Happy Holidays!!

As I find myself in the midst of the holiday season, it is hard to believe that there are less than 6 weeks until I leave for Miss America. I’m getting very excited for my trip to Vegas, but at the same time, the next month is bound to be busy for me as I continue to prepare for the opportunity of a lifetime! Since I last wrote, I have been staying very busying traveling all over the country and state of Iowa.

After returning from the Miss America cruise, I had 24 hours to repack my bags and catch another flight to Los Angeles. Here, I met up with the other 51 contestants for a reality TV shoot for TLC. For ten days I lived with 51 other young women in one house and was put to a number of tests and challenges. Although I can’t tell you exactly what happened during those ten days, I can tell you that it was a neat experience! It was a tiring week, but having the opportunity to get to know the other contestants was the highlight of the trip. We laughed a lot, ate a lot, and most importantly made some great memories. I can’t wait until the reality show airs on TLC in January. You can read more about the reality show on the preceding post!! Or visit the following link to check out a preview of the show:

http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/e09460eeb710f6b9e324579dcc2dd402

Despite my attempt to avoid cold weather by escaping south to a warmer climate, my return to Iowa greeted me with an abrupt welcome to the start of winter. With snow starting to cover the ground, I once again began my travels across the state, making several appearances in celebration of the holiday season. During the Thanksgiving weekend, I got into the Christmas spirit with my pageant sisters at the Quad Cities Festival of the Trees Parade and Performance. After meeting Santa and hearing the Christmas music, I must admit that I am ready for Christmas and love this time of the year!

At the end of November, I emceed and performed at several local pageants including Miss Capital City and Miss Northeast Iowa, I hosted my own Miss Iowa Baton and Dance clinic, and competed in the first annual Speed Reading contest for First Book Johnson County at the Coralridge Mall. While many know that I am able to speak pretty fast, I wasn’t sure if my brain would be able to keep up and this was another first for me. I was pleasantly surprised with my ability to read up to 119 words in 15 seconds, but I came up just eight words shy from being named First Book’s speed reading champion. I must give credit to the winner as she could read Sox on Fox by Dr. Seuss in lightning speed. In the end, the fundraiser turned out to be a huge success in raising money for literacy and was quite entertaining for shoppers passing by.

For the next few weeks I will be finishing up the first half of my school tour. From Okoboji to Oelwein and Des Moines, I have been driving hundreds of miles across Iowa to speak to students of all ages about the importance of character in making decisions and pursuing one’s dreams. I am delighted to have this opportunity to inspire young people and will work to continue to make an impact on our schools and communities through character education. With my travel schedule, upcoming appearances, and Miss America preparation, I’m not sure when I will have time to go Christmas shopping, but it is all worth it.

Coming up this month I will be making a special Character Counts presentation at the Iowa Hall of Pride, I will take part in several Children’s Miracle Network Holiday events, and will even get the opportunity to dance with the Rockettes! In addition, I will be competing in the Quad Cities Dancing with the Stars competition on December 18th in Davenport. As a local celebrity I will be performing a very fast and fun Cha-Cha routine. If you are in the Davenport area on the 18th you should come check it out! It is going to be a night of excitement and you don’t want to miss out!

With the holidays around the corner, I want to want to wish you and yours a very safe and happy holiday season! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that we have a white Christmas too!

Warm Wishes,
Diana






A special Christmas gift for Miss Iowa from a student at Hillis Elementary in Des Moines.

Speed Reading Contest

How many words can Miss Iowa read in 15 seconds? Well, it depends on the book, but my best was 119 words and my worst 75 words. Regardless, I thought the First Book Johnson County's first annual Speed Reading Contest at Coralville Mall was a huge success!

Miss America Reality Show

Press Release from www.thefutoncritic.com released on 12/5/07:


TLC GIVES MISS AMERICA A MAKEOVER IN ORIGINAL REALITY PROGRAM MISS AMERICA: REALITY CHECK

-- Michael Urie from ABC's "Ugly Betty" to Host Four-part HD Special Premiering January 4, Leading up to the Miss America LIVE! Finale on January 26 --

Los Angeles, CA -- TLC ushers this classic television event into the modern era with the new four-part reality special MISS AMERICA: REALITY CHECK. Michael Urie (ABC's "Ugly Betty") is tapped to host the programs, premiering January 4 at 10 PM (ET/PT) and airing consecutive Friday nights leading up to the MISS AMERICA LIVE! finale on Saturday, January 26, 8-10 PM (ET live/PT tape-delayed). MISS AMERICA: REALITY CHECK was shot in high definition and can be viewed on the TLC HD simulcast.

For the first time in history, MISS AMERICA: REALITY CHECK brings all 52 beauty queens together to live under one roof to undo everything they have learned about pageant basics and determine if their smarts, attitudes and looks hold up in contemporary society. Led by host Urie, the girls participate in an intense set of events and challenges designed to prepare them for the finale event, a renewed competition that will redefine what it takes to be Miss America, a relatable and individual it girl' who can connect with today's modern woman.

