Tag: miss america

Conversation With…Miss Connecticut

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Miss Connecticut Bridget Oei (from this reporter’s home state) sat with New England Pageant News and spoke about the experience of being on the Miss America stage, as well as what she sees as her role as part of Miss America 2.0.

Are you excited for tonight’s talent prelim?
I can’t wait to do my talent on stage. A) It’s on the Miss America Stage, and B) It’s my talent, but also half of my culture, so I can’t wait to show America what Irish Dancing is all about. I re-edited the music to be a little more full and powerful for Boardwalk Hall. I had my competitive Irish Dance teacher, Dr. Colleen Griffith, choreograph it, so it is new, improved and very exciting.

What’s been the best part of being in Atlantic City?
Definitely meeting the other contestants. Never again will I meet so many girls from across the country…with the same goal, the same dream and the same motivation. It’s really a surreal moment.

How did your interview with the judges go?
Wonderful. The judges really wanted to know who I was, where I came from. I got to talk about my talent and my plan as Miss America. I really got to communicate my goals, and just who I am, which is a very excellent feeling when you don’t know these judges, but they are deciding your future.

What’s it like being on that famous stage?
There’s something so natural about it. You get very giddy. You’re either dancing or bopping to the music. It’s very exciting. That stage has a powerful magic to it. Whether it’s the old stage with the runway, or the new one, it’s just magical. I had the time of my life [last night in prelims] and if I was over-exuberant, I did not care. I just enjoyed it.

What is Miss America 2.0 all about and is that you?
They want someone who is charismatic, energetic and exciting, and can inspire and move the nation to get excited about the new, female future that we’re heading toward. How you translate that on stage is just being as bright and as completely yourself as possible. That’s what I really felt I got the chance to do when I walked on stage in evening gown last night, and that’s what I’m here to do.

Whether you become Miss America or not, how will this experience affect you?
There truly is no way to be disappointed with this experience. Meeting 50 other contestants, working with a world-renowned production crew, and the Miss America program in general, you gain pain perspective. You grow your understanding of the world around you. It’s very exciting to be a part of that. I’ll come home with a better understanding and appreciation of how the world works.

Are the changes in the Miss America program affecting you?
It can be stressful, sure. We all love the program so much, so we’re concerned for its future, but you just have to step back and say, “I am part of its future, so what can I do?”
Sometimes you have to forget about everything else that’s going on, and remind yourself that you have a job to do, and there’s no one else who is going to dictate how I do it.

What do you want to say to Connecticut?
Thank you for believing in me, and for giving me the opportunity to represent you. I truly believe I am a small part of a huge village. Whether I come back to CT or continue on as Miss America, I want to continue to make my state proud, by sending the message that I came with my goal to transmit, and that I’ll keep that message consistent. I was the same woman who I was before I competed for Miss Connecticut, when I became Miss Connecticut, and if I win Miss America, I will stay so true to myself.

Conversation With…Miss District of Columbia

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I know, I know, she’s not from New England, but all are welcome here. The lovely Miss District of Columbia, Allison Kathleen Farris, sat down with New England Pageant News, to talk about her time at Miss America.

What has your experience been like so far?
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There’s nothing like it. Just getting to know everyone and getting to experience Miss America as a group, is a great experience.

How’d interview go?
It went well. I feel like they were able to understand who I was, as a person, and what I bring to the table for the job of Miss America. They’re wanting someone who is very motivated and driven to really give back to their communities and serve. I’m a software developer and I promote women in technology. It wasn’t until I discovered using software that I realized I could turn my passion for music — growing up as a musician — into a career through technology.

Are you looking forward to the on-stage question?
I’m very excited. It’s an extension of our private interview, but we get to bring it out on-stage, in front of the audience, so they get to see who we are as a candidate a little bit more.

What about the changes going on in the organization?
We’re very flexible. We’ve always known that the job of Miss State, or wherever we represent, requires us to be flexible and adaptable. I think that’s a very useful skill in the workforce, and incredibly important to understand and know. We’re very excited. We’re eager to know how it’s going to come out on camera and for the audience to see it.

If, by some chance, you don’t win, what do you hope to get out of this experience?
There’s so much you gain. First of all, you know one person, at least, from every state, and it’s important to network.  It’s all about your network, especially in the professional world. But also, it’s about the skills that you have to learn to get to prepare for this moment, and to be at your best. It’s kind of like the Olympics, in that it’s something that you have for the rest of your life.

What do you want to say to the folks back in D.C.?
I’m full of gratitude and could not be here without their support. It’s incredibly humbling to be able to represent the District of Columbia, the nation’s capitol, and that is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Conversation With…Miss Vermont

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Miss Vermont Julia Crane spoke with New England Pageant News about her time in Atlantic City, friends she’s made and how well the organization has been taking care of the contestants.

How has your time in Atlantic City been so far?
It’s been really fun. It’s been everything I’ve ever hoped for. Participating in the arrival ceremony was really fun. That’s something I had always seen, and I got to sign the map. That was kind of a highlight.

How was the golf outing?
I had never golfed before, so that was a new experience. I was not good at it. Some girls had played golf before — they helped me, because they knew what they were doing. But, they had us sit with different families from the country club, and the family I sat with was amazing. They didn’t know anything about the Miss America program, but they were really supportive. We got to educate them, and they were really impressed with what we do.

