I’ll admit it. I live, what seems to most people, to be a fun life. As a professional improviser with ComedySportz®, and the person who handles our special event bookings, I make my living making people laugh. What a blessing! 

I was dabbling in a little bit of plus-size modeling, and had an opportunity to participate in a cruise sponsored by Figure magazine. I was selected to participate in a runway show onboard the Carnival Glory. It was a terrific experience; and very different from performing comedy. It really spoke to the glam-diva part of my soul.

I was also sharing an office at ComedySportz® with a reigning Galaxy system queen.  She was a pageant pro. It always sounded so interesting.  When I returned from the cruise, I wanted to take challenge myself and another big step outside the box of my fun life.  I Googled “plus size pageant” and found MPA. 

When I read about the community service focus and the integrity of MPA – I knew this was the opportunity for me! I was already working with Gilda’s Club and supporting prostate cancer awareness. Being an MPA queen would give me an official platform to serve and inspire even more people.

I’m a somewhat independent person; but this time I carpooled with Shavon Phelps, Miss Texas Plus America (and now our new Miss Plus America Elite 2009!)  We had both been working very hard to prepare for the national pageant since being crowned at the Texas state pageant 6 weeks earlier. 

I was excited the week had finally arrived, felt very confident that I had done everything I could possibly do to prepare myself for this competition.

Shavon and I had my car packed pretty tightly, but joked that we should leave some room for two big new crowns. Irony?

At Orientation, there are big bags set up around the room. One for each delegate. Each of the state queens brings a small token to share with the other delegates.  (I brought packaged chili from my sponsor Cin Chilli.)  There is a time at the beginning of Orientation for all the delegates to go around and drop their gift in the bags.  It reminds me of Valentine’s Day at elementary school.

Some of the girls are sooooooo creative! There were customized gifts with our names, energy boosting snacks, and hand-made gifts. Later in the evening, I dumped the bag out on the bed I my hotel room. It was like Christmas morning.  What a great way to start the week!

Naturally I went into the pageant with the support of my Texas sisters, Shavon (Miss Texas) and Toniette (Mrs. Texas). It was great to be able to lean on each other throughout the week. We had a little pinky swear moment backstage on Saturday.

I think I’ve been unofficially adopted by the 3 Oklahoma queens, Crystal (Miss), Ellaleilani  (Ms.), and Monique (Mrs.) By the way, all 3 of them happen to be simply gorgeous.  During dinner one night we started planning some sort of Texas & Oklahoma queen fundraising activity centered around the OU vs. TX game. Even though I’m now a national queen – I still hope to participate.  I think we should do a bull riding challenge!

The MPA Forum is a great place for the delegates to break the ice during the months leading up to the pageant. All sorts of topics, from silly to serious, are discussed on the forum. I made a point of sitting with different girls at each meal so that I could get to know as many of the girls as possible. It was great to finally match the faces to the names.

By the time the MPA Pajama Party rolled around on Thursday evening, I thought this must’ve been what it was like to be in a sorority. I looked around at all these great gals dressed in their “flower power themed” pj’s, dancing up a storm, and sharing a laugh over a hot dog and realized anyone of these women could walk around with the crown. They all had something great to offer the world!

The Louisiana humidity! It was wreaking havoc on my hair!

On Thursday during the Group B preliminary competition, my hair stylist was running behind and it snowballed into me being a little rushed. I only had 10 minutes for make-up!  I was trying to keep my hair nice, but running around like a maniac trying to get dressed, perspiring like crazy – and we were indoors!  Manic is  NOT my normal mode.  I could feel my lips shaking through my smile during the elegant pant wear modeling. That never happened to me before.

I shook it off and blew off the nerves at the MPA Pajama Party later in the evening.

You better believe I made sure I had plenty of time to prepare for the finals on Saturday – and some anti-frizz spray!

None of the questions threw me per se. The panel of judges seemed firm but fair. I felt like I was having a discussion with them, more than being interrogated. I’d consider interview my strongest skill, and I went in very prepared.

I actually thought my live question on stage during the finals was sort of funny, and almost a trick question. (“Do you believe that the U.S. should print more currency to help the economy?”) I was able to show a combination of my sense of humor and solid political views in my answer.

Befriending a delightful young lady from Arizona, named Marie Gray.

I brought a national news story to the other delegate’s attention, about fifteen year-old honor student Marie.  She had a very rough end of her freshman year due to some insensitive comments about her that made the final print of the school’s yearbook.

After reading about her story, MPA kicked into gear and invited Marie and her mother Ray to Louisiana for a complimentary trip to the pageant.  That plan?  The delegates would envelope Marie into the positive and uplifting sisterhood of MPA. We all brought gifts and photos for her.  The biggest surprise of all was that Marie was presented with her very own crown, sash, and the title Miss Teen Plus America Ambassador.  You should’ve seen her confidence blossom in just 3 days!

We all looked great in our sassy magenta tops from www.Zaftique.com.  I think Saturday night was the only time I danced the opening number without any mistakes! 

The number was very girl power and so fun!  I am not a dancer, but Deidra choreographed a number that looked great and was easy to remember.  We all came up with little nicknames for certain moves to help cement the routine in our heads (“Tysons”, “Jackson 5”, “Praise-Pull”…)

Electrical! There was a great mixture of nerves, support, and focus thinking going on backstage. However, I could happily live out the rest of life without hearing the phrase “Watch out for my train!” ever again.

Naturally, I felt bad for some of the girls who didn’t make the finals. But things are moving at such a fast past you don’t have to much time to commiserate.  What is amazing is that those non-finalists stepped right up and help me change clothes. Now that’s a queen!

