Shannon Marie Oliver

I am already thinking about where I will compete next! I want to be better prepared than I was for the last pageant- after all, I decided quite last minute that I was going to compete! Now, I'll have more time to re-focus and do my absolute best. As I looked through the list of locals left, I realized that my busy schedule will not allow me many choices! As of right now, I am only free on the weekends for Miss Chesterfield, Miss Mountain Empire/Miss Piedmont Region, and Miss Greater Springfield/Miss Coastal Virginia. So, inevitably , I will be at one of those five! I'm looking forward to attending Miss Hampton/Newport News, Miss Greater Richmond, and Miss Williamsburg as an audience member!

I had a great weekend competing in Miss Hampton Roads 2009. I was 1st runner up and talent winner...which meant I recieved a $1,000 scholarship! I had a great time with an incredible group of girls. The winner, Kristena Wright, was VERY deserving and will make a wonderful titleholder. Here are some pictures:

Hi everyone! So, I decided I should go ahead and let you all know that I am competing in Miss Hampton Roads this Saturday! There are a couple of reasons I chose to compete, so I thought I'd let everyone in on them:

1. I would LOVE to go back to Miss Virginia this year. Originally, I was planning on taking the year off for multiple reasons. One of them was a lack of money. The Miss Hampton Roads program offers a LOT of support for Miss VA, which was appealing. Another reason I had planned to take the year off was to further prepare myself to be Miss Virginia, should I have that tremendous honor. However, I've had many people in my life express their confidence in my abilities. Also, the current Miss Virginia (lovely Tara Wheeler) is such a strong advocate for this program that she encouraged me to stay active in the MAO because it is such a great way to be a role model in the community. My last reason for originally sitting  the year out was my lack of self-control....I wanted to take a year to eat my heart out! But let's be honest- I need to be healthy whether or not I'm competing. So, that is no longer a good excuse in my book.

 2. I've lived in Hampton Roads since 3rd grade, so I figured that this pageant would be a great one to kick this season of locals off with. I've lived in Virginia Beach since I was seven and attend school in Newport News, so it just makes sense for me to compete in Miss Hampton Roads. 

3. The prize package is great. Like I mentioned above, I'll need financial help to prepare for Miss VA this year, and Miss Hampton Roads receives amazing prizes! She gets personal training (yes!) and teeth whitening, as well as some sort of wardrobe help (TBA). So, I couldn't pass this opportunity up!

4. I just love competing :) I would never do a pageant because someone coerced or pressured me into it (I think I'm smarter than to fall for that...haha). I've told many people openly that I would never participate in a pageant where I felt the director specifically hand picked me to be the winner (where's the fun in competing?). Since I trust the integrity of the Miss Hampton Roads program, and I don't feel hand-picked, I know this is not an issue for me to worry about. Who knows whether or not I'll win Miss HR? I certainly have NO expectations of winning since there are some incredible girls also participating. The HR director emailed me the information a while back, so once I decided I would like to compete again this season (which was about 4 days ago...), I was the one who approached her for  the paperwork.  I made the decision to compete on my own because I just love the  MAO, I love the girls, and I love competing. 

I'm looking forward to Saturday! Oh, and GO VOTE tomorrow! What an exciting week this will be :)

I am crazy and have decided to compete in locals again this year. I was 100% sure I would take a year off, but I caught the bug. Can't blame a girl for changing her mind! That's what girls are good at.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

This month has been extremely busy with beginning school again! I'm thrilled, however, to be back at CNU surrounded by my wonderful friends! Let me see if I can re-cap some highlights of the past few weeks.

In the beginning of August, I went to Miss Central VA to support Shannon Beam (Go Thing 1 & Thing 2!) as she passed on her crown to Madison Van Duyne (congrats Maddie!). Shannon was such a joy to get to know at Miss VA, so I wanted to be there for her final moments as a Miss VA Class of '08 titleholder! Not to mention I wanted to see two of my very close friends, Katie Uze and Laura Pennington. The three of us went to dinner before the pageant and had a grand ole time catching up and laughing at ourselves. I miss everyone from Miss VA so much, so I hope to attend as many locals this year as possible! Supporting the Miss America/Miss Virginia organization while seeing some of my closest friends- can't beat that!