MISS AMERICA: REALITY CHECK calls on tastemakers to lead the hopefuls through their journey as they learn the latest trends, newest hairstyles and how to represent themselves as role models in today's modern world. Throughout the episodes, the girls will be critiqued on their progress by an elite advisory board comprised of celebrity stylist Jeanie Mae, Us Weekly editor Dina Sansing, and celebrity photographer Mark Liddell.

Additionally, special guests will share their area of expertise with the contestants including the current Miss America Lauren Nelson, Stacy London and Clinton Kelly from TLC's hit show "What Not to Wear," world-renowned make-up artist Napoleon Perdis, celebrity hairstylist Kim Vo, choreographer Fred Tallaksen, and fashion expert Randolph Duke.

"The Miss America of today is more than a pretty face," says Brant Pinvidic, senior vice president of programming for TLC. "These are remarkable women who have made great contributions to their communities. We want to give America the chance to get to know these women and follow their journey as they strive to obtain the Miss America title on January 26 in Las Vegas." MISS AMERICA: REALITY CHECK is produced by PB&J Television for TLC. Executive Producers for PB&J are Patty Ivins and Julie Pizzi. TLC's HD simulcast service is available nationwide on DirecTV and DISH Network and via numerous local cable and telco providers. About TLC

TLC's innovative hit series include perennial fashion favorite What Not to Wear; Little People Big World, now in its third season; Miami Ink and the hit spin-off LA Ink. The channel defined home design with Trading Spaces and continues to reinvent the genre with Property Ladder, Flip That House and Moving Up. TLC's daytime lineup includes the Emmy Award-winning A Baby Story as well as Take Home Chef, featuring one of People Magazine's Sexiest Men, Curtis Stone. The channel is available in more than 93 million homes in the US, nearly 8 million homes in Canada and through the website at www.tlc.com. TLC is part of Discovery Communications which is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman.

About Miss America

The Miss America Pageant - and the scholarship program itself - is among the most enduring endeavors in modern American history. From its humble beginnings as a "bathing beauty'" contest in the 1920s, the Miss America Organization today is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance, helping young women all across the country to reach their dreams and goals. For more information, go to www.missamerica.org.

Miss America Cruise 2007

Wow! What an amazing week for me! For the past four days I have had the privilege of setting sail on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship with 30 other contestants for the 2008 Miss America cruise. As my first cruise ever, I have countless stories and experiences to share with you! From getting to know the other contestants to watching the dolphins train on the beach of Cozumel, I had a wonderful week of fun and even some relaxation.

On Monday, November 29th, I boarded the ship, Majesty of the Seas, with my baton coach Jan Stivers and husband Larry, for a four day cruise that was originally scheduled to make two stops in the Bahamas (Nassau and Coco Cay) and a stop to Key West, Florida. However, due to Tropical Storm Noel, that hit the Bahamas, our ship took an alternative route west to Cozumel, Mexico. When I heard the news I was delighted as I have never been to Mexico and I had heard Cozumel is a beautiful place. In addition, the alternative route actually enhanced my overall cruise experience as it allowed for a little more free time to explore the seas with the other state contestants.

The first day on board flew by. Before setting sail at 5:00 pm, we went through the coast guard drill where we all had to stand on deck with our bright orange life preservers. As I stood next to my roommate Leah Masse, Miss Georgia, I couldn’t help but think of the scenes from Titantic the movie. I was glad to head back inside for the sail away party, hoping that I would not have to put that oversized orange vest back on for the rest of the trip (although that could put an interesting twist on the Miss America swimsuit competition).

The evening ended with a satisfying dinner where I had the pleasure of meeting the Jahangard Family from California. Azim, Angie, George, Elsy, Kamran, Amir, Trevor, and Anton kindly welcomed us to their table and over the next few days, I had a great time getting to know each of them. They plan to attend Miss America 2008 and promised to cheer loud for me. Thanks guys!

On day two, we arrived at Key West, Florida. After a quick morning rehearsal with all the contestants for our Miss America Talent Show, we headed off the ship to explore the southernmost island of the United States of America. All of the Miss America contestants enjoyed lunch at Alice’s Key West restaurant where we met the mayor of Key West and had a great lunch. A special thank you goes out to the owner and workers of Alice’s restaurant for opening their doors just for us at the last minute (due to the hurricane). I’m grateful for their generosity as it was here I had my first taste of genuine key lime pie, a tart treat that I thoroughly enjoyed.

