Celebrating good times throughout the state of North Carolina
Hello again NC! I trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are now busy decking the halls for the holiday season. I had a non-traditional, but exciting Thanksgiving holiday this year and one I will never forget. You will understand what I mean as you read this special holiday blog.
Other fall activities have included a visit to Paige Wainrights dance studio for a party fit for a queen. I was joined by some local NC queens and students from her studio, taking pictures, signing autographs for these queens of the future! Maybe one of them will be in my shoes one day. Thanks for all the memories girls!
In elementary school, my dad and I had the unique opportunity to be a part of the YMCA Indian Princess program. This is a wonderful father/daughter mentoring and bonding program with campfires, sleepovers, retreats and outings to camp Seagull. Does anyone remember their first time on the zip line? How about riding on the Joy Boy boat with your dad and friends? Wow did this experience take me back! These are memories I will keep with me for a lifetime. Well life came full circle for me when I was asked to come and speak to the young girls and their dads about how important the program was in my life and development and how special that time was for my relationship with my dad. I must have signed over 300 autographs as all the Princesses lined up in true YMCA Indian fashion to get a personalized autograph. To prove to them that Little Doe and Big Buck (mine and dads chosen Indian names) were for real, I had my old, faded with time and love, leather vest, patches I earned still intact. As I said, this was a full circle experience for both my dad and me; and we both got a bit choked up remembering those amazing, very simple days, yet there I was all grown up, as Miss NC, both an alumni of the program and role model for these young girls. The experience was both humbling and thrilling, to see the future in the audience and also seeing the reflection of me as a young girl only beginning this exciting journey.
From Indian Princess straight to television star, I traveled to Charlotte to shoot a commercial for the Carolina's Carousel Thanksgiving Day Parade in front of the Charlotte Autobell Carwash. I must admit it was rather funny to have to stop the roll of the cameras as we waited for a car to run through the noisy wash process. Mr. Chuck Howard, the founder of AutoBell was my co-star and he sponsored the lovely float l rode on for the Thanksgiving Day parade. I performed at the Carolina's Carousel pageant Wednesday night as did one of my newest buddies; Miss South Carolina Anna Perry and then we rode in the lovely parade on Thanksgiving morning. It was so nice to see her again. I cannot wait until we meet again in Vegas!
It was a special treat judging the Miss Bailey and Little Miss Merry Christmas pageant in Bailey NC. I had the honor of judging with Anthony Thorne, the executive director of the Miss Wilson pageant. The Bailey community truly supports their pageant and the director Jennifer, a former Miss Bailey herself, did an amazing job organizing the pageant. There is a lot of talent in Bailey! Good luck girls and enjoy riding in the Bailey Christmas Parade this year!
What a joy it has been to attend and perform in so many local pageants this year! We have some lovely girls who will be competing this June. It has been a delight to see so many of them begin their journey to the Miss NC stage. June will be here before we know it. I wish all the girls good luck and best wishes and to the girls yet to be crowned, keep working and your dreams will come true.
I was able to sneak in another Childrens Miracle Network bowling fundraiser in early November. Again, it was a great success and I am so grateful to those who came out to support me and the children in our CMN hospitals in our state. Bowling with friends always turns out to be so much fun!
Veterans Day was both enjoyable and humbling for me this year. I had the distinct pleasure to speak and perform at a Raleigh retirement community. One of the highlights of the day was meeting and conversing with a Pearl Harbor survivor who shared the history and heroics during such a volatile time in our nations history. All of the residents were extremely grateful for my visit; however, little did they know I was the grateful one. It is so important that we all learn about our history from our aging Americans. After all, we learn from history so mistakes of our past never happen again. I was thrilled to witness most of the residents sing along with me as I sang Amazing Grace and God Bless America.
It was both awe-inspiring and an honor to be invited to sing the National Anthem to the graduating class at Seymour Johnson Air force Base. To be among the distinguished men and women who continue to serve our great country and keep us free and safe. I realized, as I sat down, how lucky I am to be able to give back in a small way to our NC troops. Ladies and Gentlemen, you are loved and will always be in the prayers of the people of NC! You are true American heroes and I was honored to be in your presence and part of your big day. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Stay tuned to hear about all of the fun times that I had at Wrightsville Beach for the 25th Holiday Flotilla. This was truly one of the highlights of my reign thus far and more details to come soon!
As we head full force into the Holiday Season, with decorations, lights, shopping, parades, cold weather and warm evenings by the fire, let’s all remember to keep a light shining in your window during the holidays and a warm feeling toward others shining in your heart all year.