I've been so busy with school that I haven't made any other appearances this month, but it will be picking back up a LOT these next few months! I'm singing the Star Spangled Banner at a September 11th memorial, appearing in several parades, and doing a walk for cancer with Miss Norfolk, Ashley Smith!

I've decided I will not be competing in pageants again until 2010. I really want to make sure that I am at my best should I make it back to Miss Virginia. Although I know I could work hard and be where I want to be by a local later this year, I think I'd rather take my time and not rush it. After all, I'm only 20! Like I said earlier, though, I plan to attend as many locals as possible. And OF COURSE I'll be at Miss Virginia 2009 to cheer on my spectacular friends who are returning!

Hope all is well. Students- good luck with your semester!

It's been exactly one month since I turned 20 during the week at Miss Virginia! Not a whole lot has been going on since then (hence my lack of writing), but I have recently embarked on a new little journey with my music. I started recording with a new producer about 2 weeks ago, and already have one song completed and another one in the works. I'm very excited!

Today I am having lunch with my Miss VB directors to catch up with them. I haven't seen them since Miss Virginia, so I'm really looking forward to it. It will be interesting talking "pageant" again because I've kind of taken a break from that scene since Miss Virginia. Not because I don't love it, of course, but just because my whole life revolved around it for a few months and I want to make sure I maintain my life outside of pageantry!

As far as competing for Miss Virginia again next year- I've yet to decide if I will. I'm heavily leaning towards taking a year off and trying again for Miss VA 2010, but we'll see. I'm going to work hard and see where life leads me these next few months...if it's back to a local pageant, then great! If not, that's okay, too. I have four more years of eligibility, so I don't need to rush it! If I end up competing in a local this pageant season, it will most likely be a decision that is made sometime this winter, not something I think about constantly until then.

I hope everyone has been able to visit the Miss VA website to see how WONDERFULLY Tara Wheeler has been representing our state as Miss Virginia! My childhood friend, Leigh-Taylor Smith, won Miss New York last weekend, too, so I might head out to Vegas in January to support two incredible women at Miss America!

Well, that's all for now! :)

Wow. Sorry it took me so long to write after Miss Virginia, but I was in need of a brain break! What an incredible experience. I had so much fun and made some wonderful friends! My roommate, Laura, and I couldn't have been a better match. I wouldn't have survived the week without our sarcasm and ability to laugh at ourselves as we were immersed in "pageant world" for a full week.  Aside from the fabulous girls, though, the overall atmosphere was amazing.

When I met the judges for the first time at the reception on Tuesday night, I was a little worried. Not because I didn't think they would be nice, but because my hands were so cold (I have bad circulation...) that I thought I'd scare them all off. But before my hands could make me look silly, I let my mouth get in the way. The first judge introduced herself, and since I was at the end of the recieving line, I wasn't sure if she was a judge or not because several people had come up to me already. Maybe I should have memorized the pictures better. Anyways, I said hello and joked that "the first judge would get the worst of my cold hands because they'd be warmed up by the last judge." She said "Well, I'm the first judge." Grrreeeaaat. Haha. It was fine though- she was really nice. Another judge took my freezing hands and rubbed them with her hands the entire time we talked- haha...I'm sure that made an impression. Let's see, going along with the cold hands predicament, another judge commented that I won the "coldest hands of the night" award and that the girl after me won the "warmest hands of the night"- Brittany Gordon, Miss Williamsburg. I also learned that I need to write the full names of my parents on my fact sheet because I put "J.D. Oliver" for my dad, but a judge from Virginia Beach thought it was the same "J.D. Oliver" from Oliver Funeral Homes in Virginia Beach...so he had put down that he knows my family. Which he doesn't. Oh well! Atleast he clarified it before judging! I had good conversations with all of them, which made it easier to step into interview the next day.

My interview went wonderfully- I couldn't believe it was a full 10 minutes. When they told me my time was up, I thought they were kidding. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to discuss what they asked me, so I won't go into extreme detail, but I talked a LOT about my experiences in India and my platform. We also discussed my favorite flavor of icecream, my solution to the energy crisis, my ideas of parenting, and why I thought I would be the best Miss Virginia. I will tell you the most interesting question, though. They asked me to tell them any criticisms or negatives of the other contestants! Whew, that one caught me off guard. I basically told them that I couldn't think of any, but even if I could- I probably wouldn't tell them! :) They laughed, so I hope my politically correct answer was okay.

