Caroline Bright

School is Done: It's Miss America Time!

2011-12-20T15:01:00.002-05:00

The academic semester is finally, finally over.
I am so relieved to be done with being a full time undergraduate student, and very excited about the opportunities that a light course load will afford in the Spring.
Making the transition from state titleholder to college student wasn't the easiest thing (as many of my Miss America classmates can understand), but it had to be done and I'm just so glad my degree is almost complete.

Now that the Fall 2011 semester is in the past, I can completely throw myself into things that are much more exciting- ie, the holidays and Miss America 2012!

On Christmas day I'll be up early opening presents with my family (my youngest brother is 8, so we're still up by 6am) and then by 9:30pm I'll be landing at the airport in Little Rock, Arkansas to spend the night of Christmas with Dillon and his family. We'll spend New Year's Eve with some dear friends, and then 10 days later Dillon and I will be on our way to Las Vegas for Miss America 2012!

To say I am excited would be an incredible understatement. I've been so excited for everything that's coming over the next few weeks that I've literally be struggling to sleep at night. I'm just that pumped up!

Last year at this time, I was getting ready to leave and compete at Miss America 2011, and I never imagined that a year later I would be even more excited to attend Miss America 2012. I'll get to see my pageant family, actually have a chance to enjoy Las Vegas, and best of all, Dillon will be there with me. He's taken on some new responsibilities for the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization recently, and I'm so excited for him to meet volunteers from around the country as he begins this new phase of his involvement with the MVSO.

I simply cannot wait to be reunited with my Miss America sisters in Las Vegas. As I've said countless times, the best part of this organization is the friendships that are made. The worst part is that all of your best friends end up living far away across the country! I have missed so many girls for the past 11 months, and I think I might actually cry with joy when I get to see them in a few short weeks.

I also have some dear, dear friends who are competing to become Miss America 2012, and I can't wait to see them on that stage (and in the ballroom for visitation!). It's a funny thing - when I was on the outside of the pageant community, these young women were just Miss States with sparkly crowns who are competing for another one, and all I knew about them was the state they came from. I'd cheer for them based on my state affiliations (I'm obviously from Vermont, but I have family in Georgia, and there's always New England solidarity that comes into play) but now I find that I can't let simple state affinities determine who I want to become Miss America. I KNOW these girls.

Ann-Blair has a zany sense of humor, an awesome personality, and is whip smart...and she's Miss Kentucky. Kayla always has the BEST dresses, just enough edge to be wicked cool AND glam at the same time, and an unshakable faith...and she's Miss Nebraska. Katie loves her family, a unique form of dance, and my favorite author...and she's Miss Vermont. Then there are all of the other state titleholders I've admired from afar for their humor, beauty, dedication and obvious intelligence.

These are young women I've known for years, and women I hope to know better. I'm cheering them on because they are my friends...who happen to be Miss States.

I'm going to be COMPLETELY freaking out in the audience on January 14, 2012... and I can't wait!

Perfect examples of friends I can't wait to see!

As Emoly and Brittany (both now engaged!!) look gorgeous, Jacquie and I look...well...

With Kayla Batt, Miss Nebraska 2011, back when she was Miss Omaha

With Ann-Blair Thornton, Miss Kentucky 2011. Sisters in every way that counts!

How To Be a Good Retail Customer

2011-11-07T22:47:00.000-05:00

I've worked in retail consistently for the past four years, and I really enjoy it. It's satisfying when you can find a customer exactly what she's looking for for that date/interview/new job she has coming up. It feels like victory, and I like it.

With the holiday shopping season upon us, I thought I'd share a few tips on how you can be a good retail customer. Do these things and the staff at every store will LOVE you.

1) If you're looking for something, like a specific dress for an event or even for things in a general category, ask for help! The people who are working in the store spend a LOT of time there, so they have a pretty good idea of where everything is. Simply taking up a sales associate on their offer of help can save you tons of time.

2) After trying things on in the fitting room, you don't need to put the items back out on display. In fact, we'd prefer it if you let us do it. We'd also prefer if you don't leave the clothes inside out and crumpled up on the floor.

3) If you're at the register and the person ringing you up asks if anyone on the staff helped you, tell them who helped you out! Even if you can't remember his/her name, when they ask you this it's because the sales person is being paid based on commission. Give them the credit they deserve.

4) The people working in retail stores are generally not trying to sell you on something you don't like. Trust them to help you find things you'll like, because they're the ones who lose points if you don't like it and return it later. Our bosses pay attention to things like that. Besides, most sales people genuinely want to make your life better by helping you find the right product.

How I Learned To Love My Body

2011-10-19T10:22:00.000-04:00

"This post is part of the 2011 Love Your Body Day Blog Carnival" For more information, click here.

I learned to love my body by competing at Miss America.

I, like many other women (and people involved in pageantry generally), have mixed feelings about the swimsuit competition. There's something that feels very weird about being scored on stage while wearing a bikini and high heels. At the same time though, until I competed on stage in a swimsuit I was too self conscious to go swimming in public, and afterward I was comfortable in a bathing suit. (If you're interested in reading my pre-Miss America swimsuit post, click here.)

Though I had my reservations, the swimsuit competition ended up being one of the most empowering things I've ever done.

Because of it, I learned how to work out properly, how happy I felt after exercising, and I learned that absolutely no one's body is actually flawless.

Backstage at Miss America, it's hard not to compare yourself to other people. After all, you're standing in a group of 53 of the most attractive, accomplished, talented women in America and you're all pulling on black bikinis to go on stage in front of thousands of people.
When I looked around at the women I was standing near, they all looked gorgeous...and I noticed how completely different their body types were. Most of them didn't look like Victoria's Secret runway models...in fact, they looked fit, healthy and happy.

The swimsuit competition at Miss America proved to me that it really isn't about your dress size, but it IS about your self confidence. It's about a confidence that comes from knowing that you're healthy, you're fit because you worked hard, and you're proud of your body.

At Miss America, I definitely didn't have the smallest dress size, but I felt awesome on that stage.
I ended up standing between two women who were close to six feet tall - they were tanned, gorgeous, kind, and were naturally very thin (Oh, and did I mention they're also two of my friends?). In between them, I could have felt short, dumpy, and self conscious, but instead I felt awesome and happy about my fitness level.

You don't have to conform to specific measurements or expectations to be beautiful, but you DO need to be healthy. Confidence comes from inside of you - and trust me, you'll never find self confidence just by looking in a mirror.

Everyone's body is different. Everyone's body is beautiful... and self confidence is the key to letting that beauty shine.

Oh, and the two contestants I stood between?

Jaclyn Raulerson, Miss Florida 2010

Kacie West, Miss Montana 2010

Stuff My Professors Say: We're Not Cool, but We'll Survive

2011-10-19T09:28:00.000-04:00

If you're read my posts on this blog from before my days as Miss Vermont, you'll know that during the school year I write a series of posts called "Stuff My Professors Say". When I look like I'm taking notes in class, I'm actually writing down hilarious things my professors say - which frequently have very little to do with the subject at hand.
This semester I have one professor in particular who makes me laugh all class long... I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

"And the Democrats, I don't know why, because they're Democrats - handled this very skillfully."

"Everybody interprets the Constitution. Snooki interprets the constitution."

"I've been patted down. It's the kind of intimacy you don't expect til a third date."

"Running off $20 bills in your basement does not count as freedom of the press."

"Religious crackpots? Go to America! Too many criminals? Send 'em to America! You know, Georgia was essentially a giant penal colony..."

"There's nothing that brings a family together like a will."

"There might be a few people in Congress operating a taco or two short of a combo meal, but not most of them."

"Let's stop drinking...let's let women vote...let's start drinking...I'm not suggesting causality there..."

"We all cool? Well, we're not cool, but we'll survive."

"And when mom and dad were dealing meth, it wasn't a good idea. It got me through college, but it wasn't good."

"For those of you who have been on an intergalactic cruise, the test is Monday."

"I see many of you scribbling away - if you keep that up, you're going to make the desk smoke. Stop it. We're not doing anything important yet."

*Screams are overheard from the next classroom. Professor X finishes his point, then leaves the room*
"You alright in there?" *Comes back into the classroom* "Economics is just so exciting!"

"Bring food to class. It makes it more seminar like if you eat and crinkle paper - I like that."

"Am I getting too excited? I get into this stuff. It's sad."

"We have Texas Roadhouse and Lady Gaga, they have Leonardo DaVinci and the Roman Baths."

Character Matters/ Authenticity is All

2011-10-04T18:50:00.003-04:00

On September 26th, I had the honor of being the keynote speaker for the Enosburg Falls High School's National Honor Society induction ceremony. I was excited because 1) I love public speaking, and 2) NHS was a big part of my life during high school, so I was pumped to be a part of these students' experience. I spoke about the four values of the National Honor Society - Leadership, Scholarship, Service, and Character - telling the students that though all four are important, the most critical is character.

"Character is the force within each individual which distinguishes that person from others. It give each one individuality. It is that without which no one can respect oneself or hope to attain the respect of others. It is this force of character which guides one though life and, when once developed, grows steadily. Character is achieved and not received. It is the product of constant action, daily striving to make the right choice. The problem of character is the problem of self control. We must be in reality what we wish to appear to others. By demonstrating such qualities as respect, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship, we may hope to prove by example that we value character." NHS Character Statement

What is it to lead others if you can't earn their respect with your actions? What is a flawless GPA worth if you cheat to get it? How is it service to others if you're doing it for the wrong reasons? The core values of the National Honor Society all come back to character.

My favorite line from that passage is, "We must be in reality what we wish to appear to others.", because it is just so true! Success in pageantry, success at work, or success with your family isn't achievable if you aren't genuine and authentic.

I told the students at EFHS that the best advice I could give them is that they should work to be who they truly are, because that's when they'll shine.

The past few months have been all about learning who I am (as cliche as that sounds, I really mean it) in this brave new post-titleholder year existence.
Readjusting to daily classes, a regular job, and the reality that I never have to wear "honey wheat" colored high heels with a bikini again is definitely a process - it hasn't happened overnight.
It's involved a new haircut (yes, I totally pulled an Emma Watson), slowly getting back into the groove of nailing 6 page essays, and figuring out how to balance "college life" with "real world life".

I'm excited to see how this goes!

Mr. Ostrander

2011-09-05T18:46:00.000-04:00

Though I didn't play an instrument in high school, I was in the musical for five years and part of the Lighting Booth for three. Mr. O was the Pit Band and Music director for our shows, and he was also the director of all things technical for the theatre. I'll never forget experiencing his frustration and anger (the mythical "Wrath of O") when I was playing Kim Macafee in "Bye Bye Birdie" my sophomore year. It was the week before the show and I STILL didn't have my lyrics completely memorized. Mr. Ostrander was very, very, very clear that I needed to memorize them, and fast... he MAY have gestured violently with his conductor's baton. You'd better believe I learned them RIGHT AWAY.

After the musical that year, Mr. O must have forgiven me because when I timidly asked him on the last day of school if I could join the Lighting Booth team, he said yes. Until that point, there had never been a female member of the booth and it definitely shook things up for the "Booth Boys". My senior year, he took it even further and appointed me Booth Boss, though he knew I already had a zillion other extracurricular commitments that year. He had faith that I could somehow lead the Booth AND play Belle in Beauty and the Beast at the same time, even when I wasn't sure. And you know what? With a lot of help, we pulled it off.

The following is a piece that a high school classmate of mine wrote about our incredible band teacher, Brooke Ostrander. It perfectly sums up what so many of us have been thinking and feeling over the past few days as we learned of Mr. O's illness and then his passing on Saturday night.

Brooke Ostrander had lived an entire life by the time I walked into his classroom with a confidence undeserved of any seventh grader.

Mr. O was an institution; a legendary pillar of the school; a man who we all knew before any of us had ever met him.

We knew the sorts of things that any large collection of seventh graders pretend to know about anything or anyone. We knew that he was tall, bald, smoked a pipe, and would kill students who made mistakes.

The story that we assumed to know was that he had been a rock star in New York. He helped form the band we now know as KISS, left the band when lawyers prevented them from actually making music and he moved to Montana. From there, the story goes that he moved to Vermont when he wanted to move back to the East Coast. Supposedly, he didn’t want to conduct anything resembling a Pep band, and MVU didn’t have football, so it made the school a perfect fit. We knew all these things, but we still did not know Mr. O.

I remember the first day I walked into his class. I was a big-headed, 12 year old saxophonist from Franklin. There is a frightening thing about tall people when you are 12, and despite having seen him before at dozens of concerts, we were all a bit terrified when he started talking to us.

He was calm and almost uninterested taking attendance; making no celebration over any one name, but focusing intently on each person who would timidly say, “Here…” He told us the rules of his class, rules that we would remember and use almost every day over the next six years. Then he gave us music and expected us to play it.

Thankfully, the surely horrifying sound of a room full of twelve-year-olds screeching through a musical piece with no practice, escapes my memory. However, I do remember the purpose was because Mr. O wanted to watch us. He wanted to see who counted rhythm in their head and who was a foot-tapper. As I remember it, this was not for any qualitative reason, but as he explained it, some people do, some people don’t; but the ones who do, will still be tapping their feet as long as they play music, and he found it interesting.

As our seventh grade year progressed, Mr. O switched me from saxophone to keyboard so I could play bass parts for the band, and when I got bored, he proposed I make the logical progression to French Horn (where I inevitably stayed until I graduated). He knew that the band had a need for French Horn, and he knew that I wanted something unique to attract attention.

