Monday - The Venetian

On the bus with Amber Bennett, Miss Arkansas.














Sharing a Romanic Gondola ride with Katie Millar, Miss Utah. . .

Sunday - Dreamgirls

The shorties in the group must stick together!

(Left to Right: WV, WY, ND, SC, VT, MI, NC, NM)


















Waiting for the show to begin . . .

(L to R: AZ, MI, ID, NM)

Saturday - Fashion Show Mall

In our dressing rooms before heading off to the Fashion Show Mall . . .


(Left to Right: MI, MS, AR, CO)

Our First Day of rehersals . . .

Thank you to Cathy Veri of Rhinestone Studio who designed and made our fantastic zip-ups! The back is personalized with our state titles. They are a huge hit Cathy!

www.rhinestonestudio.com

(Left to Right: NH, MA, MI, MD, PA, OR, MN)

Miss America Week Cont.

January 22, 2007 - 2007 Miss America Pageant!

Okay, it's still very much surreal but I am finally starting to feel like I am at Miss America. Our productions and walks are coming together, the camera's are always on (and so must we), and the set is beautiful! It is going to be such an incredible show and I feel so lucky to be a part of this year's production. Without giving too much away, the show will have much more of a viewer geared theme and those at home will feel like we are right there in your living rooms. And those of you coming out for the show - we'll practically be in your laps! I can't wait to get out on the stage!

Yesterday after rehearsals we had some extra time to ourselves before our next event - which was a wonderful luxury that will not last much longer! So when it was time to depart for our next event, we were all relaxed and refreshed. We loaded on the the bus and arrived at the IMAX theater in the Palms Hotel to enjoy a private screening of the new Dreamgirls film - and I must say it is just as good the second time around! I felt a special connection to the story as much of it takes place in Motown :) As we exited the theater, CMT cameras were right around the corner to catch our reactions and reviews!

This morning Tiffany (Miss West Virgina) and I started with our new favorite part of the day - a bagel with cream cheese, a Large Cafe Americano and a USA Today - then headed for our dressing rooms! Rehearsals flew by and Jennifer Berry joined us for awhile as we posed for some individual press photos. Since we are genius contestants and are just flying through all that we have to learn for production we were released early yet again today! Rather than relaxing the whole time, Tiffany and I decided to take a stroll through the Dessert Passage Mall. We ordered room service for dinner and took our time preparing for tonight's appearance . . . Gondola rides at the Venetian Hotel & Casino!

Tonight was amazing. When we pulled up to the Venetian and exited our buses, we stepped onto a Red Carpet complete with cameras, screaming fans and trumpets! The Miss America people really know how to make an entrance! From the breathtaking hotel, the singing Gondoliers, the decadent desserts and the never ending camera flashes . . . we all left feeling like stars. Even Robin Leach from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous joined us! (You know you've made it when . . . :)

Time for my beauty rest now . . . bona sera!

Live from Las Vegas . . .

January 20, 2007 - The 2007 Miss America Pageant

Hello Michigan!

Well Day 2 is now complete here on the strip and let me tell you we are all having a ball!

I was one of the first contestants to arrive yesterday morning. All of my luggage and competition wardrobe made it as well (whew!). I had all afternoon to meet my hostess, Shirley (who is fantastic), check into the hotel, unpack, and try on competition wardrobe for the MAO staff.

Our first official event of the week was a red carpet arrival ceremony in the newly renovated lobby of Planet Hollywood! Each of us were introduced and presented a rose from the mayor of Las Vegas and we posed for the endless flashes from the paparazzi! At the conclusion of the ceremony, the top 7 finalists for the prestigious Quality of Life Award was announced. . . and I was one of them!!! As you know, my work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and America's Stars is very close to my heart so it was such an honor to be recognized. What a way to start the week! Next Saturday morning we will have a separate interview and the runners up and winner will be announced at a press conference later that day.

Afterwards, we were able to change into some comfortable clothes for dinner, an orientation and a special surprise . . . a preview of the Becoming Miss America: Pageant School special that we filmed in September. The show will air Friday night on CMT and you won't want to miss it!

Today after our rehearsals, we got all glammed up and headed to the Fashion Show Mall. I think this appearance takes the award for "best entrance" . . . we appeared in a glass box that rose out of the floor in the middle of the mall! When the box opened we were each introduced and had a chance to strut our stuff on a (seemingly) mile long runway before hundreds of onlookers! Next the crowds converged on us and we signed autographs until we ran out!

Then it was back to the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood for dinner and a private reception where we met some of the hotel's guests, signed more autographs and posed for photos. I was surprised to meet so many people from Michigan - two guys from Muskegon, one from Ann Arbor and one from Birmingham were headed into the second round in a blackjack tournament. Here's hoping that Lady Luck will shine on all of us Michiganders here in Las Vegas!

I think that the one thing I am most grateful for is that all of us contestants are already so close. This Miss America class made history in September when we all met in Los Angles to attend pageant school. In addition to that, I've been able to get to know some of the other contestants in Orlando for Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant and just last month for the Rocky Balboa Premiere! I can't imagine showing up here for competition not knowing the other ladies, let alone not having so many close friends. We are all so relaxed, having fun catching up and truly relying on each other as we share this incredible experience.

It's almost as if this is just another weekend appearance with the girls. It still hasn't sunk in that this is competition, THE competition and that in 8 days one of us will be Miss America! When we walk through the Casino in our crowns and everyone turns, when we walk by the stage as it's the set is being built, when we were fitted for our competition wardrobe - I have to remind myself that this is Miss America! After so many years of dedication, hard work and perseverance it's almost incomprehensible that it all comes down to this week. So I don't think about it. The way I see it, all the work is done, we are ready and we are prepared - all that's left to do now is have fun, take it all in and enjoy!

I can't wait for all of you - my family and friends - to arrive and experience this with me!

Love to you all!
-Angela