And We're In Business

I feel so official! I just received my business cards in the mail! Now I have a little token from the system to give to ladies, girls, and women that I feel would be a great competitor in one of the fastest growing systems nationally!

I hope to see you there next year! And be looking out for some exciting things me and my sister queens have in the works these next few months! You will be seeing a lot of us towards the end of the year! Awesome things are in the works!

My Hero

I love that the CAPTIVATING system has a Ms division. That way women who has a significant other, women who have been blessed with children, and those who don't fall into the stereotypical category can still showcase how amazing they are!

With that being said, let me give praise to the most amazing man in my life...

My husband is Stephen Staker. We are high school sweethearts- 12 years together but 4 years official :)

My junior year of high school and his senior year

When no one else believed in me, he did. He has been with me through thick-and-thin. When I felt like my world was crumbling around me, he was there to clean my wounds, and help me get back on my feet. What makes this man s amazing is he loves the fact that I am so independent. We have our own interests and lives, but at the end of the day we come home to each other as one couple :) I have always said that we are best friends that happen to fall in love.

After we graduated college, we got married at our childhood church and committed our lives to each other in front of 350 of our friends and family. Our relationship was tested when we moved from Ohio to Indianapolis for career opportunities. Even though it was a hard change and challenged our relationship, we are an amazingly strong couple and helped each other through our fears and the change. 2 years later, we welcomed our daughter, Kenna Grace Staker, into the world. I fell in love with this man all over again...

 HE is the best Dad any little girl could ever ask for. He loves that little girl more than me sometimes. I fall in love with him every time i see him kiss her cheek, tuck her into bed, brush her hair in the morning :) My life is a million times better since this man has come into my life. And I can't wait to have many more accomplishments in life with this man by my side and to grow our family with him in the future...

Until next time... I love you Stephen :)

Official Banners Are Up!

The first of the official banners are up! Aren't they awesome?! This could be you next year! You could be the spokes model for your division for the most amazing up-and-coming pageant system in the country! And since we are on the conversation of these incredible banners...

 Who wants to talk about PRIZES?!?!

I know that the pageant is not just about the prizes. BUT, they are a sweet little bonus for "CAPTIVATING" the judges and audience :) See them as a little "Thank You" from the system for promoting the pageant throughout your reign. My "Thank You" from the CAPTIVATING system includes:

* Photoshoots with national award winner Rick Martinez of StudioRM
* Banners and promotions throughout the year
* Promotion on the National website
* The most beautiful crown I have ever seen
* Rhinestone sash
* Crystal CAPTIVATING teeshirt
* Official award
* A jewelry set
* Interview coaching by Rhonda Shappert
* Official business cards
* A crown gift set

My official photoshoot with my sister queens is in 3 weeks so be looking for the official promo pictures coming this fall! Who will get to walk in my shoes next year?

Until next time friends...

Reading is the Best Gift

Books I donated to the St. Vincent Pediatric Primary Care Clinic

Reading is the best gift you can give your child. Reading inspires creativity and helps children to use their imagination. Reading promotes independence and a sense of accomplishment. As a mother to a 2 year old, I try to instill the power of reading to my child by reading to her everyday after school and before bed. For every holiday, she gets a new book. I want her to grow confidant, creative, and empowered.

The children at the Primary Care Clinic sometimes only receive book that are provided there. The PPCC tries to care for each and every child, not only physically and medically but intellectually and creatively. My hope in the near future is to hold a book drive to collect books so that the PPCC have enough books to provide for at least 6 months. Be looking for when I do get my drive going!

Until next time...

Yes, I Have a History...

So, for those of you who do not know me very well or for those of you who wold like to know my pageant/modeling/fashion background, here is my history:

I began modeling for a local department store, MARTINGS, when I was 4.  I fell in love immediately! My mom said I would walk around the house posing and saying "Me model! Me model!" I loved the spotlight, the clothes, the hair, and all the fuss in between! At the age of 11 my mother took me to a modeling convention in Columbus, Ohio after begging her for weeks. I made final call-backs for 12 agencies including Wilhelmina and Ford.  I was told from all agencies that they wanted me to come back when I was a little older. I got a taste of that world and wanted more! I was soon asked to be a model for a photographers convention for Jon Johnson of Wheelersburg, Ohio at Carter Caves and I knew this was what I wanted to do.