After lunch, we boarded the Conch Train for a quick tour of the island. During our tour, we learned more about Ernest Hemingway, President Harry Truman, and Jimmy Buffet and why they loved this beautiful island. At the end of the tour, all 31 contestants, along with Lauren Nelson, Miss America, had some photo opportunities in front of various historical locations on the island. Before heading back aboard, we also had a chance to shop along the infamous Duval Street where there are shops of all types. I bought a few souvenirs and a pair of sunglasses (I forgot mine at home), but made sure to get back on the ship before the Majesty set sail again at 5:00 pm.

The second day of the cruise ended elegantly with a formal night aboard the cruise ship. In celebration of Miss America, Royal Caribbean had a special meet and greet where cruisers could get autographs and pictures with all the contestants. This was a great opportunity for me as I met others on board from not only around the USA, but around the world. While the waves and winds were starting to pick up at this point, making it more difficult to balance on four inch heels for pictures, the night ended with another fine dinner and group photo of all the contestants in the grand entrance.

On Halloween morning, I woke up early to watch the sunrise on the upper deck and layout in the sun. The boat continued to rock steadily as we made our way to Mexico with high winds, but fortunately I had no signs of sea sickness. I guess when you spin and tumble everyday practicing baton, your body gets use to an abnormal equilibrium. At 3:00 pm we had the Miss America Cruise Talent Show where we performed an opening number to Let’s Get Loud and each contestant had the opportunity to showcase their talent. I’m happy to say that I managed to make it through my routine without breaking any stage lights, something I was bit worried about going into the performance because of the lower than usual ceiling. My performance went well and once again I had a great time entertaining the crowd. It was also fun to hear and see some of the other contestants’ talents for the first time. There was definitely a lot of great talent on board!

By the time our show finished, the ship had docked at Cozumel, Mexico. This stop was my favorite part of the entire trip! Jan, Larry, and I made our way to a picturesque snorkel beach where we watched the dolphins as they were trained in the ocean. It was an absolutely breath taking sight and I loved every minute of it! If time would have permitted I would have jumped in and swam with the dolphins too, but instead I made friends with a little exotic fish as I swam in the Gulf of Mexico. Before leaving, we enjoyed some authentic Mexican cuisine on the beach and then headed back to the port shops to do some more shopping. My day in paradise ended as our ship pulled out of Mexico and I joined the other contestants on the poolside deck for the Monster Mash Bash where we danced the night away under the stars. For me, this was the perfect way to end a perfect day. I must say I had a very Happy Halloween!

Our final day of the cruise was spent at sea, which allowed me to take some time to enjoy the countless activities on board. After some serious dancing the night before, I enjoyed a day of sleeping in – something I haven’t done for a long time! Later, while lying out by the pool, I somehow managed to get entered in the best biceps contest with Miss Virginia and Miss Wisconsin. Despite my crazy dance moves, I missed receiving a metal from the judges by what had to be a hundredth of a point. Miss Wisconsin took home a metal though (nice work)! Don’t worry though; the emcee gave me a medal for being the craziest bicep routine he has ever witnessed – an award I felt quite honored to be presented with ;)

Later that afternoon I found myself contending for another Royal Caribbean medal with Miss New Mexico, Jenny Marlowe, in the battle of the sexes on the pool deck. Here we competed in three challenges: pass the orange with the chin contest, pass the hula hoop down the line with arms linked with teammates contest, and a swimming pool relay while trading a t-shirt with your teammates contest. Although it truly was a close race (tied going into the final challenge), the females unfortunately came up just short and received silver medals for our efforts. Nevertheless, it was quite an amusing time by the pool!

For the final night on board, the Miss America contestants had our Halloween Costume Party (rescheduled a day later due to the change in travel plans). I dressed up as Pebbles from the Flintstones with a leopard print costume and bone in my hair. There were costumes of all sorts!! My favorites included Miss America’s Outstanding Teen’s pirate outfit, my coach and her husband came as Ketchup and Mustard, and the guys from Table 120 as Mr. America’s (see photos for details). I must say I was quite proud of Jan, Larry, Kamran, Amir, Trevor, and Anton for taking home the Miss Guided and Miss Represented costume awards. Nice work and I expect to see the guys wearing their Mr. America tiaras at Miss America in January!

After a couple of days of the rough waters, we made it safely ashore on Friday morning. I’m excited to be back, but also feel as though the cruise went way too fast. I have lots of pictures from the week, so check them out on My Photo page. Now, it’s back to Iowa where I have 24 hours to repack for my 10 day trip to Los Angeles. Here, all 52 contestants will meet for a Reality TV Series Shoot. And no, I have no idea what to expect – it should be another fun and crazy adventure. I’ll keep you posted!

Best Wishes,

Diana

So Many Great Appearances

The Quad Cities USO show on September 29th.

Post from Saturday, October 13th

Hi All!

