Pink gerber daisy's + cake + hot jams + Miss America memories + Besties = PARTY

I got to get my party pants on (okay let's be honest, party dress) and celebrate my Miss America experience with friends and family in North Platte!
I owe a big bear hug to Davanne Moul & Michele Volz for throwing the incredible bash at the Depot Resteraunt in North Platte! Thank you for making the party so special, next to my momma you two ladies are the "women" in my life!

It was an amazing evening to catch up and fill everyone in on the nitty gritty details of my Miss America experience. What we did, celebs I saw, questions from the interview, most nerve wracking moment, what Mario's dimples looked like in person...you get the picture!
All in all it was so much fun to have a laid back evening to celebrate a "Top 10" accomplishment with the people I love the most! Any occasion for a dress is a good occasion in my book!

Love,
Brittany

Miss Eastern Nebraska & Miss Great Plains

**CONGRATULATIONS LADIES**

Congratulations to the new Miss Eastern Nebraska & Miss Great Plains titleholders, Jenn Curtis and Ashley Douglas who will compete at Miss Nebraska this June! Job well done to all of the talented and intelligent young women who competed this weekend, you were all incredible!

True Life: I Hang Out with Princesses

"I'm quite certain if given a cape and the right Tiara..I could rule the world"

I know I say this about every appearance but seriously, for real, attending the "Princess For a Day" at the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island is ranked right at the top of my Miss Nebraska favorite days! 500 little princesses (yes you heard me right, 500) came to the Museum for a day of make believe and fun. It just so happens that the Museum looks like a castle inside and volunteers at the event set up 15 different stations that pertained to being a "princess." The little ladies got to decorate crowns, attend a tea, take dance lessons etc. Essentially this was like walking into a Disney movie! This coming from the 24 year who still likes the Disney store. Don't judge. It must be a girl thing but I never really outgrew being enamored with with the glamour surrounding princesses. Sparkles, wands, pixie dust, tiaras...what's not to love?! I was so excited to be included in the event and spent the afternoon taking pictures and talking with all of the young Nebraska royalty. The afternoon went by so quickly because Princess commentary is quite entertaining! Although Cinderella was by far the most popular costume, when I asked the lil' ladies who their favorite Disney Princess was, Belle dominated the poll. Belle was always my fav as well.
Sidenote: I had a major tantrum when I was 5 years old (weird) with my mother on Halloween over my Belle costume. It had snowed that year, my mom insisted I wear turtleneck to keep warm. Sassy little me thought it was ridiculous "Belle did NOT wear a turtleneck." insert tantrum here. I digress.
I was trying to pinpoint why this appearance was so memorable and the reason I came up with is this; moxy. The confident attitudes and enthusiasm that young girls exude is just incredible. It's the elementary school age when little girls are so comfortable and confident in their own skin. No question is too silly to ask, no outfit too obnoxious and they believe they really could be Cinderella if they wanted to. The point is, somewhere along the way a lot of young women lose that moxy and belief and comfort in themselves. . You don't have to be a princess, you don't even have to like princesses but its so important to hold on to that confidence in yourself and your ability and your dreams...whatever they may be. So cheers to all of the little ladies who believe in themselves!!!
Love,
Brittany

"They say if you dream a thing more than once, it's sure to come true."
- Briar Rose, Sleeping Beauty

"A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep."
-Cinderella

From One Nebraskan to Another

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader"

You can take the man out of Nebraska, but you can't take Nebraska out of the man. I could write a book about how incredible Dr. George Garlick is...he's a physicist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, leader and a fellow Nebraskan. I met Dr. Garlick at the "Evening of Dreams' Gala at Miss America, and we talked and talked about the Miss America Organization as well as my work with promoting my platform across the state. You can imagine my surprise when I returned to Nebraska from Las Vegas to find out my first booking would be with Dr. Garlick in his hometown of Curtis, Nebraska!
During my visit to Curtis, I got to meet with elementary and junior high students. Later I presented to Medicine Valley High School students before heading to take a tour of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture and explore the campus that Dr. Garlick had restored. A big thank you to Britney aka Thing One, for making the arrangements and taking Kathy and I on an adventure around campus! That evening, I joined Dr. Garlick at the NCTA Student Center. I got to speak about my experiences in the Miss America Organization as well as the importance of promoting self-esteem in young women. It was an honor to get to listen to Dr. Garlick discuss his experiences of growing up in Nebraska as well as talk about his new book "Journey to Truth." But the biggest surprise of the evening was the generous donation that Dr. Garlick provided to Miss Nebraska Scholarship Organization. Yes, once again I did jump around...I might have teared up too! The sponsorship will allow me to travel to rural communities to promote an anti-tobacco campaign to youth. This is such a precious gift because it will allow an important message to reach the youth of Nebraska that otherwise wouldn't have been possible!
I'm so incredibly thankful and excited to continue to represent the Miss Nebraska Organization across the state. THANK YOU DR. GARLICK!!
click here for more information

Children's Miracle Network

I had the pleasure of helping with the 96.9 kx "Cure Kids Cancer Radiothon" all proceeds benefit Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, our area's leading treatment center for children with cancer. 96.9 kx is the sister radio station to KLKNtv Channel 8 in Lincoln where I work as a reporter and so once again, it was awesome that my two worlds could collide and I could help with the radiothon before heading to the station to report. A big thank you to Hoss & Carol for having me as a guest and helping to raise funds for such an incredible organization.

