Miss America 2011

Hello Everyone!

So much time has flown by, and I promise to update my blog with my events and appearances from December. However, I first want to express my gratitude and share with you what an unbelievable experience Miss America 2011 was for me.

I have always dreamed of being Miss Florida and one day competing on the Miss America stage.

Well, although I did not bring home the title of Miss America, I gained so much more than I could have ever imagined. I have achieved a vision that I, at times, never thought would become a reality.

Thank you to David Lang and Carry O'Neal of Regalia, Ann Marie Griffin, Don Baker, Bill Wolfe, Ron Jackson, Michael Nutter, Allison Krieger, Jennifer McKenna, Lisa McGrath- Gala Salon and Spa, Courtney and Debbie Clark, The Madonia's, Sandee Sytsma and my send-off committee, Planet Beach, Mandalay Mist, Chris Martin at Copperhead Salon, Remedi Spa, Robert Danielson, Lynn Clark and the Miss Largo Board, My little sister queen MaryKatherine, Elizabeth and Dixie Fechtel, my fabulous parade escort, David Gilbert, Dana Judge, Rob Loy, Richard Walker, Keith Williams, my wonderful E.D. , Mary Sullivan and the rest of the fabulous board of the Miss Florida Organization. I will continue to update this list as I find myself recalling others as well! There are so many wonderful individuals that I would not have otherwise been able to perform to the best of my ability at Miss America. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

To the Miss America Organization. You have changed my life. I have grown into the kind of young woman, that I always, as a young girl, hoped to become. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to showcase my platform, "Stop Bullying Now!" as a 2011 Quality of Life Finalist. I intended my year as Miss Florida to not be about myself, but about spreading my anti-bullying message to our youth and the rest of the nation. Thank you for the recognition and giving me the opportunity to share my story. To Art McMaster and Sam Haskell, you are two of the most sincere and giving individuals that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. You continue to assist young women achieve their dreams, as you have mine. Thank you for all that you put into the Miss America Organization to ensure that it continues to thrive. To the volunteers, staff, security and production crew, all of you made the "behind the scenes" experience such a joy and made sure that we were always taken care of at all times. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciated every bit of concern that you showed for us as contestants. I felt a very special bond with each of you throughout the week and I now see why we are all considered the "Miss America Family".

Walking into the arrival ceremony on Thursday afternoon, was like being lifted onto a cloud and remaining there the entire week. From the DSW commercial shoots, Planet Hollywood commercial shoots, to the Joseph Ribkoff Fashion Show, the Barry Manillow Concert (which I was unable to stay the entire time for, due to being sick :(....), visiting the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel, and my ultimate favorite....the DSW "Show Us Your Shoes" Parade, we were living an absolute dream and I relished in every moment of it.

Only 3,200 women have had the opportunity to compete for Miss America, and I am proud and honored to say that I am one of them, having represented the greatest state in the nation....FLORIDA! I can honestly say, that I do not have one single regret about my Miss America preparation or performance. I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason and we all have a very specific path that we are meant to take in life. Although mine is not meant for me to be Miss America, I am going to cherish the last few months I have left of being Miss Florida, and like I promised in my on-stage question at Miss Florida this year..... make all of you proud!

To the Miss America Class of 2011- I...LOVE...YOU! Wow, I was floored at the amount of laughter, deep talks, strength and bonding that we all experienced together in Vegas. I can't even begin to describe to anyone who wasn't a contestant or hostess how well we got along and the amount of camaraderie there was between us. I am HONORED to say that I was a part of this particular class and you all truly made the experience for me. I know that we will remain in touch for the rest of our lives, you are my Miss America sisters :)

To my amazing roommate- Kacie West, Miss Montana. I could not have asked for a better roomie. From the moment we met, it was unreal how our personalities just "clicked". Thank you for being such an incredible support, rock and friend, and for sharing many laughs and memories with me. You are one in a million!!!!!

To the "Wolf Pack"- Melaina, Stephanie, Kelsi, Ashley and Brittany- The amount of inside jokes and laughs we shared in Vegas is unbelievable. Never did I think that I would laugh so hard at some of the most exhausting moments of the week. We certainly kept each other entertained! :)I am going to miss every second that I spent with all of you and I can't wait for our (first of many) reunions to come! "Roo-ha-ha".

To my PHENOMENAL family- Mom, Dad, Alek, Auntie Diania and Uncle Roy, Auntie Lorraine and Uncle Jeff, Merissa, My "little" Katie and Sandy, Sherrie Ngo and Lisa and David Galloway. Thank you for making the trip to Vegas to support me. It was such a great feeling to look out into the audience and to see all of your smiling faces. You are all such a blessing to me, and I would not be where I am at this moment, without all of you. I love you so very much.

To all of my supporters and friends- thank you for your encouraging text messages, Facebook messages and wall posts. I was unable to read most of them while I was in Vegas but it means the world to me that you sent them. Thank you for the kind words :)

I will be updating my Facebook with photos from my week at Miss America, and will showcase a few of them on here once I receive them.

Looking forward to a beautiful Floridian rest of the year! :)

Jaclyn