Miss Florida, Sierra Minott
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August 2008 Greetings! First things first… congratulations to Courtney Sexton, Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen, for shining so brightly at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen! I had the privilege of watching her compete and she lit up the stage every time. She is a beautiful representative of our state and I am very proud to call her my “sister”! The past few weeks have been filled with more paperwork, appearances, and shopping for L.A.! I’ve been able to establish a loosely structured routine – which for those of you who know me well, you know I need a routine! Since July I have met with Mayor Baker, had a tour of St. Petersburg with Bill Doniel, and celebrated Mary’s birthday on the 31st. On August 1st I met with the School Programs Administrator of St. Pete in regards to getting involved in Mayor Baker’s “Mayor’s Mentors and More” program, which is very exciting! That evening I attended the Open House at the St. Pete Beach Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center. I was surprised to be picked up by a 1962 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow! Lynne Clark (ED of Miss St. Pete/Largo/Pinellas County) accompanied me and we both felt like celebrities! On August 3rd I traveled to West Palm Beach to crown the new Miss Palm Beach County. Jamie Lynn Marineau was the first runner-up at Miss PBC and I could not have been more excited to give her this opportunity. Special thanks to Barbara Giersbrook, the Palm Beach County F.O.O.L.S., Slainte Irish Pub, and Wilbur Thompson for such a wonderful evening. Congratulations Jamie! The following week included a photo shoot for the St. Pete/Clearwater Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, a trip to Dr. Langer (Speech and Communication), and a day at the Women’s Apparel Market to thank sponsors Joseph Ribkoff and Pepper of Pepper’s Collection. Mary and I also went to Ann Marie’s store and found some fabulous pieces! Next stop…MAOT! Mary and I arrived in Orlando on Tuesday, August 12th for the Teen pageant and National Workshop. That night at preliminaries I met a majority of the Miss America 2009 contestants! It was surreal being there, but the moment I saw Kirsten (Miss America) walk in with the crown on her head I got chills all over and the reality finally hit me…I am competing for Miss America! I think I can speak for the other contestants when I say that I am glad we got to meet each other and start our journey together. On Tuesday night I also saw Veronika Ohlinger (Miss WVOT ’05), my roommate from when I competed at MAOT ’06! It was so great to see her as well as Meghan Miller, MAOT ’06, and some other formers. On Wednesday afternoon I was honored to formally welcome members of the Miss America board, State Executive Directors, and Contestants to Florida at the beginning of the Workshop. That night the Miss contestants attended a fundraiser at the David Siegel residence where we mingled, ate delicious food from area restaurants, and watched Kirsten perform. On Thursday we spent the day at Disney and enjoyed a delicious dinner at Maggiano’s hosted by Florida’s very own David Lang, Carry O’Neal, and Mary Sullivan before attending the final night of preliminary competition. The Florida fun continued as we went to Sea World on Friday and then attended the MAOT “Sock Hop” with all of the Teen contestants that night. Everyone got dressed up 50’s style and looked fabulous! We socialized, danced, and had a lot of fun! On Saturday afternoon the Miss contestants had a meeting with TLC regarding the reality show “Miss America: Reality Check” and the LIVE pageant. Be sure to tune-in in January! There will be four episodes leading up to the LIVE finale on January 24th. On the way home Mary and I went to the Rascal Flatts concert in West Palm and had backstage passes! We took pictures with the guys and it was a dream come true! They rocked!! As time progresses I am learning a lot about what it means to be Miss Florida and am having a wonderful time getting to know Mary, the Board, and all of the generous supporters of the Miss Florida Organization. I am continually overwhelmed by the love and generosity that it sown into this program and I can’t wait to see all of you as I travel around the state this year! Blessings! Sierra July 2008 Hello friends! It has been just over a week since I was crowned Miss Florida 2008. Somebody please pinch me! I can already see that this is going to be an unforgettable year. I feel incredibly blessed and consider it quite an honor to represent this beautiful state. The time is already flying by as I’ve had TV, radio, and newspaper interviews, while working hard with Mary to get all of the forms in for Miss America. I must have looked as wide-eyed as a kid in a candy store the first day we sat down to start printing out the paperwork. It was so surreal! Not to mention the email that we received asking for my phone number so that Kirsten Haglund could call to congratulate me! This is truly a dream come true and I am going to make every day of this journey count. Please continue to check the website for updates including letters from me and pictures of appearances. I will do my best to stay up to date with my happenings. On Monday Mary and I traveled to Orlando to get new photographs taken. Thanks to Deanna Meredith (photographer) and Evelisse (make-up and hair) for making me feel and look like a star! Then it was off to see the very talented Chris Martin at Copperhead Salon to discuss sponsorship and future appointments. We also shot a couple of pictures for the Orlando Sentinel and I picked up a can of “Brush Out” hairspray – a must have! The day just kept getting better as we visited Carry and David at Regalia and they joined us for lunch. We talked about plans for a new gown for Miss America…I see a trip to NYC in the near future! Then it was time for Mary and I to head back to Miami. A $0.50 can of Coke kept me awake for the ride home! I think I can speak for all of the 2008 contestants when I say that pageant week was absolutely amazing! It was so inspiring to meet and develop relationships with 44 other women who share similar goals, talents, and passions. I walked away excited, encouraged, and full of memories that will last a lifetime. To the 2008 Miss Florida Contestants – Words cannot express the joy that comes to my heart when I think of you! I knew pageant week would be a lot of fun, but your fresh faces, genuine kindness, and sincere hearts far exceeded my expectations! And can I just say Miss Florida Girls Got Talent!! We pulled it together and put on quite a show! I am truly honored to be among such great company in the state of Florida. Let’s continue to stand strong and be the change. Together we CAN make a difference. This one’s for the girls! To Kylie Williams, Miss Florida 2007 – Thank you for being such an incredible representative for our state and role model for all of the contestants. Your presence was always inspirational and your advice was heartfelt. You are an amazing woman whose journey is far from over! To all of the Sponsors who made Miss Florida week possible – Thank you for your generosity and for taking a stand in favor of empowering women to make a difference in this world. The Miss Florida Organization could not do what it does without your contributions and enthusiastic support. To all of the Executive Directors – Thank you for the endless sacrifice of your time, energy, and resources to make this journey possible. Without you this organization would not exist and so much potential would be left untapped. You are the heart of this organization and are greatly appreciated. To all of the Volunteers (which is everybody!) – Thank you for your commitment to the young women all over Florida and to the cause of the Miss America Organization. It is truly a blessing to have you as part of our pageant family. To the Miss Florida Board of Directors – Ready or not, here I come! Thank you for welcoming me with open arms and already making me feel right at home in this job. This year is going to rock! And finally, to all of my Family, Friends, and Sponsors who have supported me along this journey – We did it! Thank you for your endless devotion, encouragement, support, and prayers. You all played an important role in providing me with the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional strength needed to accomplish this dream. No matter how far I go in life, I will never forget you! Best wishes and God bless! Sierra Minott Miss Florida 2008