farewell – Page 2 – Matt Leverton’s National American Miss (NAM) Pageants Blog

Nikya Hightower, Miss North Carolina Pre-Teen, looks back on her year in service!

It has been a wonderful journey being your Miss North Carolina Pre- Teen. I have met so many nice people along the way. Receiving my Letter of Recognition from the Mayor at a city hall meeting was really a great feeling. I have enjoyed every moment of volunteer work and charity events that I have been a part of. The March of Dimes, the ALS Walk, The Child Advocacy Center, “Rip the Runway” held in Spring Lake, North Carolina which was a kids fashion show hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, to benefit the Boys and Girls Club, “Kids Rock The Runway” for North Carolina Fashion Week held in Fayetteville, my hometown, to benefit Meals on Wheels, the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, and donating the books and school supplies to my community church.

I had a great time at Nationals and met lots of new friends that I still keep in touch with. That was my first time in California and I really had a blast.

I would like to thank NAM for all your help and support, and I would like to wish my successor the very best. It has been a great experience to serve my community and to represent the Great State of North Carolina.

Love to All,

Your 2014 Miss North Carolina Pre-Teen

NIKYA ARIEL HIGHTOWER

National American Miss South Carolina Christy Green bids farewell to her year of service!

June 19 2015

I can’t believe how fast the year has gone by. I enjoyed my exciting, busy, and fun filled week in California. We had so much fun in Disneyland, from riding the rides and touring Hollywood, But most of all making new friends from different states and seeing new and exciting things. I have been spending my time volunteering and being in parades.

To mom thank you for always being there for us no matter what, even when you were down you still encouraged us to study hard for our exams and in the end you where there with a smile and just as proud of all of us mom we can’t ask for nothing more of you as always you put us first before yourself I love you mom always.

To all the girls competing, remember what the true meaning of success is. Compete against yourself and be the best you, tonight and for the rest of your life. I hope you have all learned something about yourself this weekend. For all of the young ladies tonight, I wish you walk out of here knowing you are smarter than you think, more beautiful than you see, and more empowered than you feel. There is nothing in between you and your desires other than obstacle you yourself have put in place.

To the new Miss South Carolina, get ready for the unexpected! You are going to have the time of your life! You will filled with excitement, unforgettable moments. Just remember to carry yourself with grace and poise. Your beauty will shine through humbleness and modesty, so stay grounded but be ready to take flight.

This night may mark the end of my reign as Miss South Carolina, but I have only just crossed the starting line of a race that will last a lifetime.

Good Luck,

From Your 2014 Miss South Carolina Christy Green

2014 Miss South Carolina Teen Aundrea Green welcomes this years contestants!

June 19, 2015

Its incredible how fast time flies when you’re having fun. During my reign I was able to promote my platform of volunteering by spending my free time at the food bank, local homeless shelters, parades and participating in the American cancer society relay for life. I had the opportunity to meet so many people from different cultures and age groups around the country.

At the national pageant I got to know a lot of great girls and we had a blast at Disneyland. I am proud to have had the pleasure of upholding the traditional values of national American miss. I learned how to have poise, self-confidence and I received great interview skills. The girls and I bonded over our trip to Space Mountain and our adventures on the Hollywood tour. It was an unbelievable experience.

To my mom and dad I want to thank you for supporting me from the very beginning. You have always been there from pinning me up to making the last minute touches before going on stage. To my director Matt Leverton, thank you for supporting me and my family in this amazing journey that started out in your preteen division. To my NAMILY I am forever grateful that you all are such a great support system. For all the contestants tonight just know that you have come so far on an amazing journey, so tonight when you leave hold your head up high knowing that you’ve accomplished so much this weekend. To my successor, this is just the beginning of a dream come true. Spread your wings and take every opportunity that comes your way. You are a girl with dreams, you are National American Miss. I wish you great success in all of your endeavors.

I am your 2014 Miss South Carolina Teen Aundrea Green.

Hannah Jacks, Miss South Carolina Jr. Teen Queen, says farewell to her year of service!

Dear Contestants,

Congratulations, and welcome to the Miss South Carolina Pageant! I am truly looking forward to meeting each and every one of you. This weekend is going to be very exciting and an adventure you will always remember!

Being Miss SC Jr. Teen has been such a blessing to me. It allowed me the opportunity to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House Charities, making pop tab bracelets, which helped to raise money for the organization. I also volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters at their Bowl for Kid’s Sake and helped at the spring 2015 Special Olympics. All the while, meeting some amazing people along the way!

Going to Nationals in California is an experience I will never forget! From competing with the best of the best to touring the streets of Hollywood, my time at Nationals is something I will treasure forever! I can honestly say I have made friendships that will last a lifetime.

