Vanbros Photoshoot

This past weekend we had our last Vanbros bootcamp before we leave for Miss Teen USA. We spent all day Saturday doing a group photoshoot with the amazing Rachel Imdieke! Here are a few behind the scenes shots... I can't wait to see more of the photos! Thank you for spending your Saturday with us Rachel! Also a big thank you to Lindsey from Blush Spa for doing such a fantastic job on our makeup. :)

Looking out for snakes with these boots! ;)

The Final Countdown!

Things are all starting to come together for Miss Teen USA! So excited I got to pick up my gown for nationals from my state director last week. Thank you so much to Mac Duggal, Ashley Renee Tribble, and Danielle Bounds Hahn for giving me the dress of my dreams to wear on stage at Miss Teen USA. I would also like to give a big thank you to Tae at Bridal Design & More for altering my dress to fit like a glove! I can't wait to wear it in just a few weeks! :)

Another exciting thing came in the mail this past week... My contestant packet from the Miss Universe Office! Thank you Sherri Hill and Chinese Laundry for sponsoring our opening number outfits, I absolutely love them! :)

Be sure and TUNE IN on August 1st and 2nd at 8 PM ET on www.missteenusa.com to watch the live stream of the 2014 Miss Teen USA pageant. Exactly two weeks and I will be at the beautiful Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas! :)

#Throwback

As Miss Teen USA gets closer, (19 days!) I am having a #Throwback moment to some of my favorite things I have had the opportunity to do in my community this year! :)

I have loved getting to speak to different groups of teens and kids about the importance of healthy relationships and respect in dating. I hope that each group I have presented to leaves feeling empowered and with a better understanding of how important respect is in every relationship. Here are some pictures of a few of the groups I have had the pleasure of talking with!

 Raymore Elementary's Girls on the Run group

Kansas City Girl Scout Troop

Grain Valley Middle School

I have also had the opportunity to work closely with Hope House, a domestic violence shelter located in Kansas City. I have loved getting to spend time with the women and children staying there. Thanks to the generous donations of several businesses and individuals, I was able to put together a pancake breakfast and over 100 care packages for Hope House!

Time has flown by! Be sure and "like" my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter @RealMissMOTeen, and Instagram @missmoteenusa. (The links to my social media pages can be found to the right of this post. --->)

Thank You Fadil Berisha!

I had such a fun time at my photoshoot with Fadil Berisha in Baton Rouge! It was such an incredible experience to get to shoot with him. Here are a few photos from our session. :)

2014 Miss Teen USA Contestant Profiles

The 2014 Miss Teen USA contestant profiles are now posted on the Miss Teen USA website! Thank you to Rachel Imdieke for my official headshot. :) Be sure and check out this link to my profile to learn a little more about me:
http://www.missuniverse.com/missteenusa/members/profile/660679/2014

19 days and counting until I am on a plane to the beautiful Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas! Thank you for everyone's continuous support as I prepare to compete at Miss Teen USA. Be sure and "like" my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter @RealMissMOTeen, and Instagram @missmoteenusa. (All of the links to my social media pages can be found to the right of this post. --->)

Web Video... Check!

Thank you Russell Walker for doing such a great job filming my web interview for Miss Teen USA! The videos will be up on YouTube soon, so be sure and watch to learn a little bit more about me. :)

Thank You Georgina Vaughan!

Thank you Georgina Vaughan for such a fun shoot in Baton Rouge! Here are a few shots from our session. :)

Miss USA 2014... Live from Baton Rouge!

I had an AMAZING time in Baton Rouge last week for the 2014 Miss USA pageant! I loved getting to spend time with all of the other teens doing all sorts of fun activities and getting a taste of everything Baton Rouge has to offer. Thanks to Lauren and Blair for organizing so many awesome events for the teens, we all had a blast! Congratulations to Nia Sanchez from Nevada on being crowned Miss USA 2014! I am so glad I was there to see her crowned live. It was definitely a week I will never forget.

