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.