What an amazing year this has been. From the first moment that they said my name, Alexis Blakely Wise as your 2012 Miss Kentucky Princess I knew that my life would change forever. Just a few short hours after crowning, I was so lucky to be able to help crown the girls who would become my big sisters forever.
I am a believer that it is the impact that you make while wearing your crown that is most important so I got to work right away making a difference in my community. Before my school year started I collected over 800 school supplies to donate to our family resource center to hand out to students in need and in October I founded my very own nonprofit organization called Book or Treat where I collected over 2500 children’s books for my school and Kosair Children’s hospital! I also got to volunteer my time at the women’s and children’s shelter and do a runway fundraiser for the Lexington Humane Society and Thursday’s Child, a special needs adoption program here in Kentucky.
Over this year I have gotten to meet so many people, and have so many great experiences. I got to meet the governor of Kentucky, the honorable Steve Beshear and sit in his chair at his office. He even gave me an official pin to wear on my suit while I was at nationals in California! My first visiting royalty experience was in Nashville at the Tennessee state pageant, where I met and got to crown the Tennessee princess as well as meet several other visiting royalty that I stay in contact with still today. But nothing compares to going to nationals in Anaheim over Thanksgiving! I was so excited to go and represent my home state of Kentucky. On the first day at orientation I met all of the other princesses from across the country and many of us became fast friends. We found out that we had so much in common and we stayed together and supported each other all week. Now that we are home we still call each other and talk over skype! It’s so cool to be able to say that I have friends from all across the country. Some of us are even going to Gatlinburg on a weekend reunion trip soon! Oh! Did I mention that I met Mario Lopez on one of our outings? My mom was really jealous! We got to tour Hollywood, walk on the walk of fame, visit the Chinese theatre, check out Rodeo Drive and go to Disneyland! It was the trip of a lifetime! Even though I didn’t bring home the crown this year, I had a blast and I hope to go back again someday.
But none of this would be possible without my wonderful support team that I have backing me the whole way. To all of my friends at school and my cheer gym Power Cheer, thank you for the send off and for staying up late to cheer me on in California even if it was from watching on the computer and for the cards my classmates sent me at my hotel, they meant so much. To my grandparents and family- thank you for your undying support, helping to sell ads and do fundraisers and for helping mold me into the young lady I am today. To my parents, thank you for making this dream come true and supporting me in anything I want to do and helping to make it happen. To Mr. Matt and the NAM staff- You all are incredible. Thank you for everything you have done for me both here at home and in California. I could always count on Mr. Matt being somewhere at rehearsal and making me laugh and feel confident. Did you know that he has one of the best cartwheels I have ever seen! Thank you for this incredible opportunity.
To my sister queens, Brennan, Tyra, Logan, Megan and Morgan- I have had so much fun with you this year, throwing out the first pitch at the Bats baseball game, opening ceremonies of the State Fair and everything in between. You all will be my NAMily always. Before last July I didn’t have any big sisters and now I have 5. Thank you for being amazing role models and being such a blessing in my life. I truly look up to each and every one of you.
This has been the best year of my life. So thank you National American Miss for a journey that I will remember for a lifetime. Good luck to all of the young ladies competing in the 2013 Kentucky Pageant and all across the country. One of you are about to embark on an amazing journey. Make the most of every minute and remember you are a girl with dreams.
This is not goodbye, this is I’ll see you again next year. I am proud to be your 2012 Miss Kentucky Princess, Alexis Blakely Wise.