Then, of course, were the onstage areas of competition. I loved the energy of the whole production, so I had a blast. I guess there's not a whole lot to say- but I feel like I did my best, so I'm satisfied. I was absolutely SHOCKED to be called into the Top 11. I was joking with my roommate earlier that day that I was looking forward to eating brownies backstage and doing some fun production numbers. I even took a long nap the afternoon before the show because I wasn't worried in the slightest that I should be preparing myself. So you can imagine my surprise when my name was called. I was regretting that bag of chips and huge cookie I ate the night before when I thought I wouldn't have to do swimsuit again. Oh well! In the end, I was (and am!) sooooo proud of all of the girls. Tara Wheeler, our new Miss Virginia, is one of the nicest, most down-to-earth girls I've ever met. I told Laura the morning of the final competition that if I could choose any girl to win, I'd choose Tara because she's 100% ready for the job and a genuine, beautiful young woman. I couldn't have been happier for her! She will represent our state tremendously and I can't wait to see her knock everyone's socks off in Vegas during Miss America! Seriously, you should read this girl's bio- talk about a role model.

So, those were just some highlights of my week in Roanoke. Only the other contestants can know all of the hilarious and tiring and wonderful times we shared up there. It was definitely a week I will never forget!

I feel like I am watching a movie in black and white. Everything is happening, but I'm so wrapped up in what is going on that all of the details blend together. I am just now fully realizing that I am about to embark on a LITTLE adventure that could lead to my really BIG dream. Miss Virginia is not just something I want because of the pretty crown or the gorgeous dresses. It's not just a title and sash. It's not just an opportunity to perform my talent or pursuade a panel of judges that I'm worthy of being called "the best." No. To me, Miss Virginia represents an opportunity to do something with my life that most girls just dream of.

I would be expected to confidently represent the most wonderful place in the world- VIRGINIA! I would be expected to make every single person I meet smile and feel great about themselves. I would be expected to teach as many kids as possible about making positive decisions in their lives- be it about smoking and underage drinking or about cultural togetherness. The greatest part, however, is that even if these things were NOT expected of me, I would still happily and passionately strive to achieve them with every ounce of energy I have. 

 I love the fact that pageants go beyond the 10 minute interview, 30 second swimsuit walk, and 2 minute talent. Those things matter, yes, but only because they are part of the journey that leads to the most important part of wearing the crown- service. It's not the year you "reign" in Virginia. It is the year you SERVE in Virginia. I want to be Miss Virginia with all of my might because I love, love, LOVE the idea of making people feel special. I know I'm completely capable of having a positive impact on other people without a crown on my head....but that crown sure can do a lot. For the rest of their lives, little girls remember the time they got to hug a princess. Teenagers will forever smile as they remember Miss Virginia joking around with them and making them feel like the most important person in the world. Senior citizens will cherish the moment they watch Miss Virginia wave to a crowd of excited parade-watchers, savoring the moments of life that represent the joy of being alive. The amount that I want to be a part of those moments cannot be expressed with words.

With that said, I am doing everything I can to prepare myself for next week. I've been going to the gym, practicing my talent, going over interview questions, and reflecting on who I am outside of all this glitz and glamour. What I've found in all this preparation is a woman who has grown tremendously. Even though I may not have the most amazing swimsuit figure or the perfect hair, I know that I am capable of being Miss Virginia- and hopefully Miss America! I've also realized that my dream is in the hands of seven very important people- the good ole' judges. I hope to show them me. Just me. I hope that the essence of who I am will shine through the fancy clothes and the perfect make up. I want everyone who meets me next week to see me for who I am- a confident, sometimes awkward, very caring, passionate, and dynamic individual. I am far from perfect...but I almost hope they see that, too! Miss America is all about the "reality check." Well, reality check: no one's perfect. And I'm okay with that. Being in pageants can sure turn you into a perfectionist when looking at yourself, but I've finally realized that it's okay not to be perfect. Of course I will constantly work to better myself, but there's not need to nitpick myself to peices when I've been blessed by God just to be alive and well. This process has made me thrilled to be Miss Virginia Beach- but more importantly, thrilled to be me.

