The Miss America program teaches its contestants and titleholders many lessons. For Miss Oregon 2004 Brooke Roberts, the most important one was how to be a true saleswoman. Brooke was able to develop her skills in sales which in turn allows her to flourish in her career and life in general.

As a contestant in the Miss Oregon and then Miss America pageants, Brooke had to convince judges and strangers that she was cut out for the role of a titleholder. During her year of service, her job was to sell the program, sell her platform, and convince others that she was the right woman for the job.

When her year was finished, she took on a new role as news anchor for a local CBS affiliate. She became an entertainment reporter, traveled the world, and hosted and produced documentaries. She found her true calling as a home shopping host.

After Brooke was crowned, several doors opened up for her, and through networking, she was able to brand and market herself in order to make good use of each opportunity and create more.

"At every corner I found ways to get the Miss America program exposure while putting my own personality on the airwaves. Through experience and hard work, I became one of the best-selling hosts at a nationally televised home shopping network," Brooke says.

Brooke has been featured on shows like The Amazing Race, and she is getting ready to host and star in her own reality TV series. She has an online magazine, store, and her own show.

"I'm acutely aware that the Miss America Organization gave me the knowledge, experience, and confidence to go after what I want," Brooke says.

Taking full advantage of the lessons she learned as a contestant, Brooke has launched her career forward and is already obtaining her life-goals by networking and marketing her skills and herself.