Throughout my time at MVU, as I grew, so too did my respect for Mr. O. He was the only teacher who would pay a couple bucks to get in on my March Madness pool every year. He was the only person who could get away with smoking on school property. He was the teacher who laughed when I got caught leaving campus for Chinese food during the District Music Festival my Sophomore year, then told me to get him some food next time.

When I look back to remember what I loved most about having Mr. O as my teacher, I remember these things and I remember hundreds of random memories of class, the people I sat near, the songs we played, but certainly above all else, I remember smiling. Mr. O, had an uncanny ability to make anyone smile; not because he was a charmer, or a smooth-talker, far from it. He was unassuming as they come, dressed in corduroy and plaid, a man who encouraged straight-forward, self-provoked thought. People were happy in his class, because their individuality was accepted.

Just as he would watch us, free of judgment when seeing who was going to be a foot tapper and who was not, he would also watch with understanding upon seeing what type of people we were all growing into while in his classroom, and that freedom, created an atmosphere of smiling.

This was the magic of Brooke Ostrander that made the man a purely phenomenal teacher. Without pressure or influence, he allowed the individual to thrive while welcoming whatever person might have been created as a result.

I had Brooke Ostrander as my teacher in his final years at MVU. My senior concert was his final concert as director and there was a special reunion of past students. Hundreds were on stage to play one final song under the direction of Mr. O. Most of them had gone on to lives without playing music in a band. All of them were proud to be on stage for one final performance with their teacher, to show thanks for the man who taught them about themselves more than he did about music.

Mr. O was a magnificent man and teacher.

Recognizing that his greatest contribution was to that of the many individuals he touched on a personal level, rather than a musical one, it seems so perfectly fitting to me that he did in fact lead the band for so many years.

With a band, it is the gracious acceptance of selflessness and sacrifice that create beautiful music. One must cherish their own significance of the music they make, but have a greater appreciation for the collective music made by the band.

It is for this, that Brooke Ostrander was a great musician. In his many years of teaching, Mr. O selflessly sacrificed to make beautiful music. Of all his gifts, it was his appreciation for the talents of others that made his life rich and his song great.

To each of us, the memories we hold dear of this blessed man will be unique. The impact he had on every student, unique. But to me, there is no greater sentiment for a teacher, that I am sure most of his students share, than to say, that I am Me, because of him.

Thank you, Mr. O.

Wesley Gates Kempton

Moving On Up

2011-09-03T13:49:00.000-04:00

I move a lot.
Over the past five years, I've lived in three apartments, three dorm rooms, two family homes, one sorority house, and I've stayed at what seems like countless hotels/motels/host homes and friend's houses. As you might assume, I've gotten pretty good at packing an overnight bag, a suitcase, and my car.

This weekend has been yet another moving weekend! Since Thursday, Ashley, Katie and I have been working on moving in to our new apartment in downtown Burlington. And when I say that "I" have been working on it, what I really mean is that Dillon has been working on it. Bless that boy- he's been setting up my room, doing the grocery shopping, and cleaning things while I've been busy at school and work. He's a really great person...and he'll be well compensated with stir fry tonight when I get home!

For those of you who've been paying attention, Ashley is my globetrotting friend-since-middle school (and partner in crime) turned Miss Vermont Business Manager, and Katie is Miss Vermont 2011! In between organizing the kitchen and cleaning things, they've been coordinating Katie's appearances and I've been offering advice about drive times and making lists of things we still need to buy (end tables for the sofa, garbage can for the bathroom).

Having an apartment downtown is massively helpful during the school year. This is my final year as an undergraduate (hopefully!), and between classes and work on Church Street, the commuting at crazy hours would really take its toll. Home base is still in Franklin County, but it's definitely convenient to have a crash pad closer to campus.

Tonight we're hopefully having a little bit of a housewarming party -that might include assembling furniture- and I'm so looking forward to seeing friends!

My Last First Day of School

2011-08-29T19:50:00.001-04:00

After 18 years of a formal education that has included public schools, private schools, homeschooling, unschooling, international schools, and classes at four different colleges... as of today, I'm finally in the homestretch.
Today was my last first day of school (unless I attend graduate/ law school in the future, which is definitely a possibility) and it was totally weird to sit in a classroom again, after a year of spending my time "Miss Vermonting" instead of attending regular class. The freshmen looked so young (I like to forget that was 17 when I was a freshman in college. I was a BABY!), many of the guys were simply bro-tastic, and one of my professors forgot we had class today. It was SO college.

My college experience has been a little bit unorthodox, to say the least. I transferred to Saint Mike's as a Junior, and so far my experience there has been fantastic! It's included two internships in political offices, a year as Miss Vermont, the addition of two minors (Religious Studies and History) to my Political Science major.

My schedule for this semester includes American Constitutional Law, Senior Seminar: US Foreign Policy, Traditional East Asia, and American Revolution.

Back in Pageant Land

2011-07-20T16:02:00.003-04:00

I spent most of last week venturing back into a magical place that I somehow (very mistakenly) thought that I had left for good- pageant land.
When I crowned Miss Vermont 2011, I thought that my days of false eyelashes, heavy makeup, four inch stilettos, and rhinestones were behind me for a while...thank goodness I was wrong! What I'd forgotten was that some of my very dearest friends were on their own adventures in pageant land, and I couldn't wait to be there to see them!

We attended Miss Arkansas prelims on Wednesday and Thursday, and I was SO excited to see a wonderful friend, Alyse Eady, Miss Arkansas 2010. She gave me a shoutout on stage on Tuesday night, and I couldn't believe that Miss Arkansas was mentioning me during her moment on stage...sometimes I still get starstruck by people and moments in this Miss America family. It was great to see Alyse and to get to meet my Chi Omega sisters who were competing for the Miss Arkansas crown- Sloane, Maegan, and Dorothy- you made our sisterhood very proud!

On Friday morning, Dillon and I hit the road by 6 AM to make it the second night of Miss Kentucky prelims. As you might know if you've been reading my blog for a while, one of my best friends in the entire world is Ann-Blair Thornton. You can read about my trip to Miss Kentucky 2010 here and you can learn all about my friendship with Ann-Blair here. This was my third year attending Miss KY to cheer for Ann-Blair, and I was brimming over with nerves and the hope that this would be her year to walk home wearing the crown.

She rocked her talent on Friday night, and on Saturday I kept my nerves in check by meeting some of our Chi Omega sisters before the pageant, and because Miss New York 2010, Claire Buffie joined us to cheer for AB as well!

Last year, the Miss Kentucky family adopted me as one of their own and was SO supportive for my entire year as Miss Vermont- I was so happy to be back with my "Kentucky Family" as my mom calls them!

As I told many people, I was so nervous on Saturday night- I wasn't even that nervous at Miss America! When Jenna Day (who is incredibly talented and an all around lovely person, by the way) was announced as the First Runner Up, I leapt out of my seat and cheered at the top of my lungs because Ann-Blair had just won the title of Miss Kentucky 2011.

I am just so very proud of her- Ann-Blair truly represents everything that Miss America is all about, and in addition she is a hilarious person and a wonderful friend. Here's an excerpt from the article she wrote for our Chi Omega National magazine about our meeting at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2007:

"In 2007, I began my pursuit of the latter and captured the title of Miss Kentucky’s Outstanding Teen. A few months later, I found myself in Orlando competing for the honor of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, the little-sister program to Miss America. Little did I know, it was not the thrill of a national competition, a 17-year dream coming true, or the excitement of the glitter and bright lights that would make this experience memorable. Rather, it was here that by fortuitous circumstance I met my best friend, Miss Vermont’s Outstanding Teen 2007, Caroline Bright."

Check out the video of her crowning- you can hear how excited the crowd was (and appreciate her totally adorable reaction) for her win!

Post Miss Vermont Life

2011-06-30T17:39:00.000-04:00

On June 24th, I turned 21. On June 25th, I gave up my job as the reigning Miss Vermont. On June 27th, I hit the road with Dillon and headed to Little Rock, Arkansas.

I've spent the past few days driving and riding in my beloved Volvo, traveling over a thousand miles. I've visited with Chi Omega sisters in Washington DC and Nashville, TN, driven through the Shenandoah National Park, and spent a lot of time processing the fact that I am no longer Miss Vermont.

And you know what? It's pretty sweet.

Though I will always be Miss Vermont 2010, it's nice to have the freedom to just be Caroline after 385 days of being Miss Vermont.

It's been so much fun reading Katie's tweets, facebook posts, and blog updates as Miss Vermont 2011- you can imagine how excited I was to crown my roommate of two years as my successor! I've enjoyed her posts because it's reassuring to know that the job of Miss Vermont is in good hands.

The past few days have been the start of a month of unwinding after a year of constant appearances, 4am- 12pm days, tons of hair spray, and loads of Maple products. It's finally time to relax!

On Saturday I'll be attending Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen (where I'll get to visit with my Miss America sisters Alyse (Arkansas), Claire (New York), Pauli (Iowa), and Nicole (Tennessee)) and on Sunday I'll head to the Cayman Islands with Dillon and his family- post Miss Vermont life is looking pretty good from here. :)

Miss Vermont 2010 Farewell

2011-06-25T20:00:00.002-04:00

For those of you who couldn't make it to South Burlington tonight, I wanted to share my farewell video with you- thank you for an amazing year!

I Have Been Changed For Good

2011-06-25T07:11:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe, but the time has come for me to post my last blog entry as the reigning Miss Vermont.

This weekend, and this year, have been truly extraordinary. Yesterday (as some of you might know) was my 21st birthday! It was truly wonderful to be able to spend the day with our contestants and volunteers- birthday wishes and gifts were flying everywhere, we had the MOST amazing cake from The Little PurpleCake Shoppe (check them out on Facebook!), and delicious food from Bevo and the Cosmic Bakery and Cafe, but what made the day so special for me was being able to look around the room and see so many people who have shaped my life in unbelievable ways.

When I won the title of Miss Vermont 2010 last year, I didn't cry... I was too excited, and when I'm on stage performing, no matter how intense the emotion is, I tend to not be overwhelmed by it. Last night during dress rehearsal, while singing my farewell song for my director, Sue, I cried for the first time during a public performance. On the bright side, she was crying too, and not because I sounded pitchy! Singing the words of Wicked's "For Good" on the Miss Vermont stage, being able to sing it to these incredible people who have made me who I am- well, my voice cracked here and there.

When thinking about passing on the title of Miss Vermont to our 2011 titleholder, I'm reminded of a line from St. Theresa's prayer (which is so fitting, given our Miss America's name, and the fact that Sue shared this with me!),

"May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you."

The gifts that I have received this year have been more than I could have ever minagined, and the love I have experienced has been immeasurable. Serving as Miss Vermont 2010 has been the honor of my life- and it is an experience that has changed me for good... And definitely for the better.

Thank you so much to EVERYONE who has been a part of my year of service to the MVSO and to Vermont... You've helped to make me who I am today, and I am eternally grateful.

Miss Vermont Job Description

2011-06-20T04:48:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder what the judges at the Miss Vermont competition are looking for when they're scoring the contestants? This is the job description that all of the judges are instructed to keep in mind throughout the competition.

The Face of the Miss Vermont Scholarship Program – The vast majority of Vermont residents who have any contact with Miss Vermont will have such contact through a photo in a magazine or newspaper, her blog or Facebook entries, or through her appearance at event’s in the State’s communities, schools, and local television and radio stations. When someone sees Miss Vermont, she must generate a positive reaction for the organization. All of the constituencies she serves must look at her as a woman who “is” Miss Vermont and potentially Miss America. She must represent the best of contemporary women between the ages of 13 – 17 for Outstanding Teen, and 17 – 24 for the Miss Vermont’s, in her look as well as in her dress, mannerisms, and demeanor. The youth of our nation must be able to find her as someone to whom they can relate; but, at the same time, she must present a professional image when called upon to meet with corporate sponsors, elected officials, and leaders in the For-Profit and Non-Profit communities. Her charisma and dynamic personality must come through in every encounter she has as Miss Vermont. She must be a woman who possesses that “it” factor that everyone recognizes, but finds hard to define. In order to accomplish these tasks she must be “Comfortable in her own skin,” confident, perceived as “real” and “natural,” and she must be true to whom she is as a person.

The Voice of the Miss Vermont Program – The second largest group of Vermont residents who will come in contact with Miss Vermont are those who hear her speak (whether in-person or through the media). As the voice of Miss Vermont, she must be able to promote and market the Miss Vermont Program and the Miss America Organization directly when asked to do so and indirectly as part of her normal schedule. She must be able to verbalize the goals and the vision of the Miss Vermont Program. She must be able to motivate people from every age range and socio-economic background to action and they must walk away feeling that having heard Miss Vermont speak made a difference for them at that moment in time. She needs to be able to serve as a sincere, committed advocate for the issue she has chosen to address during her year as Miss Vermont; but, she must also be able to serve as a sincere and committed advocate for other causes deemed important by the Miss Vermont and the Miss America Organization. Throughout her year, she will sometimes appear on behalf of, as well as promote, “Children’s Miracle Network.” CMN is a partner with the Miss America Organization and Miss Vermont as well as Miss America will make a tremendous impact on all three programs because of her commitment to this cause. Therefore, she should also be able to sincerely and confidently promote the values and mission of this worthwhile organization. (In regard to this aspect of the job description, the judges will focus more on the contestant’s abilities and skills to serve in this capacity and not on the amount of knowledge the contestant has retained regarding CMN. However, common sense will tell you that the contestant must be aware of the partnership and the role she will play as Miss Vermont and Miss America.) She will receive adequate training and background information necessary to do this portion of her job, if she is selected Miss Vermont 2010. She should be willing to embrace this new-found opportunity to impact the lives of others. She must also fulfill all contractual obligations involving special events, speaking engagements, personal appearances, autograph sessions, Red Carpet/VIP Events, Media interviews, and all other events/appearances deemed necessary by the Miss Vermont Scholarship Program.

