It's been a while!

Wow! Time has been flying by the past month!

First off, I want to say that EVERYONE did a fantastic job at Miss Ohio this year! I'm so proud of you all!
I wish I could have competed, but I was thrilled to be able to watch! I didn't think I was going to get to, and then out of no where, my dance practice was cancelled!!
I wanted the live stream Tuesday-Friday, and I was able to attend finals.

I wasn't shocked on who made the top ten, in fact, it was hard for me to even pick ten people, because I thought so many were fantastic! Even with the top 5- it was hard to pick 5 girls. Everyone was ON and really were great!
I will say though, I am so thrilled that another MIss Clayland is the new Miss Ohio! Living in Uhrichsville, I can say that everyone here is excited. More and more people are beginning to understand what this program is all about, and it is great!


So other then attending Miss Ohio, I got some more great news!
I made the dance company as well as the dance team! I am so excited and I can't wait until the fall semester begins..
and yes, I will be back for Miss Ohio Locals!
I will be competing in Miss Greater Cleveland and Miss North Coast..
then sadly I will have to take a pageant break and pick back up in the spring.
Many are just to far away for me to drive to, and some are on the same days as performances. I have been working very hard to improve on things, and I just can;t wait to get back into the pageant mode.
I've also really been working hard on that swimsuit body.
I've lost about 6 pounds and I've really been working on toning my body, and I am very proud of myself.

OH! and of course, MY CRUISE!!
It was the GREATEST experience of my life and I must say, it has made me appreciate everything that I have and ever will! Seeing families in different countries and how they live, really opened my eyes to something new, and it really makes me rethink how I want to live my life. We all take so much for granted and we shouldn't.
One story-
I was in Isla Roatan. A beautiful island off of Honduras. We had just came back from doing snuba, and we decided to head into the main town for the flea market. A little girl, whose name I can't even pronounce, came up, grabbed my hand and said I will show you around. She took me to her home, which was above their little store and explained to me that she lived above this place with 2 other families. (Which, this building only looked like it could fit 1) She then took me to some other places and of course tried to get me to buy everything. When I was leaving, she looked at me and asked if she could have a dollar for showing me around. I decided to give her one of my bracelets instead. I knew her parents wanted her to just get money for them, and so I told her, to keep that bracelet for herself, and then I gave her a dollar to give her parents. I have never in my life, experienced such joy in someone, just over a bracelet. It made my heart melt, and I did cry. What made me even more emotional too was the fact that we ended up coming back a while later to meet family and she still had that bracelet on, and the biggest smile ever.

Sadly, I was unable to get a picture of her, because they didn't allow us to. But she will forever be in my heart and I will always think of her!

I will update with some pictures later.

Just remember, live your life to the fullest, and don't ever take a thing for granted.
-Alicia

Miss Ohio and new blog

Well, I had a fantastic time at Miss Ohio. It was great to see everyone and all of the girls did an amazing job!
Congrats to Erica, the new Miss Ohio!
Everyone in my hometown is so excited to have another Miss Ohio, and I know she will do a fabouls job.

I also wanted to say that I have a new blog that addresses my platform.

c-u-etheworld.blogspot.com


I am at work right now, so I will update later with my thoughts on Miss Ohio

Miss Ohio: Wednesday's prelims begin whittling process

MANSFIELD — Two veteran contestants from Mercer County — Miss Clayland Erica Gelhaus and Miss Northwestern Heather Waterman — captured the first round of preliminaries Wednesday night in the 2009 Miss Ohio Scholarship Program at the Renaissance Theatre.


Making her third trip to the Miss Ohio stage, Gelhaus, 21, of St. Henry, won the talent award, garnering a $700 scholarship.

An excited Gelhaus, who will be a senior this fall at Otterbein College, said winning talent Wednesday night was an honor. Her major is vocal performance.

Before the show, Gelhaus could be heard warming up her vocal chords in the theater parking lot.

Her goal is to become a professional opera singer.

Making her second trip to Miss Ohio, Waterman, 22, won the swimsuit award in a two-piece yellow number, winning a $400 scholarship.

The Celina resident said she was excited to win the night’s prelim swimsuit competition.

“It’s really exciting for me. I worked really hard at keeping up my physical fitness. It’s really about a balance of eating healthy and working out,” said Waterman, who added that she’s training to run a marathon.

Both women said returning to Miss Ohio makes them feel at ease.

“You get to know a lot of the girls. It’s almost like coming home,” Gelhaus said.

Waterman said she agrees. “Coming back this year I feel like I have a little bit better idea what’s going on,” she said.

A pageant tradition continued Wednesday as the Mansfield Noon Optimist Club became an inductee into the Miss Ohio Hall of Fame. Optimists brought 20 children from Friendly House to the show. Pageant volunteer, scholarship donor and vocal coach Jim Estep also was inducted, having served with the program 51 years.

During Wednesday night's show, themed “Timeless,” featured entertainers danced, sang and included the audience in a doo-wop musical number.

A segment of the evening's entertainment included Miss Ohio Karissa Martin and contestants, wearing black lace and leather, dancing to “Disturbia” by Rihanna.

Preliminaries continue at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Friday and the next Miss Ohio will be crowned at 8 p.m. Saturday night. This show will be televised on Time Warner's digital cable channel 119 by the Ohio News Network.

Good Luck To the Teens Tonight!

Good Luck to the teens tongiht as the compete for Miss Ohio's Outstanding teen!

I want to give a special good luck to:

#9. Fallen Timbers' Outstanding Teen
Sarah Eash

Age: 13
Platform: Get Up, Get Involved, Give Back to your Community
Talent: Dance

* Sarah has competed in National American Miss.