Remember to always smile, have fun, and make as many new friends as you can. Above all else, believe in yourself. You are already a winner!

As my journey comes to an end and a new one begins for one of you special girls, I wish you all the best life can bring!

Wishing you the Best Always,

Hannah Jacks

Brandi Urban, 2014 Oregon Teen Cover Girl has some welcoming words for this years contestants.

Dear National American Miss Oregon Contestants,

I would like to say welcome to an exciting and unforgettable weekend! This weekend will be a time to make friends, rock the stage, show your talents and best of all feel like Cinderella! The first thing you should do is smile and be yourself! If I have learned anything this year as your 2014 Oregon Teen Cover Girl it’s that there is nothing better than being yourself! I am so excited to meet each and every one of you! It has been nothing short of a dream come true to have had the honor of representing the beautiful state of Oregon as your state teen cover girl!

My favorite memories are getting to meet my sister queens for the very first time, volunteering in my community, attending the Washington state pageant and of course going to sunny California for the National pageant. Where I was blessed with the title of National Teen Cover Model and winner of the National Teen Volunteer Service and other amazing awards! I had so much fun making new friends and making memories.

This year I also got to hold a dress drive to benefit Abby’s Closet to help prom dreams come true, donate food and toys to The Ronald McDonald House and to help with the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure! I have learned so much from my year and I will never forget the memories that I have made and life lessons I have learned!

I’d like to say a huge thank you to my family and friends that have supported me since day one! Y’all are the best cheer section anybody could ask for! Thank you to my amazing sister queens, you are all so bright and beautiful and I am so glad I got to spend my year with you! It truly has been a privilege and I love you all! Thank you to Matt, our state director and his amazing staff for being there to encourage me the whole year. But most of all a HUGE thanks to my mom and dad for always making sure I look and feel like a real life Cinderella!

Good luck and have fun! Brandi Urban

2014 National American Miss Teen Cover Girl

Ella Osborne, 2014 Miss Oregon Princess Queen, looks back on her year!

Just one year ago I was on the NAM stage for my very first time in my very first pageant. I couldn’t believe it when they called my name! Over the past year I have been VERY busy. Being in parades is one of my favorite memories because I got to see so many smiling faces. My glasses are a big part of who I am and it’s important to me that other kids with glasses know that they’re special and can do anything. I worked a lot with the See to Read campaign which provides vision screenings throughout the state. My family and I did the SOLVE beach clean-up, too. That was super fun and beautiful day! My sister queens and I donated items to the Ronald McDonald House and volunteered at Race for Cure. I love serving with my sister queens! Another favorite was working with Toys for Tots during the holidays and filming a commercial for them! And of course, there was Nationals! What a blast!

To me, being a queen means helping others and having fun wherever you go. It means being nice and doing your best. It’s about being brave and working hard. Being a NAM queen is a big responsibility and I have loved every bit of it!

To the contestants competing this year the most important things to remember are to be yourself and have fun! Be sure to practice, smile at the judges, be confident and ROCK THAT STAGE! Good luck!

2014 Oregon Princess Ella Osborne

Farewell from your 2013 Miss North Carolina Princess, Niyah Marie Smith.

Farewell from your 2013 National American Miss North Carolina Princess, Niyah Marie Smith.

Wow! Being the 2013 Miss North Carolina Princess has been an experience like no other. From the moment I first arrived at the 2013 NAM pageant last year, I knew that I would forever be changed. I met the most amazing girls, had a great time, and met friends that would last a life time.
During this past year, I have been able to give back to my community and volunteer my time reading to young children at the Jordan Center, assist with the book mobile, travel to Charlotte, to work with the Teach Boys and Girls Success program, volunteer at the light the night walk for the leukemia and lymphoma society, meet the governor of North Carolina, march in the MLK parade, attend the North Carolina open calls and training sessions, and get to know my wonderful North Carolina sister queens.
My trip to the National Pageant in Anaheim, California was amazing! I got to meet girls from all over the US, go to Disneyland for the first time, tour Hollywood, and hang out with my new friends. I even made it to the top ten finalists. Not bad for my first nationals ever!
To each and every one of you, I want to say, shoot for the stars, no one can stop you from reaching your full potential, and to my successor, enjoy your year of reign, you will never be the same.

I am your 2013 Miss North Carolina Princess, Niyah Marie Smith.

Jeanae Ganther,2013 Miss Florida Pre-Teen, gives words of encouragement to this years contestants.

Jeanae Ganther,2013 National American Miss Florida Pre-Teen Queen, gives words of encouragement to this years contestants.

