Add to the resume: Master of Ceremonies

So, last weekend, I had the absolute pleasure of being the MC/hostess at the Sweetheart/Little/Junior/Teen Miss Finger Lakes pageant. I thought I would be waltzing in there to a script and a microphone... but of course, it would not be so easy. I also learned that I am not so great at improvising entertainment on the spot!! It was so much fun though, and the little girls were all gorgeous and perfectly behaved angels.

My primary duty was to conduct the on-stage interviews. Because our teen pageant is held at the same time as the little girls' pageants, there was no talent or private interview; for each age division, it was simply evening gown and one or two on-stage questions, and then during the year leading up to the state pageant, the organization is going to work with our new teen to get her ready. There were no questions written for me to choose from, so I had to come up with some right on the spot. For the little girls, I kept it simple: what do you want to be when you grow up, what's your favorite color/tv show/food, etc. One of the little girls, Kanzas, scolded me because I forgot to ask her what she was going to be when she grows up! She wants to be a doctor and a hair dresser :)

When it came time for the teen division, I was very excited. Katrina, Miss Finger Lakes OT 2009, gave a beautiful farewell speech that made me almost cry (!!) and performed her HILARIOUS monologue for everyone. When I was interviewing the girls, I tried to remember that I was once in their position, so I wanted to keep the questions "answerable", which is now a word, but also deep enough so that the judges would be able to really determine in a short amount of time which contestant would make the best Miss Finger Lakes OT 2010. While the votes were being tallied, Katrina and I chatted on-stage to give the audience and the contestants an idea of what it is like to be Miss Finger Lakes OT. We talked about her year, the state pageant, and the expectations that we all have of her successor: good grades, dedication to community service and a healthy lifestyle! When all was said and done, I think they made a GREAT choice. Desiree Miller is our new Miss Finger Lakes OT, and she is one of most eloquent, well-mannered and sweet girls I have ever met. To top it off, her platform is focused on rape, which of course I approve of 100%. She is going to represent us beautifully, and I am going to do all that I can to ensure that she is totally prepared by next June!

So far, I have competed in a pageant, judged a pageant, and hosted a pageant. I'm not sure how much further my pageant repertoire can expand, but I'm certainly up for suggestions :)! It gives you a whole new perspective on the entire process each time you're involved in a new way, and my respect for those in pageant world just increases every time, and I know that Desiree's induction to the MAO family will provide for her similar experiences to grow as an individual and as a young woman.

Well, that's about it for now. Classes start in two weeks and I am INCREDIBLY excited.... I have a lot of plans for my crown and my banner this semester, and I am seriously itching to get going! TTFN, ta-ta for now!