Webcast and Miss Photogenic information for Miss Teen USA!

Your vote is needed for Miss Teen USA Pageant!!!

Before Shelby leaves for the Bahamas, we wanted to remind you of the upcoming Miss Teen USA Pageant and live web cast from Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas on July 24, 2010. You can see Shelby and all the contestants because the finals for this year's Pageant will be web cast live at www.missteenusa.com and also at www.seventeen.com at 8:00 pm EST. You can also follow Shelby during the week at the Miss Teen USA "Quick Links" page that we have set up on our website. Just go to www.pageantassociates.com, click on "Vermont" and then the "Miss Teen USA Quick Links" button.

Also, People’s Choice and the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) are empowering fans to choose the next Miss Photogenic Teen USA® winner at the upcoming Miss Teen USA® pageant through an on line vote at the People’s Choice official website, www.PeoplesChoice.com. The winner of the on line vote will receive the People’s Choice Miss Photogenic Teen USA® Award, an official crystal People’s Choice Award trophy, on-stage at Atlantis, Paradise Island in The Bahamas during the 2010 Miss Teen USA® pageant on July 24. Voting for Miss Photogenic will take place on PeoplesChoice.com until 12:01 AM on July 24, 2010. You do not have to log in or create an account and you can vote as many times as you like!

A huge congratulations to Nydelis Ortiz, Miss Vermont USA 2010, on a job well done at the national Miss USA Pageant! Nydelis represented Vermont beautifully in Las Vegas. She will continue to travel throughout the Vermont making appearances as Miss Vermont USA.

Don't forget to mark your calendars! The Miss Vermont USA and Miss Vermont Teen USA Pageants will take place November 6 & 7, 2010 at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center. Your "peeps" can find a link on our website to receive the special "Family and Friends" room rate for your Pageant weekend at the Sheraton.

Getting Ready to head off to Miss Teen USA!

Hey everyone!

I am leaving in 2 days for the Bahamas and I am as excited as ever! I finally have all of my wardrobe, and it is PERFECT! I can't wait to get on stage and show everyone what Vermont is made of! I promise to do my best while I am at Miss Teen USA, and swear to make Vermont proud. We have a lot to offer here, and I am excited to show everyone that just because I stem from a small state, doesn't mean they should count me out. I have spent this year working hard to prepare, and I have a lot of people to thank for my success. I have many sponsors to thank, because without them, I would NEVER have made it this far in my journey.

I want to send out huge thanks and big hugs to:

The Clemente Family & All of the incredible Pageant Staff
My sister Queens! (I love you all!)
The Crowning Touch for my incredible gown and wardrobe
Katie Boyd from the Miss Fit Club
Neil Gannon and La Tete Salon
Dr. Meola
Dr. Koch
Angie Scott
Jerome the Florist
Jan Ruta Electric
Vermont Country Campers
Beltrami's
Ben from Benizo
Mom, Dad, and Logan!
Family & Friends


And to all of my supporters who have stuck with me every step of the way: Thank you for believing me and pushing me toward my goal. Without you all, I may never have gotten to this point.