 That same year, a teacher of mine told me that I needed to try pageants and gave me a flyer for my first pageant ever. It was Teen Ohio America pageant and i talked my cousin into doing it with me. I didn't place but I won the Photogenic Award and loved the lights, cameras, stage, gowns, end everything about beauty competitions! The following year I entered to compete for Miss Teen Ohio USA and placed Top 15. I placed and was ecstatic! I had to do it again! I then entered Ohio's Perfect Teen 2002 and WON! I couldn't believe it! I actually won! I felt on top of the world! Because of "economic uncertainties" (as my director put it) they canceled the Perfect Nationals and entered my into the Miss Teen All American national pageant in Miami, Florida where I placed Top 10. I felt i was ready to compete in the USA system again after my experience from winning a state pageant and competing in a national pageant. So I entered the Miss Teen Ohio USA 2003 pageant and placed 3rd RU! I had to do better so in 2004, I placed 2th RU in the Teen division. It was my last year in the teen division and I came so close.

I debated competing in the Miss division the next year due to it being such a big transition, but I went chad and competed with no expectations. I ended up placing in the top 15! I thought, "OK! I can hang with these girls! Next year I'm winning!" The next year I went out and gave it all I had! I walked away as 1st RU! After my almost win, I got the bug again to get back into modeling. 
 
At the time I was working as the sketch artist for Susie Riddlebarger (the former designer for Landa Designs). I had been working for her for some time and told her of my wanting to get back into modeling. I voiced my interest to her and she flew me to Chicago for a week long photo shoot. I shot from 6am to 11pm everyday and wanted more. That shoot lead to me gracing the pages of Teen Prom, Seventeen Prom, and Coolbook. At the end of the shoot, she asked if i wanted to walk the runway for them at the Chicago, Atlanta, LA, and Dallas fashion shows and of course I said yes! So for a month I flew all over, walking runways and meeting designers like Tony Bowls, Sherry Hill, When Wu, and really got to know Kayne Gillaspie! I was even asked by the designer of Faviana to walk in his main show while in Atlanta! It was a dream come true!

While in college I decided to try pageant coaching a bit. So I was asked to coach a few girls for the local Miss River Days pageant. Of the 5 girls I coached, 2 would go on to win! YAY! So, not only had I proven to be successful competing in pageants, modeling, and fashion designing, but also coaching! 

A few years go by (I graduated college, got married, had a child) and decided to test the waters again with pageants. So, referencing my first blog, I decided to give it all I had one more time and entered the Ms. Captivating pageant, and here I write to you as the new national title holder!

Until next time... :)

Long TIme No Blog!

WOW! I can't believe it has been... 3? 4 weeks? All I know is life has been crazy! First of all, this crazy kid decided to take a full semester at Purdue Calumet. I am in their distance learning RN-to-BSN program. I thought it would be a fabulous idea to take 12 credit hours while have a full time job, take care of a 2 year old, house, and husband, and plan a vacation. Yeah... NEVER AGAIN! I barely had time to eat or sleep! Why are pageant girls always such over-achievers?! That is why we are such great titleholders I guess! We can lead our lives and juggle the responsibilities of holding a title too! I think I just took on a TINY too much these last 6 weeks or so! But here i am and I survived! But never again will I do so much at one time!

About my Myrtle Beach vacation...

I LOVED being at the beach! I told my husband that if he ever moves me from home again (Ohio) then it better be to a beach! I loved having coffee on the balcony and sticking my feet in the sand every morning! Even though i spent about 2 hours every morning working on school work before everyone else woke up, I loved having a week to just hang out with family, eat anything I wanted without feeling guilty, and to watch my baby girl enjoy all the sights, sounds, and smells of the beach life!


Now that I am back to the real world and with just a little less responsibility, I am back to getting appearances lined up! AND i have a fabulous photo shoot with my amazing director Rick Martinez September 8-9!!! SO be looking for the official photos here nad on the website!

Until next time...