My journey continues this month as I travel the great state of Iowa working to promote the Children’s Miracle Network and Character Counts! Not to mention, making a few other fun appearances along the way…

My favorite appearances in the last month have been meeting Hawk fans and attending different Iowa Hawkeye events. Before the first home football game in September, I helped at the North Scott I-Club Kids Night where I perfected the art of putting on temporary Tigerhawk tattoos on kids of all ages. I also had the opportunity to perform the Iowa Fight Song for fans. During the home opener, on September 8th, I did a meet and greet tailgate around Kinnick Stadium and I also helped pump up Hawkeye fans at the Hawkeye Huddle before the Iowa vs. Iowa State game.

After being the Golden Girl for the past five years, I must admit it has been unusual not getting ready to take the field on the weekends, which is why it was fun to go back as an alumni for the University of Iowa Homecoming game. Here, I proudly took part in the Homecoming parade and led the Alumni Band on the field for one more pregame – I love that adrenaline rush! It was really great to be back. The fifty yard line of Kinnick Stadium is one of my favorite places in the world. Hopefully, I will make it back for more Homecoming games in the future.

Yesterday, I had the distinct privilege of introducing Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz at the Johnson County I-club breakfast. While I have been to over 40 of these breakfasts over the years, this one was a little extra special. I have met many accomplished individuals as Miss Iowa, but few have captured my respect and admiration like Coach. It was great to see so many familiar faces at the I-Club and a true honor to have had this opportunity to speak of my experiences as a Hawk. I would also like to think that I brought the team a little luck today as they beat the Fighting Illini, but really I must give the credit to the coach. It was a great game for Iowa! Go HAWKS!!

Other fun appearances during the last month have included the Iowa Trappers Association Convention where I participated in my first skillet toss competition (and of which I was not very good), the Iowa Speedway where I met country superstar Craig Morgan and followed the race car drivers in a pre-race lap around the track, and the USO show where I met Miss Illinois, Ashley Hatfield, and performed for our military men and women. At all of these events I continue to meet great people that encourage and inspire me as I prepare for Miss America.

While I have enjoyed an array of entertaining appearances, I have also been working hard to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network and promote Character Education. This month I attended the Credit Union Convention in Des Moines to raise money for the kids at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Later this month, I will also be helping with the Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Superstars Luncheon at Kinnick Stadium – an event that acknowledges the efforts of workers who continue to raise more money for the kids in our local hospitals than any other business in Iowa.

I also have plans to help out on National Make a Difference Day (Saturday, October 27) by helping the Dance Marathon booth sell bratwursts for CMN. Here, I plan to twirl fire at the Hawkeye Tailgate to raise money and after the tailgate I hope to walk across the street to the hospital and visit the kids in their rooms. Bratwursts, Dance Marathon, Miss Iowa, Hawkeye football, fire batons and helping the kids in the hospital – sounds like a fun way to make a difference to me! If you are at the game, you should stop by and support this great cause!

Ultimately, I have been busy traveling to various Iowa schools to talk to students about the importance of making good decisions with the Six Pillars of Character. Within the last month I have been to countless schools including Independence, Tipton, Charles City, Sumner and Fredericksburg and in the next few months I will be visiting many more! National Character Counts! Week is the third week of October, which is just around the corner, so I will soon be visiting schools in Dewitt, Thornton, Solon, and North Liberty, Iowa.

While I’m very excited to speak at all of these schools, I’m especially looking forward to visiting Penn Elementary in North Liberty. For the past three years, I have been working with the students at Penn and have gotten to know the students very well. Last year, we implemented CC! into the school system and it has taken off. I can’t wait to see what the students have done with the pillars this year. It’s bound to be a fun day for me.

The next few weeks look to be as busy as the last. Before I know it I will be heading to Florida for my Miss America cruise and honestly, I can’t wait for that trip! It will be a nice change in pace from the hundreds of miles I have spent on I-80; it will be nice for someone else to take the wheel while at sea ;)


Fondly,
Diana

Post from Tuesday, September 25th

I’m so excited that I had to blog today. I have some great news! Yesterday we had the Miss America Lottery, a process that helps determine the contestant order for the Miss America competition. This order determines what nights you compete in the different areas of competition (ex: talent, swimsuit, etc.) and what other state contestants are in your group.

During this process, all 52 contestants sit down at a computer, at the same time, and watch as the computer randomly draws a state’s name. When your state pops up, you get to call in and pick your competition slot. I don’t know how, but yesterday I was picked first – it was crazy! I was so excited when my state popped up on the screen that I could barely dial the phone number to call in and make my request. It was hilarious! I really thought I would be sitting there hours waiting and waiting, but I got lucky, really lucky.

I’m excited to let you know that I will be the final contestant in the Alpha Group at Miss America 2008. This means that I will compete as follows:
Monday, January 21st (afternoon) - Interview
Tuesday, January 22nd – Talent Preliminary
Wednesday, January 23rd - On-Stage Question Preliminary
Thursday, January 24th - Swimsuit and Evening Gown Preliminary.

To see exactly where all the other contestants ended up you can visit:
onlineselection.missamerica.org

I’m hoping this is a good omen for me! At the very least, it made my week ;)

On Cloud Nine,

Diana

Character Counts at the Blank Park Zoo!

