Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012!: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

Busy, busy week!

As exhausted as I am, this past week was so much fun! Tuesday, I spoke to the Forestview Middle School Student Council in Baxter about winning the title of Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen and what I will be doing with my platform this next year. Back in November they helped me with my fundraising for the Walk to End Alzheimer's by selling things that were purple (like bracelets, earrings, candy). They helped me raise over 300 dollars! I got an email from the coordinator congratulating me and I asked her if I could come back to see everyone. They all loved having me there! I handed out business cards and signed autographs for them. I even got a few girls that are interested in competing for Miss Brainerd Lake's/Baxter's Outstanding Teen pageant!

Thursday, my Mom and I headed to Detroit Lakes to speak to an Alzheimer's support group at Oak Crossing assisted living. I was touched at how excited these women were to have me come! My mom had presented to them a few months before and they begged her to bring me with next time. They loved hearing me play my piano piece that I played when I won Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen and they asked me to share my story. As I was telling them everything that has happened in the past 4 years I realize how much God has truly shaped me into the person I want to be. This crazy thing that I get to call my life hasn't always been easy. Many times I felt like giving up; on myself, on my family, on pageants, even on my faith. But as I look back now I see how every one of those hardships happened for a reason and God's timing is so incredible I just want to scream! :)

Friday was the official "Royal Slumber Party" for the Miss Brainerd Lake's/Baxter contestants. There's never a dull moment when you have a room full of pageant girls, food, and the movie Drop Dead Gorgeous :) I had so much fun, and I'm so excited for these girls to experience what I have gotten to experience through competing. There will be 14 girls running for the title of Miss Brainerd :Lake's and Miss Baxter on June 30th at Tornstrom Auditorium... Make sure to come and watch these beautiful ladies compete and see who the 2 new titleholders will be!

Saturday was also jam packed fun because it was my junior prom! My boyfriend and I went out for an early dinner at Bar Harbor, a local restaurant that has really good food. After our dinner we headed into town to take some pictures at a park in Brainerd. I was freezing cold, but a picture is worth freezing yourself to the core, right pageant girls? At 7pm we had Grand March in the gym at my high school which is always fun because you get to show off your pretty dress and updo :)

And to finish my weekend, yesterday I had my first official photo shoot with Sarah Morreim Photography! As long as it was, and as tired as I was from prom the night before, I had a lot of fun! I'm really excited to share them with you as I get them, but I do want to give you a little sneak peak :) Stay tuned for more of those pictures!

Always,
Bailey
Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012

Some of the Student Council at Forestview

Signing autographs

Oak Crossing Alzheimer's support group

Royal Slumber Party with my sister queens :)

Dylan and I at prom

Grand March

Sarah Morreim Photography

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Women's Expo in Brainerd

Yesterday I was at the Women's Expo at the Brainerd Civic Center. The Women's Expo is a bunch of vendors all centered around women, so there was anything from purses and jewelry to food and health screenings. It was the 11th year they had put this on. In the morning, I was passing out bags and vendor information. Then at 10, I gave a little presentation about my platform, Alzheimer's. I was able to share my story of my Dad and Alzheimer's and tell them what I've been doing and what I plan on doing this next year as Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen.

After my little presentation, I was able to walk around and look at all of the vendors. It was fun talking to a wide range of people, and I even got asked to make a few appearances, which is always great :)

Then after the Expo, I headed down to St. Cloud with my directors Mackenzie and Renee to meet with the official photographer of Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen, Sarah Morreim! It was nice to sit and hear what kinds of things she wants to do this year, and I feel that this is a great addition to the new Minnesota board of directors! I am having my first official photo shoot with her one week from today, and could not be more excited! I've never worked with her before, but I've seen the pictures she has taken and they are stunning.

This week is very busy and full of appearances and my high school prom and I can't wait to share those experiences with you!

Hope everyone has a great day!
Bailey
Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Taking a step on the road to Miss America's Outstanding Teen!

Today, I was working with the Miss Brainerd Lake's/Baxter contestants at the high school with my sister queens, Molly and Savannah. It was great to spend time with them!!
As I was watching these girls walk and mock interview, I kept thinking about how absolutely incredible the Miss America Organization is. When I was giving up my Miss North Metro Outstanding Teen title, I said in my farewell speech that the girls I compete with are my sisters first, and my competitors second. My feeling is that the pageant is in God's hands anyway so why would I not help other contestants? I want to walk out onto the stage knowing that I did everything I could have possibly done to prepare myself, but also to help the other girls with their preparations along the way. When the pageant is over, you may not always win a crown; but if you have helped your competitors at least once on their journey, the gift you will walk away with is far greater than what any crown can give you. I'm so glad that the Brainerd contestants see that we need to help each other.

And that, my friends, is why my love and respect for the Miss America Organization runs deep.

Today was also a major stepping point in my journey to Miss America's Outstanding Teen. I think it finally sunk in that I am Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen and I will be representing Minnesota at Miss America's Outstanding Teen! Today was also the first day, since a few days before MMOT, that I actually practiced my walking and mock interviewed. It feels so amazing to be back to preparing like that! Now I'm REALLY getting excited for Miss America's Outstanding Teen! (Only about 120 days until I compete again!)

Bailey
Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Ruby's Pantry.

Yesterday, I was at the National Guard Armory in Brainerd to help distribute food for Ruby's Pantry.

