I think reflection is so important.  You can't truly appreciate where you are if you don't spend time thinking about how you got there.  I'm currently drowning in sparkles trying to pack for Miss America and I can't help but laugh when I think about my life three years ago.  If you had asked me to pick a contest I would eventually be in between Miss America and American Idol, I would have picked American Idol...and I can't sing for beans.  The twists and turns a life can take are truly astounding.  

I remember watching Miss America for the first time in 2010.  I was vacationing in Canada with my family and we all gathered around to see who would win.  This was the first time any of us had ever really watched it and I was completely in awe of the young women competing for the coveted title.  At that point I was still trying to win my first local title in Florida.  We all agreed that I would never make it to Miss America but we were truly impressed by the caliber of the women in the pageant.  

Fast forward to July of 2010 and my first time at Miss Florida.  I had absolutely no idea what to expect and I was entirely overwhelmed by almost everything that happened there.  Still, I loved every second of it.  I was disappointed when I didn't get called for the top ten but I knew I would have another chance to make the cut and I tried to soak up the whole experience like a very absorbent sponge.  I will never forget my interview that year.  Mignon Merchant Ball (a former Miss Oklahoma) was one of the judges and she challenged me in the interview asking if I really felt anyone in the sports journalism world would take me seriously if I were to win Miss Florida.  It made me think and it gave me a fiery passion to prove to the world why the Miss America Organization is relevant in every aspect of society.  I never thought I would actually win Miss Florida, however.  My goal was to talk to anyone and everyone I encountered in my sports TV and media life about Miss America.  I was determined to dispel the stereotypes I knew existed in their minds.

In January 2011, I found out FOX Sports was hiring me to do the Tampa Bay Rays baseball broadcast as a reporter for the RaysLive Pre and Post game shows.  It was a dream come true, especially since I was in my final semester at UF at the time and wanting to solidify a job when I left Gainesville in May.  I found an apartment to move to in St. Petersburg and I began to study anything and everything I could find about American League baseball.  I won Miss St. Petersburg 2011 and went to meet with the Executive Producer of FOX Sports Florida shortly after.  He told me they had taken a big chance hiring me because I was only 22 and he said he hoped I would rise to the occasion and make him proud.  He finished the meeting by telling me FOX was in full support of me competing in Miss Florida that summer and he understood that I would have to immediately quit my job if I won.  He said he noticed a different poise about women who compete in the Miss America system.  To this day, I credit MAO as the main reason why I got a job with a national network at such a young age and for this reason, I will forever give back to the organization.

Miss Florida 2011 was so much fun.  I wore my mom's favorite color pink in evening gown, I danced to my favorite ballet variation the Dying Swan and I got to spend a week with my best friend Olivia.  During the questions for the top five, I was asked how I felt and I said something along the lines of "flabbergasted."  That was the best word to describe my complete surprise at being in the top five and after placing as 2nd-runner-up I figured my pageant days were done.  I was positive I couldn't place any higher than that and I went back to the baseball field and my career 3 days later.

Fast forward to February 2012 (I promise I have a point here) and I was ready to give up my title as Miss St. Petersburg.  I considered competing for a local title again briefly but everyone discouraged me saying, "why would you want to do that when you already have a great career that's taking off?"  I figured they were right and I told myself to give up the dream of Miss Florida and move on. But, I still had one more year to compete.  I knew I only had one more chance to be Miss Florida and I thought why not just try again?  I promised myself I would only compete in one local pageant and if I didn't win a title there, I wasn't meant to go to Miss Florida again.  I threw together a crazy lyrical dance (I hadn't put on my ballet shoes since the previous summer), dreaded putting on a swimsuit (I had eaten my fair share of hamburgers and cookies) and tried to do my best (whatever that was).  I won Miss Pinellas County 2012 much to my surprise and realized that I actually had one more chance to win Miss Florida if it was meant to be.