Fourth of July Festivities

For the Fourth of July, I went to Massachusetts to do an appearance with my sister Queens from the Clemente Family. We had the privilege of attending a Coast Guard BBQ that was held in Boston, and it was a blast! We met sailors from around the country, and signed autographs for children who were at the event. I spent the day meeting new people and it was a great way to spend the holiday. The most fun part of the day was when I sumo wrestled with Brooke (MA Teen). We got in huge padded suits and wrestled each other, but every time we fell over, we had to have help back up because the suits were so big we were flailing on the ground and couldn't get back up! We, along with the entire audience, had some great laughs during that! I am proud to say that I was merciless, and beat Brooke! One of my favorite memories from this appearance was meeting a little red headed girl with freckles who was so shy that her mother had to push her toward me to get an autograph. When she finally made her way over to me, her mother said " See look, she has freckles and red hair too! See, you're beautiful too!" When I asked the little girl if she liked being a red head she said that she didn't because she didn't look like anyone else. Thinking back to my childhood, I know the exact feeling this little girl was talking about because I was always trying to look like my friends even though there was so disguising my identity. As I was signing the autograph for her I told her that it didn't seem like it now, but when she grew up, she would appreciate her unique look. I remember distinctly what I wrote on her card..." Never let that beautiful red hair, and face full of freckles hold you back." I hope she takes my advice and realizes that just because girls like us look different, it doesn't make us less beautiful. In a way I feeI like I represent all those " misfits" out there that don't really fit into a normal mold when it comes to beauty. It's important to me to show people that beauty isn't some cookie cutter that you will find. Beauty is what you make it, and I feel like my uniqueness is what makes me who I am.

I think this was the perfect place to spend the Fourth, because I was surrounded by people who fight to give me the independence that I have. Looking around the Coast Guard Base was a constant reminder that there are people fighting day in and day out to protect our liberties, and I was so honored to spend Independence Day truly observing the holiday for its original purpose. I wouldn't have it any other way!

My most recent trip to Massachusetts

Last week I spent 3 days at Brooke's (Miss MA Teen USA) house. I went to celebrate her send-off with her and we had a spectacular time! Many people from our pageant family came to support Brooke, and I was excited to have the chance to catch up with everyone since they all live in Massachusetts. We shared stories and laughed pretty much the entire night!

One of the best things that I will walk away from this year with is a new best friend. Brooke and I were a match made in heaven from day one, and I absolutely love her. We always have so much fun together. It has been nice to have someone to talk to this year who truly understands exactly what I am going through. I know that when our titles are passed, we will still remain friends, and for that I am truly thankful.

Prom

Hey Everyone!

I though it might be nice to start sharing some of my experiences that aren't pageant related for a change. As many of you know, I was a senior this year, so this of course means I attended senior prom! Staying true to our Vermont roots, my senior class decided to hold prom in a barn. It was very rustic, but beyond fun! We had a great DJ, and spent the night dancing. It was by far, the best high school dance I attended! I hope you enjoy the photos!

Essex Memorial Day Parade

In May, Nydelis and I made an appearance in the Essex Memorial Day Parade and had such a good time! We rode in a convertible during the parade, and spent our time waving to everyone who had lined the streets to watch the parade. I am always amazed at how many little kids love to see "princesses!," and think Nydelis and I are just the cats meow. I always get a kick out of it, but it also touches my heart. It makes me feel great to see little girls (and sometimes boys too!) who look up to me. I try to live my life in a way that when the crown comes off, these little guys will still look up to me. This year has been full of many fun appearances, and this parade was just another one to add to a great year!

My Photo Shoot in Las Vegas

While on my trip to Las Vegas to Miss USA, I had the great opportunity to do a photo shoot with photographer, Ben Urcuyo. I had gorgeous hair and makeup done and was amazed at how great it came out. My shoot was a grueling 5 hours long, but let me tell you, I had a blast! Ben had an incredible energy and a desire to catch the perfect shot. I know he could have completed my shoot hours earlier, but was so impressed that he took the time to capture exactly what he was looking for. I loved the atmosphere of this photo shoot because it was high fashion and original. I was able to do some fun posing, and felt like a real model! I am excited to work with Ben again in the future! If you would like to see more of Ben's work check out Benizo.com!

So....I want to share some of my favorites! : )

My trip to Vegas!

Hey Everyone!

Now that I have had a few days to re-group after my travels, I am excited to share with you all that I was able to do while in Vegas! The week was full of fun surprises, and I am excited to have returned home with some new friendships.

First off, I want to congratulate Nydelis on her amazing accomplishment of walking on the Miss USA stage. Although she did not continue on into finals I could not be more proud of her. She worked so hard throughout her reign and I can honestly say she rocked the stage. She looked incredible up there! I would also like to send my love to Lacey Wilson, Miss MA USA, and Ashley Bickford, Miss CT USA for their accomplishment as well. I could not be more proud of all of our Clemente girls!

