Since arriving in Vegas a week ago, Hilary and the other 51 contestants have been in rehearsals, panel interviews, and activities. It sounds like an exhausting schedule. Last night was the first night of preliminary competition for the public. The ladies are split into 3 groups, and over the next several nights each group will go through all 4 phases of competition (Evening gown, On Stage Question, Talent, and Swimsuit). Hilary modeled her evening gown and swimsuit last night and she "owned the stage". We met with her at a reception late last night and she was feeling confident (and drained). This morning she had rehearsal for her talent (vocal) and she is doing a great job of keeping her cold at bay. Tonight she will sing on stage!

Tomorrow night, she will conclude prelims with her On Stage Question - and we know she will "rock". Sunday is an off day, then it's the National Show Monday night - which mostly focuses on top 10. We just know she'll be in that group (and we're not even biased)!

Behind the scenes she is rooming with Miss New Hampshire and has loved getting to know her. Hilary has also just been named to be a top 7 finalist for the Quality of Life Award - a separate award judged solely on her platform activities and community service.

So far, one of the neatest experiences was so see the families of all the other contestants in the auditorium cheering and supporting not only their own contestants, but the talents and gifts of the other amazing young ladies in this competition. It's a great chance to be reminded that even at a high-profile, national competition, you can still focus on what we all have in common - and that's the power of relationships.

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tonight is the start of the preliminary competitions of the pageant. I’ll be competing in swimsuit and evening gown, and I’m so excited the pageant is finally here! I guess the competition actually began yesterday for me… I had my 12-minute interview with the judges yesterday afternoon. It went well, and I can’t believe it’s over already. All the hours of practicing have come to an end, and now I just have to do my best on stage!

I haven’t written in a few days because we’ve been so busy, so let me catch you all up on what we’ve been doing. On Sunday, the contestants all got to go to a special private screening of “Dreamgirls.” It was SO good… it made me want to put on a sequined dress and belt out a song! On Monday, we had a bunch of rehearsals, and then we went on a gondola ride at the Venetian hotel. That was amazing, and we got serenaded in Italian on our gondolas.  Tuesday was filled with—you guessed it—rehearsals, and then we went to dinner at the Planet Hollywood. That was great… after dinner they cleared out the tables and turned on music so we could get our groove on!

I’m having the time of my life in Vegas. The only bummer is that I did come down with a cold, and I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I’m just trying to rest up and get better so I can perform my talent (I’m a vocalist) on Friday. But I’m thinking positive… I WILL get better!

Talk to you soon!

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Hello from Vegas! I made it safe and sound, and I’m having a ball already. On Friday, we had an arrival ceremony at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood where we got to feel like superstars as our names were announced one by one. The coolest thing was that I am one of seven finalists for the Quality of Life Award! The QOL Award is a scholarship that goes to girls who do a lot of work on their personal platforms (as you know, mine is Strength Over Silence: Rape Awareness and Recovery), so I’m honored to be a finalist. I have an additional interview on Saturday the 27th, and then the winner and two runners-up will be announced later that day. Wish me luck!

Today, we had a full day of rehearsals, and then we took part in a fashion show at a mall in Vegas. We got to walk the runway after coming up out of the floor in a giant glass box (I know it’s hard to picture…work with me here!) and then we signed autographs for about a billion people. It was so fun to meet some of the Las Vegas locals as well as tourists. After the fashion show, we had a VIP reception at the Aladdin, and now I’m back in my room blogging away.

Tomorrow should be fun… some more rehearsals, and then we get to go to a special screening of the new movie “Dreamgirls.” I’m so excited because I really wanted to see that movie, and I heard it’s great.

So I’m having a wonderful time, and I can’t wait to see what else Miss America has in store for me. I’ll definitely keep you posted!

Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

In about 45 minutes, I’m heading off to Las Vegas! And it will probably take us all 45 minutes to figure out how we’re going to get all my stuff into the car. Let me tell you, just being done with the packing is a huge relief. Now all I have to worry about is winning Miss America!

