Tuesday Night Prelim at Miss America

The stage at Miss America!

An hour and a half flight, jumping ahead two hours and BAM…I’m in Vegas folks.  So in all actuality I am back home but I will be sharing my everyday from last week with you.  Until I heard and felt the tires on the plane hit the landing strip I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that I was going to be in Las Vegas at the Miss America pageant.  Until that moment, I was just on a plane but after…complete adrenaline coursing through my body in anticipation of seeing my family and my friends and cheering on my girls at the competition. 

Taylor and I (my BAMA Sweetheart)

Right when I made it to the baggage claim my Auntie and Uncle were there waiting for me.  After hugs and loading all of the luggage (mostly mine) we went to get a taxi and I warned my girl Tay from Alabama that’d we’d be at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in no time.  Since the National Sweetheart Pageant in September, Taylor and I have stayed in contact via text and phone calls and I was SO entirely excited to see her.  (and all my other sweethearts, you just come into the story later!) 

I was so completely pumped to experience my second Miss America pageant and to see all of my wonderful former competitors and closest friends.  And of course I was eager to watch Miss Nebraska, Teresa Scanlan as well as my former MAOT’s Caroline Bright, Miss Vermont (my roommate in Florida) and Miss New Mexico, Madison Tabet.  The first night of prelims was fabulous!  Taylor and I were actually able to sit with the Nebraska board…meaning our seats got a lot better!  Teresa did a fabulous job answering her onstage question.  Never would have guessed she was 17!  :) 

Miss New Mexico, Madison Tabet (OT '07) and I

Miss Vermont, Caroline Bright (OT '07) and I

Miss Nebraska, Teresa Scanlan (Miss America 2011) and I 

After the meet and greet, Taylor and I had to find food.  Apparently in all of our excitement to see each other and the show…we forgot to eat.  Since it was after 11pm we were forced to dine in P.F. Changs in the casino where we ordered take out and while waiting for our food rested our incredibly sore feet.  I’m telling you, we pageant girls may be able to walk in heels for an entire week…even dance in them, but we don’t enjoy it one bit.  We got our food though and because my auntie and uncle were already sleeping (they couldn’t compete with our youth) we changed into our jammies and ate on the floor in the hallway.  While sitting here people kept walking by with questioning looks in their eyes until two women just came out and asked, “Are you Miss America contestants?”  As to which we responded with a simple, “No.” although we both would have liked to express our concern that would be in the organization if they really did let two contestants sit in the hallway to eat with chopsticks.  Oh, the things people think of.  

NE, AL, MA, PA, KY (all sweethearts of course)

For my first day in Vegas, I would call this a success. 

More to come as always,

Kayla Batt

Miss Omaha