Sarah is an awesome girl, and I hope that she brings home the title tonight!
GOOD LUCK SARAH!
Sadly, I can't be there tonight, because I have dance team practice this week!

Prejean stripped of Crown

Well, I have not updated since vacation, and I will post later about how it was.. but


I really wanted to post this..

Carrie Prejean stripped of Miss California title
Miss Malibu Tami Farrell, who was the first runner-up, will take the crown



Access Hollywood
updated 23 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES - Carrie Prejean has been stripped of her Miss California title.

“The Miss California USA Organization, in conjunction with the Miss Universe Organization and with the blessing of its owner, Mr. Donald J. Trump, announced today the termination of Carrie Prejean as Miss California USA 2009, citing continued breach of contract issues,” the Miss California Organization said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

The group kicked the controversial beauty queen from her post due to “contract violations including Ms. Prejean’s unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of the Miss California USA organization,” the pageant’s executive director, Keith Lewis, said in a statement.

Not to Mention:

The Miss California controversy

Timeline: Carrie Prejean's pageant path
Dec. 22, 2008
Carrie Prejean is crowned Miss California USA. After she wins the title, and before she represents her state at the Miss USA pageant, Miss California USA officials pay for Prejean’s breast-enhancement surgery.
April 19, 2009
Prejean finishes first runner-up at the Miss USA pageant broadcast live from the Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. She raises the ire of judge Perez Hilton by stating her opposition to same-sex marriage. Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton is crowned Miss USA.
April 20
Perez Hilton blisters Prejean on his blog and calls her a vulgar name.
April 26
Kristen Dalton, now the new Miss USA, defends Prejean's statement on same-sex marriage during an interview with TODAY's Al Roker.
April 27
Prejean gets a hero’s welcome at The Rock Church, an evangelical mega-church in suburban San Diego. She tells the congregation that she was pressured by Miss California pageant officials not to discuss her Christian faith and to apologize for her statements on same-sex marriage.
April 30
Prejean tells TODAY’s Matt Lauer she will continue to fight for “traditional marriage.” She also confirms that she has filmed an ad for the National Organization for Marriage and has agreed to be a spokesperson for the group. Miss California officials release a statement criticizing her for becoming so deeply involved in a “divisive and polarizing issue.”
May 1
Miss California pageant officials confirm that they paid for Prejean’s breast-enhancement surgery.
May 4
The gossip site thedirty.com publishes one photo of Prejean posing topless in pink panties and says it has five more photos in the set. Prejean is shown covering her breasts with her arm in the photo.
May 5
Prejean issues a statement defending the photo. She says she was 17 when they were taken and that they are from a model shoot.
May 6
Pageant officials cite rules prohibiting Miss California from posing nude or semi-nude and from representing outside organizations and say they are discussing whether to strip Prejean of her crown.
May 11
At a Beverly Hills press conference, Miss California USA officials say it's up to Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump whether or not Prejean should be stripped of her crown.
May 12
At a press conference, Donald Trump announces that Prejean will retain the title of Miss California USA. He also commends her for speaking her mind about same-sex marriage during the Miss USA Pageant.
May 13
On TODAY, Prejean admits there might be more racy photos of her; Trump defends his decision. Meanwhile, Miss California pageant co-director Shanna Moakler resigns from her post, saying that she had lost faith in the organization because of Trump's decision to let Prejean keep the crown.
June 10
Carrie Prejean is stripped off her Miss California title less than a month after Donald Trump announced she would retain it, and commended her for speaking her mind about same-sex marriage. The Miss California USA organization cited Prejean’s unwillingness to make appearances on behalf of them, in violation of her contract, and said that they had Trump’s approval in terminating her.

8 days, and Im in the caribbean!

Wow, its hard to believe that my cruise is basically a week away! Im super excited, and I can't wait! I have not been on a real vacation in a longg time, and I am really looking foward to it, and not to mention, getting out of ohio :)

Not a whole lot has happened since I last updated..BUT.....
I made the dance company, and I am sooooo happy about it!
I am not and official Vikettes Dancer, and a member of Cleveland States Modern Dance Company! I can't wait to get things started and I can't wait to be able to dance 7 days a week :)

I ordered my tickets for Miss Ohio, and Im super excited about it! I can;t wait to watch! I will be there Tuesday and Saturday! Again, good luck to my friends, Ill be there cheering you on, and good luck to everyone else also! I hope you all enjoy your expierence there, whether it be your first or fifth time.

Now, back to vacation..
We are going to the Western Caribbean, minus Cozmel, Mexico.
We are going to Belize, Grand Caymans, and Isla Roatan.
I will be gone for 9 days
Im going with Carnival Cruise Lines on the Legend
There is : miniture golf, 4 pools, 5 hot tubs, a piano room, a sports bar, 4 dining halls, 24 hour buffet, a casino, an arcade, SPINNING!!!!!!!!, 4 gyms, a water park, a SPA, and hair salon, not to mention 4 other bars, gift shops galore and free entertainment the whole time we are there and they even have BINGO, hehe



So first stop, Belize:




Second Stop, Grand Caymans:





and Isla Roatan/Honduras:








I will try to update while Im on the ship, but if I dont, I will have tons of pictures when I get back!

Well until next time

SO EXCITED!

I am so excited that all my work has payed off and I am an official Vikettes Girl!
I will be a dancer on our schools dance team for 2009/2010 and will dance at all Vikings Basketball games! :)
Now, I am just waiting on Dance Company Tryout results.. ekk

Also, tonight is railraod days, so pictures to come! :)