MRS. UNITED STATES 2009 (Day 5) - Las Vegas, NV

Whew! What a ride! This is the first time I have had a chance to sit down, plug in my computer, download photos, and get a chance to update my blog. After the pageant on Thursday night (more on that in a bit), we went out for a nice dinner and then I had to pack and hit the hay to try and catch a few zzzz's before my 5:15 AM wake-up call for my flight. I had to fly into Chicago instead of going home because I am coaching the AWESOME Jessica Scheu (Miss Teen MN International 2009) in the Miss Teen International pageant, and also supporting the incredible Maddy Thoele (Miss MN International 2009) who is coached by my good friend and former coach Cheri Kennedy. I arrived in Chicago around 2:00, then had to take the shuttle to the car rental place where I had to stand in line for AN HOUR (sooooo annoying) to get my car. By the time I arrived in Skokie, I had time to grab a snack and get ready and before I knew it, it was pageant time again! I was EXHAUSTED but it was great to cheer Maddy on...she did AWESOME! After the pageant, I had a big, fat, greasy cheeseburger with my dear friends Allison Stavrakis (State Director of the MN International Pageants) and photographer Paula Preston. It was great to catch up but I was sooo tired and then my tummy hurt from my cheeseburger (but it was well worth it, ha ha). I slept in this morning until 10:00 (normally I can NEVER sleep that late), and am now just getting to my emails and to updating this blog. All I can say is...WHEW!

Now...on to the pageant! Unfortunately, I did not place in the Top 12...however, I can DEFINITELY say that I did my absolute best and felt great about my performance and have no regrets. So I personally felt like it was a success! I had a GREAT time and the ladies were absolutely WONDERFUL. I did not see even one bit of bad sportsmanship or anything even close to that. What I DID see were many supportive, friendly, and down to earth ladies. This seriously was one of the best groups I have ever competed with. I met some terrific women and would do it again in a heart beat. Of course there were some surprises in the Top 12 (there always are--it's a pageant, LOL!) and I thought that AL, AR, and AK would DEFINITELY be in there. Which just goes to show you that you never know!

The eventual winner Tammy Johns-Brown was a sweetheart and I am proud to say that she was in my dressing room (we had a great group and everyone was really helpful). I also sat next to her at breakfast one day and enjoyed getting to chat with her a bit. She had a great on-stage answer to her question and I just have to say that I want to know what those South Carolina girls put in their water because they are definitely doing something right, LOL! Congrats to her and to the other members of the Top 12...I wish I would have been in there, but alas it was not my year! The 1st RU was Mrs. WY Janet McCullough, 2nd RU was Mrs. TX Lindsay Clark (a pastor!), 3rd RU was Mrs. FL Kelly Lightbourne, and 4th RU was Mrs. MO Caitlin Corry (I LOVE LOVE LOVE this girl!). Mrs. OH won Photogenic, Mrs. FL won the Civic Award, and the Fitness Award went to a VERY deserving Mrs. Missouri. I am not sure why they don't announce an Evening Gown or Interview Award but they don't.

It was a great experience and I had a great time, and while of course I was disappointed to not make Top 12, I did not shed one tear. There are bigger things to cry about in this world! I am very blessed to have a terrific husband, the best little girl in the world, and an incredible family. And I am blessed to have my health (something we too often take for granted) and an AMAZING group of friends and supporters. I have been SOOOOOOO touched by the many messages and emails I have received from so many (you know who you are...I will get back to each of you when I have a little more time). I have loved competing in pageantry since the age of 16, which is when my grandma suggested I enter one. She passed away one week before the day of the pageant, and throughout the competition I was wearing her ring. I hope that I made her proud...thinking of her and rubbing that ring backstage gave me a sense of peace and calm and I think that was her last gift to me. In the world of pageantry where so much emphasis is placed on the external, it is easy to get caught up in the unimportant things...and as I tell my clients, "Don't ever let it mean too much." I got to play dress-up for a week and meet an amazing group of women, so while I didn't walk away with the crown, it was still a great experience that I would gladly do over again! Hopefully it will make me a better coach as well!

Now...on to cheering for Jessica and Maddy! It is neat to see these girls in the beginning of their pageant careers...maybe some day they will compete as Mrs. contestants! I am SOOOOO proud of Jessica and can't wait to report on tonight! Thank you again to those who have been so supportive, it has meant the world to me! Stay tuned!!!






Mrs. Arizona Melanie Britton with her SUPER cute bag! I just had to get a photo!

















SMILE! A group of us before our final rehearsal.














Hanging out with my peeps at rehearsal, LOL











With two of my dearest friends, Donnell Rank and Sarah Moses












These two ladies are incredible! Special thanks to Sarah Moses for my wardrobe...she is THE BEST in the biz!