The Talent of the Miss Vermont Scholarship Program – The talent phase of competition differentiates the Miss Vermont and Miss America organizations from other programs like it. It also assists in differentiating the contestant who should be Miss Vermont from the other contestants competing for the title. Miss Vermont is expected to be talented. While the opportunity for her to perform her talent, whatever it may be, is rare; the reality is that even if she is called upon only once during her year as Miss Vermont to perform her talent, it must be good. The moment a Miss Vermont performs her talent, the credibility of the Miss Vermont and Miss America organizations is put on the line. While she may not be the most talented contestant, she must be talented.

Volunteer Job Expectations: Miss Vermont is “on-call” twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week for the duration of her time as Miss Vermont. While there will be scheduled days off, those days will not be scheduled with any particular regularity. Miss Vermont will find that there are days with limited to no obligations and she will find days in which she is scheduled for appearances from four to eight hours. Miss Vermont must understand that her position as Miss Vermont is for an entire year and she is always in the public eye. While this intense schedule may seem exciting in the first few weeks, the reality is that, in order to be successful, she must approach her volunteer position with that same excitement for the duration of her year as this organization’s state representative. The role of Miss Vermont is only limited by the capabilities and the desires of the woman who wears the crown of Miss Vermont. The reality is that there are many people throughout the state who will never forget the day they met Miss Vermont. The woman who wears the crown of Miss Vermont must understand the role she plays in society. She must understand that everything she says and does, and everything she posts on line, will reflect, not only on only on herself, but on the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization. She will meet supporters and detractors and she must be able to treat them all with respect, humor when necessary, and with the finesse of a trained diplomat. There are non-profit corporate realities to being Miss Vermont and she must be able to meet those challenges in such a way that sponsors and potential sponsors see the Miss Vermont Scholarship Program as worthy of their time, their attention, and their corporate dollars. There are those people, especially children, who see meeting Miss Vermont as a very special moment. Miss Vermont must fully understand her potential impact on the State and must be able to push herself and the organization to live up to the responsibilities of being such a person and such an organization of influence. Miss Vermont, by the definition of her role in society, is a celebrity and as a result will be required to deal with the positive and negative effects of being such a celebrity. Miss Vermont needs to realize the influence a woman her age can and will have on the people who see her, hear her, and are changed by her. Her decisions on the way in which she approaches her role as Miss Vermont will have profound effects on her impact on the Miss Vermont Scholarship Program and the legacy she and the organization provide to the State of Vermont.

Keeping up Appearances

2011-06-18T07:56:00.000-04:00

With one week left as Miss Vermont (eeek!), I thought it was about time to update you all on the appearances I've been making for the last few weeks of my reign. I think it can be hard for some people who have never been Miss States to understand the full schedule that a State titleholder has... unless she blogs about it!
Just so you know, if you're interested in looking at the public events that have been on my schedule, and if you want to keep up with Miss Vermont 2011, you can check out the official MVSO appearance calendar here.

I kicked off the summer by riding in the Bennington Memorial Day parade...

(Bennington is 148 miles and 3 hours from my house...one way!)

A few days later, I attended the opening ceremonies for the annual state meeting of the Vermont Business and Professional Women's organization in Waterbury, then the next day I continued down I-89 to Brattleboro for the Strolling of the Heifers! There I judged the strolling heifer competition with a few local dignitaries and US Senator Bernie Sanders- we also competed in a hand milking competition! (They didn't use one of the heifers for that part!)

This is Popsicle. She likes to give kisses.

My two-handed-alternating-stream technique was admired.

With Senator Sanders

A couple of days later, it was back on the road and down to Chester, VT where I was lucky to stay at the Mountain Top Inn and attend the Vermont Grocer's Association reception. The next morning we all headed to Green Mountain National Golf Course in Killington for the VGA Scholarship Golf Tournament! At 7:30 am (!!) I sang the National Anthem, got to drive a golf cart, and helped to run the Frisbee Golf game at hole 3.

I cant believe they trusted me to drive this!

By 10 AM, it was time to hit the road again. I headed up to Essex to attend the Essex Rotary Golf Tournament (my very first appearance after I was crowned last year) where I sold raffle tickets and helped out hand out prizes at the end of the day.

I had the next day off, but by Friday, June 9th I was back in my trusty silver Volvo. I went to Montpelier for a meeting with the Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Chuck Ross, and then continued south to Chelsea, where I had the honor of being the Chelsea High School Commencement Speaker. I was so lucky to be a part of the charming graduation for the 14 member class of 2011. I spoke about how lucky they are to be from Vermont, that by giving to others they will achieve happiness, and that if they're who they really are, they'll shine.

The following day, I headed up to Franklin for the annual Haston Library Variety Show. My godfather, Bryant, puts it on and I've performed in it every year for the past seven years!

I sang Que Sera Sera and tested out my farewell song for Miss Vermont 2011!

I love meeting hometown fans!

They even let Arkansans perform at this thing- Dillon sang This Land is Your Land with a charming original verse about Vermont

My younger brother, William, was the stage manager. As you can see, he's SO impressed that his sister is Miss Vermont.

Total mileage for the appearances mentioned in this post: 1,136 Miles

Total drive time for the appearances mentioned in this post: 22 hours

Being Miss Vermont: Priceless

Change In All Things Is Sweet

2011-06-09T17:33:00.000-04:00

It's official- I've been Miss Vermont for more than a year.

It's not hard for me to believe that I've been our state's titleholder for 369 days (though sometimes I'm still amazed that I'm actually Miss Vermont), what's hard for me to fathom is the dramatic change that's about to take place in my life... In 16 days, I'm going to crown Miss Vermont 2011.

Sure, my life will change in obvious ways- no more crown wearing in public, no more autograph signing, and wearing evening gowns will be a once-a-year thing rather than a once-a-month thing, but the biggest adjustments that I'll be making will be much more subtle.

Every single day since May 5th, 2007, since even before I graduated from high school, a significant part of my energy, focus, ambition, and drive have been spent thinking about Miss Vermont. When I was Vermont's Outstanding Teen 2007, I thought about being the best Teen titleholder I could be, how I could help the organization and future titleholders, and how I could use what I was learning to someday be Miss Vermont. When I was a contestant, Miss Vermont was constantly present in my thoughts. Every decision, large and small, was made with my goal in mind- that I would someday be crowned Miss Vermont.

On June 5th last year, my dreams came true and my goal was realized. Every day since then, I've had no choice but to think about being Miss Vermont! Whether the day has been full of appearances, prep for Miss America, work, classes, or interning, I have spent it focusing on being the best Miss Vermont I could possibly be.

And as of June 25th, 2011... not anymore.

While I'll definitely volunteer for the organization, help our new titleholder as much as possible, and I know that this experience has forever shaped who I am, it's still challenging to wrap my head around the idea that in 16 days, being Miss Vermont will no longer be the focus of my existence.

And you know what? It's incredibly exciting.

I'm definitely sad, because change is scary and having this job has been the honor of my life, but at the same time, I'm so incredibly excited to find out who and what I'll be in a post-Miss Vermont world.

It's certainly not likely that things will slow down! In August, I'll be back to life as a full time student and working girl on top of my commitments to the many organizations I'm a part of (Green Mountain Girls' State, the SMC Bloggers, the Junior League of the Champlain Valley, the Make-A-Wish YPAC board and so many more) while plotting.... well, the rest of my life.

I have no doubt that these next few weeks will be challenging- so many strong, varied, and mixed emotions flying all over the place- but I know that the time has come for big changes to take place, and if being Miss Vermont has taught me anything, it's that change means growth... and growing up with this organization has been pretty sweet.

Spring Appearance Photos

2011-06-02T04:44:00.000-04:00

Serving food at the Maple Festival Pancake Breakfast

With young fans at the Maple Fest breakfast

With Governor Shumlin and a fan at the Maple Festival Breakfast

In the Paquin Auto Truck in the Maple Fest parade

With Burt and Bud Paquin, my vehicle sponsors fo the Maple Fest parade

With my representatives in the State Legislature, Gary Gilbert and Carolyn Branagan

With Alex Larrow at the Middlebury Relay for Life

Speaking at the MVUHS NHS induction ceremony

With Bri and Liz at MVU

Highbrow to Hoedown Variety Show

2011-04-29T08:54:00.000-04:00

Come one, come all!

Highbrow to Hoedown Variety Show

Saturday, April 30 at 7:00 PM

The Enosburg Opera House

99 Depot Street

Enosburg Falls, VT

An evening of singing, dancing, comedy, drama, and much, much more. Tickets are $10 at the door. All proceeds benefit Rural Partnerships, RHS, EFHS, MVU, BFA, the BJQ Scholarship, and Madison's Fund.

"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything"

2011-04-21T18:24:00.000-04:00

The Bard certain said it best when he wrote "April hath put a spirit of youth in everything".
Though it's still rather chilly here in Vermont, we're all grateful to see the signs of Spring that are popping up all over- brave, bright, little flowers, high school softball and baseball games, fresh pedicures on freezing cold feet...

I'm also very, very, VERY grateful for the spirit of youth and enthusiasm that seems to come with this season. As a student, I've always found the spring semester to be more challenging in terms of workload, and this year I've discovered that as Miss Vermont it's exactly the same.

My schedule has been busier than ever, packed with days in the Speaker's office, Miss Vermont appearances, work, friends, and illnesses. It's been crazy and beautiful.

Today is a day that seems to be fairly typical. I've interned at the State House, visited Rite Aid and Kinney Drugs store for the Children's Miracle Network, and tonight I'll be working at an event at the Burlington City Arts Center (formerly the Firehouse Gallery). In between, I've been making and answering phone calls, emails, texts, tweets, and facebook messages- sometimes it feels like scheduling is half of what I do every day!

Spring is slowly becoming more of a reality here in Vermont... I can't wait to see what the warmer weather will have in store!

Metawee Mania: A Talent Extravaganza!

2011-04-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

One of the annual appearances for Miss Vermont is a yearly talent show called "Metawee Mania". It's held at the Metawee Community School in Pawlet, Vermont during the second weekend in March. Miss Vermont not only hosts the event every year, but she also gets to spend the entire weekend in Pawlet, hosted by the show's producer/director, Rod Hawkins and his family. She makes appearances at local businesses, visits with kids at the elementary school, attends show rehearsals, and it all culminates in MCing the talent show on Saturday night.

This year was a bit unusual, because it was my second time hosting Metawee Mania! Three years ago, when I was Vermont's Outstanding Teen, Miss Vermont 2007, Rachel Ann Cole, had a scheduling conflict and wasn't able to host the show itself, so I filled in. In the talent show's 11 year history, I am now the first person who has hosted twice!

Both times I've been down in Pawlet, I have been amazed by the caliber of talent and the level of professionalism that Rod ensures the show has. He works tirelessly to make sure that this fundraiser for the Community School's PTO is a successful one, and the packed house is a testament to his commitment.

I spent Friday visiting with students at the Metawee Community School, thanking sponsors with Deb, Rod's wife, and attending the show's dress rehearsal. Saturday morning was full of more sponsor visits with Luke (Rod's son, who'se my age), a quick spin into Manchester, and then the main event!

The guest room at the Hawkins' house has autograph cards from former Miss Vermonts all over the walls

At Mach's, I found our autograph cards from three years ago!

We stopped for a picture with some of Luke's friends, and they let me help them collect sap!

Miss Vermont's Guide to Vermont Town Names: Mix Up

2011-04-07T20:17:00.000-04:00

A few days ago, I went over a couple of town names that can cause embarrassment when pronounced incorrectly.

The locals are embarrassed for you, and you turn red because you've just shown them that you didn't have the courtesy to make sure you could say the name of their town correctly.

Another potentially humiliating situation can arise when you mix up the name of a town with the name of another town- one that is deceptively similar.

Miss Vermont's Guide to Vermont Town Names:

"You're in St. Albans, not St. Johnsbury. Does this look like the Kingdom to you?"

Poultney vs. Putney

Poultney is a town of roughly 3,500 people located in Rutland County. Famous residents include Ebenezer Allen, George Jones, and Oliver Cowdery.

Poultney, VT

Putney, on the other hand, is a town of about 2,600 people in Windham County. Its famous locals include George Aiken, Peter Shumlin, and Kevin Connors.

Putney, VT

Fair Haven vs. New Haven

Fair Haven has about 3,000 people, is located fairly close to Poultney, and is the home of The Marble Mansion Inn, where I recently enjoyed a lovely stay!

Fair Haven, VT

North of Fair Haven, New Haven is located in Addison County. Interestingly, it contains four different villages within the town- Belden, Brooksville, New Haven Junction, and New Haven Mills.

New Haven, VT

Bristol vs. Bethel
Near New Haven, you'll find the charming town of Bristol. In fact, kids from New Haven attend high school in Bristol!

Bristol, VT

Bethel is in Windsor county and is best known for its white granite, which was used to build Union Station in Washington D.C. and the National Museum of Natural History.