My mom and I hit the highway bright and early on Tuesday morning, and we met up with Miss Oklahoma Teen USA, Brooklynne, and her mom and followed each other the rest of the way to Baton Rouge. :)

The preliminary competition was incredible! Erica did amazing, I am such a proud little sister. :)

 Erica during introductions

 Erica rocking the stage in the swimsuit competition!

 Preliminary hosts Nick Teplitz (aka... "The Rhyme Guy") and Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady

 Erica looking gorgeous during evening gown!

Brooklynne and I at dinner before heading to prelims

So glad my mom was able to experience this week with me! :)

With some of the other teens before prelims

So glad I got to meet Miss Teen USA 2010 Kamie Crawford! I follow her on Twitter, so it was nice to finally meet her in person. :)

On Thursday, the teens got to visit the Our Lady of the Lakes Children's Hospital and the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. I enjoyed reading and making crafts with the children staying there. Their strength and joy is truly inspiring!

 Michigan has great taste... ;) We wore the same romper!

Friday morning I got to check a big one off of my bucket list! A photoshoot with the one and only FADIL BERISHA! It has always been a dream of mine to shoot with him, and I am so thankful I had this opportunity. Thanks to Austin Ryde for doing such an awesome job on my hair and makeup, and Amber Calderon with Muzzies Couture for styling me. :) I can't WAIT to see the final shots, thank you Fadil! :)

Then, the teens got to visit The Royal Standard, a super cute store in Baton Rouge. They had everything you could imagine; clothes, jewelry, home decor, you name it! They even gave each of us an adorable tote bag and provided some great snacks for us as we shopped around the store and met some of the locals. Thank you to The Royal Standard for your southern hospitality! :)

It was really cool to get to sit in on a few rehearsals for Miss USA. I even caught up with Erica on one of her breaks and got to talk to her for awhile! :)

Saturday morning, I had a super fun photoshoot with Georgina Vaughan! I have always wanted to shoot with her, I love all of the bright colors she uses in her photos. Not only is she an amazing photographer, but an awesome hair and makeup artist as well. :) She was so nice and a blast to work with, I am so excited to see the final shots!

We were treated like true royalty at Kendra Scott Jewelry! We got to shop around the store and enjoy a lunch catered by Zoe's Kitchen (Thank you! It was delicious.) Kendra Scott Jewelry was so welcoming and kind enough to give each one of us a piece of jewelry of our choice. I absolutely love the bracelet I picked out, it will match everything. Thank you Kendra Scott! :)

 I FINALLY got to meet Miss Teen USA 2013 Cassidy Wolf in person! She is incredible! :)

After we had finished our shopping, we headed to the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge for a POOL PARTY! We had tons of fun in the sun sipping on strawberry and pineapple "mocktails" and dancing to a live band. Thank you to the Renaissance Hotel for throwing such an awesome party.

 Cheers!

"Now act like an animal!" ... My go-to was the fish face. 

Sunday morning we got to watch dress rehearsals for the final show that night. When we arrived, we were surprised with the news that the teens were going to play a part in the opening number of the live telecast! How exciting! :)

The final show was AMAZING! After years of watching Miss USA on T.V., it was so cool to get to experience it live. A few of us teens even ran in to DONALD TRUMP! I was too starstruck to say anything except "Can I take a picture with you?" Thank you Mr. Trump for stopping an posing for a picture. :) Also, thank you to Erin Brady for being such an amazing Miss USA 2013, and congratulations again to Nia Sanchez, our new Miss USA 2014! :)

 Our awkward "act like you're dancing" picture. :)

 With Donald Trump! I still can't believe we got to meet him! :)

My "crowning moment" :)

 We had great seats to cheer on our big sisters!

Miss USA was one of the most memorable and exciting weeks of my life! I am so thankful that I had this opportunity. Next up... Miss Teen USA! I can't wait to be reunited with all of the other teens at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas in just a little over a month. Be sure and follow me on Twitter @RealMissMOTeen, Instagram @missmoteenusa, and like my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MissMissouriTeenUSA to follow my journey! :)