I spent my week in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood with my parents and was busy from start to finish! The Miss USA Organization planned some great appearances for the teens to do while they were there, and we all had a a great time. We were welcomed to Las Vegas and had a gathering thrown for us where fans could come meet us and where all of us teens could meet one another. It was a blast! We also were VIP guests at an event at the Hard Rock Cafe called "Fashion Rocks." I walked the red carpet with Angie, Miss Utah Teen, and we posed for the camera like there was no tomorrow! We had such a good time together. Some of my favorite things that I attended on the trip were watching the Presentation Show where every girl competed, then of course Finals night where the top 15 was named and then the girls competed again. This was an incredible experience and I think it is going to help me on my adventure toward Miss Teen USA. Attending a national pageant is like nothing else I have ever experienced, and I am so blessed to have had such a fabulous learning opportunity that will be prepare me for my own competition this summer.

All in all, this was a trip of a lifetime and I am so happy to walk away with so many incredible memories. If anyone wants to hear more, please feel free to ask because I would love to share! : )

Vegas here I come!

I am so excited to be leaving for Las Vegas, Nevada tomorrow where I will be supporting Nydelis and the rest of the beautiful ladies (especially Lacey and Ashley!) who will be vying for the title of Miss USA. I leave tomorrow afternoon and can't wait! I am so excited to see Nydelis since I haven't seen her in a few weeks, and am looking forward to seeing all of the teens I met at the Standout retreat, and see the other girls I haven't met yet! This is going to be a trip of a lifetime and I am so proud of my girl Nydelis. I know she is going to make us all proud! : )

I will do my best to post some updates!

<3 Shelby

A few weeks ago Nydelis and I made a trip to Boston to attend Ashely Bickford's, Miss CT USA 2010, send-off. She had a great evening planned with a fashion show featuring Bless by Bless clothing with an awesome "rocker chick" theme. I had a great time getting crazy hair and makeup done, and was excited to see many of my sister queens who were attending the show. I had an awesome time, and wish Ashley luck on her journey to Miss USA!

And away she goes!

On April 23rd I made a trip to Castleton, Vermont to wish Nydelis good look before she went to Las Vegas to compete for Miss USA. I got there early to help her set up, and was so excited for the night to begin. I knew that every day we were getting closer and closer to Miss USA, and that meant Nydelis was one day closer to the experience of a lifetime. I am so proud of everything she has done this year, and could never have imagined we would become to close. We set out on a journey together last November, and we have been non-stop since! I am blessed to have such a great sister-queen and can't wait to cheer her on when she rocks the Miss USA stage.

Love and luck, Nydelis!

Princess Party benefitting Relay for Life

Nydelis and I recently attended a Princess Party event that benefitted Relay for Life. This was an especially fun appearance to do because it was our job to make every little girl who attended feel like a princess. When we arrived, we weren't sure what to expect. Quickly the room filled with little girls dressed in everything from Sunday's best, to Disney Princess costumes. They were all so cute! The afternoon was full of makeovers, mask-making, and of course dancing! The girls had so many questions to ask of "a real princess," and it was fun to see how the smallest things can make little kids happy. I had a blast with the girls. It made me feel great that even I, a high school student from a small Vermont town, could bring a smile to the faces of so many little girls. This was an exciting appearance, that I hope to attend next year!

The Big Chill

This morning Nydelis and I attended "The Big Chill." We both plunged into the frigid water of Mallette's Bay to help support the Epilepsy Foundation of Vermont as all of the proceeds from the day went to that cause. I woke up this morning thinking, " What am I thinking, I'm going to freeze!" but soon realized that my plunging would help draw awareness to a great cause. In the grand scheme of things, my thirty seconds of discomfort was going to contribute to something much bigger than myself and I was more than happy to do it. All of the people at the event were very supportive and receptive to Nydelis and I. They were genuinely excited to see us, and that was an amazing feeling to walk away with. Although it was cold in the water, I am glad I took the plunge because I had a great time meeting new people and helping the foundation raise awareness.