Bethel, VT

Miss Vermont's Guide to Vermont Town Names: Get it Right

2011-03-28T13:44:00.000-04:00

As I travel the State of Vermont, I am struck by many things. The beauty of our landscape, the wonderful people who live here, the amazing experiences that I get to have in small towns all over our state... and sometimes, I'm reminded that there are some very unique places in Vermont.

During a recent discussion with a friend from out of state (a "flatlander"), I found myself explaining the correct pronunciations of a few Vermont town names. Then I had to explain that Jamaica isn't just a tropical island, and when I say I'm from Georgia, I'm not telling you about my secret Southern past. A few days later, I realized that I'd been confusing two towns with similar names while discussing my upcoming appearance schedule. If I, Miss Vermont, am struggling with town names, I can't be alone.

So, this blog series is for all of you- Vermonters and flatlanders alike, so you don't end up embarrassing yourselves in a small town country store somewhere on Route 15.

Miss Vermont's Guide to Vermont Town Names:

"Pronounce it Right or They'll Know You're From Massachusetts"

Calais

If you've been to France, your first instinct is to pronounce this town's name as "Cal-eh" (rhymes with filet and chalet), right? Well, do that in this town of 1,500 and it'll be very clear that you're "not from around here".

Call the town "Cal-is" (rhymes with palace), and you're more likely to blend in.

Calais on Wikipedia

Barre

On June 5th, 2010 I was crowned Miss Vermont at the Barre Opera House. It's not the "Bar" (rhymes with car and jar) Opera House, but rather the "Barre" (rhymes with marry and carry) Opera House. Because it's the town I became Miss Vermont in, it will always have a special place in my heart.

Barre on Wikipedia

Charlotte

When my parents were deciding what to name me, the final two name choices came down to Caroline and Charlotte. I'm glad they picked Caroline, because in Vermont, Charlotte is a whole different word. The 3,500 people of this town (and hopefully everyone else who lives nearby) knows that when you're talking about that town between Shelburne and Ferrisburg, you're talking about CharLOTTE, not Charlotte. In this town's name, the emphasis is on the second syllable.

Charlotte on Wikipedia

Late Winter Appearances

2011-03-09T16:14:00.000-05:00

Since my return from Miss America, I've continued my adventures traveling all over Vermont. I've been North, South, East, and West speaking to groups both large and small, meeting more fantastic people, and participating in some really cool events.

Speaking at the Bennington Catamount Rotary

Listening to the reading of the resolution that the House passed in my honor- so incredible!

One of the coolest moments of my year

With Girl Scouts in Georgia, VT on Town Meeting Day

With Caisil and Sue at IHOP National Pancake Day

Judging the Mardi Gras costume contest!

With the Queen and King of Mardi Gras

Que Sera Sera

2011-03-07T20:42:00.000-05:00

While I was in Nebraska at Teresa's homecoming, I had the honor of performing at Gala events on Friday night and Saturday night. On the first night, Teresa's wonderful grandmother shared with me her love of my performance song, the Doris Day classic, "Que Sera Sera".
So, on the second night, Carmen (Teresa's tour manager), Ericka (Miss America 2004), and I teamed up to invite Teresa's grandparents to take the floor while I sang one of their favorite songs. They've been married for 58 years, and the entire time I was singing, I couldn't take my eyes off of them! In fact, at the very end of the song, you'll hear my voice go a little bit because I'd started crying. It was a really incredible moment as a performer, and such an honor to be able to have my friend's grandparents enjoy the song I had selected!

Hard Work If You Can Get It: Being Miss Vermont Rocks

2011-02-20T07:04:00.000-05:00

It seems like every time I encounter a challenge in this job (an illness, a frustrating experience), the universe provides a little reminder of why being Miss Vermont is the experience of a lifetime.

I wanted to share with you a few of the small moments that make everything I do as Miss Vermont completely worth it.

-A dad in Bennington who told me that his oldest daughter "hated" pageant girls before we met, but now thinks Miss Vermont might be ok, and that his youngest daughter danced up the stairs singing "tonight was a good good night" after we played Harry Potter Scene It together and talked about books.

-That same little girl gave me the last jam tart she'd made with her mom so that I'd have a snack to eat on the road.

-Being recognized at the St. Albans Rite Aid by a pharmacist I'd never met before, who said "We watched the pageant and we were just so proud of you!"

-Running into an elementary school teacher at the grocery store who told me "One of my students got to meet you and she can't stop talking about it! You're influencing these kids and I'm so glad."

-Arriving at a school to speak to an assembly and discovering they'd been studying Vermont recently, and there were three 5th graders who did a project on the current Miss Vermont! I have never felt like such a celebrity in my life.

I've written before that being Miss Vermont isn't all rhinestones, chiffon, and parades. In fact, though those things are fun and are definitely a part of my job, the majority of the time being Miss Vermont involves sweat, endurance, and living on the edge of your comfort zone.

When I decided to compete for Miss Vermont, I wasn't in it for the crown and the title- I wanted the job of Miss Vermont. After knowing Miss Vermonts 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 fairly well, I had a solid understanding of some of the less glamorous aspects of the job.

This job requires hard work every single day- and it's always worth it, every single day.

Earlier this month, I was in Bennington for a full day of appearances (One Rotary club and three schools-full post to come!), and by the end of the day, I was so exhausted that I started to run a fever- but I still had a four hour drive home.

I took some Advil, drank a bottle of Gatorade, and felt well enough to hit the road. For the whole drive, I thought about the kids I'd met that day, the Taylor Swift songs I'd been asked to sing, the supportive comments and generosity of the members of the Catamount Rotary....

Being Miss Vermont isn't always easy, but the people of this state always make it the best job in the world.

"This Is Caroline, She's Our New Intern"

2011-02-19T07:52:00.000-05:00

The week before I left for Miss America, I got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize. Since it was an 802 area code, I answered the phone.

"Caroline? This is Tom Cheney from the Speaker's Office."
"OH! HI TOM!"
"I've got some bad news.... we were hoping you'd be willing to come work with us at the State House."
"Wha- wait, REALLY?"

And so my internship experience began.

This semester, I'm not taking any classes on campus, but I am spending three days a week interning in the Office of the Speaker of the House in Montpelier.

Speaker Smith is always very clear that he's the leader of the House- not the majority party. Because of that, I'm able to maintain my nonpartisan role as Miss Vermont.

I have been having an absolute blast in the office! I love being at the State House with a real job to do, being around the legislators, and working on things that will support the work the Speaker does, and therefore benefit the people of the State of Vermont.

When I get to the office in the morning, I log on to the computer (with my State House network ID!), sort through emails, and start on the tasks for the day. These can be anything from drafting and revising press releases, adding information to spreadsheets (Tom is helping me master Excel), tracking down Legislators, answering the phone, drafting constituent responses, and more.

Tom is the Speaker's Aide (Chief of Staff... but he's the entire staff), and he's been a lot of fun to work with. Everyone in the office has been enthusiastic about the fact that I'm also Miss Vermont.

Fairly frequently, I have to leave the office early/ come in late/ not show up at all so that I can be at a Miss Vermont appearance. I am so grateful to be able to have such a cool internship in an environment where my commitment to being Miss Vermont is respected.

Colchester-Milton Rotary Presentation

2011-02-16T07:54:00.002-05:00

Miss Vermont, the Beauty Queen Feminist

2011-02-09T21:23:00.003-05:00

Jordan Kilty
Features Editor

It’s difficult for Caroline Bright to describe how she felt the moment her dreams came true, but if she had to, she would say it was like running into a wall and drinking ten Red Bulls as everything around her exploded into glitter.

This was the moment Bright, a senior at St. Michael’s College, was crowned Miss Vermont 2010 in June. Since then, her life has consisted of interviews, public speaking engagements and an appearance on national television where she and 52 other state titleholders competed at the Miss America Pageant Jan. 15 in Las Vegas.

Although Bright didn’t win Miss America—the title went to Teresa Scanlan from Nebraska—Bright said representing Vermont at the pageant was the greatest honor of her life.

“I would have these moments when I would think, ‘Oh, my God, I’m standing on the Miss America stage with all of these incredible women,’ and I would feel overwhelmed,” Bright said. “It felt so magical that it couldn’t possibly be real.”

Bright and the other contestants spent ten days in Las Vegas rehearsing dances, learning stage directions and shooting commercials. The contestants also participated in three nights of preliminary competitions before the actual pageant.

“In Vegas, you had to sleep whenever and wherever you could. I slept on the floor of the dressing room and on the stage, using my scarf for a pillow and the quilt Miss Missouri’s grandmother made,” Bright said, adding that it was the friendships she made that kept her going despite exhaustion and stress.

“The girls who compete at Miss America are so driven and ambitious and they are all fundamentally good people,” she said. “You can’t help but fall in love with them.”

Bright, who describes herself as a nerd who loves science fiction, politics and trivia competitions, said she wants to defy everyone’s expectations of what they think a pageant girl should be.

“When you roll in and you’re sarcastic and you’re down to earth and you start talking about Plato, people get confused. They have a hard time understanding that this blond girl with a crown can also be viciously intelligent. I competed in Miss America and I’m a feminist,” Bright said, explaining that she believes the pageant is about female empowerment.

Many feminists, however, have criticized the pageant for decades because it promotes narrow, conventional notions of female beauty, said Kimberly Swartz, director of the Center for Women and Gender.

“The dominant message of [Miss America] is that appearance is an achievement, and if you don’t live up to this then you are considered a failure,” Swartz said. While many point to the swimsuit portion of the competition as being anti-feminist, Bright said it’s meant to test contestants’ poise and confidence, only counting for 15 percent of the total score, while talent and interview count for 65 percent.

“The beauty of the Miss America Organization is that, sure, what you look like matters, but it doesn’t matter as much as how you articulate yourself and perform your talent,” Bright said.

The Miss America Organization is the largest provider of scholarships for women, granting $45 million in aid last year, according to its website. Bright received $3,000 in scholarships for participating.

“I have a lot of friends who scoff at the idea of pageants,” said Jennifer Neville-Bright, Bright’s mother. “I remind them that there are smart women and community activists who happen to have a crown. The crown doesn’t negate intelligence.”

Active in theater and student government in high school, Bright said she didn’t become interested in pageants until her senior year when her friend suggested the idea.

“I’m not someone who was involved in pageants at all growing up and it’s nothing I had ever considered for myself or for my daughter, but I’ve always encouraged Caroline to try new things,” Neville-Bright said.

After winning the Miss Vermont Outstanding Teen competition when she was 16, Bright knew she wanted to continue competing and ultimately become Miss Vermont.

“I competed for Miss Vermont in 2009 and I was first runner-up. My friends like to joke that I was Miss Almost Vermont,” Bright said.

When she competed again in 2010, she won the title Miss Vermont and a spot at the Miss America Pageant.

As Miss Vermont, Bright has driven over 13,000 miles in her silver Volvo, making appearances all over the state. She has spoken with schools and rotary clubs while promoting her platform, Rock the World-Run for Office, a campaign to encourage young people, especially women, to run for political office.

Bright said she feels strongly about her platform and hopes to run for the Vermont State Legislature by the time she’s 25, explaining that although she has taken an unusual path in life, her time as Miss Vermont has given her the confidence to follow her dreams.

“I’ve become a better person because of this experience,” Bright said. “I’ve figured out who I am and what matters to me the most. Just when I think things can’t get more incredible, they get better.”

Veni, Vidi, Vici

2011-01-23T11:18:00.000-05:00

I competed at Miss America.
Not only that, I was in the 90th Anniversary Miss America pageant.
And you know what? I had the time of my life, and I was able to return to Vermont feeling truly victorious.

Every day in Las Vegas, there were so many exciting experiences. From shooting commercials, to fashion shows, to rehearsals, to meals, to commercial shoots that were also meals, to competition nights, to time in the dressing room.... I had SO much fun at Miss America.

Not only did I have fun, but I felt excellent about on stage competition. I had the most confident swimsuit presentation of my life, I felt like a Hollywood starlet from the Golden Age in my evening gown, my talent song was the best I've ever performed it (in spite of being VERY sick), and based on what I've heard, my on stage question answer was solid.

Best of all, on finals night, I was able to watch my friends' dreams come true. As girls I'd come to love made the Top 15, Top 12, Top 7, and Top 5... I was disappointed for my friends who didn't continue on, but more than anything, I was filled with an overwhelming joy for the women who made it to the next round.

It would have been amazing to be in the Top 15 and to compete on national TV, but that night I honestly didn't think about how I didn't "make the cut". I was too busy being excited for the girls who did!

It can be easy to wonder about "what ifs", especially in the pageant world. With different judges, on a different night, you might have completely different results.
I can honestly say that I have no regrets about my Miss America experience. I wanted it, I worked for it, I performed to the best of my abilities, I represented my state, and best of all, I was absolutely, unapologetically and completely myself.

If you look at photos from that night, you'll see me grinning from ear to ear in every single picture. I couldn't help it! I was just so incredibly happy to be on that stage, watching magical moment after magical moment unfold.

During the commercial break right before the crowning, I turned to Miss Virginia and Miss New York and asked, "Is this real life?" It just didn't seem possible that we were actually present on stage for Miss America's crowning. Better yet, she wouldn't be a stranger- she'd be our Miss America.

Being Miss Vermont is the honor of my life so far, and holding the title isn't simply about competing at Miss America. It's about representing the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization, living our mission, supporting the Children's Miracle Network, promoting my platform, and changing minds about who 'pageant girls' are.

