Lauren's Diary |
Entry #1
2003 Plus America Elite. It's a
title I can not believe would apply to me. Never in a million years did
I think I would hear my name called as winner. I was looking around the
room, trying to decide who it would be! When I turned to see if it was
really my name, and the emcee repeated it, I said "NO WAY!"
I've been in several pageants before MPA,
but there is no doubt that this was one of the most special of all.
All of the state representatives were treated like true royalty. We were
treated to so many unusual surprises...a beautiful prime rib lunch, a Cajun
buffet, and an amazing Coronation Ball. The atmosphere was warm and
friendly, and it was obvious that the directors poured their hearts and souls
into this contest.
When I saw the Elite crown on the first
night, my heart sank. It is simply the most gorgeous crown I have ever
seen. It would be the envy of any pageant girl. And the robe!
A magnificent black velvet embroidered robe, for the queen's year of
appearances. There is a scepter that matches the crown. I was
in heaven when I saw them. I said to myself, "I really have to try
harder now that I've seen these prizes!"
There is no greater thrill than hearing
your name on stage. It is a moment I will not soon forget. If I
could share that feeling with every woman who ever competed, I would do it.
If you are reading this, and are considering entering - do not hesitate for
one moment. Do it.
It is an uplifting pageant, filled with
good memories and good friends. I will always have a special place in my
heart for Miss Plus America.
It has only been a few days, and I have
been invited to attend many pageants as a guest. I am hoping to take
part in many events this year, and have already been interviewed for a
feature article in the Knoxville News Sentinel, and an TV show with WBIR TV on
the "Style" Show. I have been invited to model for Proffitt's
Department Store at their Women's Expo. I plan on attending this year's
Miss USA Pageant in March. But most of all, I am extremely proud to
represent the millions of plus women in America, and especially to be the inaugural
Elite Queen.
Lauren
Entry #2
August 27. I came back to work, where I
am the Director of the Knoxville, TN Senior Activity Center, and
made a display of my new crown, banner, velvet robe, padded scrapbook,
scepter, winning silver trays, and photos. The seniors went crazy over
it all. We took pictures with some of the groups. Everyone who saw the
display came into my office and asked me about the pageant.
The Knox News called first. They wanted to do a
story on Miss Plus America and shoot some photos. The local NBC
affiliate called and wanted me to make an appearance on their afternoon show.
A modeling agency asked me to come in for a screening. The County
Mayor's office offered me a photo opportunity. I am booked on a cruise
in December, and the cruise line asked if I would like to make an official
appearance with the captain. It's all very exciting.
I got what seemed like hundreds of emails from
across the country. Some included the chance to judge pageants, others well
wishers. I was contacted by the Ricky Lake Show for a special they were
taping. The CEO of Catherine's Plus Size stores wrote to congratulate me, and
Turn for the Judges web site put MPA on the news page. The official MPA
site had pictures up in a matter of a day or two, so the whole world could see
the results! Other contestants wrote to congratulate me, which was the
most heartwarming.
At the TV studio, I did a live broadcast as the
hosts asked me all about the MPA title. They had taped footage of the
crowning, and thanks to Melissa, we had pictures to show. I wore my
crown and banner, and the hosts were delighted to know there was a pageant for
full figured women. I shot pictures with the news anchors and the camera
people.
I got a call to judge a pageant in Florida. I flew
down to Panama City, and when I got to the airport security, everyone wanted
to know where I got the gorgeous crown. I had on my official Miss Plus
America shirt, so everyone wanted to know who I was. One lady at
security asked if I would give her an autograph. One lady shook my hand.
One man wanted to know what pageant it was, and what the title stood for. He
wanted his wife to enter next year! People on the plane asked about the
crown, and I met one young lady who was going to the pageant herself.
Everyone I came in contact with was oohing and aahing the crown. Even the
hotel clerk went crazy over it. If you haven't seen it in person, it will take
your breath away.
Today I received a call from Dollywood in Pigeon
Forge, Tennessee. They have invited me to be a part of their Christmas
festivities in December. I can't wait to go! I've only just begun.
Entry #3
October was quite a month! I was invited to
speak at the local chapter of the AARP. Because of my work with seniors,
I got to present a two-fold presentation about the senior center, along
with a presentation about pageants. The audience was intrigued with the
idea that there are pageants out there for women other than the very young or
very small. I brought along pictures and to my amazement, they had me
sign autographs.