Group shot just before show time!















Ladies in red












A photo with Caitlin Corry, Mrs. Missouri. We had a blast together! LOVE this girl! You should see how fit she is...WOW. She DEFINITELY deserved the fitness award!















With pageant host Jay Joseph. He did a terrific job and our choreographer Natalie Carson was SUPERB!















Mrs. Michigan and I pose in our silver halter gowns (hers was actually a champagne-y pink)...what a neat lady!














The ladies of our dressing room! Tammy Johns-Brown (the eventual winner) who was also in our dressing room is missing from the photo because she was competing on stage! Congratulations Tammy on becoming the 2009 Mrs. United States!









I thought each of these ladies were shoo-ins for Top 5! Just goes to show you that you never know! L to R: Mrs. AL, Mrs. AR, and Mrs. AK. Are they gorgeous or what!?!












With the darling and hilarious Kim Geremia, Mrs. Guam. She totally cracked me up!
















After the pageant with Sheila McKinney Mrs. RI and the sweeter than sweet Sheila Strassburg!












With my supporters after the pageant! THANK YOU ladies for being such awesome cheerleaders!










My "pageant sister" Katie Scott (Mrs. Iowa America 2006) is now living in Las Vegas and came to cheer me on. She looks better than ever and I think SHE should compete in this pageant next year! Stay tuned...











The fabulous Dohn Dye and I chatting after the pageant










The "Phillips" girls! My mom Bonnie and I pose with Sue Jackson (we are all from the same tiny hometown of Phillips, WI...population 1,200 without a stoplight in the whole county!) Yep, that's where it's all at, LOL!










After the pageant with Liz Fogg-Abanon, Dohn Dye, me, and the LOVELY Rosalie Michaels (former Mrs. AZ America). I swear she gets prettier every year!















With Siouxan Moore (state director for MD, DE, PA, and VA) and Nicole Brink (former Mrs. America and Mrs. World). Best of luck to Siouxan as she competes in Beauties of America! It was so nice to finally meet her...she is so pretty!















With Dana Opsincs, Mrs. United States 2001. She is so cool...it was great seeing her!












Whew...now I am in Chicago cheering on my teen client Jessica Scheu (Miss Teen MN Int'l 2009) and she competes for the national title. Bring it home Jess! I am soooooo proud of you no matter what the outcome!

MRS. UNITED STATES 2009 (Day 4) - Las Vegas, NV

Today started with rehearsals where we learned the Swimsuit and Evening Gown walking patterns. We had a nice break for lunch and then back for more rehearsals. We put the finishing touches on our Opening Number (we are dancing to "Baby I'm A Star" by Prince) and then they released us to get ready for Prelims!








Lunch with Mrs. Texas and Mrs. Arkansas











With Mrs. MO, Mrs. IL, and Mrs. RI before the pageant in our red dresses. That "fog" you see is actually a hairspray haze--no lie!












With one of my favorite ladies Beth (Mrs. WA) in the hairspray haze (not that I had anything to do with that, ha ha!)
















With Mrs. Nebraska Michelle Strom in our evening gowns. I love her gown! Beautiful!
















Backstage in evening gowns...













With the incomparable Gaspar Cruz & Dohn Dye...these two are amazing!!!











With Gaspar Cruz & best friend Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop by Michael's)











My friends and supporters (L to R): Sue Jackson, my mom Bonnie Henderson, me, Donnell Rank, Gaspar Cruz











I FINALLY got to meet Stephanie Hunt - Mrs. United States 2007...she is AWESOME and is someone I've admired for a long time, so it was great to finally connect!










Sarah & I with the "Iowa gals" Michelle Berndt (Mrs. IA) and our client Laura Diers (Mrs. IA America 2008)












With my mom...she is my biggest supporter and I could not do it without her! LOVE YOU MOM!











It was fun to run into Nic Brink (former Mrs. America and Mrs. World) & Diane Ritter (State Director of the Mrs. AZ & Mrs. UT America pageants). These two are awesome ladies!







Some of the beautiful flowers, gifts, and trinkets from my friends, family, and supporters! Special thanks to Sue Jackson, Sarah Moses, Kris Mohlin, my mom Bonnie Henderson, Donnell Rank, Andrea Robertson, Leigh Gettman-Allen, Wendi Russo, Heather Hall, and Tamara Jett for your well wishes...you all mean so much to me and I just want you to know how special you've made me feel!