Shortly after winning Miss Pinellas County, I was hired to be FOX Sports' first ever social media reporter and I worked in Los Angeles for a couple of weeks doing the Pac 12 basketball tournament.  FOX told me they had big plans for my future with them and let me know that baseball, basketball, football and really anything else would be possible for me very soon.  Still, something didn't feel right.  I felt like I wasn't doing anything to make the kind of difference I wanted to make.  How was I helping anyone by just talking about sports on TV all the time?  Yes, I loved what I did but I felt I needed to do something more, something different.  I knew my chances of winning Miss Florida would be slim but I was certain I wanted to find a way to make community service and service to my state paramount in my life.  

I'm not real big on watching my Miss Florida crowning moment because I look pretty ridiculous but I will say this: anytime I see any footage from Miss Florida 2012, I can tell I'm truly happy and I'm having so much fun.  I couldn't even comprehend that I would have the chance to help the people I wanted to help and travel the state spreading the word about what our organization is.  It still boggles my mind that 'little ole me' was given that honor.  I haven't taken a single day for granted.  Miss Florida will always be my favorite job. 

The day after I won Miss Florida, I met with the Miss Florida board and my parents.  I signed that I was contract-free and I was ready to put my career on hold.  I knew it would be tough financially but I felt something would work out so I could get the necessary sponsorships to pay for my apartment and other expenses.  I asked the Miss Florida board if there was any way to keep a part time role with FOX just to alleviate some of the living expenses and they said they didn't think it was possible but they would ask about it.  The next day (Monday), I spoke with FOX Sports and told them I would not be able to continue working there because of my Miss Florida duties.  They wished me the best of luck and I started unpacking my suitcases from Miss FL week.  I was excited to start planning my appearances and hit the road as soon as possible to execute my plan in Florida.

It wasn't long before Mary Sullivan called me and simply asked if I had already quit my job.  I said yes and asked her why and she responded with a little chuckle, "can you get it back?"

As it turned out, The Miss America Organization and the Miss Florida board agreed that I could continue to work as a broadcaster in a part-time, freelance capacity without a contract and under an agreement that would allow me to walk away at any time.  FOX was fully on board with promoting what we do.  I was relieved I would be able to pay for my apartment but I knew I would have a little bit of a juggling act to deal with.  Miss Florida was and is my priority but I still had to be knowledgable and informed on national television.  Sleep took a backseat and I got to work.  Many times during the fall, I would do appearances in the morning, workout or rehearse my talent in the middle of the day, do a baseball broadcast at night and then research for football after that while planning appearances and wardrobe for the coming days.  I loved every minute of the craziness, however and I feel so blessed to have these rewarding experiences.  When football season started, I did appearances and Miss America prep during the week and then flew to my football game on the weekend.  There were some hilarious moments where I would be doing a football coaches conference call while shoe shopping in NYC and trying to pay attention.  I think Mary Sullivan probably learned more about football than she ever wanted to know but she stuck by my side through it all and has been an incredible source of encouragement, strength and humor.  

I finished my last weekend of games on FOX with three back to back in three different states right after Thanksgiving.  I flew to Colorado on Thanksgiving day for Colorado vs Utah on FX.  The next night I flew to El Paso, TX for UTEP vs Rice and then the next day I headed to Los Angeles for USC vs San Diego State basketball.  The entire month of December has been solely devoted to Miss America prep and I have had such a wonderful time getting ready with the Miss Florida board.  

I am determined to breathe in every last detail of the Miss America experience and embrace it as a definite highlight early in my life.  It is an experience I never thought I'd have and I want to enjoy every part of it.  I can't wait to tell my children and my grandchildren about it.  I can't wait to laugh and cry when I reflect on it...and boy will I reflect on it.  Thanks to the incredible support I have in Florida, I feel fully prepared to be Miss America.  Who knows if that's in the cards for me but if it is, I am ready.  I could not have been ready, however, if it weren't for all the amazing people who have given their time and their resources.  I am thankful for this opportunity but even more thankful for the relationships I will treasure forever.