Sickness is never good. But especially right now. I woke up yesterday morning with a sore throat, which has now turned into a lovely cold. Great timing, right? I should be better in the next day or two, but it makes it hard for me to go to the gym and practice my talent. I'm not worrying too much- I'm the kind of girl that will push through no matter what, but it still stinks :(

Putting my little setback aside, everything has been going well. I am pretty much done with my wardrobe for Miss VA. We're just getting a few of my dresses tailored at the moment, but other than that, everything is picked out and beautiful! I did a mini fashion show for my family and boyfriend last night, which was a lot of fun. Every time I put on the clothes, I get more and more excited!

I leave in one week from tomorrow! WOW. 

What a great week so far! Yesterday, I performed at the Miss Virginia recital with 8 other fabulous women who will compete with me in Roanoke. We had a really great time chatting and listening to talent selections. It was my first time hearing most of the girls perform, so I thoroughly enjoyed listening to them! I think we raised a commendable amount of money for the Miss Virginia Organization and the Community Service scholarship. 

Today through Wednesday, I'm in Nags Head enjoying the HOT weather! No complaints here! It's nice to relax among the busy preparation for Miss VA!

I leave in.....13 days!! 

I found my competition swimsuit today!!!

My life has been all about Miss VA preparation lately...and I love it! I have gone down two sizes in clothing due to my diet and workout plan, which I am VERY proud of! To me, I'm not so concerned with being super skinny as I am with being healthy...and I definitely feel more healthy than I have in a long time! Since I've lost a good amount of weight, I decided I could start looking for competition clothing yesterday, as well! Much to my surprise, I came home with EVERYTHING I need for competition in Roanoke besides a swimsuit and interview outfit. I had no idea what I wanted for the evening wear competition, but when I was near the point of desperation, the perfect gown just appeared out of nowhere! I also found a beautiful talent gown, white gown for the on-stage non-competition gown, and an adorable red cocktail dress for the opening number! I'm thrilled about my wardrobe and can't wait to wear it all in Roanoke!

In addition to my success with Miss Virginia preparation, I've been continuing with my duties as Miss Virginia Beach. Last Saturday I was featured in the Strawberry Festival Parade in Pungo. What a fun day! I was privileged to ride on the back of a beautiful 2000 Jaguar and wave to thousands of people on a beautiful, sunny morning! My favorite part of parades is waving to the little girls who just light up when I make eye contact with them. It's the little things you can do for other people when wearing the crown that makes the biggest difference.  Speaking of little things, I also recently wrote a letter to a little girl from Alabama who is beginning to enter the pageant world.  Her much older sister was my Inferential Statistics professor last semester and asked if I could take part in teaching her younger sister that pageants are not all about glamour and prestige.  I wrote to the 10 year old about learning how to help other people through pageants and the importance of finding the correct motivation for competing, so I hope she'll learn to love making other people smile as much as I do! :)

A week from Sunday, I'll be performing at the Miss Virginia recital, which should be a lot of fun! Other than that....24 days!!

I love being out of school. I spent last week in northern VA with my boyfriend's family and had a blast! Daniel and I went to D.C. a few times and I experienced Crystal City for the first time. Let me tell you, D.C. is just a LITTLE different than suburban Virginia Beach.  We were walking around a corner in Crystal City (which is completely underground, if you don't know), and a man practically pushed me over as he was booking it down the hall. I just thought he was in a hurry- briefcase in hand- but he was followed by security and police bolting after him.  Apparantly he was straight out of a movie- grab and run with granny's purse. I'm just glad he didn't slam into me! I hope security caught him...he was pretty fast.

I'm back in Virginia Beach now and find myself extraordinarily busy considering I'm no longer responsible for school work. I've spent hours finishing up my community service book for Miss Virginia- it's still not done. I enjoy artsy stuff, though, so it's kind of fun. Also, I had a Miss VB appearance yesterday at the Princess Anne Country Club for a group of Christian women. I sang "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "No Greater Love." It was a lot of fun and resulted in requests for 2 or 3 more appearances!