Judging Miss New England

This weekend I judged my first pageant! As a past contestant in the Couto Pageant system, I was excited to give back and go and judge the baby and little divisions. I had a great time watching all of the adorable little girls grace the stage. I was amazed at how confident they were! It was definitely a good experience to judge and be on the other side of the judges table. I came away with a lot of knowledge that will help me along the way as I continue to compete. I hope I will be able to judge again sometime soon, and would recommend it to anyone because I had a great time!

Slam For Sudan

Last Thursday I went to Burlington to support an event called Slam For Sudan. This was a fundraiser for Sudanese refugees that was centered around basketball contests. I had a great time emceeing the contests, and was happy to judge a slam dunk contest with Nydelis! The athletes that participated were Vermont high school students who had excelled during their seasons, so the court was full of some incredible players!

When I got to the fundraiser I had no idea I was supposed to be hosting. I was really nervous when the coordinators told me, but it ended up being really fun! I am always amazed at the opportunities that come my way as a result of being a titleholder, and am thankful to be able to support events like this!

Queen Brunch

Today I went to a brunch with the Barre Heritage Festival Queens. One of my best friends, Brittany Perdue, hosted a small local pageant last year and I was invited to be a special guest at her brunch with the queens that she hosted. We spent hours talking about pageants and I was excited to see little girls excited about them! They were so into it, that we ended up watching almost the entire Miss Vermont/ Teen USA pageant from last year where I was crowned! It was incredible to know that even though I knew the outcome of the pageant, my heart began to race every time top 10 or top 5 was called!

All of the girls were so happy to have me at their special brunch and were ecstatic when I offered them my sash and crown to wear around all morning. We had a ton of fun, and took a lot of pictures. Hopefully some of these little ladies will be gracing the Vermont stage in the years to come! : )

Special Olympics Event in Massachusetts

Last weekend Nydelis and I made a trip to Massachusetts to attend a Special Olympics event with Mass Teen, Brooke Bibeault. We spent the weekend at Brooke's house, and got ready Saturday night for a dance with some of Massachusetts finest athletes. When we got to the event we had time to walk around and speak with everyone. I LOVED hearing stories from the athletes because they were

so endearing. I met a lot of basketball players, and since basketball is my favorite sport, I had a lot of fun conversations about the game. Nydelis and I signed autographs and took tons of pictures with the players. Although this event was a great time, it humbled me in a way I hadn't expected. I met kids and young adults who have faced so much adversity in their lives and here they were, thrilled to see me and meet me. I realized that night that people truly do look up to me and I am so grateful that I had the chance to participate.

I am truly thankful for the life that I live, and am

so blessed to have the chance to go out into communities and try to make a difference. I met a lot of great people at this event, and had such a fun time! I look forward to working more with the Special Olympics in the future!

Freezing Fun For Families Winter Softball Tournament

Every year the Bresette family puts on a winter softball tournament to support a family in my area who has a child battling cancer. As I said in a previous post, this years recipient was 8 year old Katie Grant who has a form of leukemia, and is need of a bone marrow transplant. In order to help her family get into a new home so she can receive her transplant, Freezing Fun For Families needed to raise $30,000.00. In order to do this, they hosted their annual winter softball tournament. When I heard that this was coming up, I decided to put a team together to help support the cause. I had never played softball before, so getting a team together proved to be a daunting task. I had family, friends, and past and present queens join my team and we were all excited to be helping Katie and her family. Many of us were inexperienced, but we decided to show up and just have fun! I was so excited to have one of my very best friends, Brooke Bibeault Miss Massachusetts Teen USA, come for the weekend to support this cause. She made a long trip with her mom, and we were thankful they did!

