Miss Nebraska Teen 2011 has BIG SHOES to fill - farewell to the fantastic Jordan Somer
National American Miss is built around the saying “I am”. Since the age of eight, I have been taught by this fine pageant system to be confident in who “I am” and to tell the whole world about my goals. Clearly, National American Miss has made a significant impact on my life and I was so extremely honored and glad to be chosen as National American Miss Nebraska Teen 2010-2011. This year was filled with opportunities and honors that have undoubtedly benefited the future ahead of me.
Proudly wearing the National American Miss crown and banner, I set out to continue making a difference in my community. I am a strong believer in simple acts of kindness, so I lived out this platform by passing out candy canes to the homeless at Christmastime, going to a Valentines Day Dance with my friends at the Ollie Webb Foundation, and being involved with many other fun, spontaneous volunteer activities. Beyond simple acts of kindness, I also held the fourth annual Miss Amazing Pageant, which is a pageant I founded for girls with disabilities in 2007. Before holding the 2010 pageant, I was offered the honor and opportunity of lifetime in which I was able to represent pageantry and National American Miss nationwide. Nick Cannon made a special appearance at my school and awarded me with one out of four Teen Nick HALO (Helping And Leading Others) Awards complete with $20,000 to my college fund and $25,000 to the Miss Amazing Pageant! The experience was a wonderful whirlwind as I was flown to California to walk the Red Carpet with Rosario Dawson and to New York City to see the premier of the HALO Award segment. More than any cash prize ever could, representing the benefits and “miracles” offered through pageantry made all my hard work worth it.
In November, I flew out to California once again, but for the National American Miss national pageant! Having the opportunity to meet so many fabulous girls across the country and being able to represent Nebraska was such an honor. Over time, I have realized that improving myself and reaching for my personal best during competition should be my first priority and this is exactly what I did at nationals. I am sure you can imagine how flattered and ecstatic once I was announced as 2nd runner-up! Having the opportunity to help highlight Nebraska on the national pageant stage was really a dream come true.
To the girls who are competing this year, I would first like to congratulate you. Not only have you accomplished greatness for being selected as one of the young ladies to represent our fine state, but also by going through the metamorphic journey up to pageant weekend. Whether pageants are routine events for you or if you are just now learning the ropes, I truly hope that you take this weekend as a time to look at yourself and your goals and to tell the audience, judges, friends, family, and random strangers all about it! It is your time to shine.
Once again, I am proud to have represented such a fabulous state this past year and am so excited to see the influential work of my successor. As I move during August of this year to New York City to become a full-time NYU student, I will never neglect to update myself with the wonderful things the people with National American Miss are accomplishing.