I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. But I’m also VERY glad we’re driving… I’m getting up there a day early, so I can have one more night of “chill time.” The other girls will arrive tomorrow, and then the exciting week begins!

I’ll keep everyone updated on what my schedule is looking like once I get there. So far, I know we have a gondola ride through the Venetian, a dinner at the Hard Rock Café, a fashion show, a charity dinner and A LOT of rehearsals! I’m sure there will be more things that I don’t know about yet… but that’s all part of the fun!

Talk to you from Vegas!

Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

I’m getting closer! I now have 4 suitcases and a clothing rack full of dresses…and I’m not done yet. Who would have thought you could fill an entire suitcase full of shoes?

This week is full of last-minute appointments. Today was my last upper-body workout with my trainer (yay!) and a session of eyebrow threading. Fun stuff, huh? I do have to give a big thank you to my trainer, Joe Steel…he is amazing! I have never had muscles before, and even though they hurt, at least they’re there!

It’s amazing how your brain can work on so many different tasks at the same time. While I’m writing this blog, I’m eating dinner, doing laundry, packing, doing homework for my ASU online class, and watching TV. Granted, all those things might not be done to the best of my ability, but it’s all good!

I can’t believe I only have one more full day here! Tomorrow is PACKED with appointments, but they’re all fun beauty-type appointments, so I’m looking forward to it!

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

I never knew I could fill up so many suitcases. I swear, I don’t know how I’m going to fit all of my Miss America luggage into one car to get up to Las Vegas. All I can say is: I’m glad I’m not flying… I would NEVER make the limit of two checked bags per person!

I’m about two days out from when I leave, and things are crazy! I had my trunk show on Saturday night, and it was so much fun! I modeled my wardrobe for Miss America… everything from the interview suit to the swimsuit to the evening gown. My dad and my uncle hosted the event, so it was an evening full of embarrassing stories about my childhood. Hopefully everyone was at least somewhat entertained… or they faked it really well.

I’m starting to get the little butterflies of excitement in my stomach… I can’t believe it’s so close! Some people have asked how to get tickets to the pageant, so I’m going to give all the info:

What: Miss America 2007
Where: The Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Casino, Las Vegas
When: January 25-29, 2007
How to get Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com

If you want to watch the pageant on TV, the final night will air on January 29, 2007, on Country Music Television (CMT). Hopefully I’ll make the top 10 so you can see me compete!

I’m going to try to do more frequent blogs while I’m gone on my trip. I’m not sure how much time I have or if I’ll have Internet access, but hopefully I can keep everyone informed on what’s going on in Vegas!

-- Hilary

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Okay, I’m officially nearing the one-week mark until I leave for Miss America. Exactly two weeks from today I will be in my interview with six celebrity judges who will determine who will become Miss America 2007. No pressure!

I’m doing everything I possibly can to prepare. I get one shot at Miss America, so I want to make sure I do everything to the best of my ability. So I’m working out with my trainer, Joe Steel, four to five times a week. (By the way, how cool is it that my trainer’s last name is Steel… could you ask for a more “personal trainer-ish” name? Hehe!) And then I’m working on interview, talent, etc. and trying to get my wardrobe in order. We had a slight wardrobe malfunction with one of my dresses, but my mom is amazing and managed to fix it! Thanks, mom!

This Saturday is my Trunk Show, which is basically a sneak preview of my wardrobe for Miss America. I’ll be modeling everything I’m wearing in the pageant, and I’ll perform my talent. It should be a really fun event, and Channel 3 will be out there with me! I can’t wait!

Next week, my appointments go into overdrive. I have a hair appointment, a nail appointment, a facial, an eyebrow appointment, and a body wrap. How insane is that? I’ll try not to get too nervous that I can’t enjoy the pampering!

But don’t worry; I’m still doing appearances as Miss Arizona in the midst of all the crazy preparations. Last Thursday, I spoke at the Eyman Prison Complex in Florence. Tomorrow, I’m filming a video that will be used at a youth conference while I’m at Miss America. I’m trying to keep up with my job even though I’m running around like crazy!

Well, I’ll have one more blog entry before I go, so I’ll talk to you next week!

-- Hilary

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)