Hey Girls, This past year has been unbelievable! I’ve gained so much confidence because of NAM. I’ve met so many talented girls and made some new friends throughout this journey. I’ve volunteered at “Dare to Care” Kitchen, Horizon Assisted Living, donated school supplies to my former elementary school, participated in March of Dimes and Komen’s Breast Walk.I also had the opportunity to travel to Jacmel, Haiti with Hope for Humanity to do mission work and deliver school supplies and personal hygiene items. At state pageant weekend, be yourself, meet as many girls and have fun! At Nationals, you’ll meet more girls and make more friends. We had theme parties each night! We went to Disneyland, Hollywood, and had a Thanksgiving Banquet with the NAM families. Let’s not forget the shopping, dining, mentoring, beauty sleep, and competitions. Enjoy every moment, take lots of pictures. I thank NAM, for the opportunity of a lifetime, especially my State Director, Matt Leverton. Crowned of not, this is a learning experience. Remember, you always take something back with you; it’s up to you to make it positive. To my successor, do not consider winning as the end, but the beginning of bigger and better things.

Good Luck!

Jeanae Ganthier
2013 Miss South Florida Pre-Teen

2013 Miss Georgia Jr. Teen, Olivia Landrum, looks back on her year.

2013 National American Miss Georgia Jr. Teen Queen, Olivia Landrum, looks back on her year.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “It’s not the years in the life, it’s the life in the years.” Believe me when I say that no amount of pageant or interview preparation could have prepared me for the amazing journey this title has taken me on. From the outpouring of love and support from strangers, friends and loved ones, to the countless community volunteer hours I logged, my journey was a fulfilling and rewarding one.
First I collected all of the books and school supplies donated at the pageant last year and distributed them throughout my community. A couple of months later, I was able to collect household supplies from the students at my school and donate them to the troops and their families at the Fisher House in my hometown. Next, I made a trip to the capital to meet out governor. Throughout my reign I also participated in parades with my sister queens, helped out with the NAM staff and traveled 2,052.48 miles across country to compete at Nationals held in Anaheim, California. I cannot help but believe that my overall experience this year was God’s way of truly preparing me for the rest of my life’s journey.
It’s not the crown that defines you, but what you have inside that counts. Remember girls, ‘the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,’ so dream on.

With Georgia on my mind,

Olivia Landrum
2013 Miss Georgia Jr. Teen

Kaitlyn Connell, 2013 Miss North Carolina Pre-Teen cover girl, looks back over her year.

Kaitlyn Connell, 2013 National American Miss North Carolina Pre-Teen cover girl, looks back over her year.

I can’t believe it has been one year since I have been crowned your 2013 Miss North Carolina Pre-Teen Cover Girl. I was so honored to be able to represent my state and help my community. I have had so many opportunities such as traveling to our State Capital and meeting Governor Pat McCrory. Being invited to the Ambassador’s Ball hosted by Mercedes Benz of South Charlotte, where I met The Ambassador of Switzerland, Manual Sager and his wife, former U.S. Representative Sue Myrick and the Mayor. I also had the opportunity to meet Bob Beyer, the Assistant Coach for the Charlotte Bobcats. I volunteered at different organizations such as retirement homes, The Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, The Allegro Foundation of Charlotte …a Champion for Children with Disabilities, which I hold very near and dear to my heart. I walked with my sister queens in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I handed out the books and stuffed animals donated by the contestants to WSOC-TV School Tools, Shands School of Matthews, The Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte and Kids-R-Kids. I also had the opportunity of being in parades.
Then it was time for Nationals. Nationals was truly the best week of my life. What an awesome experience! I totally enjoyed hanging out with my NC sister queen, Brandi at Disneyland, sister’s forever! Thank you for showing us around! And also touring Hollywood was so much fun. While I was at Nationals, I won National American Miss National Pre-Teen Cover Girl and got to walk the red carpet.
I have made so many new friends this year and was able to be involved in so many opportunities. I totally enjoyed working at the NC Open Calls and meeting all the new contestants. I also was invited to perform at the Opening Ceremonies of The Special Olympics of NC with The Allegro Foundation.
To my sister queens, Niyah, Skyla, Marindia, Brandi, Alexandra, Shivali, and Megan, I have been so blessed to have shared this journey with all of you. To Alex, Miss South Carolina Pre-Teen, thank you for being so much fun to be around, you are my life-long sister and I love you so much.
To Mom and Dad, thank you so much for supporting my dreams and never giving up no matter how busy this journey was. And to Dad for always making times fun!
To Mr. Matt Leverton, thanks for being the best state director ever and being so supportive of all of us. Thank you and your team for making this organization so much fun.
To my successor, this will be the best year of your life, embrace the moment. Until next time, I am and forever will be your 2013 Miss North Carolina Pre-Teen Cover Girl Kaitlyn Connell.