It blows my mind to think about the dramatic personal growth I have experienced because of this title, and I am looking forward to the next six months of serving my state and the MVSO as Miss Vermont.

Thank you to everyone who made my Miss America experience possible- I can't wait to see what the next six months of "Miss Vermonting" will have in store!

2011-01-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

That's what learning is, after all; not whether we lose the game, but how we lose and how we've changed because of it and what we take away from it that we never had before, to apply to other games. Losing, in a curious way, is winning.

Richard Bach

It's not about a crown

2011-01-15T04:13:00.000-05:00

"After all of this that it’s not about a crown, it’s not about a winner, it’s not about the judges, the clothes, the fleeting fame, the trip to Las Vegas, it’s about love."

-Mallory Ervin, Miss Kentucky 2009, 4th Runner up at Miss America 2010

These Girls

2011-01-11T11:51:00.000-05:00

This Miss America experience is completely blowing my mind- not because of the cool events we get to do, the exhaustion we're all feeling, or even because Marc Cherry and I talked about Nathan Fillion in my interview... I have been blown away by the amazing women that I'm sharing this experience with.

As I've gotten to know these girls over the past few days, I've been so inspired by their platforms, by their commitment to this program, by their beauty, and by their hilarious personalities. My Miss America class completely rocks!

I've been writing a lot recently about the love I've felt overwhelmed by as I prepared to leave for Vegas, and I've been amazed to discover that it's only continued to grow since I've arrived. The messages of encouragement and support I've been receiving via facebook, twitter, text, email, phone calls, and letters has kept me going. Your enthusiasm for this experience has inspired me in ways I couldn't have imagined a few months ago.

The women I am here with are absolutely what's making every tiring rehearsal, every makeup reapplication, and every high heel completely worth it. Talking with my roommate, Miss Hawaii about boys, politics, carrot juice, and hilarious pijamas... Discussing our most embarassing moments with Miss Virginia (little known fact: she played the tuba in high school), Miss Utah, Miss Montana, and Miss Illinois... Chatting about philosophy and God with Miss Nevada and Miss Virginia over lunch.... Learning more about Miss Iowa's platform, Miss New York's titleholder experience, and that Miss Arizona shares my taste in books...

This adventure is amazing, and it's because of the girls I get to go through it with.

I am immensely proud to be here representing the state I love, and I can't wait to see what tonight's preliminary competition has in store!

When We Truly Become Bright

2011-01-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

“We need less posturing and more genuine charisma. Charisma was originally a religious term, meaning "of the spirit" or "inspired." It's about letting God's light shine through us. It's about a sparkle in people that money can't buy. It's an invisible energy with visible effects. To let go, to just love, is not to fade into the wallpaper. Quite the contrary, it's when we truly become bright. We're letting our own light shine.”

Marianne Williamson

Miss America Bound: My Send Off Party

2011-01-03T09:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday afternoon, I had one of the most incredible experiences of my life so far.

Typically, before a Miss State leaves for Miss America, she and her organization will host a "send off" party. The titleholder will model her competition wardrobe, a few other outfits, perform her talent, and just have a party before she leaves for the big pageant.
On January 2nd, we held my send off party at the Firehouse Gallery, where I work as an event coordinator, and it was phenomenal.

I felt like I was living an episode of "This is Your Life" as my family, friends, volunteers and sponsors came through the door- I was amazed by how many people came, and it was so exciting to see so many people from different parts of my life all in one place.

As I performed my talent, answered interview questions and modeled my evening gown, I couldn't believe how much love I could feel emanating from everyone in the room. I was truly stunned by the overwhelming positive energy.

Before I became Miss Vermont, I never imagined that I could love this much. I didn't know that my heart was capable of being so full of happiness...

I haven't even gotten to Las Vegas yet, but preparing for the Miss America competition has already changed me in ways I could never have fathomed six months ago. It's shown me that at the end of the day, this experience isn't about the dresses, or the shoes, or the judges, or even about the crown and the title. It's about learning to love in a whole new way. It's about becoming more than you are- about pushing past what you think you're capable of and growing into a stronger, better person.

There aren't enough words in the English language to express how grateful I am to everyone who was able to be there yesterday, and to the many people who have been showing their support by voting online, and contacting me via facebook, twitter, text, and email.

Because of this experience, I'm growing into a better person than I ever thought I could be, and it's all for you- the people who have been so supportive and who are making this happen.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart... win, lose or draw, I'm ready to rock Miss America and show them what Vermont has to offer.

Pumpkin Muffins!

2010-12-29T21:18:00.001-05:00

After my recent blog post about my approach to the swim suit competition at Miss America, I've been overwhelmed and humbled by the amazingly positive response I've gotten from so many people!

It's reaffirmed my commitment to being absolutely myself at Miss America- in every phase of competition.

I've also gotten a lot of requests for my Pumpkin Muffin recipe!

Since I'm Miss Vermont, I try to use as many local and organic products in my recipes as possible- it's better for the environment, for the local economy, and for your body.

Here's my favorite recipe for delicious and healthy Pumpkin Muffins! Thanks to Cooks.com... I love the internet!

WHOLE WHEAT PUMPKIN MUFFINS

3/4 c. canned pumpkin
4 egg whites (ideally local and free range)
1/2 c. honey (local)
1/2 c. apple juice concentrate (I like to swap this for organic sugar free applesauce)
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. walnuts, chopped
1/2 c. raisins

Combine pumpkin, egg whites, honey, and apple juice concentrate. Add to combined dry ingredients in large mixing bowl. Mix until just blended. Stir in nuts and raisins. Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter into plastic muffin tray lined with paper liners. Bake on full power for 1 minute.

OVEN METHOD:

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour into muffin tins sprayed with non-stick. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Very good.

Let's Get Real: Swimsuit

2010-12-22T19:12:00.001-05:00

Heads up, dear readers, it's time for another Miss America Confession Post.

In 1921, the Miss America pageant was founded as a 'bathing beauties' competition. Since it's inception, swimsuits have been a big part of the Miss America tradition.
Over the years, the purpose of our organization has evolved, and today the Miss America Organization provides over $45 million in scholarships to young women across the country. Many contestants compete solely to help pay for their post secondary education, and in fact, Miss Vermont 2002 was able to graduate from college debt free because of the scholarships she won through Miss Vermont and Miss America.

Since 1922, beauty standards have also changed... and you'd better believe the swimsuits have too.

Miss America 1938

Miss America 2001

Miss America 2009

Here's where my confession comes in...

Throughout my time as a Miss Vermont contestant, I've always been extremely careful to prepare for swimsuit in a responsible, healthy, and role model worthy way. I eat healthily (lean proteins, whole grains, no soda, etc.) for the most part, and I took pilates classes and worked out regularly while preparing to become Miss Vermont.
I believe very strongly that titleholders are role models to the young women they represent, and I wanted to be a real, genuine, and healthy role model for girls in Vermont. No crash dieting or obsessive working out here.
Since winning the title, I've been working with the Poulin Performance team, and I am more physically fit than I've ever been in my entire life! I can run farther, carry more bags of groceries, and do more crunches than I've ever been able to before, and it feels great.

Recently however, I've really been struggling with my swimsuit preparations. Even though I'm in great shape, when I look in the mirror, I don't see a body that looks like Miss America 2009's.
So for the first time in my life, I intentionally changed how and what I was eating because I wanted to look a certain way.
And you know what? I felt terrible.
Physically, I felt fine- I was still getting all of the nutrients I needed, I definitely wasn't starving, and I felt more energetic thanks to the vitamins I began taking. (I'm sticking with those!)
Mentally though, it was tearing me apart- I felt incredibly unhappy, and not simply because my beloved pumpkin muffins were now forbidden to me.

For me, Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit (which is only 15% of your score, compared to Talent at 35% and Interview at 25%) has always been about being poised in an uncomfortable situation, and about showing the judges that I'm confident and comfortable in my own skin. It hasn't been about my dress size.

Today, I reached a breaking point. After hours on the phone with my mom (there were quite a few tears), I realized that I was so unhappy because I felt like a hypocrite. After years of telling anyone who would listen that I refused to give in to the pressure to be thin, I felt like I had betrayed my beliefs by choosing to dramatically modify my eating habits.
In my head, I suddenly heard Shakespeare's immortal words,

"This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."

By changing my approach, I wasn't being true to who I am. As I say in my "America's Choice" video (VOTE, btw!), more than anything, I believe in being real.
At Miss America, I need to show the judges 100% of who I am. They'll get to see the real me in the interview room, they'll see it in my talent song, they'll see it in my (unique and amazing) evening gown, and now I can be certain that they'll see it in swimsuit as well.
From now until January 15th, I'm not banning any foods from my diet. I won't be eating an XL portion of french fries any time soon, but it won't be because of how I'm expected to look in a bathing suit. It'll be because eating that much fried food makes me feel sick- it's just not healthy!
This organization has enhanced everything that I am so incredibly, now that I'm playing in the big leagues, I refuse to compromise the person that I have become.

I am enormously proud to be Vermont's representative this year and in true Vermont fashion, I promise I'll be 100% real at Miss America in January.

"In Vermont authenticity is all, they do not try to keep it real, they are real."
Unsourced
The New York Times

All I Want for Christmas....

2010-12-22T00:12:00.000-05:00

I don't want a lot for Christmas

There's just one thing I need

I don't care about the presents

Underneath the Christmas tree

I don't need to hang my stocking

There upon the fireplace

Santa Claus won't make me happy

With a toy on Christmas day

I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

All I want for Christmas is you

You baby

Beautiful Places and Smiling Faces

2010-12-18T08:45:00.000-05:00

A quick update from South Carolina!

Mom and I have been south of the Mason-Dixon line for the past few days experiencing Greenville, S.C..
Gregory Ellenburg, (http://www.gregoryellenburg.com/) is my incredible wardrobe sponsor for Miss America, and I've been in his studio every day for the past four days for fittings, walking practice, and great conversation.

Today is our last day down here, and I promise a full blog post upon my return to Vermont.

A few highlights of this trip so far:

-Learning how to do my makeup for the Miss America stage.
-Learning how to tease my hair (!!!!).
-Shopping in the adorable boutiques of downtown Greenville... People down here really appreciate a good monogrammed....everything. And it's awesome!
-Spending time with my mom.

You'd Be So Easy to Love

2010-12-16T11:07:00.000-05:00

You'd be so easy to love
Easy to idolize all others above
So worth the yearning for
So swell to keep the home fire burning for

We'd be so grand at the game
So carefree together, that it does seem a shame
That you can't see your future with me
'Cause you'd be so easy to love

Anything Goes (1956)

2010-12-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

Ted: It's amazing how much we have in common.

Patsy: Neither of us likes burned toast.

Ted: I'll bet you love music!

Patsy: I love jazz.

Ted: Do you really? I've got a wonderful collection of records at home. We'll sit in front of the fireplace and listen to them... I've got hundreds... It'll take us years.

Patsy: I don't mind....... This is a funny conversation to be having.

Ted: Yeah... It's like it's happening to somebody else... I'm kind of scared...

Patsy: So am I.

Ted: We're a perfect match. Two cowards.

Nine People's Favorite Thing/ I Am Humbled

2010-12-12T21:13:00.000-05:00

A musical that I really enjoy, [title of show], has a great song called "Nine People's Favorite Thing". The show is about about trying to write a show, and at the point this song is sung, the authors want to keep it fresh, awesome and genuine, but they feel pressure to write something more conventional.

As I've been preparing for Miss America, the lyrics from this song have really struck a chord (pun completely intended) with me.

"We can either be distinct
Or wind up merely mediocre

When we set out to write this musical
We said we’d write a show that we wanna see
We knew we’d never please everyone

I’d rather be nine people’s favorite thing
Than a hundred people’s ninth favorite thing
Nine peoples favorite thing
Than a hundred people’s ninth favorite thing"

As we enter the final stretch leading up to Miss America, I'm working hard to make sure that when I'm on that stage, I'll be representing myself and my state with style and authenticity. I'm not following a conventional plan- I'm forging a competition strategy that's unique and genuine.

Since my "America's Choice" video was released (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuBJ4NxCLlU) I have been utterly overwhelmed by the incredible support I have received from so many people. From the Miss Vermont family, the Saint Michael's College community, family and friends.... I feel so honored and humbled by the outpouring of positivity that has come from so many of you. THANK YOU!
It means so much to think that I might just be "nine people's favorite thing" (hopefully 7 of those 9 will be the judges!) at the Miss America pageant- I promise I'll do my best to honor your support!

Vote for Vermont!

2010-12-08T00:59:00.000-05:00

I'm doing my absolute best to become the first Miss Vermont to crack the Top 15 at Miss America... and from there, the first Miss Vermont to take home the Miss America crown.

This year, YOU have the ability to help me achieve my goal and to put Vermont on the pageant map!

On January 15, live on ABC, "America's Choice" will be announced as one of the 2011 Miss America finalists- that's right, you get to VOTE one of us into the Top 15!

It would mean so much to me to have your support. Representing my amazing state is the honor of my life, and I want so much to make you proud when I'm on stage at Miss America.

You can vote FOUR times! Here's how:

1) Text "MAVT" to 24470.

2) Go to this video and click the "Like" button. It looks like a thumbs up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuBJ4NxCLlU

3) Go to this Facebook page and click the "Like" button!
http://www.facebook.com/Defining#!/video/video.php?v=10150101725223126

4) Go to this Miss America page and vote!
http://www.missamerica.org/videocontest/contestants/vermont.aspx

Thank you so much- let's get out the vote and rock Miss America!