We lost our first two games and were out of the tournament, but we were all fine with that because the purpose of the tournament wasn't to win, but to help a little girl who needed it. We all had a great time and came away from the weekend with a lot of stories and laughs, and to me, that's what it was all about. When all was said and done, the tournament raised the rest of the funds needed, and Katie should be in her new home within a few months! I will remember that weekend for a long time, and can't wait until next year!

Special thanks to Layne Gregoire at Vermont Country Campers, and Roger Bibeault at Uxbridge Cabinet Center in Massachusetts for sponsoring our team!

Katie Boyd's Launch Party at Bond!

As many of you know, the trainer that I have worked with for years is Katie Boyd out of Massachusetts. She recently opened her own gym, and it was cause for us to celebrate! To launch the new gym, called The Miss Fit Club, a fashion show and party was hosted for Katie at the Bond Hotel in Boston. Lululemon Athletica provided clothes for the show and Neil and all of the amazing stylists at La Tete Salon provided us with some funky 80's hair! This show was a blast and went off without a hitch. I was nervous at first because this was my first "real" fashion show, but I had so much fun! I may not be America's Next Top Model, but I was so proud that I pulled it off and was there to support Katie. She is an amazing trainer, and I am so honored to be working with her. She has done so much for me, and I was happy to have an opportunity to repay her by showing her my support. This was a great experience for me that never would have been possible without my title of Miss Vermont Teen USA, and I am so grateful for the opportunities that it had brought my way. I am trying to take advantage of all of the good things that are happening to me, and can't wait to see what is going to happen next!

If anyone is looking for a killer trainer...contact Miss Katie Boyd! : )

Love and luck,

Shelby

Freezing Fun For Families Dinner

At the end of February Nydelis and I went to a dinner for Freezing Fun For Families. This was a benefit for a little girl named Katie who is suffering from leukemia, and is in desperate need for a bone marrow transplant. Luckily, her mother is a match, however their current living situation has prevented the transplant from happening. Along with the Freezing Fun For Families Winter Softball Tournament, the goal for the dinner and tournament was to raise $30,000.00 to get Katie and her family into a new home! The dinner went very well and I had a great time mingling with the guests, selling raffle tickets, and even serving dessert! I loved the fact that the Bresette's (the amazing people who put this all on), weren't afraid to put Nydelis and I to work. We may be beauty queens, but we can help too! The dinner raised its goal of about $10,000.00, and I am glad to have been a part of it. Katie lives in my community, so I was more than happy to help in any way possible. She is a strong little girl who has great opportunities ahead of her, and I am blessed to have had even the slightest part in her success. I wish the Grant family the best of luck, and will never forget the good times I had that night!

Make A Wish Recognition Dinner

Last Thursday my Mom, Dad, and I went to the Essex Resort and Spa for a Make A Wish dinner where sponsors would be recognized for their donations to the foundation. My father was being recognized for his contributions, so I decided this was my opportunity to support him for his accomplishments as he has always supported me with mine. As his name was called I clapped excitedly and was so proud of him! One of the most rewarding parts of the evening was watching a slide show of all of the wishes that had been granted throughout the year with the help of all of the people sitting in the room with me. I was blown away by the generosity of all of these kind people. As the slide show went on I was reminded of how lucky I am to have my health. It is one thing that many people take for granted, but I know that you have nothing without it. I was so proud of my father and the other contributors because they all made a difference in the life of a sick child. I commend Make A Wish for their efforts in bringing light into the lives a children who are suffering. While viewing the slide, seeing the smiles on the faces of the children who werereceiving their wishes was by far the most amazing thing that I saw throughout the evening.

I was also happy to be at this event because it introduced me to the many opportunities there are to become involved in Make A Wish. Although my family has been involved with the organization, I would like to become involved on a more personal level. I hope to be doing more events and volunteering with them in the near future!