Miss Virginia preparation is up and running full throttle. According to my family and friends, my swimsuit figure already looks noticeably better (yes!), so my hard work is paying off. I've also been window shopping for gowns and outfits out the wazoo for my week in Roanoke. It's amazing how much clothing is needed...but I can't complain about shopping! Watching the news has become a daily task, but I admit I've started to enjoy it. I know who my choice for the presidency is! On top of dieting/working out, shopping, and news-watching, I'm going to begin working with my outstanding vocal coach of 10 years on my talent. I have a pretty good grasp on my song already, but I need coaching DESPERATELY! It's crazy how quickly technique can escape when you're not working on it weekly. Let's see...what else. Oh! Interview. I guess that coincides with watching the news, but I'll also get together with my interview coach soon to start mock interviews. Obviously, there is LOTS and LOTS to do in the next month, but I'm getting excited! I leave for Roanoke exactly one month from tomorrow!

I'm home! After an EXTREMELY hectic day moving out of my residence hall, I finally got to sleep in my own bed last night! Moving out wouldn't have been so bad if I had to just take care of myself, but I'm an R.A., so I had to get all of the residents out of my hall and do a TON of paperwork for housing before I could leave.  I woke everyone up at 8:30am (they technically had to be out by 12pm) and told them to GET OUT! It was funny to see some reactions, actually. I had to get them to leave, though, because I was hosting the Teen, Pre-teen, and Little Miss Virginia Beach Pageant at 2pm.  I barely made it out of there in time. Most R.A.s don't leave until around 4 or later because of all the work that goes into closing, but I got myself out by 12:30. I have to admit, I was pretty proud of myself!

I made it to the pageant on time (yes!) and had a wonderful time emceeing with Wes Pearce.  We had a few word issues, like getting out "zoological" and "baccalaureate," but hey, it happens to everyone!  In the end, the new Teen Miss Virginia Beach was Katie Mitchell from Bayside High School.  Pre-teen went to Desiree Jimenez and Little went to Hayley Landry.  I'm very excited to work with all of them at events throughout the year! Katie and I have known one another since my senior year of high school when we competed in High School Idol together. She's a great girl!

Well, I think that's about all that has happened since my last post....besides exams, of course.  I think grades come out this week! Sorry, I probably won't be sharing those ;). Hopefully, I did pretty well this semester.  Now that I'm home, though, I've started my intense Miss Virginia preparation.  I can finally go full throttle with my diet, work outs, interview prep., talent rehearsals, etc., etc. Hurray! The clock is ticking...only 41 days!

I can't believe it's already May! Time flies. These past few weeks have been extremely busy. Last Sunday, I helped with a fundraiser for St. Jude's Hospital that was hosted by the Southern Cruisers Riding Club.  I had a blast! I sold 50/50 tickets (50% of the money raised selling them went to the person with the winning ticket and 50% went to St. Jude's).  The man who won gave back all of the money so that 100% went to the charity! By the end of the day, we had raised over $1,100 for St. Jude's. The SCRC is a fabulous group of men and women- I hope to work with them again!

Yesterday, I took some of my residents (I'm an R.A.) to the Boys and Girls Club.  The kids there are so amazing. They are very open and love to meet new people! When I walked in, a girl practically tackled me! I had done a S.A.I.L. program for her class about a week earlier and she immediately recognized me.  She was so excited to see "Miss Shannon" again! It was so neat to be able to hang out with her outside of S.A.I.L.  I met a lot of new kids, as well. For the most part, we played pool and worked on homework. There was a little boy in kindergarten who demolished me in pool! He was amazing. I couldn't believe some of the moves someone that little could accomplish!  I had so much fun and can't wait to go back again.

Something else this week that was kind of neat was the student leadership awards ceremony at CNU. I was nominated, along with my R.A. staff, for best diversity program of the year.  We did not win for our "Christmahanukwanzikuh" holiday party, but I was pleasantly surprised (and embarrassed) when our Dean of Students brought up my name in his introductory speech.  He recognized me for my work with CNU S.A.I.L. and went on to explain the success of the organization and the importance of active leaders to create initiatives like S.A.I.L. It was very flattering and humbling to hear CNU's Dean speak so highly of me, but I can't help but be proud of the work S.A.I.L. and all of its wonderful educators are doing!  My dream has come to life and is impacting the community- what more could I ask for?