What was it like knowing that National Geographic was filming you?

Steph

It was very natural for me.  I even allowed them in the room during my panel interview with the judges!

After crowning, I thanked Jeremy & Geoff from the Nat Geo crew, because I really fed off of the energy of them being there.  I know that a crew like this is supposed to remain objective and in the background; but I think they secretly had as much fun as we all did.

What was the first thing that went through your mind when you heard your name called for top 15?

Steph

I was the last one called for top 5 Finalist in the MS. division.  That was a little bit of a nail-biter.  Even my uber-confident interior was about to crack.  Especially after not hearing some really terrific delegates’ names get called.
 

At the end of the pageant, if you win the national title you don’t actually hear your name called initially.  You hear who the 1^st runner-up is.  If it’s not you – you’ve won!

The emcee began announcing the MS. division court. There I was standing on stage holding Nicole (Ms. Illinois) hands.  She is absolutely hilarious, and had just been awarded Miss Congeniality. She was crying, and I kept whispering “It’s down to the two funny girls. It’s you and me. Look at the audience. Look at your audience…” As if I’m the calm one. Which was ridiculous because 10 seconds later when Nicole was announced as 1^st runner-up, I turned and looked at the audience and just mouthed “WHAT?!??!?!” really big…and tried not to go into the ‘ugly cry’.

I think if you asked any of the delegates, they would tell you that I was very confident throughout the week.  But that Moment -- the Significant Split Second when I realized I had achieved my goal; was magnificent.  I looked out in the audience and could see the silhouette of Texas State Director & MPA Lifetime Queen, Nanette Watts standing up in the back of the audience and applauding. And I could hear the visiting local-level Texas queens cheering; which was incredible.  

When I was crowned Ms. Texas Plus America 2009 the queens were having trouble crowning me because I am so tall, and my feet were so sore, I had trouble crouching down.  When I realized I’d won the national crown, I thought to myself, “Girl, dig deep and crouch really low”.  Kim & Calandra were laughing at me because at first they were just trying to hand me my roses, scepter, and banner. I heard Calandra say, “She wants that crown!”.

I love the excitement and risk of “Deal or No Deal”, and enjoy playing along at home.  The daytime syndicated version has a great twist and is an even faster-paced game! I’m looking forward to getting the audience really rallying behind me. I appreciate that the Producers want to do a themed Pageant Week and have a variety of title-holders represented on their stage.

If I get a chance to play and win some money, I plan on using it to support my platform and some of the non-profit organizations I endorse.

I hope to bring my message Live Life with P.O.P. (Power Of the Positive) to a variety of audiences. It’s been a whirlwind since I’ve been crowned. I’ve already been asked to lead the invocation & pledge of allegiance at networking luncheon this week; and invited to emcee an upcoming Houston business conference.

There are so many ideas I want to execute, and places I want to visit. I’m going to organize a “Princess for a Day” program for at-risk girls in Houston.  In October, I’m planning on traveling to L.A. to support Chenese Lewis (Miss Plus America Lifetime I) and participate in Love Your Body Day (www.loveyourbodyday.com)
 

I’d also love to do some sort of event with The Glamazons!

People need to say “Yes!” more. 

First and foremost, I try to live a “Yes!” life.  I’m not always 100% successful, but consciously focusing on being open and accepting to new ideas and opportunities seems to make me more aware. 

Today is a confusing time.  The constant barrage of 24-hour news feeds has pushed negativity to the forefront.  In this economy it’s hard to be sure how to proceed with life and get the most out of it. 

It’s so easy to say, “No” or the even sneakier “Yeah, BUT…”   Imagine if one simple change could give a person new view and surprisingly new experiences…to simply say “Yes” more. 

The concept of Live Life with P.O.P. (Power Of the Positive) started for me as a rule of improv comedy: Say “Yes! And…”.    

I saw that to be successful onstage I had to accept and agree with their ideas (“Yes”). We’d work together; to build each other’s ideas into successful comedy (the “And…”) what we created as a group was stronger and funnier than anything that just one of use might have produced on our own. 

I started sharing the positive results of saying “Yes! And…” with my non-actor friends and clients.  Then I read Danny Wallace’s book “Yes Man”.  In the book Danny chronicles what happens during the year he committed to say “Yes” to every offer and opportunity presented to him.  It also highlighted how easy it is for one to become complacent and bitter. 

I knew I had to take “Yes! And…” out of the improv community and share it with the world. 

Since I work in the meetings & hospitality industry, I am fortunate to be connected to meeting planners and speakers bureaus. I look forward to traveling throughout the U.S. and making appearance, attending events, and presenting my programs “The 40-year Old Pageant Queen” and the audience interactive “Oh! By the Way, You’re Welcome: How to Talk to Human Beings”.

#1 – Do it! Don’t wait!

If entering MPA is weighing on your mind, say “Yes! And…” to the opportunity.  Don’t worry about how you’re going to do it.  Just set the goal and commit.  Sponsors, blessings, and support will appear.

#2 – Keep the structural engineering of your gown simple!

This is a lesson I learned the hard way. I love my hot pink gown, but it had snaps, a zipper, hook & eye, and a lace-up back.  You only have minutes to change and that was way too much to deal with.  Give yourself the gift of simplicity.  Purchase a gown that flatters you, fits well (or is altered to fit well), you can sit it, makes you feel beautiful, and that you can wear comfortably for more than 15 minutes!

Seize this opportunity! I’d love to crown you at 2010 Miss Plus America Pageant!