What about these 50 other ladies?
Getting to know all the girls has been amazing, and I love every single one of them. Whoever wins Miss America 2019, the title and the job will be in good hands. Everyone could do a unique but amazing job at it. I know it’s going to be a challenging year, but I trust all of these girls with the job.

How were the judges in the interview room?
It’s really hard to know what they’re looking for every year, but this year especially. I walked away knowing that I was completely Julia, and  I got to say things I wanted to say, so I can’t be happier with it. I know they want someone who will be dedicated to the job and all of the challenges that come with it.

What do you hope to get out of this whole experience?
I was talking to Tiana V, Miss Wisconsin, and we were saying, “What a win-win!” You come in here and you get to represent your state, which you’ve wanted to do for so long, and then you get to know these 50 other amazing women.

How are the growing pains the pageant is going through affecting the contestants?
All of these things that have been going on within the organization, but outside of the competition –there’s all of this drama, and a lot of talk — it’s made us closer. With what we’ve been experiencing, the negative and the positive, we’ve had each other to lean on. Compared to other classes, I think it’s made us closer. We are a very tight class. So, if you don’t win, you still have 50 other sisters, and you can go back home and still represent your state. If you do win, you get to be the face of this class, which is so special. They have gone out of their way to make sure we are all so comfortable here.

Thoughts for everyone in the Green Mountain state?
I have been trying to represent my state with the most heart and pride that I can. I want to put Vermont on the map. We are the only state that has never had a woman place in the top fifteen. So, I am trying my hardest to make them realize how special Vermont is. Vermont has raised me to be confident in who I am.

Conversation With…..Miss Rhode Island

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New England Pageant News got a chance to chat with Miss Rhode Island Allie Coppa, as she was preparing for the first night of preliminaries. She said she is feeling rather surreal as she competes for the coveted title, and was surprised at how easy her interview with the judges seemed.

How has your stay in Atlantic City been so far?
Super exciting. It still doesn’t feel real to me. I had my interview yesterday, and I walked out saying, “Well, when’s my real interview?” I had so much fun and the judges were so amazing. I got to talk about my platform a lot. Interview’s one of my favorite parts.

Did you get any sense of what the judges were looking for?
I think they were looking a lot into who you are as a person. For Miss America 2.0, they are looking for the well-rounded girl. They’re looking for a scholar and a talented young woman.

Any thoughts on the sisterhood?
I love everyone. How am I going to be able to go back to Rhode Island and have a friend in every state across the country, and not be able to have a reunion every day? One of my new BFFs is New Mexico. I’ve met some of the girls from my side of the country, and we can stay in contact, but you want to have that connection with someone from the other side of the country. I’m so excited to be a part of this class.

What’s different about Miss America 2.0?
I think they want the same thing they have in the past, they’re just trying to make it more obvious. They’re making it more clear that Miss America has a voice, is a strong woman, is a scholar and is talented, and doesn’t need to wear a swimsuit in order to earn a scholarship. I don’t think that’s changed at all. I just think we’re trying to push that message more, so that more people are interested in being involved.

What is your message to all of your supporters in Rhode Island?
Thank you so much. I would never have been here without all of them. My mom and my dad, especially, have been so supportive throughout my life — through college, through the Outstanding Teen program, and now. I am just so grateful for the opportunity.

Conversation with…Miss New Hampshire

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New England Pageant News was able to sit down with Miss New Hampshire Marisa Moorhouse, on Sept. 5, after she had completed her interview with the judges and while she was preparing to take part in the on-stage interview in the preliminary competition.

What has been the highlight of your time in Atlantic City so far?
I’d been craving an adrenaline rush, because, as a pilot, I haven’t been able to fly for a while. I went on the SlingShot. I was upside down – crazy experience.

How is the sisterhood among the contestants?
Everyone is awesome. I’m the youngest candidate, so it’s great to have 50 role models. We have party bus lights on our Jitney, so we have a party every night. They’ve been playing music from the early 2000’s, and I was saying things like “I was 1 when this song came out, or I was -2 when this one came out.” They played a Britney Spears song, and I said “I don’t think I was a thought at this point. So, they taught me about the culture and what things were like [back then].

How did your interview with the judges go?
They were awesome. It was a conversation. It felt natural and relaxed…it was fun. It was a lot about the job of Miss America, and how she’s going to use the media with that title — effective communication. It was mostly about the job. I was asked, if I could do one event as Miss America, what event would I do. I chose the CMAs, so I could meet all of the cool country singers, and talk about my platform on the red carpet.

Are you excited for on-stage question?
I’m excited. It’s going to be unusual, because there’s a new format. It’s more of an extension of your interview, but I’m ready.

How are the changes in the MAO affecting the contestants?
None of us are focused on the changes. We’re focusing on the competition, on what’s happening at the moment, and getting to know each other. We’re not really worried about the changes — that’s internal — that’s happening on the board — we’re focusing on the external, the competition.

How do you hope this experience changes you?
Just getting to know everybody from the other states. I want to be able travel and see everyone else throughout the years that come. I’m excited to go to everyone’s wedding. We already decided that we’re wearing the black sashes at the weddings, and that the bride will wear the white sash. That’s what I’m most excited for — the friendships.

What is your message to the people of New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has never taken home the crown, so it would be really cool to do it this time.  I’m really excited to have all of their support. New Hampshire has had my back this entire journey. They’re my number one cheerleaders.