School has definitely been controlling my life lately.  Finals are next week, and I'm ready to get them over with! I'm tired of papers and research projects...bring on summer vacation! I feel like I'll finally be able to give Miss Virginia preparation the attention it deserves and get on the right track to do my best in June.  Speaking of the end of the semester, congratulations to all of those graduates out there! High school and university- it's something to be extremely proud of!  My brother is graduating from James Madison University on Saturday, so I'll be up there this weekend to cheer for him!

Happy last week of school!

Can life get any more chaotic? School is keeping me incredibly busy at the moment, but I'm trying to keep my eyes on the goal. Between a full load of classes, S.A.I.L., the Pearls (acappella group), Phi Mu, my job, and preparing for Miss Virginia- I'm barely holding onto sanity! The good thing is that things always get better. I always have to remind myself that I've been stressed before and, believe it or not, survived! I enjoy everything I'm involved with, though, so I try to keep the complaining to a minimum! I'm very lucky for the opportunities and experiences I have through the organizations I'm a part of.

This morning I facilitated another S.A.I.L. program, which is always wonderful. My favorite part is reading the feedback surveys at the end and seeing the way the program really impacts the kids. It reminds me of why the message of multiculturism is SO important! Even though overseeing S.A.I.L. is a lot of work, mornings like today's make it all worth it.

This past weekend was full of events, as well. Saturday night was my sorority's formal, followed immediately by Relay for Life at CNU. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay the entire night because I had a Miss Virginia Beach appearance early the next morning, but the time I did spend at the event was wonderful. I think seeing huge organizations like Relay for Life reminds me of my own journey with S.A.I.L. Relay for Life started with one person wanting to get the message about cancer out to the public and help people who have been affected. To see how successful their dream has become and the amount of lives their idea has impacted is inspiring! I was thrilled to be a part of it.

The next morning (Sunday), I went to Golden Corral to meet the Southern Cruisers, a motorcycle club that is putting on a fundraiser for St. Jude's Hospital on April 27th. We went over details and planned for the great event! I'm looking forward to participating in it!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

This weekend was the Miss Virginia Workshop in Lynchburg. I had a really good time and learned a LOT.  Friday night, other titleholders and myself watched Laura Pennington win the final preliminary pageant- Miss Commonwealth.  I'm so excited because, as it turns out, she'll be my roommate during the week at Miss Virginia in Roanoke! Along with finding out our roommates this weekend, we also found out where our placement in the competition will be. Since there are two groups for preliminary nights, I am the first contestant in Group B (contestant 14, overall). My private interview will be on Wednesday, June 25, in the afternoon. I will be competing in swimsuit, evening gown, and on-stage question on Thursday, June 26.  Friday, June27, I'll compete in the talent portion.  I am very excited about talent because I just recieved my Miss Virginia track from Bill Wolfe, the man who arranged songs for the two most recent Miss Americas! It sounds wonderful and I'm looking forward to singing at Miss Virginia!

The workshop was very motivating and I am even more confident that I'm ready for the job of Miss Virginia! This has been a tremendous dream of mine for such a long time, so I plan to do my very best in June!

So many wonderful things have been happening recently! While in Disney World, I recieved a phone call from the Virginian Pilot newspaper. They want to do a Q&A article on me! I am so excited! I've been in touch with a reporter who is interviewing me and I have a photo shoot next Wednesday to go along with the article. I think it will be a really nice piece. She told me that the goal is to have it in the Beacon on April 3rd.

As soon as I got back from Florida, I sang "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady at Sentara's Windermere Nursing Home in Virginia Beach. It was so great to entertain and interact with the residents. I love learning from men and women who have been through so much and have incredible insight on life. I hope to go back and visit again soon!

