How was balancing finals & Miss America prep?
Hard! I got to take all of my finals early thanks to my professors (shoutout to them for being amazing!), but it was still really difficult to balance. I was in a show that closed in November, so I really only had about three weeks to wrap up the semester and redirect my life toward preparing for Miss America.
How do you stay grounded when so busy?
My support system. My friends really held me together this past semester while balancing school, the job of Miss Indiana, and Miss America preparations!
What’s one thing that kept you motivated while preparing for Miss America?
Leading up to the Miss Indiana competition, I had worked very hard on my self-concept, which helped me to understand my unique qualities and “superpowers” as a titleholder. I truly trusted that if it was meant for me that I could have walked home with the job of Miss America… so I prepared with that end goal in sight, hoping that no matter the outcome, I would walk away from the Miss America competition with no regrets. It worked out! I feel very confident about my performance at Miss America.
Where is the black opening number outfit from?
ZARA…
Who styles you?
… styled, of course, by the incredible Miss Indiana executive director, Aren Straiger. I owe her so much, and I have to say that she keeps me looking pretty fabulous for all of my events.
How did you calm your nerves?
Listening to music and trying not to think about anything except the moment right in front of me... it was very nerve-racking at times, so it was easier to distract myself up until the moment of competition.
Who was your roommate?
The lovely and talent Kayla Willing, my sweet Miss Maryland
How much sleep did you get during Miss America week?
Lol.
Next to none… probably about four to five hours a night. To whomever competes at Miss America next year, I recommend caffeine and under eye cream.
What other song would you have sung?
This was actually a big topic of conversation; there was a time we were afraid that I would not get my competition song. We discussed rearranging my 2021 state talent, Heart of Stone from Six, but nothing really stuck the same as Defying Gravity. I am so grateful that it worked out that I got to perform my dream role on the Miss America stage.
Which states did you get closest to?
Too many to list! I talk to my Miss America sisters everyday!!
Did you get to see your family much during competition week?
Only at visitation after preliminary nights or in passing as we walked back to our rooms from rehearsals. I am really glad for even the brief moments that I got to see them; it kept me grounded throughout the week to remember that no matter the outcome, they would still be proud of me. (I’m not crying; you’re crying.)
Did you call the winner?
I was so impressed with our class that I had a hard time picking out a winner... there were so many women there who could have handled the job. But when the results were announced, I was not surprised: Grace is the perfect Miss America. She is truly a "Woman who Can," in the phrase that she famously coined in her first speech as Miss America. She is everything that the organization stands for: brilliant, passionate, real, and kind.
I also didn’t want to psych myself out as a competitor, so I tried not to make any predictions during the competition. Of course, Grace was a frontrunner all week, and I could not be more excited for her year. She had, from the moment we met in August, that quality that I think exists in a Miss America: to make everyone feel like they are the one wearing the crown. She is beyond deserving, and I just love her.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned in competing for the crown?
You cannot rely on other people to define who you are or to define your worth.
When you’re competing, you are putting your entire life into the hands of only five people that know you for a total of fifteen minutes. You have to define who you are for yourself, which (yes) takes a lot of practice, but I learned it over my four years in the Miss America Organization.
Would you ever compete in another pageant system?
I’m not sure. I was sad to compete for the last time in December; even going to local competitions, I've realized that I miss competing. However, I also know that I am content with how I left everything, and I am proud to have made it as far as I did. Top 7 in the country AND a preliminary win? I don’t know if I can do better than that.
I have so much love for the Miss America Organization, and I plan to be involved as a forever Miss Indiana after my year ends in June.
Would you recommend MAO?
YES. I think you guys could have guessed that I would say that.
What was the moment you realized “Wow, I’m at Miss America?”
I had so many of these. I will never forget standing on the Miss America stage for opening number rehearsal before the first preliminary night. We were facing upstage, all waiting for the music to start, and the back of the stage said “Miss America 2023” and it just hit me - and as the crybaby I am, I just started bawling. And then I pulled myself together to do the opening number and before anyone else saw me (hopefully lol).
That feeling of “wow, I made it” while also having the absolute best time of my life followed me throughout the whole week.
