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