On the 14th, the Friends of the Senior Center
honored me with an appreciation luncheon. We went out to an area restaurant,
and even had a local newspaper reporter as a guest. The article will
appear in next weeks issue. We had about 80 in attendance, and we
snapped pictures with as many as we could!
On the 23, I was invited to sit at the head table
at the YWCA's "Tribute to Women" Awards. I got to rub elbows
with local dignitaries, and sat next to Knox County Commissioner Mary Lou
Horner, and WBIR anchor Nicole Heinrich. The President of the YWCA
introduced me to the crowd of about 500.
On the 25th I attended the Miss Tennessee and Miss
Teen Tennessee USA Pageant in Clarksville. There were over 150
entrants, so pageant girls were everywhere. I got to stay in the pageant
hotel, where I mixed and mingled with the delegates. The pageant was
held at Austin Peay College, and the new winner will go on to the Miss Teen
USA and Miss USA pageant.
On Halloween, the Knox County Senior Center held
its annual Halloween Bash and Costume Party. I wasn't' in crown and sash
for this one, but wore a costume that day along with the seniors. We had
a huge costume contest, silly bingo, and a dance. I got to slip on
the crown and sash for a few snapshots....just couldn't' resist.
ENTRY #4
Being a queen is a lot of fun, it's also taking
opportunities to make appearances. December was my birthday, and my
husband gave me a cruise to the Caribbean and Panama Canal. I saw an
opportunity to involve the cruise in getting some exposure for the
pageant. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines invited me to sit with
the captain and to also be introduced at his cocktail party. Captain
James McDonald of the Brilliance of the Seas, announced me as the Miss Plus
America Elite winner, and I got to shake hands in a receiving line.
There were almost 600 people at the reception. At dinner, I wore my
crown and sash, and many people asked if they could take photos. It was
a great honor, and a lot of fun. I met people who were from all over the
world, and wondered what the title stood for. Of course, that crown is
enough of an attention getter alone!
After dinner I was asked to pose for
formal photos with the captain and some of the crew. We were lead into a
dance room where a live band was playing, and the first dance was with the
Captain. It was like something out of an old movie - and it was my
birthday, to boot.
Of course, getting there is half the fun.
During the security checks at the airport, it's always a blast to have them
ask about the crown. Some of the women security personnel would ooh and
aah about the crown, and ask if I would take it out of the case to get a
better look. A beautiful Latina lady asked if I would take a picture
with her! When I checked in at the cruise ship, the agent
was so impressed by the crown and the title, that she gave me passes to some
of the nicer events on board. One is really treated like a
queen.
One of the evenings was a formal, so I
put on my gown, sash and crown, and went dancing. The Brilliance has a
lounge on the very top floor, deck 13, and it turns into a disco at night.
It was Latin music night, and the "salsa" was playing. Buz and
I danced the night away, and of course, the crown and sash drew a lot of
questions and photos. Many people from all over the world are going to
be showing others the MPA trademarks! One of the stewards asked if I
would take a snapshot with him, so he could send it to his family back in
Romania. How exciting!
As I got off the ship in Miami, I packed
up the crown once again for the long flights home to Tennessee. Funny
how easy it is to get good service when you are carrying around a gorgeous
crown. I asked for an earlier flight, got it with no trouble, and even
upgraded the seats. We made it back 6 hours earlier than planned.
Thanks, MPA....that crown does wonders.
I am flying to Miami on December 31 for
the Orange Bowl Parade. I am on the queen's float, sitting with the
Junior Orange Bowl Queen and her court. More stories to come!
ENTRY #5
After the holidays, it seems like most of the world wants to rest, however it seems like pageant season is just gearing up! That's when it's time to start looking forward to the upcoming season, and getting ready for the big day in Louisiana this July. Are you ready?
I've had a lot of fun with my title, and have
been invited to appear all over the country. In February,
the first thing I did was check out the pageant line up, to see if I could
be a judge anywhere. I would also see if there were appearances I
could take part in. Here at home, there was a Little Miss Tennessee
pageant for the Sunburst contest. I got to judge this all day pageant,
and what a hoot it was! I signed autographs and got to say a few words
on stage. It was held in a mall, so the public surrounded us.