Ruby's Pantry is a Christian organization that helps fight hunger and poverty in the community in which it is held in. Many food distributors (like Coca-Cola, Barrel O' Fun, etc.) donate food that is a day old or overstocked for use in Ruby's Pantry. This organization in not income based, so anyone who feels the pressure of high prices at the grocery store is welcome! You pay $15 and that gets you a "share" and an extremely large portion of food. Since all of the food is donated, the entire $15 dollars you just payed goes to help local food shelves and non-profit organizations (like Teen Challenge) right here in Brainerd. Every months, I see more that 400 (sometimes 500!) shares get distributed, and I always think about how many people are benefiting from this amazing program.

I've been blessed to have been able to attend the past 3 months (it's always the second Tuesday of every month). The people are starting to recognize me.. which is awesome! They all knew me as Miss Brainerd Lake's Outstanding Teen, so when I walked in with a taller crown and a new title they were extatic for me! They couldn't believe that a Brainerd girl is now representing the state of Minnesota as Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen. Many people had recognized me from a huge article and picture in the Brainerd Dispatch, and it was fun chatting with them about my future year and where this crown will take me.

Which leads me to my other thought: I am feeling like the luckiest girl in the world, and I want to make sure that Minnesota knows how honored I am to be representing them. I've put years into preparing for this year, and already it's been everything I wanted it to be and more. Thank you to those who have been supportive over my journey. You will hear me say that alot, but I truly am grateful for the support and love. Thank you is simply not enough for what you have done for me.

Bailey
Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012
(it still hasn't sunk in yet... Ahh!)

So many onions...

And I helped bag all of them!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012.

For 4 years I have waited for the "crown" to be placed on my head. I can't tell you how extremely happy and excited I am to finally be able to call myself your Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012!

Let me back up a few steps for those who don't know much about me :) My name is Bailey Wachholz and I live in Nisswa, Minnesota with my parents and my cat. I attend Brainerd High School as a junior this year and will be switching to Central Lakes College next year as a senior and PSEO student. I'm 17 years old and love playing piano, being out on the lake, and writing.

My pageant career started when I was 13 years old and has blossomed. 3 months prior to my first pageant, my father was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's disease. I was devasted. I felt scared, afraid, and lonely. Those fears are what pushed me to create the first education program in Minnesota specialized for the youth and teaching them about Alzheimer's disease and other related dememtias. This program is designed for 1st grade to college aged students. I've been incredibly blessed to have been able to present in 14 schools and speak to over 5000 young people on Alzheimer's. Three years along in the Alzheimer's journey, my Dad is steadily declining but my passion for education has only grown. My platform has become my life.

I competed my very first time in the Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2009 pageant. I didn't walk away with any award but was thirsty for more! I came back the next year, fully preparing myself to win, but walked away as the 2nd runner up. I was saddened that I wasn't the new MMOT but happy that I had won the Community Service award. God gave me lots of signs a few months after the pageant that it just wasn't my time yet, and I trusted Him. Six months after MMOT 2010, I was awarded the Miss North Metro Outstanding Teen 2010 title which qualified me to go to MMOT 2011. My third time at the state pageant, I was feeling so incredibly ready and I started preparing myself to win again. But at the end of the day, I walked away as the 1st runner up. I refuse to lie to you: that was the hardest moment in my life. I was proud to be first runner up, don't get me wrong! It's just that 1st runner up was not good enough for me. I wanted more.

I honestly thought my pageant career was over. I didn't want to be that girl that was known as the "runner up". Following the months after the pageant, I really hit a low. I was crabby most days. I gained weight. My life didn't have a purpose anymore until I read an article about the newly crowned Miss America's Outstanding Teen, Lacey Russ. Lacey competed 4 times before winning her state pageant and ultimately MAOT. If Lacey could compete 4 times, then I could. I was also inspired by the newly crowned Miss Minnesota, Kathryn Knuttila, who also competed 4 times at the state level before winning the title.

I had one final year left of competing as a Teen, and I wasn't going to let myself have any regrets about not competing. So I pulled myself up. My attitude improved and I had lost over 15 pounds. I had the feeling of being on top of the world when I competed for the title of Miss Brainerd Lakes/Baxter Outstanding Teen. I walked away that night as Miss Brainerd Lakes Outstanding Teen with numerous awards, including the fitness wear award! :) By now, it was January 2012 and I had 2 1/2 months to prepare for MMOT 2012. I was putting a good 10 hours a week into practicing, but was feeling very calm, cool, and collected. I knew that God's plan was perfect, and if I was destined to be Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen then it would happen this year.

Thus, I am now proudly standing before you as Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012!! That night I also won the interview award and tied for the scholastic achievment award. When I heard my name called, it was truly the greatest moment of my life. God's timing is so absolutely perfect. This title was worth waiting four years for. Already my year has been so blessed and it hasn't even been a week yet!

I've been overwhelmed by all of the support I have recieved. (I'm sorry if I haven't always responded to texts/Facebook,ect.) Thank you to all of you who have played such an influential role in shaping who I am today. In my previous blog as Miss Brainerd Lake's Outstanding Teen (http://www.missbrainerdlakesot2012.blogspot.com/) I dedicated an entire blog to these influential people, so I won't bore you with that now :) But I do want to quick thank my Parents, Stacie McBride-Cox, Vicki and Bill and my pageant friends and family. All of you are amazing for believing in me for all of these years, thank you! Many thanks and congrats go to the wonderful and amazing girls I competed with... You all are awesome and amazing and perfect in God's eyes and I hope you always believe that He makes everything happen for a reason.

I would like to say congrats to 2 of my best friends: Corrina Swiggum, for being 2nd runner up, and my sister queen, Savannah Cole, for being 1st runner up! I'm so proud of you two :) Also congrats to Molly West for representing our community so well!

With the many media appearances this week, I apologize for just writing this blog so late. But here are a couple pictures from the pageant, so enjoy!

With much love and appreciation,
Bailey Wachholz
Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2012