Penguin Plunge

On February 6th, I got up bright and early to travel to Burlington to meet Nydelis at the Penguin Plunge on the waterfront by Lake Champlain. It was a bitter morning, but over 1,000 dedicated plungers came to support the Special Olympics of Vermont. I had a great time walking through the crowds and meeting people I otherwise may never have met. I enjoyed talking with some of the Special Olympic athletes, as well as getting to know some of the cadets that attend Norwich. I also had the opportunity to be interviewed on the radio by Mark from CHAMP 101.3. Nydelis and I were also introduced to the crowd and were able to say a few words about ourselves which was a fun way to break the ice and show people that even though we are beauty queens, we are still normal, every day girls too!

As I looked around the waterfront it was amazing to see how many people had come

out to support this organization. With the combined efforts of sponsors, plungers, and the volunteers that made this event possible, the Penguin Plunge raised $325, 289.00 for the 850 athletes they serve. I am so proud of this accomplishment, which was made possible because of the help of dedicated Vermonters!

Standout Retreat in Virginia

As I boarded my plane, I wondered what my weekend was going to be like. I was excited to get to the Master's Inn retreat and meet the girls who would be going to Miss Teen USA with me. I expected to do some team building activities, have a ton of fun with the girls, and leave with some new friends. I never could have expected to take away what I did from my weekend. Although all of those things happened, I learned so much about myself that I had never realized. I came away from the weekend more confident in my abilities and was more confident in the person I have become. I would recommend these retreats to anyone because although you do so many fun things, there is also a deeper benefit to going.

As we unloaded our stuff into camp, I looked around the area and felt at home. Virginia in January looked a lot like Vermont in October. Everywhere I looked there were tall trees, rocks and you guessed it, dirt! Some girls weren't keen on the rustic area at first, but I loved it. I was comfortable in this setting, and that level of familiarity pushed me to do some crazy things! Team building and bonding with the other girls was a huge part of the weekend. We raced up a 40 foot rock wall, only to walk on a skinny board to the other side of the wall to be attached to a zip line. It was so invigorating once I was finally

flying through the air and thought, " wow, I can't

believe

I am doing this!" Next we traveled a little ways into the woods to an activity called "The Leap of Faith." Wow. I was strapped into a harness then climbed up the tiny pegs on the side of a telephone pole ( it was inactive of course!) and stood over 40 feet in the air on the top of the telephone pole. It was the most exciting yet terrifying thing I had ever done. Once I had stood up, my next goal was to jump like Superwoman to grab onto a trapeze located in the front of the pole. On the count of three I jumped and caught the trapeze! As I dangled 50 feet in the air I had never felt so confident in my strengths as a person. Although it sounds crazy, these were some of the best activities I have ever participated in. After this, we went horseback riding. I love to ride horseback, so this was the thing for me. Since I have experience as a rider, the ranch owners gave me one of the more "temper mental" horses. Oh boy was that an interesting ride! After that, we had the opportunity to try lassoing and riding a fake bull. The bull was such a fun thing to try! I stayed on for quite some time before tumbling off. I have to say, I had a great time at the ranch!

The next evening came, and many of the girls from the weekend had caught their flights home. Some of us however had one more activity to try. We went to the Snowflex which is the only snowboarding and skiing place in the country right now that has no real snow and uses turf instead. I was skeptical at first because I am a Vermont snow bunny, but was quickly proven wrong. I was able to inner tube down the mountain and it was incredible! There was no snow, yet I was zooming down the hill like if I had been back in Vermont. It wasn't cold, and you never got wet! Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005, and AT Dunn definitely made sure we all had a fun-filled weekend! I am never going to forget all of the crazy things we did!

As the weekend came to a close and I boarded my plane back to Vermont, I sat and thought about what I had just experienced. Not only did I meet some amazing girls that I will be able to keep in touch with, but I experienced things I may never have experienced if I hadn't been crowned Miss Vermont Teen USA 2010. I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to have been given this year full of opportunity. I am thankful to everyone who helped me get here, and can't wait to see what comes next.

