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