Alex & Ani Fundraiser/Play Ball for Miracles

NJ Champion 2011 Gianna Trotter, Kaitlin Davis (also Miss Cape Shores 2011!), and myself

As a Miss America local titleholder, I have the privilege of stepping outside of my platform work to volunteer with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, an organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness to improve healthcare for children in need of pediatric care. All of the donations go straight to local hospitals, so all fundraising efforts assist children right in your own backyard. Throughout my three years involved with the Miss America Organization, I have formed a close partnership with Children's Specialized Hospital, New Jersey's only Children's Miracle Network Hospital. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to Red Bank, New Jersey and support my Miss NJ sister and friend, Kaitlin Davis, as she hosted a party at Alex and Ani to benefit Children's Specialized Hospital. I also got to spend a little time with New Jersey's CMN 2011 Champion, the amazingly gifted and beautiful Gianna Trotter. Knowing that one of my favorite things, jewelry, and something near and dear to my heart, CSH, were coming together, I had to be there. I left with a newfound obsession with Alex and Ani bracelets and my first addition to the hopefully growing collection, of course, a crown!

With Miss Gloucester County, Lindsey Giannini 

This past Sunday I drove up to Roselle, New Jersey to volunteer at the Play Ball for Miracles Charity Softball Tournament. Teams from all over the state were assembled in support of CSH and the competition was top notch. I was surprised, yet delighted, by the competitiveness of the players, but also the sportsmanship and sense of camaraderie on the field. I played the role of scorekeeper and I was exhausted by the end of the day. It's a lot of work rooting for two teams at once! It is always a pleasure to be in an environment where others selflessly give their time for the greater good. Thank you CSH for hosting such an exciting event!

Rutgers Football Kick-off

On August 11th, the Rutgers University Dance Team started off their season with a bang at our first outing, the Rutgers Football Kick-off. Hundreds of fans came out to support the football team and gear up for upcoming season. The dancers were asked for autographs and posed for pictures with fans of all ages (personally, my favorite part!). As the band began to play and I took my place in the team line-up, I felt excitement and anticipation grow from deep inside. I cannot wait for September 8th, the first football game of the season, to be in High Point Solutions stadium listening to the roar of the crowd and anticipating a Rutgers win. 

Interview with the Galloway Patch

Networking, Networking, Networking

From the minute I was crowned Miss Cape Shores, the only thought running through my mind was "I have 365 days to accomplish all my goals. One year, that's it." This thought sticks with me and I'm constantly reminded everyday of how much I want to do with the year I have ahead of me. My most notable goal for this year is to start a nonprofit organization, based on my platform, that will not only serve as a channel to advocate arts education, but to provide scholarship funds to artistic students in need, expand my arts empowerment workshops into a statewide (and maybe nationwide) program, and hold various events to expose the community to the many benefits of arts education. I want to leave a lasting impact on the community even after my pageant career is over, and I feel this is the best way to accomplish this. After attending quite a few leadership conferences, I knew that if I were going to achieve my goal, I had to network, market myself, and put my name out there. A week after being crowned, I hit the ground running, and met with local reporter, entertainment personality, radio host, and arts advocate Raymond Tyler for an interview with the Galloway Patch and a segment of his radio show entitled "Five Minutes."

We immediately hit it off as he asked me about why I started competing in pageants, what my platform entailed, what my plans are for my year as Miss Cape Shores, and my favorite topic of the afternoon, how pageantry can still be considered an empowering lifestyle, despite being stigmatized as solely a "beauty" pageant. Ray and I proved to have a lot in common, including our love for the arts, and also our shared ambition to pursue healthier lifestyles (thanks to our trainer, Hesh!) We promised to keep in touch and continue our partnership in advocating the arts. We have a few ideas rolled up our sleeves for joint events, but I'll keep those to myself until we unveil some exciting new information. I'm looking forward to participating in more interviews and expanding my outreach with each person I meet.