Miss Vermont Holiday Photo Shoot

2010-11-30T10:06:00.000-05:00

Erin and I had a wonderful time shooting holiday images a few weeks ago with Wayne S. Tarr, our official Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization Photographer.
Wayne is so much fun to work with, Erin is delightful, and we just had a total blast. Thanks so much to Robert Dockstader of Scherdiva Salon for hair and makeup!

Independent Vermont Clothing: I Maple Vermont

2010-11-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, thanks to the awesomeness that is Twitter, I connected with the folks at Independent Vermont Clothing, a new company that just started up this past September.

Their founder and designer, Adam, is a 7th generation Vermonter. He runs the company with his mom and sister, and their website reads, "We believe in keeping Vermont cool and proudly representing the state no matter how far our lives take us away from the place we love to call 'home.'"

Of course, I totally love their concept, and when I saw Adam's designs, I loved their products!

These t shirts (and tote bags!) are very Vermonty, and very cool.

As Miss Vermont, I spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to represent our state, so when the IVC crew offered to send me a couple of their shirts, I was thrilled! I love that these shirts are young, graphically interesting, and true to many elements of what makes Vermont awesome. I'm also so proud that I can help to promote a Vermont entrepreneur- I am all about encouraging small family businesses.

When the package arrived in the mail, I was very excited- I couldn't wait to wear my new shirts! So far, I've worn them to class, hanging out with friends, to a Miss Vermont radio interview, and just out and about. Expect to see plenty of tweets and pictures of these awesome additions to my wardrobe.

I am now the proud owner of the "I Maple VT", "Make Syrup Not War", and "Crossroads" Ts, and I love being able to show my Vermont pride in such a cool way.

Miss America Confession

2010-11-28T07:31:00.002-05:00

I have a confession.
Until just a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure I wanted to be Miss America.

(I'll pause here to allow the pageant universe to catch its breathe. For all of you non pageant types, as a Miss State, I've just confessed to the worst type of blasphemy.)

"But wait," you think, "Isn't this girl Miss Vermont? What pageant girl DOESN'T want to be Miss America? Why did she even compete?!"

I competed in the Miss Vermont pageant because I wanted to be Miss Vermont.

When I was 16, I accidentally became Miss Vermont's Outstanding Teen 2007, and that experience changed my life. I learned the basics of how to apply makeup, wear clothes, blow dry my hair, walk in high heels, and how to float in an evening gown. I developed a sense of personal style, a little bit of grace, and a lot of polish during that year. At the end of my time as VT's OT, I had a realistic understanding of the job of Miss Vermont. I knew what the challenges were, the difficulties that Miss VT will face, and the amazing opportunities that come along with this job. I understood that as glamourous as the job might appear to an outsider, it's not just all rhinestones and chiffon.

That year, I also fell in love with Vermont. I mean, I've always liked our state and I've always been proud to be a Vermonter, but in 2007 I fell head over heels, madly, completely, in LOVE with Vermont. And how could you not? The geography and people of the Green Mountain State are incredible. As Miss Vermont, I drive past stunning mountains, lakes, and fields on my way to appearances where communities of hard working, kind, generous people make me a part of their lives for a few hours. Frequently, I get to break down stereotypes that they might have about pageant titleholders, and I get to share the message of my platform with them. Being Miss Vermont is incredible.

Since I've been involved with the world of pageantry for a few years now, I've gotten to meet a number of current and former Miss Americas. I've heard first hand about the grueling reality of the job. If being Miss Vermont can be challenging, it's nothing compared to the responsibilities of being Miss America.
You travel 20,000 miles a month; your clothing, makeup, shoes, and often accessories are selected for you; you rarely get a day off- you work on Thanksgiving and other holidays; you don't get to go home often; you live on planes and out of two suitcases for a year; you have to look flawless constantly- rarely will you have help with your hair and makeup; and you can never say no to an autograph or picture. The pressure is intense.

But... you're Miss America.

You meet the President, you get to spend time thanking our troops overseas in person, you bring joy to sick children, you get to travel the country (!!), you meet your heros, you earn a brilliant amount of scholarships to pay for your education, and you are the representation of the best things about this country. You're Miss America.

When I think about representing this state at Miss America in Las Vegas.... Well, it's enough to make me a little bit teary. I'm just a girl from Franklin County who graduated from Missisquoi Valley Union High School, and I'm going to be on stage at Miss America? It is an incredible honor.

But because I love being Miss Vermont so much, and because I'm familiar with the realities of the day-to-day job of Miss America, I just haven't been sure that actually winning the big pageant was what I wanted. And too be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure that I could win. Vermont is the only state that has never made the semi finals at Miss America. Could I really be the one to change that after 90 years of Miss America? In general, I'm a pretty confident person, but I had some serious self doubt going on.
That all changed a few weeks ago.

Sue (my Executive Director) sat down with me and we had an intense conversation about Miss America.
At the end of it, I had tears in my eyes.
Sue had shared with me her belief that I would be a great Miss America if I wanted to take the job on, and because she believes in my abilities so intensely, I began to believe with her.
She pointed out to me that if I won the Miss America crown, I could be an incredibly visible role model for girls around the country- I could show them that strong women are beautiful, powerful, and successful.

I thought a lot about our conversation, and I reached this conclusion: I want to be Miss America.

That's right pageant world!
I, Caroline Bright, from little, rural, wonderful Vermont, want to be Miss America.

If I win anything at Miss America in January, it will be because of and for the people who have worked so hard to get me there. Sue, Mom, Chris, Chad, Evita, Ellen, Robert, Bill, Christina, Gregory, Ann-Blair, former Miss Vermonts, other friends and family... They all believe in me. They've been giving their time, energy, and focus to me so that I can be the best Miss Vermont that I can be.
I owe it to them to do my best to become Miss America.

And you know what? If I don't win the big crown, that will be ok with them, and ok with me. I'll still be Miss Vermont. I'll get to come home to the most incredible state in the country, and I know that my Miss America sister who will be wearing the crown will do an amazing job as our representative. But I'm going to give everything I've got to earning the job of Miss America.

In the last few weeks until the pageant, there's a TON of pressure on the state titleholders who will soon be competing at Miss America. I'm working to push through it, to give it my all, and to represent my ideals, my support team, and my state to the absolute best of my ability.

Team Vermont- this one's for you.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T21:51:00.002-05:00

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

Thornton Wilder

Miss Vermont Playlist

2010-11-24T09:22:00.001-05:00

I've been working on a number of pretty cool blog posts lately- and I promise, they're coming! For now though, I thought I share with you a brief snapshot of the "behind the scenes" of Miss Vermonting.

I really enjoy driving, and that's a good thing, since I've put over 10,000 miles on my car in the past 5 months of being Miss Vermont. As I travel the state in my little silver Volvo, I've usually got the radio or my iPod going when I'm not using my bluetooth headset to talk to my mom, Sue, or Ellen.

And just what am I listening to?

Vermont Public Radio:

I'm such a huge fan of VPR- their coverage of local and national stories helps me to stay informed about what's going on in the world... and that might just help me ace my Miss America interview!

Kickin' tunes:

The following are some of my favorite songs from the past few months. Feel free to click the links- they'll take you to the songs on YouTube.

This Could Be the Start of Something Big- Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence

Heart of Glass- The Puppini Sisters

Nice Work If You Can Get It - Frank Sinatra

You Are My Favorite- Sophie Madeleine

Pack Up- Eliza Dolittle

Do You Love Me- Guster

Only Prettier- Miranda Lambert

Firework- Katy Perry

You Make My Dreams - Daryl Hall and John Oates

Enchanted- Taylor Swift

Some Kind of Wonderful- Michael Buble

We Speak No Americano- Yolanda Be Cool & Dcup

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - The Beatles

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning- Frank Sinatra

Teenage Dream - Glee Cast

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

Everybody- Ingrid Michaelson

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - Paul Simon

Free to be You and Me - The New Seekers

Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel

Walk on By- Cake

Rhythm of Love - Plain White T's

Bright Side of the Road - Van Morrison

Graceland - Paul Simon

Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra

Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce: 100th Anniversary Gala!

2010-11-15T09:37:00.000-05:00

Last week, I had the honor of joining the members of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce as the celebrated the 100th anniversary of the chamber!

It was so much fun- the theme for the evening was "Sail Back in Time", so Robert styled my hair in a beautifully old fashioned way. I felt like a starlet from Hollywood's golden age!

The highlight of my evening was being invited on stage (I didn't realize that there were stairs on the far side, which would have been an easier way to ascend to the podium- instead I delicately held my skirt as the delightful Mr. Pomerleau- a SMC alum!- helped me up) to address the crowd.

There were 700 people in the audience. Senator Sanders Spoke. Then Governor-elect Peter Shumlin spoke. And then it was my turn at the podium.

And you know what? I really didn't feel nervous. All I was feeling was excitement! I was so happy to be there, and so happy to have the opportunity to address the crowd that any nervousness I might have felt completely vanished.

I spent the evening at the Saint Michael's College table, and had a great time getting to know more members of the SMC community- I couldn't help raving about my professors to my table mates!

With SMC President Neuhauser

With the amazing Marilyn Cormier!

November is for Thanksgiving: Week 2

2010-11-14T21:42:00.000-05:00

When I was applying to colleges, I had absolutely no interest in participating in Greek life. To be honest, I didn't really know much about sororities and fraternities beyond the stereotypes that come up in pop culture.
When I was a sophomore in college, I went through Greek Recruitment... and the rest is history. I met the women of the Epsilon Kappa chapter of Chi Omega, and fell in love with their house. On preference night, I only wrote down one sorority on my pref card- I didn't just want to be Greek, I wanted to be a Chi Omega.
During the entire recruitment process and new member period, I constantly reminded myself that if I became uncomfortable with any part of the sorority experience, I could always say no and leave. Even after I found a house with values I believed in and girls I liked, I was skeptical.
What I ended up discovering was something far, far better than anything I could have imagined I would find in a sorority.

I'm thankful for....

My Chi Omega sisters.

The girls in my house amaze me. I never imagined I would find a group of people who so absolutely accept me for who I am, with all of my flaws and quirks.
They have supported me through breakups, academic meltdowns, transferring to a different college, competing in Miss Vermont, and now competing for Miss America.
Every time I go home to the house, I fall in love with Chi Omega all over again.

My Feminist Role Models: Part 1

2010-11-12T08:00:00.002-05:00

Back in February, I wrote a post entitled "I'm a Feminist AND a Miss Vermont Contestant". As we know, in June I became Miss Vermont- and I am still very much a feminist.

Today I was thinking about some of the women who I look up to most, and how they're really great examples of feminism today.

My Mom.

My mother, Jennifer Neville Bright, is pretty cool. She's a native Vermonter, grew up in Franklin County (spending much of her childhood on a dairy farm), and went on to study history, (She graduated from Hollins University in less than three years. I'm a slacker.) religion, and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. She traveled the globe before I was born, and after she got married and had kids, her travels continued. Mom brought us (my brother, William, is three years younger than I am) with her on her academic adventures from London to Indonesia- with a lot of fun stops along the way. Today, my mother owns and runs the Tabor House Inn on Lake Champlain, serves on the board of our local soup kitchen, and since I've become Miss Vermont, she has also become my travel agent/ speech writer!
My mom is a feminist role model because not only does her academic work center around opportunities for women in the Islamic world, but she has also raised my brothers and me (these days I have two younger brothers, Ian was born when I was 13) to understand that all people are equal, regardless of their gender. Mom also taught me how to be absolutely myself without worrying about what other people want me to be, something that has been incredibly helpful to me as Miss Vermont. She's also really funny and excellent at trivia games- my mom is awesome.

1991. I liked hats.

2010

My Grandma.

My mother's mother, Anna Neville is the person I most aspire to be like. She spent her entire professional career serving other people- she was one of the W.A.V.E.S during WWII, and spent 40+ years serving Vermont and Franklin County through social work. To this day, I can't go anywhere without people knowing who she is. She's a popular lady.
As my grandmother, she's amazing. She bakes cookies for my trips, she comes to every performance, and she answers the phone at all hours of the day or night just to talk. She's well into her 80's now, and she's still taking care of all of us. She helps at the inn when mom has events, and on Fridays, she has lessons with my youngest brother, Ian (age 7) where he learns about geography, nature, and all kinds of interesting things. She has made my friends welcome in our family my entire life- my oldest friend in the world calls her "Granna", a combination of Grandma and Anna.
My grandma is a feminist role model because she has been pushing the boundaries of the gendered roles expected of her for her entire life. She showed me that you can have a successful career of service to others and still have a family. She has taught me how to iron, cook, make a bed properly, the capitals of all 50 states, which plants are edible, to never leave a paper trail, and how to make friends with a room full of strangers. She's an incredible person, and if I can be half as amazing as she is, I'll consider myself successful.

High Flight

2010-11-11T07:22:00.004-05:00

During World War II, my grandfather served as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.
When he passed away in 2003, we read this poem at his memorial service.
Here's hoping you all have a peaceful and thoughtful Veterans Day/ Remembrance Day this year. We have so much to be thankful for, but so much work is left for our women and men in uniform. If we can honor them today and every day, we can begin to appreciate the sacrifices so many have made.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft thro' footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor even eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee

No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941

She is Quick and Playful and Strong.