Blog Update

Note: I have had some technical difficulties in posting blogs for the last month, so I apologize for the delay. Despite being unable to getting entries posted properly for others to see, I have been writing in my journal to keep things updated. Sorry to keep you on hold for so long, but now you can get catch up on everything that has been happening - pictures and all! Enjoy!

Go Hawks!

My new friend and Hawkeye fan, Jessica - she's too cute not to post!!

The Sweetest Corn You'll Ever Taste

Just Keep On Traveling

Hello Everyone!

As my ventures as Miss Iowa continue to get better and better, I have much more to share with you about my experiences and appearances as Miss Iowa. First, I want to tell you all about my great trip to the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition in Orlando, Florida. On Tuesday, August 7th, I flew down to Orlando to catch Taylar Swartz, Miss Iowa’s Outstanding Teen, compete in her first round of preliminary competition. The Iowa section cheered loud as Taylar performed her contemporary clogging routine to “Great Balls of Fire.” What a fun, energetic talent number! I also went to the preliminary competitions on Wednesday and Thursday, and the finals on Saturday, August 11th.

All week, Taylar did a wonderful job on and off the stage. With her great attitude and fun personality, I’m sure Taylar was a hit with the staff and contestants. She was definitely my favorite! There were many great performances by all the contestants, but the number that got me out of my seat was the large group production number to “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” As one of my favorite Broadway songs, I was on my feet by the end of the show. Watching the girls perform this number got me jazzed about performing at Miss America.

In addition to cheering on our Teen pageant sisters, the Miss contestants were also treated to several days of fun, food, and amusing activities while in Orlando. Thursday, August 9th was Miracle Treat Day for the Children’s Miracle Network. As a result, all the Miss contestants took a tour of the Arnold Palmer Hospital and even had a chance to hang out and play with the kids. With a Disney inspired hallway and playground for kids to play on along with a state-of-the-art NICU and pediatric emergency room, I was very impressed with the facilities and care provided by Palmer Hospital. Plus, the kids were incredible! They have so much courage and strength at such a young age. It is amazing to see firsthand the life changing things CMN is doing for children across the country. It makes me very proud to be an ambassador of this well-deserving organization.

On Friday, August 10th, the Miss contestants were treated to a fun-filled day at Walt Disney World and it was the best trip to the Magic Kingdom that I have experienced to date. As soon as we walked in the park, we received our own set of ears and had a special photo shoot with the man of the hour, Mickey Mouse, in front of Cinderella’s castle. With the VIP treatment we received, we were also able to ride every ride in the park including Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and of course, It’s A Small World. We even got to ride my favorite ride in the Magic Kingdom, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. It was a day of laughter and thrills for all 26 contestants that were able to make the trip to Orlando. For me, it was the perfect vacation from the non-stop, busy schedule that I have had for the past two months!


Along with Disney, we were also treated to a delicious dinner provided by the Florida State Board at Maggiano’s, an exquisite Italian restaurant, a night of hors d'oeuvres and dancing at the Millenia Fine Arts Gallery, and a Luncheon at Planet Hollywood. I want to thank all of the sponsors who made these events and memories possible for the 2008 Miss contestants! I’m so glad I was able to go to Orlando where I got to meet and hang out with many well-rounded, talented, and beautiful young women from across the country. After my trip to Orlando, I’m confident that my journey to Miss America will be a very inspiring and rewarding experience.

Furthermore, I want to thank Nancy Lee and Becky Lee Hinton for treating Taylar and I to a day at Universal Studios and Blue Man Group. Taylar and I had a blast together! We rode Jaws, E.T., Shrek 4-D, and the best ride in this park, Revenge of the Mummy. If you have never been on that ride, you must go! It is amazing – Taylar and I rode it twice. In addition, I was picked as a stunt double on Earthquake and Taylar and I were assistants in the Fear Factor Live show. Although I didn’t have the stomach to watch the contestants drink blended grasshoppers, worms, and sour milk, it was fun to watch live the show that I have seen so many times on TV. There were some pretty intense stunts, but I think Taylar and I could have held our own as contestants. That same night we saw Blue Man Group, another must see show, and it was exceptional and hilarious as usual. Thanks again Nancy and Becky; I couldn’t imagine a better way to end our week in Orlando!

