National American Miss-1st Runner Up

August 18, 2011

Dear Diary,

Here I am at the largest pageant in the world, National American Miss. We are at the Hilton Hotel in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

We just checked-in to the hotel and filled out all the paperwork for the pageant. Then, we went to the pageant store where my mom bought me this cool NAM outfit. The hotel is going to be filled with over 300 girls! This is going to be exciting!!

My contestant number is 91 and there are 93 girls in my division. I'm glad I'm not first again but now I have to wait a really long time. I guess I'll use my time to pray to God so he can calm my nerves.

The schedule is packed with lots of things to do. Workshops, rehearsals, Pajama Party, Optional Contest, Interviews, Evening Gown preliminaries, a little bit of down time and then Saturday the BIG show.

This is my best friend Payton. She lives behind my house. We have known each other since I was 4 months. My mom invited her to join us so she can see what my new adventures are. I was really excited and happy that she was there to support me.

Just like in American Co-Ed, we have a production outfit for NAM. I love this outfit! Isn't it cute?! I think I'm going to wear the shirt to school and tell all my friends about NAM.

My mom is my biggest fan! She makes sure my hair and clothes look good all the time. We are having so much fun together.

This is a great picture of the rehearsal for the Personal Introduction. My dad is going to be my escort again. He loves this part! We have to walk to the center, say our 30-45 second Personal Introduction and then walk in a big "hola-hoop" circle. Then, your escort comes down and walks you off the stage.

Here I am saying my Personal Introduction. The 2010 Pre-Teen Winner Cielo is the girl on the left. She must be really tired having to stand there and hold the mic for every girl. Cielo was a really nice girls. She was really friendly, polite and very shy just like me.


Tomorrow is going to be a long and fun day. I'll be back tomorrow with the results!!

American Co-Ed Part II

August 6, 2011

Dear Diary,

Well, it's Sunday! Show time!!

My grandparents are here and I'm even more excited. After one last production rehearsal, we went for lunch. Then it was time to get ready.

Here I am in my production outfit! We have this really cute dance to preform for our Opening. Then off to the dressing room to get into our gowns. I am really excited and can't wait!!

I'll be back later!!

Well, here I am in my gown. The Opening number was great! My heart is filled with so much excitement. All that keeps running through my head is "Thank you God, Thank you God!"Funny thing is, I'm not nervous at all. Just excited!

Last night we had the preliminaries. My dad was my escort and it was the first time I wore the dress and had to do my introduction. This time, I walked by myself and didn't have to say my introduction. The MCEE announced each contestant. I think she said, "Welcome Contestant #1 Caitlyn Capre. Caitlyn's favorite color is hot pink and orange. Her favorite food is all foods {this is true} and when she grows up, she wants to be a chef and baker {this is true too}".

After everyone was announced and did their walk, it was time for awards.

I won best evening gown, smile, interview suit and BEST INTERVIEW!! That was really cool! I was super excited. I could hear my parents and grandparents yelling out my name. 

Then it was time to announce the top 4 winners and winner for the Jr Pre-Teen Division. As I hear the announcer calling the names to 4th, 3rd and 2nd runner up, my heart really began to beat fast. Then when they called the 1st runner up, I hear Contestant #1 Caitlyn Capre!!! OMG, I just won first runner up!! I was really excited that I won!! I got this really big trophy and roses. 

Here I am after the show was over celebrating with my family.

Oh, and if you are wondering why my dad has a sash and crown over his head... last night they had a dad's competition and my dad won! He was really funny up there!!

American Co-Ed

August 5, 2011

Dear Diary,

Well, here we are at the Marriott Hotel in Whippany, NJ for the American Co-Ed Pageant. I just finished my registration and now I'm dipping my feet in the pool.

This is my first State Pageant and I am so excited!! There are a few girls here already and they seem to be really nice. After registration, there is Orientation, workshops and then lunch (My favorite).
In the evening, we had Production Rehearsals and dinner.

On Saturday, we had the Interview with the Judges. That was a little scary. We had to wear an interview suite just like if you were going on a real job interview. Your clothes, shoes and hair had to be appropriate for an interview. If not the judges would take points off. Pants were not allowed!

Once we entered the Interview Room, we had to introduce ourselves and meet one-on-one with all the judges. The judges were really friendly as asked questions like; What was your favorite color, subject and who is your hero? There were five judges in all.

Here I am after the interview was over.

Now it was time to relax, have dinner with the family and go to the pink party!!

At the pink party, they had the awards for the Optional contest. I only entered in the photogenic contest. After the awards, they had music and the girls dance the night away.















Here are some pictures with my family.

My little brother and I

Me and my Grandparents

My dad and I after he won Mr. American Co-Ed.

My #1 supporter and best friend, my mom

Camp Mantowagan

July 11, 2011

Dear Diary,

After my pageant with Next Level Youth and once school ended, I went on my week long camping trip to Camp Mantowagan. There's me on the left wearing the aqua headband. My best friends Payton and Kyler where with me. Payton is in the center wearing glasses and Payton is the spunky girl on the right with her hair combed to one side.

This was my second year going to camp Mantowagan and the fun keeps getting better! This is one of my highlights for the summer! A week away from my annoying brother {wink}.

Wake-up is at 7:45am. After we get ready for the morning, we go to the dinning hall for breakfast. That's one of my favorite parts of the day (FOOD)!! After breakfast we go to Chapel. At Chapel we learn about how Jesus lived for us and died for us. It is a great time to reflect on how we should live life like Him.

After Chapel, there are different activities for each cabin. We went to the water park, lake and Challenge Course. After all the activities we went back to the camp site for dinner and night devotions. On one night, we had a game called Survivor. That was SUPER fun! We had to pair up in teams and find different things hidden throughout the camp.

While at camp I told all the girls in my cabin, my counselors and even Pastor Doug that I was a Pageant Queen. I was able to tell them all about pageantry and that once I got back home, I was going to my next pageant, American Co-Ed. They were really excited for me.

Next Level Youth Jr. Pre-Teen Winner

June 4, 2011

Dear Diary,

I can't believe I won!!

The audience was quiet, the music to "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars started and the announcer says, "And the winner is...Contestant Number 18!!"

Wow! I just won my first pageant!! I was so excited and filled with joy. I kept looking at my parents the whole time. As they were crowning me, all I could think about was how happy I was. You can hear my dad calling out my name and crying (LOL). My brothers, friend and grandparents were also in the audience. They were so excited for me as well. Here is a picture of all of them.

The weeks leading to the pageant was filled with workshops. The Director Evelyn McCloed and Co-Director Mrs. Pandora worked with the all the girls. They taught us how to walk in our evening gowns, say our personal introduction and helped us practice our questions from the judges. We even had a special appearance from Ms. Beth Leska, Former Mrs. New Jersey United States 2006, Reigning Mrs. Philadelphia International and Founder of Ab Fab Girls. She talked to us about having confidence, grace, humility and kindness. She also talked to us about the importance of education.

Many of the dresses were donated to the the girls. We had a lot of sponsors that help put the pageant together.

I am so blessed to have been a part of this pageant. I made many new friends and mentors that I would have not have met if it weren't for this pageant.

This dear diary is the beginning of my pageant stories...

Welcome

Welcome to my Pageant Diaries! 

I am so excited to share with you all my experiences with pageantry. I never thought that this would be at all possible for me but as you will soon read on, anyone can be in pageants. All it takes is practice, confidence and having fun!

Here you will read about what it takes to be in pageants, what my thoughts are while I am on stage and how I put God first. 

I hope you will enjoy reading my diary.