They were curious about the Miss Plus America Pageant, and most of them had
not known that there were such great opportunities out there for plus
sized ladies. I am always delighted to speak to them about the
contest, and how it promotes size acceptance. Heck, with the new
statistics about the size of the average American woman, it only strengthens
our stance. I talked to one young lady for about 20 minutes,
so I hope she will enter. I brought the 'royal robe' with me, just in
case there was a photo op., and many of the young children and their moms
wanted a picture with the "queen". The robe, if you haven't
seen it, is like something out of a fairy tale. It's black
velvet, full length, with an amazing stand up collar. It is
embroidered on the train, and is the most beautiful thing you've ever laid
eyes on. (Besides that crown!)
I've also been working with plus ladies from
other pageants, who seem to be looking for that extra edge and confidence to
try something like MPA. Oh, if they only knew how much fun we had last
year!
Sadly for me, Miss USA decided to pull out of
Nashville, and moved to Los Angeles. I was looking forward to
going again and representing Miss Plus America, since it is so close to my
home. Perhaps I'll try to figure out how to get out to California
somehow...
My husband, Buz, is a part of a weight loss
group call the Bandeleros. These people had laparoscopic surgery which
places a titanium ring around the top of the stomach, so that food intake is
greatly reduced. Since he has lost 200 pounds in the last couple
years, (he weighed 430 pounds) he is covered by the press regularly.
He speaks to groups, and does a lot of media coverage here in Knoxville, and
is a poster boy for the surgical group. I hear a lot of pros and cons
about weight loss, size acceptance, and how larger people are perceived.
At last month's meeting, I went in the capacity of Ms. Plus America Elite,
and they asked me to talk about my experiences. The group is about 40
members strong, and they fired all sorts of questions at me about
representing "plus" sized women. It was like being in the
MPA interview again, but it was challenging and educational for all of us.
I will always be a large person, never in my lifetime will I see a size 4!
I've fought being an outcast my entire life. We ARE different, but one
day the world will see that we are quite wonderful and see past our size.
This week I am flying to Orlando, where I have
an interview, but the fun part will be that I am going to visit the offices
of Pageantry Magazine. I hope they will give me the grand tour!
I am also headed to watch a pageant in Atlanta next week, and I
will be wearing my MPA Elite crown. I hope to talk to all of the plus ladies
and let them know how special our pageant is, and that I hope to see them in
July. If any of you are in the area next weekend, stop by and
say hello. Wear your crowns and sashes!
Oh! I am supposed to be featured in the
Sunday section of the newspaper, Parade Magazine, on Sunday, March 14th.
It's not pageant related, but it IS related to my platform, working with
seniors. Watch your paper!
Coming in my next update - the Dogwood Parade in
April, I'm riding in the lead car with the County Mayor, and the Women's
Expo - I'm in the plus fashion show for Proffitts' Department Store.
I hope people will start writing on the board
some more! Let's get it going!
Lauren
ENTRY #6
April
was a tough month...in un- pageant related news, since we are all real
people and have real lives, there was so much going on in my life I felt as
though I was neglecting making appearances. The senior center that I direct
is undergoing remodeling and expansion. Because of that, I had to move
all my offices to a temporary location, and house all 37 of my groups around
the community. A week later, my husband and I decided to buy a house
and we had to move in the same week! So, needless to say, it's been
nutty.
However, I managed to spread the MPA sunshine around a little.
At the end of March, I returned to the International Sophisticate Pageant in
Atlanta. I was the emcee of the event, and we had an exciting time.
It was fun to see friends and pageant acquaintances again. I got to
wear my MPA Elite crown and sash, and I was overtaken with ladies who wanted
to see it and try it on! (it is truly one of the most spectacular
crowns in the business). I got to go on stage with the new winners,
and took endless photos with winners, judges, and guests. It was a
regal event, and I got to see Chauna and some other MPA gals again. It
was great.
Last weekend I was a guest speaker at one of the local Dogwood Festival
events. I carried the crown, and displayed it in the case as I spoke.
The topic was on senior citizens, but everyone always wants to hear about
the crown, and what it represents. The local media was there, and they
are very kind about covering my appearances on the local news - and they
did! There I was, at noon, 5, 6 and 11 pm...and the world got to see my face
over and over and over. I think I may be pushing it around here...
It's May already, and I am starting to prepare for July. There is so
much to get ready, even for the "old" queens. I hope that all of
you will stay motivated and try to think of everything. Your time will
be well spent if you are prepared for all your events. You want to let
those judges know you are ready to be their queen!
Until next time, Lauren