2010-11-10T08:32:00.000-05:00

"She is quick and playful and strong. She is a voracious reader and a fantastic dancer. She saves old snapshots but always loses her umbrella. Her emails pile up but she never forgets to call her grandmother. She has $7 in change at the bottom of her handbag."

I love Kate Spade.

In the past, I've posted about Kate Spade's Twirl Playlist (which I'm still listening to obsessively, three months later), and recently I found a few pieces on the Kate Spade website that I absolutely adore. So...if anyone out there is looking for gift ideas (hint hint, mom), any of these would be perfect. Actually, pretty much anything Kate Spade is perfect.

Twirl Cuff. This bracelet makes me smile.

Jingle Bell Headband. I LOVE the holidays, and this is perfect for a whimsical holiday outfit.

Speaking of whimsical, how can you not love these Jingle Bell Studs?

Gold Coast Kip. It's a wallet. And a clutch. At the same time.

Nice and Easy Does It

2010-11-08T08:55:00.009-05:00

Let's take it nice and easy
It's gonna be so easy
For us to fall in love

Hey baby what's your hurry
Relax and don't you worry
We're gonna fall in love

We're on the road to romance - that's safe to say
But let's make all the stops along the way

The problem now of course is
To simply hold your horses
To rush would be a crime
'Cause nice and easy does it every time

November is for Thanksgiving: Week 1

2010-11-07T18:38:00.000-05:00

I really love Christmas. Like, I really really love Christmas. The lights, the smells, the music, the FOOD, being with family, a feeling of magic everywhere... the lead up to Christmas is one of my favorite times of year.

Because of my Xmas love, I'm usually all too eager to mentally skip right past Thanksgiving (though don't get me wrong, I love my family's celebration and I really love the meal) and to go straight into celebrating the Christmas Spirit as soon as Halloween and/or Election Day is over.

This year though, I'm Miss Vermont. I have more to be thankful for now than ever before, and I want to share that with you this November.

So here's the plan: every week in November, I'm going to write a post about what I'm thankful for. Some will be serious and some will be light hearted, but they'll all be things that really do make my life complete.

I'm thankful for....

My Family.

They're crazy, and the details can be a little complicated sometimes, but I'm very very thankful for the people who are a part of my family- by chance or by choice. They are the people are have showed up for every musical performance, every pageant, every field hockey game, and every parade. Over the past few years, they've volunteered as spotlight runners, costume makers, back stage assistants, guest speakers, makeup artists, travel agents, drivers, and speech writers. I simply wouldn't be able to do everything that I do if I didn't have these people backing me up.

Mom, Grandma, my Godfather, and my brothers- just part of my wild, multifaceted blended family!

Von Bargen's Springfield Hospital Benefit

2010-11-06T11:00:00.001-04:00

Last week, I drove down to Springfield, Vermont with Sue to attend a benefit for the Springfield Hospital at Von Bargen's Jewelry!

I had a lovely time getting to model pieces, meeting the Von Bargen family, hanging out with our Princess Sarah, and chatting with customers as they visited the store.

With Leslie and John Von Bargen, and our Princess, Sarah!

With Julie and Jason Thom

With Larry Kraft, the Director of the Springfield Hospital Foundation, Sarah, Leslie, and John

Von Bargen's and Carelle

2010-11-04T22:00:00.001-04:00

For the past couple of weeks, I've been alluding to a very exciting new partnership for the Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization.

I am so very pleased that Von Bargen's Jewelry has come on board as the official jeweler for my year as Miss Vermont!

I was able to do two photo shoots with the AMAZING Andy Duback where I got to model Von Bargen's pieces and had an absolute blast with Andy, Jeff Pierce (Von Bargen's Director of Marketing), and Sue Lackey (my Executive Director).

Some of Andy's incredible images:

During the second shoot, I got the surprise of my life!

I was putting on a beautiful Carelle pendant and earring set...when Jeff told me they were mine to keep!

I was admiring how lovely the pendant looked...

As I put the earrings in, Jeff sprang the news on me!

I continued to put the other earring in- still shocked!

Happily wearing my beautiful Carelle pendant and earrings!!

The set was accompanied by a letter from Jeff, in which he describes my new pieces!

"The pendant is from Carelle's Leaf Motif collection and features a 14mm, 7.92 carat smoky quartz which is rose-cut on both sides and checkerboard faceted to enhance the brilliance of the gemstone. The pendant and chain are handcrafted in 18-karat yellow gold with a satin finish."

"The matching earrings from Carelle's Sizzle collection also feature two 14mm smoky quartz weighing a total of 16.3 carats with a 6mm Sizzle station featuring bezel-set diamonds. The earrings are also handcrafted in 18-karat yellow gold"

My favorite line reads, "Carelle jewelry is big, bold, and deliciously fun"- isn't that lovely?

Jeff, Phillip, and the entire Von Bargen's staff have been incredible to work with- they have travelled with me to multiple appearances throughout September and October, dressing me in amazing jewelry.

I'm just so thrilled about this new partnership, and I can't wait to see where we go from here!

Snap Back to Reality

2010-11-03T18:43:00.000-04:00

Once I arrived back in the United States, I hit the ground running. It was back to the reality of being Miss Vermont!

What's that looking like these days?

Well...

Monday, October 18 2010:

I worked an event at the Firehouse Gallery, caught up on readings for class, attempted to unpack.

Tuesday, October 19 2010:

I attended classes, had multiple meetings about upcoming appearances, and had dinner with Firehouse co-workers.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010:

I spent 2+ hours with Robert, my amazing stylist at Scherdiva Salon getting ready for my photoshoot at Von Bargen's Jewelers- my official jewelry sponsor! I had an voice lesson later that afternoon, and then I met up with Miss Vermont 2008, Ashley Wheeler, for dinner.

Thursday, October 21, 2010:

Attended class, had a meeting about an upcoming appearance, met with Robert again for some more work on my appearance, and later than evening went to Bon Tan to be sprayed bronze!

Friday, October 22, 2010:

Worked out with Chad at Poulin Performance, had a lunch meeting, attempted laundry and grocery shopping.

Saturday, October 23, 2010:

8:00am Arrived at Camp BPW, hung out with high school girls who were attending to learn life skills, chatted with BPW members.

12:30pm Drove to Burlington High School, sang National Anthem at UVM Football game.

1:30pm Drove back to Camp BPW to finish out the day and present a workshop on dressing for success with my ED, Sue Lackey.

3:00pm Sue and I hopped in the car and we drove to The Barn at Boyden Farms for the Vermont Bride Gala. I modeled the most amazing gown with jewelry from Von Bargens and had an awesome time with Erin and some of our preliminary titleholders.

Alex, Katie, and Erin

Beautiful brides....in about ten years!

Jeff, from Von Bargen's, walked me down the aisle

With Erin and Sue- I love these ladies!

Jeanelle and Erin found GLITTER CUPCAKES. The night was a success.

Jeff's daughter, Savannah- we had a blast!

Erin and I had fun with the photo booth.

A lot of fun.

In between all of the formal engagements, meetings, and appearances on my calendar, I'm constantly responding to phone calls, emails, attempting to keep up on my homework, keep my room tidy, make it to the gym, keep food in the fridge, and running errands.

The next few weeks were just as crazy, filled with meetings for the MVSO holiday party, pilates classes, workouts at Poulin, Rotary appearances, Make-A-Wish Wish Granter training, classes, the Rutland Haloween parade, and a special visit to the Von Bargen's store in Springfield.

The event raised funds for the Springfield Hospital and Breast Cancer research!

With Sarah, our Princess, and he little sister Lillie.

Smart Sign

2010-10-30T12:00:00.000-04:00

Smart Blonde

2010-10-29T12:00:00.001-04:00

Note To Self: Travel Tips

2010-10-28T12:00:00.002-04:00

While on my journey through the United Kingdom, I came to a few conclusions.
These are things I definitely need to remember for the next time I travel...

1. Take half as many clothes as you're afraid you'll need.
I definitely packed in a way that left me prepared for almost anything...but it also left my suitcase very heavy. Granted, I did wear pretty much everything- but that was because after fully realizing the weight of my suitcase, I committed to wearing ALL of it on principle. Never again.

2. Take twice as many Kashi bars as you're afraid you'll need.
I carry those handy bars with me everywhere I go in the US, so I thought- why not pack some just in case? They saved my LIFE. I packed a bunch into a cosmetic bag for the plane rides, and it was possibly the best idea I've ever had. I discovered that 1) My Longchamp clutch/ cosmetic bags are the perfect size to carry snacks around so they don't get lost/smushed in my carryon, and 2) On a 6-7 hour flight, you're going to need something chocolately. My favorite Kashi GOLEAN Crunchy! bars in Chocolate Almond and Chocolate Peanut were just the thing.

3. If you don't wear that pair of shoes at home because they're frumpy looking, don't bring them with you 'just in case'. You'll have other shoes that actually look good. Don't bring them just because they're comfortable. If they're not comfortable AND cute, don't bother.

My Trip Across the Pond: London

2010-10-27T11:00:00.000-04:00

I left St. Andrews and took the train down to London (seriously considered leaping off when we stopped in Edinburgh)- at that point, I had started to feel a bit ill, but I was doing OK.

You can find my London blog post here, "Sick in London"

The door of my family's former flat

Being a tourist

My Trip Across the Pond: St. Andrews

2010-10-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

I left Edinburgh and journeyed on to St. Andrews to visit a dear friend of mine from high school, Justine!
Justine and I were the only girls on the Scholars' Bowl team, and we also had lead roles together in the annual musical.
She's currently studying at the University of St.Andrews, getting her Ph.D in Medieval History. Yeah. I know- intimidating, right?
St. Andrews simply felt magical... It was like every fantasy novel I've ever read had the possibility of coming true.

The house where Justine is staying is lovely!

West Sands. They totally filmed Chariots if Fire (my mom's favorite movie) there.

Justine and I could not figure out why they would make dialing for help s complicated

Oh, and apparently there's this golf course there?

Cathedral ruins. Justine is still mad at John Knox about that.

Justine, a wall, and the ocean.

Magical

My Trip Across the Pond: Edinburgh

2010-10-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

On October 5th, I hopped on a plane in Boston and flew across the Atlantic Ocean. By noon (GMT) on October 6th, I was in Edinburgh!
I was visiting a friend who goes to school there, and little did I know how fast and hard I was going to fall in love with the city.
I was able to spend time wandering around the seat of Scottish Parliament exploring my favorite kinds of places (graveyards, churches, stores) and getting a bit of a feel for the city.

Hume's tomb?

Spotted: A US President in Scotland

CASTLE!

These were for sale in the gift shop next to the rooms that had been the living quarters for Mary Queen of Scots. I'm pretty sure she experienced all of these sentiments.

View from over a cannon

I mean really, how much more CHARMING could this be?

I like any church that offers pilates classes.

Charlotte Square

Stowe Rotary Oktoberfest and the Big E

2010-10-24T12:00:00.002-04:00

I spent the last weekend of September running around having an awesome time with the Stowe Rotary. My dear friend Abby came along for the ride as my traveling companion, and we had a delightful time experiencing Oktoberfest!

The following Saturday, Abby and I drove down to Springfield, Massachusetts to hang out at the Vermont House at the Big E (Also known as the Eastern States Exposition), and we had SO much fun!

Enjoy some pictures from our adventures:

"I'm queen of the world!"

They had the most AMAZING desserts in Stowe

Ahh Magnus, our love was never meant to be....

I learned how to use the machine to make Maple Sugar candies

Handing out Cabot Cheese

I even got to autograph some of the cheese...

I Was Nervous

2010-10-22T15:51:00.000-04:00

...about yesterday's blog post.

It's probably one of the most serious and political things I've ever posted on this blog, and I was nervous about how people would react.

But as I wrote in my post yesterday- if GLBTQ individuals, especially young people, can be brave enough to be who they are, then the very least that I can do (because I do consider myself an Ally- I hope someday I can fully deserve that title) is to be open about my support for them.

Today, I was reading this incredible speech that Robert F. Kennedy gave in 1966 at Cape Town University called "A Tiny Ripple of Hope". It's full of ideas that rang true with me- I wanted to post all of it on my twitter feed.

One passage that really stood out to me in light of my post yesterday was the following:

"We must recognize the full human equality of all of our people before God, before the law, and in the councils of government. We must do this, not because it is economically advantageous, although it is; not because the laws of God command it, although they do; not because people in other lands wish it so. We must do it for the single and fundamental reason that it is the right thing to do."

Robert F. Kennedy, 1966

It was true then, and it's true now.

Purple: I Get Political

2010-10-21T15:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I wore purple.

The tragic recent string of suicides by young people who identified as GLTBQ has left me, like so many others, reeling.

Yesterday I wore purple in memory of those who have taken their own lives because they were abused simply because of who they are, and in honor of the brave young men and women who continue to struggle with the challenges of feeling different every day.

Bullying is never ok. It's not something that we should accept as a society. I am so glad that in recent years, we've been seeing attitudes towards bullying change. What used to be "something you just have to live with" has become something that is taken seriously for the dangerous and abusive action that it is.

I support equality for all Americans. I'm not going to make judgements about your race, your religion, your gender, your economic status, or your sexual orientation. If we are American citizens, we are all equal under the laws that govern this country, and we deserve to be treated equally.

In this great nation, we are free to make our own choices about how we live our lives- about our personal pursuit of happiness.

I'm writing about this now because if GLTBQ Americans can be brave enough to proudly be who they are in the face of the challenges society presents them with, the least I can do is proudly and openly support my gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, and questioning friends.