Thank you to all the people who made my weekend possible- I will remember this weekend and what it taught me for the rest of my life.

Love always, Shelby Gregoire.

I'm headed to Virginia!

I have a very exciting weekend ahead of me. I will be attending a contestant retreat with many of the other state titleholders in Virginia. It is let by led by former Miss USA, Chelsea Cooley. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to meet the girls I will be going to nationals with, and am grateful to have the chance to improve my skills with Chelsea's expertise. Although we will participating in seminars, we will also have time to relax. We will be horseback riding and doing a ropes course. As a Vermonter, I can't wait to do something outside!

I must admit that I am a little nervous because this is the first time I will be flying alone. I am very independent and will be able to handle it with ease, but it is a little nerve-wracking to know I will be totally alone! I am excited though, and can't wait until tomorrow afternoon when the weekend will begin!

I will let everyone know how it went and post lots of pictures!

Best Wishes, Shelby.

Official Photo Shoot!

Going to my official photo shoot was awesome! I traveled to Massachusetts with my parents to meet up with the rest of the queens. Neil transformed me with beautiful hair and gorgeous make-up. It felt great to be in that type of setting, and I couldn't wait to put on some of my gowns and pose for the camera. Between shots I got to talk with Lacey, Ashley, Brooke, Alyssa, and Nydelis and it was fun to have everyone together for the first time.

I took photos for my autograph cards ( soon to come!) and photos for the website. At the end of the day, we were also able to get some great group shots

with all six Clemente girls.

Right when the shoot was done, we were swept off to a wonderful dinner with our directors, Laurie and Anthony Clemente. They treated us like royalty and I had an amazing time getting to know them, my sister queens, and their families. I left that meal thinking, "Wow, how can this be happening to me?" I am still on cloud nine, and I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity. I am optimistic that this is going to be the

best year of my life, and I can only imagine what tomorrow will bring! : )

Miss Connecticut USA

At the end of November it was time to go to Miss Connecticut USA to meet the last two ladies who would become part of the Clemente family, and become my sister queens. I could not wait to find out who was going to win, and I had my bags packed a week early because I was so excited for the weekend. Throughout the weekend I was able to get to know the contes

tants and knew from the beginning that it was going to be a tough competition!

I was so exciting to be rooming with Nydelis again because we always make our time together something to remember. I also started getting to know Mass Teen, Brooke, and we hit it off from the start! After only spending a few hours together we were finishing each others sentences and laughing together like we had known each other for years. It felt great to have been blessed with sister queens that I loved spending time with.

During the night of crowning I was nervous, but excited for all of the girls. You could tell they all had put in the time and really wanted the title. I knew that only two could win, but I also knew that each and every girl wanted to walk away with the crown. I've always believed that you will win some and lose some, but a true test of your character comes when you can go up to the girl who has just placed ahead of you and give her a "congratulations" from the heart. I've been in that position before and I know that it can be hard. In the end though, hard work and dedication pay off and the girls who walk away with the crowns set out on a new journey that will change their lives forever.

As the music began to boom and the contestants c

ame out on the stage for opening number I was in heaven. I could remember the feeling of being on stage, ready to see what the the competition would bring. After all of the phases of competition and the call of top 5, I was ecstatic because I knew I would soon be finding out who I would be spending my year with.

I was thrilled when Alyssa won. I was literally jumping up and down because I love her! I had competed with her in the past and we had connected from the first time we met. I knew from the moment she won that we were going to enjoy out year together! Soon, the Miss winner was being called. When Ashley won I knew the Clemente family was finally perfect! I could not be more proud of the Connecticut girls and I am excited to be in the USA Class

of 2010 with them as well!I had an amazing weekend with all of my sisters and I know that I will never have to carry out this new journey I am on alone!