This was our third time going to the Miss America pageant. It's definately a fun event - lots of short dresses, crazy people and 'old and young' cleve! I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to watch the pageant live just as I dreamed when I was a little girl!
Me, Ashley, Jill, Nicole, Mom and Wendy
Our fun-filled trip! We got to Vegas on Monday. The first preliminary night was Tuesday. My mom (as many of you know) is the Executive Director of Miss Utah so she was in meetings a lot of the time. The Miss America board was offering seats on the risers on the stage. My mom requested 4 seats so each preliminary night me, Wendy, Ashley and Nicole got to sit up on stage (my mom had pretty good seats and wanted to sit in the audience.) It was so cool!!!! We also went to the trade show and to a Miss America breakfast where we could meet the former Miss Americas and Lauren Nelson. They are all so gracious and nice. Lauren is very sweet. We had backstage visitors passes and we got to go back and meet all of the contestants and talk with Jill. She is so awesome - so real, so normal. On Tuesday she was very upset with herself because she stumbled a little on her on-stage question but after many people (not from Utah) came to tell her that she was their favorite, she felt better. On Wednesday she was a whole new person. She stumbled in her swimwear too but looked amazing. She also did everning gown that night and probably won it.
On Thursday she did her talent. It didn't go as well as hoped but she did great. On Thursday night after the pageant, when we were waiting for valet I saw Clinton Kelly from "What Not To Wear." Can you believe it? It was so awesome! He was way nice. On Saturday night, we arrived a little late to the pageant. It was like cattle trying to get into the auditorium. We finally got in just in time to hear the girls announcing themselves. We were bummed when she didn't make top 15 but we knew she was the 16th contestant. I just loved her reaction! How great were her push-ups too???? I just love her. Of course we were sad to see her eliminated but what a way to go. After the pageant, we went backstage and we had a build a bear for her with army fatigues, a crown, and a blonde wig. She also had a dogtag on with "team GI Jill" on it. She loved it.
Here's Jill and her GI Jill bear with my sister, Ashley