It is my hope that someday soon, every couple in a committed, loving, and healthy relationship will be able to legally affirm their commitment by being legally married. It is my hope that someday soon discrimination in our military, in our schools, and on our streets will be replaced by tolerance and respect.

Equality for American citizens is not a partisan issue. Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution reads:

"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

For right now, that's all I have to say about that....

Back in the U.S.A.!

2010-10-20T14:35:00.000-04:00

I made it back to the states in one piece!

Soon, I will be posting about:

My adventures across the pond

The AMAZING surprise I got today at Von Bargen's Jewelry!!!

Being back home

So this is what I'm working on right this moment....

Sick in London!

2010-10-16T05:34:00.001-04:00

Let me just clarify, I've been sick in London, I am definitely not sick of London.

As Samuel Johnson famously said,

"When a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."

On Wednesday, I hopped on the train in Leuchars (Pronounced Loo-Kars... I think) and rode all the way to Kings Cross in London.
It was a beautiful ride, and I fell in love with Scottish and English scenery all over again. As I tweeted, it makes me want to fall in love and write great books.

For the past three days, I've been in London, one of my favorite cities in the world! When I was younger, my family lived here for a total of nearly three years and we've been sure to visit regularly since. Now you'd think I'd be having a blast, walking around and enjoying one of the most incredible places on the planet, right? Well, that's what I'd hoped for.

Unfortunately, as soon as I checked into my room, I started running a high temperature. Before it got too serious, I was able to head to the local grocery store for orange juice, biscuits, fruit and medicine... but the last couple of days have been pretty brutal.

On Thursday I tried to ignore it, be tough and enjoy the city anyway. I made it to the British Museum and Harrods, but only managed to wander around in a daze before deciding that the scene I would make when I fainted on the underground just wasn't worth the trouble of pressing on.

On Friday, family friends of ours came to rescue me, bringing soup, more medicine, more fruit, lemon tea, and generally checking to make sure I wasn't about to die. Luckily, by 4pm yesterday, I started to feel much better! My fever broke completely, and I decided I felt well enough to stay on my own for one more night before going home with them.

Today, I'm checking out and going off with those dear family friends- we'll explore the city and head back to their house in Kingston-Upon-Thames. Their home was the site of Easter celebrations and much more while I was growing up, so I'm excited to stay with them on my last night in the UK.

One of the best things about this visit is that I've been able to stay at the Goodenough Club. When I was growing up, we lived in the most amazing community at the William Goodenough House, which is part of Goodenough College. The College is a residential community for students pursuing postgraduate work in London. We were here while my mom was pursuing her Ph.D, and we lived in one of the 40 flats for students with kids. It was an incredible community to grow up in- there were kids from all over the world to be friends with, ballet classes in the common rooms, trick-or-treating from flat to flat, organized trips to go on, and so much more.

Goodenough Club provides accommodation to visitors to London, and it has been so cool to be able to stay on Mecklenburgh Square as an adult. It's been like going back to the house you grew up in, only to find that everything is exactly as you remember it.

St. Andrews

2010-10-13T16:19:00.000-04:00

Just a quick update for those of you who may not have been checking my tweets- from Edinburgh, I journeyed to St. Andrews (where they have a golf course or something...) and it was magically beautiful.

Thanks to google images, I can share with you a few images from the city- without uploading my snapshots yet!

There are a ton of buildings that have this cream and blue color scheme- I adore it! My room is being redone upon my return to the states.

We stopped by this charming little bookshop- I got into the Scottish groove by reading some Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott.

The cathedral is breathtaking... I could stare at it all day.

Oh, so by the way....I'm in SCOTLAND!

2010-10-07T19:08:00.000-04:00

The title really says it all, doesn't it?

But yes... I'm in Edinburgh! I'll be in the U.K. for the next few days, and I am having SUCH an excellent time so far! Hopefully this whole trip will be excellent fodder for blog posts to come... Here are a few snapshots that I've tweeted so far:

I'm falling in love with this city.

View from the window...

One of the first things I spotted upon arriving at the airport in Edinburgh- and it's for sale EVERYWHERE here!

Video: I Moderated an Election Forum!

2010-10-01T11:46:00.000-04:00

I had an absolutely wonderful time last night moderating the election forum for the candidates of Chittenden 6-1 last night. It was such a neat experience! Someday soon, I hope to be the one answering the questions instead of asking them, so this was really beneficial. It tied in perfectly with my platform, Rock the World - Run for Office, because all three of the candidates are women!

Side note: I said "Um" so many times in that clip... I think it's going to become my new campaign slogan. We've had "going rogue", and "jump start". It's time for something a bit less decisive. Something you can use merely to fill time and space while you think... Um? Yes.

Where Vermont Comes In

2010-09-26T22:35:00.001-04:00

Where Vermont Comes In
Charles H. Darling

Up where the north winds blow just a little keener,
Up where the grasses grow just a little greener,
Up where the mountain peaks rise a little higher,
Up where the human kind draws a little nigher,
That's where Vermont comes in.

Up where the snows of winter last a little longer,
Up where the heart beats just a little stronger,
Up where the handclasp is just a little warmer,
That's where Vermont comes in.

Up where the lonesome pine its nightly requiem sighs,
Up where the unspoiled waters take their rise,
Up where the sons of toil have fought for freedom's sod,
Up where all nature's mood is a little nearer God,
That's where Vermont comes in.

Where our manhood fights for honor
And where woman shrinks at sin
Where health is man's best riches,
That's where Vermont comes in.

Blog Love!

2010-09-26T13:46:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Politically Sweet for tagging me for this post!

1. What is your favorite dessert?
Anything involving lemons, limes, raspberries, or a combination of those three.

2. Ever tried to cook something and fail miserably?
When I was younger, I had quite the reputation as being absolutely useless in the kitchen. I once burned salad. However, over the past year, I've become a pretty decent cook!

3. Is there a dish you haven't made yet but really want to?
There are a number of baked goods I wish I had more time to experiment with!

4. What is your favorite food?
I really don't think I have just one favorite- I enjoy food too much! Dishes that involve potatoes or rice noodles tend to be right up there though.

5. What is your least favorite food?
Tomatoes... I desperately want to like them, but I don't. I keep trying them in the hope that I will someday learn to enjoy a nice tomato, but so far no luck.

6. Do you have any seasonal meals you like?
I absolutely love a good, traditional, Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, brussels sprouts, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie are all essentials.

7. What is your comfort food?
Soups and stews...I enjoy them with plenty of chunks!

8. Chocolate: milk, dark or white?
Milk. It is the tradgedy of my mother's life that none of her children enjoy dark chocolate... though that does mean there's more for her...

Then and Now

2010-09-25T18:07:00.000-04:00

I had the most amazing time today at the Stowe Rotary Oktoberfest! Details and photos to come, but for now, this...

At the Stowe Oktoberfest Parade as Vermont's Outstanding Teen 2007

At the Stowe Oktoberfest Parade as Miss Vermont 2010

Six Sigma is Super!

2010-09-22T08:26:00.000-04:00

On Monday, the members of the Miss America class of 2011 selected our competition order for the January pageant.
I got exactly the place I wanted- I'm #6 in the Sigma group! I'll have my interview on Tuesday morning, Swimsuit and Evening Gown on Tuesday night, Talent on Wednesday night, and On Stage Question on Thursday night. It's my perfect competition order.
For everyone not familiar with the intricacies of the Miss America pageant- the 53 contestants all compete on stage over the course of three days, and on finals night (the night you see on TV) the 15 (Or ten. Or sixteen. Or 20... depending on how they structure the show this year) contestants with the highest scores from the nights of preliminary competition are announced, and they're the ones who compete on TV.
Some people in the pageant world put a lot of weight behind where you are in the competition order in relation to other contestants, but time and again, we've seen that it really doesn't matter all that much. What's most important is that you compete in an order that you're comfortable with, because the judges aren't scoring you in relation to the other contestants- they're only considering the merits of your performance. I love my competition order- and the girls in the Sigma group! I'm psyched to share a dressing room with them!

So funny story... When the lottery started, I was actually in my car, driving. Mom monitored the lottery for me online (that was a LONG phone conversation), letting me know who was up, and who had selected which spot.
As soon as I pulled into the driveway at the Inn (Mom's house), my six year old brother Ian came running outside yelling, "You're up! You're up!". Apparently, during the 10 minutes of the drive during which I did not have cell service (just before my mom's house, my phone tends to think I'm roaming in Canada), Vermont was on deck!
With literally a minute before my five minute time slot to call in began, I raced into the kitchen. When my state name popped up, I teased my mom for about 20 seconds (I can say this with accuracy because there's a timer on the website) because she was so panicked I'd miss my selection spot!
I quickly hit "send" on my phone (of course I'd added the number to my speed dial for the evening), and let the crew at Miss America Headquarters know my choice was Sigma 6!
I had a number of back up spots ready just in case six was taken, but luckily it was still available by the time I was able to choose.

Miss America 2011 Competition Order!

Chi Omega, Yours Forever

2010-09-21T06:03:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, I went to my former school to visit my Chi Omega sisters. As soon as I got to the house, I instantly remembered everything that I love about those girls!

I had never thought about going Greek until my friend Emma and I made a deal that we'd go through recruitment together.

That's us on the first night of recruitment in the Fall of 2008!

Greek Life in the North can be pretty different from the experience some of my Southern friends have had- and I'm ok with that. I went through recruitment knowing that I didn't have to join a house if I didn't find the right fit... but I fell in love with the Chi Omegas.

My pledge class on our bid day! (Emma and I both went Chi O!)

The hardest part about transferring to a new school was leaving my sisters behind. I am constantly amazed by how genuine, thoughtful, caring, and FUN those girls are- it was incredibly difficult to leave them. The good news is, my sisters continue to involve me in the life of our chapter! We just kind of pretend it's like I'm studying abroad for an extended period of time.

My sisters are incredibly supportive of my pageant involvement- Chi Os have come to cheer me on at Miss Vermont every year!

They're so awesome.

Now, when I go back to visit (at least once a semester), I'm overwhelmed by the love I feel when I'm in the house. My sisters accept me for who I am, with all of my quirks, and only ever want me to just be Caroline. They enjoy that I'm Miss Vermont, but when I'm with them, I get to be just plain old Caroline, Symphony lover, former PanHel delegate, and sister.

Bid Day 2009

I'm so thankful that I have such an incredible group of women in my life- both from the Epsilon Kappa chapter and from around the country! As you may know if you've read my blog before, one of my very best pageant friends is also a Chi Omega.

Ann-Blair Thornton, KY OT 07, and 1st RU at Miss KY 2010!

I'm so proud to be a part of the incredible sisterhood of Chi Omega! The values outlined in our Symphony are something I try to keep in mind every day. As Miss Vermont, it's proved to be very useful, but it's just as valuable to keep in mind when I simply being Caroline.

Secret Shopping for the Children's Miracle Network!

2010-09-20T10:12:00.000-04:00

Last week, I spent a few days traveling all over Vermont, visiting 12 different Rite Aid stores.
I had a great time being a secret shopper- the best part was getting to give Rite Aid employees the water bottle filled with goodies from the folks at the Vermont Children's Hospital!

Good Advice

2010-09-18T18:44:00.000-04:00

Miss Vermont for Burlington City Arts: Kate Warren Photography

2010-09-16T15:41:00.000-04:00

A few months ago, I teamed up with the amazingly talented Kate Warren for a photo shoot for Burlington City Arts, where we both work. What follows is the fantastic work she did...

What's This Blog All About, Anyway?

2010-09-15T12:21:00.000-04:00

Waaaaay back in 2007, when I was Vermont's Outstanding Teen, I started a blog to keep people up to date on my activities. Back then, pageant titleholders had just begun to use blogs to keep people in the loop about what they were up to. It morphed into being about my first year of college, and when I became a has-been-teen-queen, I started a new blog about my life as a college student.

It was still very life updatey, but in the Spring of 2009, it led me to an internship blogging for CollegeLifestyles.org, where I wrote about pageants, preparing for Miss Vermont 2009, road tripping, and thank you notes (among other things). I loved writing for College Lifestyles, and I still love reading the site.

The internship ended, and I continued to post on my personal site, knowing that friends who were far away, my mom, and maybe a few pageant people were probably reading it.

In the Fall of 2009, I began to blog (semi professionally) for Saint Michael's College, and in between life updates, I'd write about the college experience. My blog audience expanded to include the SMC community- especially prospective students.

As I prepared for Miss Vermont 2010, I posted about what I was doing to get ready (pilates! braces!) and I slowly started to accumulate a few more blog readers here and there.

And then I won Miss Vermont.

Now, this blog has become a blend of "Pageanty Blog" posts, where I detail my activities as Miss Vermont, post pictures from appearances, and generally share my life with a crown on, and "Bloggy Blog" posts, where I write about things I love, school, music I'm listening to, and non pageant traveling.

Now, many of my readers seem to be members of the Miss America family- volunteers, titleholders, contestants- but a number of you are also from outside the realm of pageantry. Political people, Vermonters, prospective SMC students, and fellow bloggers are reading this as well. I am very very very happy to have a real audience- so thank you for reading this!!! (Yes, THREE exclamation points!)

As I move through this year, expect what you find here to change. Expect it to be largely Miss Vermont related, but often it'll be just Caroline- a girl who likes politics (though I can't write about that), pearls, traveling, Chi Omega, reading, trying new products, pretty dresses, and attempting to be a good/fun person.