Hello, again!
Being that this is, in fact, fourpoints, I know you are all aware of the meaning behind our Miss America crown. However, I think sometimes in the midst of all the glitz and gowns, we all tend to forget what the Miss America Organization is all about. We are dedicated to education, scholarships, and service. My job is incredibly rewarding. So far as Miss America I have had unforgettable opportunities to promote STEM, be a leader in the fight against hunger in the United States, and even attend the second inauguration of our president, Barack Obama. The Miss America Organization strives every single day to make sure that my travels are community-driven and tied to empowerment. I would say this year’s track record so far is an A++!
This January, I was honored to begin my travels by attending the Women in STEM conference held in Washington, D.C., that kicked off the inauguration weekend. It was powerful to hear from so many influential people about the importance of mentorship in math- and science-related career fields. Being that I began my college career as a biomedical science major at Auburn University, I spoke on behalf of young women across our country who may have aspirations to achieve in a certain STEM field, but lack guidance. I wish someone had mentored me. And because of that, I hope to inspire others to engage with our nation’s youth. That same weekend, I was so excited to attend the National Day of Service started by our first family to honor the work and dedication of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To round it out, my tour manager, Karen, and I had two tickets to see the inauguration. I think we all know the burning question by now …
Beyonce was lip-synching.
It wasn’t long until I met Beyonce, though, thanks to my travels to New Orleans for The Taste of the NFL. Being a part of such a huge event to tackle hunger across the country was a truly overwhelming feeling. I was given a tour of the New Orleans food bank where thousands of hot meals are served daily, thanks to the work of organizations like “The Taste,” and I was humbled by how many millions of families go to bed not knowing where their next meal will come from. It was truly special to partner with people who are raising awareness in such a big way. Following my big NFL weekend in New Orleans, I got to focus on food again in a different setting … Pancakes!
My trip to Los Angeles consisted of National Pancake Day with IHOP and a trip to the LA Children’s Hospital for a Pancake Party. I got a little sidetracked when I met my friend Nicole. She is eleven, an aspiring actress, and ridiculously knowledgeable about the islands of Hawaii. We spent a bit of time singing songs from The Sound of Music. Again, I’d like to mention that my job rules.
As we all know, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the Miss America Organization have been partners for eight years now and have raised more than $13 million dollars for CMNH around the country. While I was in LA, I also had the great honor of hosting The Hub TV Network’s My Little Pony Princess Coronation Concert, where I had the ability to reiterate their storyline of hard work and dedication to all of the My Little Pony fans in attendance. Meeting all of the princes and princesses in the audience served as a reminder of just how powerful the Miss America crown can be. I was a “princess” for a day and, I’ll have to admit, I quite liked it.
From princesses to partnerships, a few of my weeks have been spent with Miss America sponsors Amway, and Joseph Ribkoff. I had the opportunity to spend a bit of time with both companies, promote the Miss America Organization, and meet many of the people who make both companies so great! I was definitely sad to leave my time with them in Hawaii and Montreal, but excited to begin the journey of promoting my platform.
The conversation around child sexual abuse was completely transformed for me after my trip to the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria, Virginia. I learned about some of the most haunting things that are happening around the world and here in the United States, but I also learned about some of the powerful laws and initiatives that the Centre is putting into action, country by country. Following that meeting I headed straight to Brooklyn, where I met District Attorney Charles Hynes and recorded a PSA to be aired around the New York City area. In addition, we held a press conference surrounding the topic of child sexual abuse, where I was able to discuss the importance of opening up this conversation in schools, communities, and in homes. Mr. Hynes was amazed by the intensity of platform and insisted that I must have the “most powerful” one to date. It was wonderful to have an open-ended conversation about the many women who have come before me with messages of importance, as well. In fact, I was able to talk about Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler’s platform and encourage him to explore a new project regarding children with incarcerated mothers in Brooklyn. That meeting served as a reminder of our sisterhood and the ability for all of us to grow the organization, one conversation at a time.
And there we have it. That pretty much sums up all of the awesome things I have been a part of since being crowned in January. It seems crazy to think that in just a few days, I will have been Miss America for two months! The time is flying by and before we all know it, we’ll be in Atlantic City vying for a spot on the boardwalk for a chance to get a peek at next year’s Miss America class. But for now, let’s continue to focus on the missions of the Miss America Organization and our commitment to encouraging young women through leadership, empowerment, mentoring, and service. We are all changing the face of this brand with such an incredible legacy, and I am just so thankful to have been given the opportunity to lead the way.
Warmest regards, Mal
Photo: Matthew Boyd