96.9 kzkx radio personality Carol Turner and I

Hoss with one of the family's receiving care from Children's Hospital in Omaha

Happy Love Day

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

Wait, wait, wait! Before you gag, bare with me here....
First off; I must confess, I am totally the girl that the candy stores cater to when mooshy gooshy holidays like said "Valentines Day" roll around. I admit. I fall head over heels for the flowers, candy and other terms of endearments. Truth Defense.
However ladies, I'm totally behind the band wagon of "find the guy who treats you like his Valentine everyday" not just on the designated day of love in February. Check....but I still LOVE Valentines day.
On another note, get ready for lots and lots of updates! Ever since I got back from Miss America I have been on the ground running, driving, appearing, reporting, speaking, not sleeping. You get the idea.
XOXO



In case you were curious, this is my Valentine, Charlie. Boyfriend Jackpot

Miss America

The most important gift anyone can give a girl is a belief in her own power as an individual, the value of her dreams and respect her as a person with potential..

How do I even begin to debrief? I feel a novel coming on, get ready! After spending the most amazing 2 weeks of my life competing at Miss America I am completely and utterly happy and exhausted! The adrenaline of making Top 10 is gone and the deliriousness has moved in. Case in point; I've slept for 13 hours two days in a row now, and have a wicked sinus infection. Cute right? Also, after two weeks of being coiffed and primped I’m officially on beauty detox. Sitting in my sweats (they are still rhinestoned, lets be honest) and my ponytail, I am totally and completely in awe of what just happened. I. COMPETED. AT. MISS. AMERICA. Pinch me. I have a plethora of memories but the things that stick out the most about the experience are the MAO class of 2010. My dream. The people I love most.
Not to get cheesy and "world peace-y" on you but it was truly an honor and a gift to share the Miss America experience with 52 amazing young women. Seriously, I know I will never again come in contact with the caliber of intelect, talent and drive in a group of individuals. It was an incredibly feeling to also be surrounded by women who understand what you are doing and going through. As a miss state we all share the same desires, maintain the same crazy schedules and juggle various duties required of us. They get it, I miss them and we are already planning our reunion! Cue Girls On the Dance Floor.

On a reflective note, how many people actually GET to see their dreams played out? I did. No, I didn’t walk away with the job, but I got to experience a moment in time on the stage that I had played and re-played in my head since I was a little girl. Something I firmly believe was reaffirmed on the stage that night. There is a bigger plan. If I had given in to all of the people who thought I was silly to keep competing or didn’t have my priorities in a line I might never have got to feel the adrenaline rush of hearing my name called on national tv. If I hadn’t competed five years, and had I won Miss NE at 20 I might not have got to perform on that stage. Had I not had the awesome opportunity to work as a reporter I wouldn’t have been nearly as ready to talk politics with Rush Limbaugh in the interview. Every choice, every encounter led me to this. There are many great moments in life, this isn’t the end all be all but it was certainly awesome to hear my name announced!
Of course I had to be the last name called into the top 14, (giving all of the NE contingent a coronary, poor Charlie is scarred for life) but when they say your name…wow. I know I danced and fist pumped, the same way I did when I won Miss Nebraska. I get excited! The best part was knowing and feeling the support from all of my friends and family. You are only as good as the people that surround you, and I felt “held” that evening in love and belief. From friends and family who made the trek to see me, those who sent me good luck cards and Facebook notes, KLKN tv for following my journey and those who left messages of encouragement, I felt all of your prayers.
I just hope you can comprehend how much it meant to me. Know it. This is me hugging you through the screen. In every phase of competition I felt so happy, so alive and so thankful. Everyone deserves that moment, and its something that I will have forever. You bet I’ll be the goofy granny who tells the story of “that time at Miss America I got to rock it in a swimsuit” and come on, we made history ☺ I’ll take it.




At 24 years old I’m still as in love and in awe of the Miss America program and what it represents. Thank you to Sam Haskell and Art McMaster and all of the rest of the Miss America board for providing such an incredible experience. I will forever be apart of this organization…as a director, hostess, travel companion, whatever. Sign me up.
While I know I could have done the job of Miss America, I’m not upset the path was not planned for me. Caressa is an incredible young woman and will no doubt be an outstanding Miss America, I’m honored to have shared the stage with her and can’t wait to watch her year unfold! There are other things in store for me. I still get to represent my fabulous state, and I get to experience all of the adventures with the people I love the most. I can’t wait to see what is next!

All in all it was a fabulous week. My 24th birthday, Top 10, my best friend got engaged (congrats Amy & Kyle) and many new opportunities on the horizon!
Heres to a fabulous rest of the year!
Proudly Miss Nebraska
Brittany