The Miss Utah 2017 Scholarship Pageant
June 12-17, 2017. What a week to remember! From self-tanners and canned tuna to rhinestones and high heels, I wish I had more pictures to post of all the behind-the-scenes! I learned so much about myself and made so many new friends.
Utah has one of the largest state pageants in the Miss America Organization. With around 50 girls competing every year, our pageant is the size of the Miss America Pageant! This was my second year competing at Miss Utah. After walking away as 2nd attendant last year, I knew that I was not done. I had more to give and more to share. I am a firm believer that things will happen at the right time, in the right place, with the right people, doing the right things. It just wasn’t my time last year, but this year, it is. I may not be Miss America, but I know that I am the right person for the job of Miss Utah this year.
What was different in my preparation this year?
Last year I put everything I could into getting ready for Miss Utah. I wanted everyone’s opinions, I went to all of the dress shops, I made sure my skin was perfectly tanned and made sure I could hit all the right notes in my talent piece. I knew I wanted to be Miss Utah and that I could be competitive but that was about it. After walking out of my 2016 interview I thought to myself, “Wow! I had no idea I wanted this job as much as I do.” I realized that not only did I want the job of Miss Utah, I needed to share my story. I also learned that no matter what happens, if you think you’ve made a mistake or could have performed better, you continue to give it your all and don’t look back. 2016 wasn’t my year, but I decided to prepare my heart for next year because there is a right time for everything.
This year I spent much more time deciding who JessiKate was. Who am I? What do I want Utah to see me as? What kind of a Miss Utah do I want to be? A lot of time was spent journaling, reading, and pondering these questions. When it came time to find my wardrobe, I found what I liked and stuck with it even if it wasn’t your stereotypical pageant look. I found that I love plain, asymmetric styles. I wanted to make sure that people weren’t looking at my clothes, but that they saw my heart to be shining so bright that they didn’t even see what I was wearing because that’s not what was important.
Interviewing for the job of Miss Utah 2017
Anyone that has spent some time with me knows that I am a very emotional person. Everything I do, I do with 100% of my heart. Fortunately and unfortunately that really came out in my interview. I couldn’t get a handle on my emotions very well and cried a bit. I remember coming out of my interview and thinking, “Well, they know who JessiKate is. They will either love her and see her as Miss Utah or not.” And then I moved on with my day!
Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimwear
Preparing for fitness this year was a lifestyle change. I took a nutrition class at BYU and learned so much about my body, exercising, and eating habits. Rather than going on a super restrictive diet to prepare for Miss Utah, I made small choices every single day. I kept a close eye on my portions so that I could eat like a regular person.
My favorite foods are corn dogs, macaroni and cheese, and ice-cream. Let me tell you, those foods were definitely not part of my diet! I decided to limit them and treat them like a once in awhile treat.
Evening Gown and Onstage Question
While looking for my gown, I tried on all sorts of different cuts and styles. However, when I walked into R&S in Las Vegas, I saw my gown hanging up on the rack before I had even tried it on. I fell in love! It was “the one.” I was told it was too plain, impossible to alter, and a bad neckline but I knew I loved it because it let my heart shine through. My interview dress hunt went the same way.
Performing my Talent
WOW! I have performed a lot all over the world. Going into talent night I had told myself that this would likely be my last time performing on the Miss Utah stage. For this reason, I was able to leave it all on the stage. I came off the stage in tears. I have never connected with my violin, Sam (I’ll introduce him soon!) and the audience that powerfully before. It was incredible! I can only hope as a performer that I get to have an experience like that again. It was magical.
I recently had the opportunity to perform on the final night of the Miss Washington Scholarship Pageant, which was a joy! Watch HERE.
Hearing my name called
When it was time to announce who the next Miss Utah would be, I was standing next to Lizzy Palmatier and Shakelle Valdez. I have competed with both girls before and they are beautiful examples of what the Miss Utah Organization creates women to be. I genuinely was not expecting my name to be called. When I look back and watch my crowning moment I have to giggle a bit because it was definitely my genuine reaction – there was nothing pretty or cute about it!
My advice to the Miss Utah Class of 2018
My advice to girls who are looking into or preparing to compete is this: find what you love and stick with it! In the end, it is a group of people’s opinions on one given day. Chances are it would change the next! When the crowning time comes and it’s not you, you have to be happy with who you are and how you have grown.
Follow JessiKate’s year of service for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to serve as Miss Utah 2017!