MRS. UNITED STATES 2009 (Day 3) - Las Vegas, NV

As I sit here typing this, it is RAINING cats and dogs in Las Vegas (yes, you read that right!). The other night (when we had our bus tour), there were severe thunderstorms as well...so crazy! I am going to keep it short because I don't have a ton of time, but in a nutshell, things are going well and I am having a great time! Today we had to be dressed and ready in swimsuits for the poolside swimsuit shoot early in the morning in order to beat the heat and get the best light. Everyone looked fantastic and it was fun to chat with the reigning Mrs. United States Gariane Gunter. She is from Columbia and my husband Matt went to his senior year of high school and his freshman year of college in Charleston, which is fairly close by. She is a lovely lady and it is easy to see why she won! It was also so nice to run into Sheila Strassburg who is one of the SWEETEST ladies ever! I could just listen to her soothing voice forever. Love her! I got to say a quick hello to Janice McQueen-Ward (former Mrs. United States AND the CA director) as well as Pam Bolter (former Mrs. FL US and FL state director). They are two fun and sassy ladies and it was so nice to catch up...



















































































After the poolside shoot, we had a bit of free time before rehearsals which was nice. I was so excited because my best friend Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop) arrived in the morning, and then my mom Bonnie and friend/client Sue Jackson arrived later in the evening. After lunch, we rehearsed until around 4ish and then were released to get ready for our interviews. Gaspar did an AWESOME job with my makeup and I felt like a million bucks in my new interview suit! What IS it about new clothes that makes us fee so good? My interview went well, although I was not asked even one question off of my Bio. After interview was over (it was 3 minutes), I headed back to the room, changed clothes, and then headed to Tao restaurant at the Venetian with Gaspar and Sarah (my mom and Sue had not yet arrived at that point). We had a great dinner and then headed home to the Orleans...and FINALLY to bed! More to come...

MRS. UNITED STATES 2009 (Day 2) - Las Vegas, NV

This morning started out with breakfast in the buffet where I got to sit by Mrs. NM, Mrs. VT, Mrs. WV, and Mrs. CT. It was fun getting to know these ladies a little better. We truly have a great group of friendly, outgoing, and accomplished women competing. It makes it so much more fun to have such great ladies to share it with!





Breakfast (I am REALLY looking forward to having a piece of bacon after this pageant instead of oatmeal, LOL!)






After breakfast, we headed to the Orleans Theater where we exchanged our state gifts. Some of the ladies had put very elaborate packages together and we got some great stuff! I gave everyone a Salted Nut Roll and a Nut Goody Bar which are manufactured by Pearson's Candy in St. Paul, MN (I have found that everyone seems to like food as a state gift, ha ha). After the gift exchange, we met our choreographer Natalie Carlson and the pageant host Jay Joseph. Once we started rehearsal, Natalie quickly got us going into the production number, and I am happy to say that we learned the entire thing in one day! She is doing a TERRIFIC job and is so energetic, patient, and FUNNY...not to mention a great teacher. A big thumbs up to her (and thank you for not making the dance steps too tricky). I really enjoyed chatting with Mrs. Massachusetts Wendy Jack and Mrs. Missouri Caitlin Corry. Suffice it to say that we all share the same sense of humor--what cool and funny ladies! I also really enjoyed Mrs. California Lisa McCumber Gandarra. She is a really neat (and beautiful!) lady as well.






Mrs. Nebraska and Mrs. Tennessee sitting in front of me at rehearsal.













Group shot before the gift exchange...













With Beth (Mrs. WA) before the gift exchange...love her!











Rehearsals ended at 4:00 and not only did we learn the entire production number, but we ALSO learned the Parade of Gowns. We are movin' and groovin' on this stuff! After rehearsals ended, many of us made the trek to Walgreens and/or the tanning salon before getting ready for our night on the town. I carried a case of water (FYI, the hotel water is NOT very good) a VEEEEERRRRRY long two blocks back to the hotel in 100 degree heat (not sure what I was thinking). These were not "normal" blocks...it was more like 4 or 5 blocks. UGH! But so worth it! When I got back to the hotel, there were two beautiful bouquets of flowers waiting for me...one from my dear friend Sue Jackson and one from my best friend Sarah Moses. WOW! Thank you ladies, you made my day!!! After getting ready, I headed downstairs where we gathered for photos before boarding the tour bus to Caesar's Palace.







Ladies ready for a night out!












Group shot













Posing by the fountain with Mrs. WA and Mrs. VT

















Beth and I having fun at the fountain













Mrs. Arkansas really reminds me of one of my other best friends Kim Falk...and Mrs. Arkanasas's name is ALSO Kim!
















Members of the 5'10" and up club! Mrs. CA, Mrs. AK, and me...

















With Mrs. Nebraska Michelle Strom. We sat on the bus together and she is great! Not to mention gorgeous as you can see! :)