Pleasantville Rec Center Summer Camp/Millville Girl Scouts Last Meeting

This past Tuesday I was invited to the Pleasantville Recreation Center's Summer Camp to give arts empowerment workshops to two extremely bright and talented groups of girls. I was honored and flattered to attend, knowing that the rec center is in the middle of rehearsals for their annual talent show and yet they still wanted me to make a guest appearance (and I know how grueling and tedious rehearsals can be!) I saw a few familiar faces from working closely in the area with other organizations, and I was reminded why I love working tirelessly on my platform when the girls immediately recognized me and swarmed me into a group hug. The girls and I discussed the importance of self-confidence; they expressed concerns about their insecurities and how they could combat their fears of performing in front of a large audience. Not only were these lovely young ladies insightful, but blew me away with their dancing capabilities. They picked up a full routine within our forty minute time slot and danced with so much spunk that I could not believe my eyes. I hope the girls enjoyed themselves because I sure did!

Tuesday also marked the end of the my visits with a Girl Scout troop I assembled in Millville, New Jersey. Since I'll be going back to school, I'll be unable to lead our weekly meetings, which we will resume in May when I'm home for the summer months. It was a bittersweet "I'll see you later" because these girls have become an integral aspect of my life. Every time I felt discouraged or needed a pick-me-up, seeing these girls truly brightened my whole week. The tenacity and zest for life my girls have despite the adversity they face makes me strive to live my life with a smile on my face signifying invincible determination. I carry a part of each of my girls everywhere I go and I hope my lessons stick with them as they start a new school year with endless possibilities. We, of course, went out with a bang, Girl Scout style, and had a party equipped with cookies, cupcakes, and dancing (my favorite things!) The girls got together to express their thanks by writing me a beautiful card and awarding me with a picture frame, which reads "Sisters," because that is what we are. I could not think of a more heartfelt, touching gift and I know exactly where I'll put it in my dorm room. 

I wanted to do something special for the girls and leave something for them that they could cherish and use as a reminder that I will always be there for them. After discussing with one of the girls her financial struggles at home I decided to put my planning skills to the test and started a "Stuff a Backpack" Drive to collect backpacks filled with school supplies and snacks the girls could use for the upcoming school year. It's the little luxuries, like backpacks and school supplies, that many take for granted. To these young girls who very rarely receive nice gestures, simply knowing that they can have a better educational experience because someone cares enough about them to want to help them makes such a significant difference. Education paves the way for many disadvantaged students to achieve their dreams and I want my girls to have the best because that's what they deserve. I've already drummed up a lot of support and received my first donation today! 

A week has passed since I was crowned Miss Cape Shores 2013 and I still cannot believe I get to fulfill another year of service with the Miss New Jersey and Miss America Scholarship Organizations.This past Sunday, I competed with over a dozen of the state's brightest and most well-rounded young women. After being named the overall interview and talent winner, I was ecstatic to achieve such honors in such a competitive group of talented individuals.  All week I was on cloud nine and it didn't actually hit me that I will again be competing for the chance of a lifetime until I visited the Miss New Jersey website and saw my name, photo, and information under "2013 Contestants." I am humbled and honored that the judges chose me to take on the fulfilling challenge of being a local representative.

I would be remiss if I did not thank those who came to the pageant to support me. Mom, Alvin, Aunt Karyn, Ashley, Justin, Grandma, Grandpa, Hesh, Greta, and Denzel...words cannot truly explain how much your support has meant in sharing this triumph. I look forward to my year being a Shore Girl and sharing this adventure with my pageant sisters Courtney, Miss Coastal Shore, and Kaitlyn, Miss Seashore Line. This will be my third year in pursuit of a dream that may seem unattainable to some, a silly fantasy to others, yet everything to me. As Audrey Hepburn once said, "Nothing's impossible. The word itself says I'm possible." With that thought in mind, I will embark on a year-long journey, which culminates with the Miss New Jersey Scholarship Pageant; however, it does not begin and end there. The night I was crowned, I stayed up late drafting a list of goals I would like to achieve throughout my year as Miss Cape Shores and I have every intention to follow through with every single one.

In only one short week, I have been contacted for newspaper interviews, arts empowerment workshop presentations, performances, and my first radio interview ! I will try my best to keep this new blog updated. Be sure to follow me on twitter @xocierrajade and also Facebook, which profiles I update frequently. More to follow !