Work for my platform is taking off, as well! I have been working very hard to promote cultural togetherness, even before I decided to compete for the Miss Virginia Beach title. One of my ideas to expand multiculturalism came to life last semester.  I had been wanting to start an organization that involved students teaching other students about diversity, so in August, I founded CNU S.A.I.L. This is an acronym for "Sharing Awareness for Intercultural Living." CNU students were able to take part in a 3-part training program, taught by CNU's Asst. Director of Multicultural Affairs, to become diversity facilitators. We currently have about 25 facilitators and many more students waiting to go through training next fall. This semester is even more exciting than the last because now we are beginning to actually go to schools in the community and put on our programs! The letters explaining the S.A.I.L. organization went out to schools 2 weeks ago, and we've already had an OVERWHELMING response! I will be facilitating a program next Thursday, with dozens more requested for the upcoming weeks! I have been on the phone with principals and guidance counselors almost constantly- but the results are incredible! Today I recieved an email from the Dean of Students at CNU congratulating me on my work with the organization and the response we're getting from the community! Clearly, we are meeting a tremendous need in the Newport News area!

I am also a Child Life volunteer at the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk. This week has been wonderful because two different organizations from CNU, including my sorority, made cards for the kids and asked me to bring them with me when I volunteer on Monday. I can't wait to bring the kids something extra special from my wonderful CNU peers (and Phi Mu sisters!).

Last, but not least, I am performing at a Children's Miracle Network fundraiser tomorrow! Miss Norfolk, Miss Hampton Roads, Miss Chesterfield, Miss Greater Franklin County, and I will sing for and interact with guests as they enjoy an art show that benefits CMN. I don't really know what I'll be singing yet...but visit freewebs.com/crayonsandcocktailsevent if you'd like to come!

I'll be back to update soon!

I canNOT believe how quickly the days are passing! I just returned from Disney World for my Spring Break vacation! I had a wonderful time with my family and boyfriend. At the beginning of the week, I found out that Daniel (my boyfriend) hadn't seen one of my favorite movies of all time- Monster's Inc...so I went on a hunt to find the movie! Believe it or not, finding Monster's Inc. in Disney world is ridiculously hard to do! We park-hopped and wandered around for hours trying to find it, and finally found it just before midnight in Downtown Disney.

Spring Break brought about more than Cinderella and High School Musical, however. Finding healthy food at a theme park is nearly impossible...so my weight loss plan has hit a little bump. BUT, I'm back up and running now that I'm back in town! I think this is one of the parts of the Miss America process that is admirable: perseverance. Becoming Miss Virginia isn't all gowns and crowns- it's hard work and dedication. Pushing through the bumps in the roads and not giving up is what it's all about! (Even when that brownie looks like it will solve all my problems...)

These next few weeks will be full of preparations for the Miss Virginia Workshop on April 5th. I need to get all my paperwork together (pictures, a resume, a platform statement, etc.) and ready for the judges to look at! My first impression will be on paper, so I'm spending a lot of time on the little stuff. :)

Miss Virginia is only about 3 months away! CRUNCH TIME!!

*Shannon*

It's been over a month since I was crowned Miss Virginia Beach 2008 and I thought it'd be good for me to keep a little journal of how I am preparing to reach my goal of being Miss Virginia 2008!

I have been working VERY hard trying to get in shape for swimsuit and being the most fit I can be. Going to the gym everyday is NOT easy- especially considering my schedule! BUT, I'm doing it! I am beginning to work with a personal trainer and have already started seeing huge results! I have a hard time eating right because I'm a junk food junkie, but I've been very proud of myself for eating my fruits and veggies! I am very excited about improving my health along with my SS score!

Also, I am working with the Director of Vocal Performance at CNU in order to perfect my talent! I've been trained in classical music for almost 11 years, but there is ALWAYS room for improvement and learning! I think we've settled on a song...but I'm going to keep it a secret for now!

Last, but certainly not least, I'm working with a FABULOUS interview coach. I worked with her before Miss Virginia Beach and she helped me win the Interview portion of that pageant! I actually really enjoy the interview portion, however, so I'm not dreading it too much.

I'll be writing periodically to keep everyone updated on my progress (and to keep myself accountable)! Thanks to all my AMAZING support systems so far- my VB directors, my mom, my friends, and my boyfriend! I love you all and wouldn't accomplish my dreams without you!

*Shannon*