While I had many great experiences in Orlando, the most exciting moment of this trip was when they announced the date for Miss America 2008! I’m thrilled to inform you that on January 26th, 2008, I will be competing live from the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Los Vegas, Nevada for the Miss America crown. In addition, the show will be aired live on TLC (The Learning Channel), so you can watch right from the comfort of your living room couch. I know many of my friends and family are already planning on coming to Vegas, which means so much to me! Although there is a lot to do between now and then, I can already see the bright lights of the strip. ;)

Along with preparing for the national pageant, I have been also making numerous appearances across Iowa during the month of August. In returning from Orlando, I headed straight to the greatest state fair in America, the Iowa State Fair! I have been attending the state fair every year since I was five and I couldn’t wait to enjoy the food, shows, and fun. I was also able to stop by the Bill Riley Talent Show and meet some of the 2007 contestants and fairgoers. As the 2004 Senior Talent Search Champion, it was an honor to once again be a part of this Iowa State Fair tradition. Thank you Bill Riley Jr. for inviting me back to the Bill Riley Stage. My visit to the fair wouldn’t have been complete without seeing the baby pigs, getting a Hawkeye tattoo at the Iowa booth in the Varied Industries Building, and eating infamous Iowa State Corn Dog. You’ve gotta love the Iowa State Fair!

Other appearances I have made in the last two weeks include the Rocking on the River Fundraiser in Iowa City for the Children’s Miracle Network. Here, I helped serve food and performed a twirling routine for the attendees. On the same day I also attended my first ever Corn Boil, which was a Democratic fundraiser in Clinton, IA. Along with enjoying some great sweet corn, I also had the opportunity to meet and hear four of the democratic presidential hopefuls speak: Hilary Clinton, John Edwards, Joe Biden, and Chris Dodd.

This past week I had the opportunity to walk the halls of Norwalk High School for the first time since I graduated in 2002. I was honored to have been recognized by the entire staff and administration of the Norwalk Community School District at their annual back to school staff meeting. I greatly enjoyed my visit back to NHS as it was nice to talk many of the teachers and coaches that helped mold me into the person I am today. Thanks to all of these great teachers for your support, guidance, and encouragement over the years!

With school starting up, I’m sure I will be busy in the next few months visiting schools across the state of Iowa. On Thursday, I had my first Character Counts! school presentation as Miss Iowa at Atlantic Middle School and Atlantic High School. I spoke to the students about the importance of character and making good choices. I’m hoping to spread this message to many more schools throughout the year, progressively making a positive impact on the youth of Iowa with each presentation I give.

I’m sorry this update was so long; I just had so much to say!

Until next time,

Diana

Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, Florida

Taylar and I take a quick picture after the second night of Preliminary Competition

You did such a great job Taylar!!

Miss Contestants take the Children's Miracle Network Tour of Arnold Palmer Hospital

Miss America contestants visit Walt Disney World

Me with Taylar Swartz, Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen at Blue Man Group

National CC! Conference

Making My Summer Count!

Dear Friends,

The past month has continued to be a time of travel, opportunity, and excitement for me as Miss Iowa. I have taken part in a number of fun and remarkable experiences occurring both in and out of the state of Iowa. From emceeing the 2007 Washington County Queen Pageant to being a guest speaker at the National Character Counts! Conference in Anaheim, California, my memories as Miss Iowa continue to multiply as I meet extraordinary people and take part in so many once in a lifetime experiences.

When I last left you, I was preparing for the 2007 National Baton Twirling Championships in South Bend, Indiana. My week at AYOP was very rewarding for me! AYOP always brings together the best of the best twirlers in the country and it was great to see so many of my twirling friends and colleagues from across the nation. I enjoyed competing and performing each day and felt a great sense of support from the twirling community as twirlers and coaches wished me well on my year as Miss Iowa. Although an exhausting week, I was pleased with my performances and was a finalist in both the National Collegiate Strutting and Twirling Championships, placed second in the open two baton competition, and I won my twelfth National Show Twirl title. I also had the opportunity to twirl with a number of exceptional collegiate twirlers in the College Football Hall of Fame Parade in downtown South Bend. I am so grateful that I was able to take part in AYOP for one final year and I will miss seeing the many twirling friends and mentors that I have gotten to know over the years. Thank you to every judge, teacher and twirler who has enhanced me as a twirler and person. My memories through NBTA will remain with me always!

In returning to Iowa, I began traveling the state for several appearances. On July 22, I emceed and performed at the Fabulous 50s Send Off Party for Miss Iowa’s Outstanding Teen, Taylar Swartz, in Fremont, Iowa. With all of us dressed up in poodle skirts or “Pink Ladies” jackets, I think all of my pageant sisters had a good time supporting Taylar as she prepares to leave for the national pageant. Taylar looked gorgeous as she modeled all of her cocktail dresses and competition apparel for the national competition that will take place this coming week in Orlando, Florida. I’m sure Taylar is having a blast right now with the other contestants of the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition. I’m greatly looking forward to traveling to Orlando this week to support her for all three nights of preliminaries and the final competition. It will definitely be an exciting week. Good luck Taylar! You are going to be amazing!!