Hard! I got to take all of my finals early thanks to my professors (shoutout to them for being amazing!), but it was still really difficult to balance. I was in a show that closed in November, so I really only had about three weeks to wrap up the semester and redirect my life toward preparing for Miss America.
How do you stay grounded when so busy?
My support system. My friends really held me together this past semester while balancing school, the job of Miss Indiana, and Miss America preparations!
What’s one thing that kept you motivated while preparing for Miss America?
Leading up to the Miss Indiana competition, I had worked very hard on my self-concept, which helped me to understand my unique qualities and “superpowers” as a titleholder. I truly trusted that if it was meant for me that I could have walked home with the job of Miss America… so I prepared with that end goal in sight, hoping that no matter the outcome, I would walk away from the Miss America competition with no regrets. It worked out! I feel very confident about my performance at Miss America.
Where is the black opening number outfit from?
ZARA…
Who styles you?
… styled, of course, by the incredible Miss Indiana executive director, Aren Straiger. I owe her so much, and I have to say that she keeps me looking pretty fabulous for all of my events.
How did you calm your nerves?
Listening to music and trying not to think about anything except the moment right in front of me... it was very nerve-racking at times, so it was easier to distract myself up until the moment of competition.
Who was your roommate?
The lovely and talent Kayla Willing, my sweet Miss Maryland
How much sleep did you get during Miss America week?
Lol.
Next to none… probably about four to five hours a night. To whomever competes at Miss America next year, I recommend caffeine and under eye cream.
What other song would you have sung?
This was actually a big topic of conversation; there was a time we were afraid that I would not get my competition song. We discussed rearranging my 2021 state talent, Heart of Stone from Six, but nothing really stuck the same as Defying Gravity. I am so grateful that it worked out that I got to perform my dream role on the Miss America stage.
Which states did you get closest to?
Too many to list! I talk to my Miss America sisters everyday!!
Did you get to see your family much during competition week?
Only at visitation after preliminary nights or in passing as we walked back to our rooms from rehearsals. I am really glad for even the brief moments that I got to see them; it kept me grounded throughout the week to remember that no matter the outcome, they would still be proud of me. (I’m not crying; you’re crying.)
Did you call the winner?
I was so impressed with our class that I had a hard time picking out a winner... there were so many women there who could have handled the job. But when the results were announced, I was not surprised: Grace is the perfect Miss America. She is truly a "Woman who Can," in the phrase that she famously coined in her first speech as Miss America. She is everything that the organization stands for: brilliant, passionate, real, and kind.
I also didn’t want to psych myself out as a competitor, so I tried not to make any predictions during the competition. Of course, Grace was a frontrunner all week, and I could not be more excited for her year. She had, from the moment we met in August, that quality that I think exists in a Miss America: to make everyone feel like they are the one wearing the crown. She is beyond deserving, and I just love her.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned in competing for the crown?
You cannot rely on other people to define who you are or to define your worth.
When you’re competing, you are putting your entire life into the hands of only five people that know you for a total of fifteen minutes. You have to define who you are for yourself, which (yes) takes a lot of practice, but I learned it over my four years in the Miss America Organization.
Would you ever compete in another pageant system?
I’m not sure. I was sad to compete for the last time in December; even going to local competitions, I've realized that I miss competing. However, I also know that I am content with how I left everything, and I am proud to have made it as far as I did. Top 7 in the country AND a preliminary win? I don’t know if I can do better than that.
I have so much love for the Miss America Organization, and I plan to be involved as a forever Miss Indiana after my year ends in June.
Would you recommend MAO?
YES. I think you guys could have guessed that I would say that.
What was the moment you realized “Wow, I’m at Miss America?”
I had so many of these. I will never forget standing on the Miss America stage for opening number rehearsal before the first preliminary night. We were facing upstage, all waiting for the music to start, and the back of the stage said “Miss America 2023” and it just hit me - and as the crybaby I am, I just started bawling. And then I pulled myself together to do the opening number and before anyone else saw me (hopefully lol).
That feeling of “wow, I made it” while also having the absolute best time of my life followed me throughout the whole week.