Almost Here!!!

It is so hard to believe that the Miss Arkansas Pageant is just one week away! The first night of preliminary competition will begin next Wednesday at 7:00pm in Hot Springs, AR. I hope you have your tickets because you won't want to miss a single minute of this years pageant. I will be leaving this Saturday to prepare for the Arrival ceremony that will take place Sunday at 2:00pm. If you're in the Greater Hot Springs area, you should also make plans to attend that. It is open to the public and this year will take place in Horner Hall in the Convention Center. Also, if you are unable to attend the pageant, you can still watch both the preliminary competition and the final night online. Just go to www.missarkansas.org and you'll find the live streaming link on the home page.

Just a fair warning, I'll be putting out quite a few blogs over the next week. I can't promise one everyday, but I'm going to try to keep you updated as much as possible. It is such a wonderful feeling know that all of my preparations are coming to a close and the competition is about to commence. I truly feel ready! I am eager to spend my week in Hot Springs giving it all I've got to give in the hopes that I will have the opportunity to represent my home state. I have been given so much from my family and friends in Arkansas and I hope to make you all proud next week!

 Saturday night at Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen!

So it's about time for some updates! I've been feverishly preparing for next week for quite some time now, and much of my preparation culminated in an exhausting but extremely helpful week of Bootcamp courtesy of my fabulous director, Marrietta Jerome. The second week in June my pageant sisters and I all headed to Blytheville for a week of intensive state pageant preparations. We practiced all of our on-stage competition during the early morning hours before visiting with local civic organizations over lunch. This year we were invited to entertain and speak at the Lyons, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs of Blytheville.

 Singing to a great audience!

 One of our club visits!

 Gifts for state from our great directors!

I've taken the following information from our very own Miss Arkansas, Kristen Glover's, blog. It is some things you should be aware of for the upcoming week! Also, be sure and check out her blog. She has some great videos from former Miss Arkansas titleholders in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the pageant. You can view her blog at http://secondchanceskg.blogspot.com. 

-For those who are unable to join us, you may  view the pageant live via webcast by visiting www.missarkansas.org/live

-On Wednesday and Thursday, July 11 and 12, Junior High and High School spirit squads are invited to attend the Preliminary competition for free! Spirit squad members must wear their uniform / team gear in order to receive complimentary admission.

-On Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14, fraternity and sorority members will be able to attend the final night of Preliminary competition and the crowning night for free! Greek members are asked to wear their letters or pins in order to gain complimentary admission.  

- Judging / Auditing Seminar-- Miss Arkansas

Saturday, July 14, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

Hot Springs Convention Center, Hall D

$10.00 fee

-Vote for your favorite contestant in the Tony Bowls/Mon Cheri People’s Choice.  Jason Masters and Tony Bowls provided a photo shoot for all Miss Arkansas contestants, which can be viewed at http://www.missarkansas.org/photoshoot2012.htm.  Each vote cast is $1.00, and the winner will be awarded a cash scholarship on Saturday.  Voting closes on Friday, July 13. 

·        -As they have done the past three years, Dillard’s in Hot Springs will sponsor a “Miss Arkansas’ Shopping Diva Award.”  Contestants are asked to encourage their friends and family to shop at Dillard’s in Hot Springs Mall during pageant week.  A log book will be located in customer service, where friends and family will log purchases under their contestant’s name.   The contestant with the most sales at the end of the week will win the $300 Dillard’s wardrobe! The new Miss Arkansas will be awarded a minimum $500 wardrobe from Dillard’s in Hot Springs.  However, the wardrobe prize could be much larger!  For every $500 spent by Miss Arkansas patrons during pageant week, Dillard’s in Hot Springs will add $100 to the wardrobe prize package.  Last year Kristen Glover, Miss Arkansas 2011, won $3,500 in merchandise! 

-Plan to purchase your flowers at the Miss Arkansas Pageant through the Miss Arkansas Executive Directors’ Association Booth!  Also, they will sponsor a Crowd Favorite Award.  Support your favorite contestant with $1.00 per vote.  All proceeds go to scholarships for next year’s Miss Arkansas contestants.