same day, I headed over to Culver's in Baxter in celebration of June Dairy Month. I had done this event two years ago, but as Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012. It was great to be back, but I was a bit nervous as I was asked to milk a cow in the cow milking contest. I have never milked a cow. Ever. My uncle operated a dairy farm for many years, but I was more interested in the barn kittens at my young age than in learning how to milk a cow! I had a few tips up my sleeve, but it was a lot harder than I expected and was only able to get about .5 ounces of milk in 30 seconds! Not terrible, but also not the best :)

Our wonderful Senators and Representatives!

Also that day was a custard eating contest! The contest was to see who could eat 8 ounces of custard the fastest. I slurped that custard down pretty fast, but was sad to not be able to enjoy it fully. All-in-all, it was a fantastic day and I was happy to have my sister queens beside me through it all :)

Then I was off to Florida on a short vacation! Though it was hot and humid, it was so much fun to walk around Disney and sit and enjoy the sun without a care in the world. I was sad to leave, but I'm enjoying the Minnesota weather :)

Always,
Bailey
Miss Brainerd Lakes 2013