I was SO excited to get requested to come to the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageant in 2019 to help during the week and a half stay! In Reno, Nevada, I was assigned several teen state representatives to be their “pageant mom!” Since I have a pageant coaching business, I loved helping all girls prepare for the big national competition, calming their nerves, practicing stage walk in the hallway, practicing interview questions, answering their calls in the middle of the night when they had nervous tummies, and being with them for all practices and competitions! This year was extra special because the Teen Pageant was finally held at the same time as the Miss USA pageant! So I got to be there with the Miss contestants as well!
Nina Sanchez, Miss USA 2014
Being at the pageant brought back so many memories from when I competed! This was actually the second time I’ve been asked to work with Miss Universe. The year after I competed, Miss Universe Organization asked 7 of the top 15 contestants to come back to work for what they called Miss Teen Fantasy Camp in the Atlantis, Bahamas! This was a camp that allowed girls of all ages to come to the Bahamas, where they were able to watch Miss Teen USA live and learn life skills! I loved being there as a counselor for those campers and supporting Jefra Bland (the teen my year!), just as I loved to be around for the teens this year at Miss Teen USA! This year I also loved getting to know many of the past role models who have carried the titles of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA (pictured below) including Nina Sanchez (Miss USA 2014), Hailey Colborn (Miss Teen USA 2018), Sarah Rose Summers (Miss USA 2018), and my biggest role model, the crowning Miss USA when I was competing - Crystle Stewart - Miss USA 2008 - who is rightfully now the director of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA!
I was thrilled because half of the girls I was assigned to be a “pageant mom” for made the top 15! It was a whole different experience being back stage! The most special part to me was when I got to be a “pageant fairy” as they call it and move the top 15 contestants bags to the Top 15 dressing room - only because I remember when my things were brought to the top 15 room and that was such a HUGE step in the right direction to becoming Miss USA! To see the girls faces as they rushed backstage after opening number, to change into their fitness wear, was such a joy! It was like I was competing all over again!
That night, Nick Lachey, Vanessa Lachey, and Lu Sierra hosted the event with T-pain performing! Kaleigh Garris was crowned Miss Teen USA and Chelie Kryst was crowned Miss USA! After being around Kaleigh all week, I realized she was very positive and focused during all practices. She had a sense of confidence in her that really seemed effortless! It was one of those years when I truly felt that any of the girls could have been a great representative as Miss Teen USA! I have a whole need appreciation for the pageant now after getting to know the team behind Miss Universe Org even better over the past several years! And mostly, I’m just incredibly honored that after 12 years since placing as a runner up at Miss USA, that I’m still part of the Miss Universe Org family!