Sunday, July 22, also kicked off the week of RAGBRAI, The Des Moines Register’s Annul Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. This seven day bike ride has been a 35 year tradition of the state of Iowa and this year we were excited to have Lance Armstrong join the other 20,000 riders as they made their way from the Missouri River to the eastern border of the Mississippi River. I was able to catch up with the riders halfway through RAGBRAI on the University of Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls. Here, I performed at the RAGBRAI kick off celebration, spoke with many volunteers and riders, and even had the opportunity to talk with Lance Armstrong and his team. I commend all the riders who persevered to the finish line and thank Lance for being such an inspiration to the riders and me. It was quite a memorable year for RAGBRAI!

Today, I will be flying home from California where I just took part in the 2007 National Character Count! Conference in Anaheim. What a great opportunity this was for me! I heard many accomplished athletes, educators, and national directors speak about character education and the many ethical issues that face our country today. In addition, I met and spoke with Michael Josephson, the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the Character Counts! program. Mr. Josephson is a true inspiration; he developed Character Counts! from the ground up and has been advocating the development of character in our country for over fifteen years. I look forward to working with him in the future on several character education initiatives.

While at the conference I also had the pleasure of meeting Miss Ohio 2007, Roberta Camp. Roberta and I were able to get to know each other during meals and between the breakout sessions. It didn’t take long to see that we had many things in common. It was nice to share ideas and experiences with someone else who is personally committed to advocating character across the country. Between the two of us, I think we will see many positive things happening with character across the Midwest.

In addition to being a participant of the conference, I also served as a guest speaker, sharing my personal experiences with Character Counts! and what I plan to do with my platform during my year as Miss Iowa. I talked about how I helped successfully implement a CC! program at Penn Elementary in North Liberty, IA, and even gave a mini demonstration of baton twirling – in my heels and crown! This was a great opportunity for me to speak out on my personal platform and encourage other educators to be creative while teaching the six pillars in their own states. I’m glad I did not miss out on this week! I met so many individuals from around the country that are also working to elevate character in our kids and I absorbed so many new ideas for implementing character education. The week reiterated the need for character education in our society, further motivating me to make a difference in the state of Iowa.

While the conference was the highlight of my trip to California, I also had some free time to take in the sights of the Los Angeles area. Thanks to the hospitality of a good friend of mine, Pres Maxson (former drum major of the Hawkeye Marching Band), I enjoyed a tour of the Warner Brothers Studios, did a little shopping on Rodeo Drive, and attended a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live. To see some of the highlights from my trip to Anaheim, you can check out my pictures on the Miss Iowa website!

The next few weeks are bound to be as exciting and busy as the last. This coming week I will fly to Orlando for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition and meet many of the other Miss contestants from across the United States. When I get back, I plan to spend some time at the Iowa State Fair and on August 30th take part in the Crown For Kids Golf Tournament in Marion, Iowa. If you are a golfer or know a golfer, you should sign up to play and join us for a fun day of golf. All the proceeds help benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, so sign up now! I would love to meet you at Hunters Ridge!

Until next time, feel free to send me a message or email. I will continue to keep you updated on my many upcoming events and appearances!

Yours Truly,
Diana

My Many Firsts

Dear Friends,

Life as Miss Iowa is officially off to full speed! The past few weeks have kept me quite busy, but they have also been filled with many great experiences and “firsts” for me as Miss Iowa.

In June, I traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to visit a good friend of mine, Cathy Herd, who has also been involved with the Miss America Organization. She shared her personal experiences of competing in the Miss America pageant, which made me even more excited for the opportunity to compete at the national level. The two of us were also able to attend the Miss Arizona Pageant, which was my first time watching another state pageant. I will have to admit it was kind of nice sitting on the other side of the stage – a lot less stressful that’s for sure! All the girls did a great job and it was fun to watch Nicole Turner get crowned Miss Arizona. Congratulations Nicole! You did a great job and I’m excited to meet you later in the year.

From Arizona, I flew to Minneapolis where I got to spend a day with my family and coach shopping at the Mall of America. After being gone for two weeks, it was great to see my mom, sister, and Jan. Plus, I’m always up for a day of shopping! I have to give my sister a lot of credit for the success of this trip. Despite her extreme dislike for shopping, she was a great sport during the entire shopping extravaganza. Thanks sis, I owe you!

The following weekend I was able to take my first road trip with several members of my board. Paula, Jenny, Katie, Anne and I headed to the suburbs of Chicago to watch the Miss Illinois Pageant. I was very excited to attend this pageant as I knew several of the contestants competing for the title. Meganne, Christy, Julianne, and Tana, I was cheering loud for all of you. Each one of you looked beautiful and did a wonderful job on stage. I wanted so badly to say hello after the show, but unfortunately, we had to leave afterwards. However, I enjoyed talking with your family and friends during intermission. I also want to congratulate Ashley Hatfield for being crowned Miss Illinois and Nicole Rash, Miss Indiana, who I met after the show. I’m sure we will have many memories to come this year as state titleholders!

I must admit that my trip to Chicago was a much needed break from the extensive paperwork I had been working on for the past three weeks for Miss America. The trip was a blast, but then again, I wouldn’t have expected anything less with the four women who kept me company. Whether it was making a U turn for the third time or watching Paula tap dance in the hotel room, there was never a boring moment. Thank you ladies for taking me along for this unforgettable adventure!

This past week, I also had my first official parade as Miss Iowa 2007. My hometown of Norwalk sponsored me for its “Hometown Pride” Fourth of July Parade. My twirling coach, Jan Stivers, was named Grand Marshal after 25 years of service to the community and I was proud to ride right behind her in the parade. While riding in the parade, it was great to see so many familiar faces that I hadn’t seen in years. From former teachers and classmates to family friends and community leaders, it was nice to catch up with those individuals that I grew up with. I also want to thank those individuals who organized the celebration reception for me in the park. It was a very thoughtful gesture and I appreciate the time and effort you put in on my behalf. Thank you to everyone in Norwalk for the warm welcome and many words of congratulations. It was good to be home for the Fourth!

After my morning in Norwalk, my sister and I zipped down I-80 for my second appearance in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa State Bank and Trust and Diana’s Golden Twirlers sponsored me for an afternoon in the Coralville park. Here, I was proud to emcee the performance of my twirling students and had a chance to meet other members of the community. Despite the extreme heat, all of my students did an excellent job twirling and I also did my first official talent performance as Miss Iowa. Overall, it was a fun filled day and a Fourth I will never forget. Thanks to everyone who helped make it so special!

It is amazing how fast the first month has gone by, but I also know there is so much more to come. July will remain busy for me as I have several appearances as Miss Iowa and many new ideas are underway. Despite all my “firsts” as Miss Iowa, I will also be experiencing a last this coming month. Next week, I will be competing for my final time at the NBTA National Twirling Championships at Notre Dame University. After 16 years of competing at AYOP, it will be hard to say goodbye as a competitive twirler. Although this may be my last twirling competition, I’m thrilled that my twirling career will continue as I look forward to performing at the 2008 Miss America Pageant!

Please continue to visit the Miss Iowa website as we will have many new features, photos, links, and updates added within the next month!

Best Wishes,

Diana

The Start Of An Amazing Journey

Dear Friends and Fans,

It’s hard to believe that it has been exactly one week since I was crowned Miss Iowa 2007! It all still seems very surreal. I have always dreamed of being Miss Iowa and going to Miss America, but the reality of last weekend still hasn’t really sunk in for me. For the past 5 years I have been involved with the Miss Iowa Organization and this year was my third and final attempt for the Miss Iowa title. I guess you can say the third time is the charm! I’m so honored to have been selected as the representative from such an amazing group of ladies and I’m excited for the year to come!

First, I want to thank everyone who made the Miss Iowa week such a success! From the volunteers and sponsors to the contestants and fans, the week would not have been possible without all of you. Thank you to the sponsors for providing the meals, transportation, entertainment and even massages for the week. We were treated like royalty while in Davenport and I want to thank all of you for your generosity! To the volunteers and hostesses, thank you for giving your time and talents to help the contestants throughout the week. The Miss Iowa Organization is supported by some of the most giving and compassionate people I have ever known and I cannot thank you enough for all that you do. Thank you so much!

Finally, I want to thank the other 18 amazing young women that I competed with last weekend. It was a pleasure to spend the week with you and a privilege to share the stage with you. We truly had some of the brightest and most talented young women, with some of the greatest personalities, at our state competition.

There never seemed to be a dull moment! Despite the long rehearsals and exhausting days, we always found a way to laugh through the sore muscles and smile even when we wanted to collapse. Regardless of the outcome, I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know all of you and thank you for the many great memories from our week at Miss Iowa. I wish all of you the best!

So, how has my first week as Miss Iowa been? Well, so far, it has been a whirlwind of events! I spent the first few days doing several radio, television, and newspaper interviews. On Monday, I picked up my brand new 2008 Jeep Liberty from Kimberly Car City in Davenport and on Wednesday, I got the keys to my new apartment! On Thursday, I had my official Miss Iowa photo shoot and yesterday I went to a trunk show to start to look for that perfect evening gown for Miss America. I have been contacting sponsors, booking appearances, and already starting to prepare for the Miss America competition. There is so much to do and I can’t believe one week has past already! I will be cherishing every moment of the next 12 months as I know it will go by fast.

I want to thank everyone who has been so supportive of me during this exciting time of my life! I have received a flood of emails and messages from many of you and it means so much to know that I have many people rooting for me. I will do my best to represent the program to its fullest and make a positive impact on our state. I can’t wait to start traveling the state and meeting so many new people. Also, I hope to write on this blog frequently to keep you up to date on my Miss Iowa journey! Please feel free to contact me if you ever have any questions. I would love to hear from you!

Take Care,

Diana

Diana Reed Miss Iowa 2007