Humbly yours,
Amanda Watson
Miss North Carolina 2008
Other fall activities have included a visit to Paige Wainrights dance studio for a party fit for a queen. I was joined by some local NC queens and students from her studio, taking pictures, signing autographs for these queens of the future! Maybe one of them will be in my shoes one day. Thanks for all the memories girls!
In elementary school, my dad and I had the unique opportunity to be a part of the YMCA Indian Princess program. This is a wonderful father/daughter mentoring and bonding program with campfires, sleepovers, retreats and outings to camp Seagull. Does anyone remember their first time on the zip line? How about riding on the Joy Boy boat with your dad and friends? Wow did this experience take me back! These are memories I will keep with me for a lifetime. Well life came full circle for me when I was asked to come and speak to the young girls and their dads about how important the program was in my life and development and how special that time was for my relationship with my dad. I must have signed over 300 autographs as all the Princesses lined up in true YMCA Indian fashion to get a personalized autograph. To prove to them that Little Doe and Big Buck (mine and dads chosen Indian names) were for real, I had my old, faded with time and love, leather vest, patches I earned still intact. As I said, this was a full circle experience for both my dad and me; and we both got a bit choked up remembering those amazing, very simple days, yet there I was all grown up, as Miss NC, both an alumni of the program and role model for these young girls. The experience was both humbling and thrilling, to see the future in the audience and also seeing the reflection of me as a young girl only beginning this exciting journey.
From Indian Princess straight to television star, I traveled to Charlotte to shoot a commercial for the Carolina's Carousel Thanksgiving Day Parade in front of the Charlotte Autobell Carwash. I must admit it was rather funny to have to stop the roll of the cameras as we waited for a car to run through the noisy wash process. Mr. Chuck Howard, the founder of AutoBell was my co-star and he sponsored the lovely float l rode on for the Thanksgiving Day parade. I performed at the Carolina's Carousel pageant Wednesday night as did one of my newest buddies; Miss South Carolina Anna Perry and then we rode in the lovely parade on Thanksgiving morning. It was so nice to see her again. I cannot wait until we meet again in Vegas!
It was a special treat judging the Miss Bailey and Little Miss Merry Christmas pageant in Bailey NC. I had the honor of judging with Anthony Thorne, the executive director of the Miss Wilson pageant. The Bailey community truly supports their pageant and the director Jennifer, a former Miss Bailey herself, did an amazing job organizing the pageant. There is a lot of talent in Bailey! Good luck girls and enjoy riding in the Bailey Christmas Parade this year!
What a joy it has been to attend and perform in so many local pageants this year! We have some lovely girls who will be competing this June. It has been a delight to see so many of them begin their journey to the Miss NC stage. June will be here before we know it. I wish all the girls good luck and best wishes and to the girls yet to be crowned, keep working and your dreams will come true.
I was able to sneak in another Childrens Miracle Network bowling fundraiser in early November. Again, it was a great success and I am so grateful to those who came out to support me and the children in our CMN hospitals in our state. Bowling with friends always turns out to be so much fun!
Veterans Day was both enjoyable and humbling for me this year. I had the distinct pleasure to speak and perform at a Raleigh retirement community. One of the highlights of the day was meeting and conversing with a Pearl Harbor survivor who shared the history and heroics during such a volatile time in our nations history. All of the residents were extremely grateful for my visit; however, little did they know I was the grateful one. It is so important that we all learn about our history from our aging Americans. After all, we learn from history so mistakes of our past never happen again. I was thrilled to witness most of the residents sing along with me as I sang Amazing Grace and God Bless America.
It was both awe-inspiring and an honor to be invited to sing the National Anthem to the graduating class at Seymour Johnson Air force Base. To be among the distinguished men and women who continue to serve our great country and keep us free and safe. I realized, as I sat down, how lucky I am to be able to give back in a small way to our NC troops. Ladies and Gentlemen, you are loved and will always be in the prayers of the people of NC! You are true American heroes and I was honored to be in your presence and part of your big day. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Stay tuned to hear about all of the fun times that I had at Wrightsville Beach for the 25th Holiday Flotilla. This was truly one of the highlights of my reign thus far and more details to come soon!
As we head full force into the Holiday Season, with decorations, lights, shopping, parades, cold weather and warm evenings by the fire, let’s all remember to keep a light shining in your window during the holidays and a warm feeling toward others shining in your heart all year.
Humbly yours,
Amanda Watson
Miss North Carolina 2008
posted by Miss North Carolina 2008 at
11:38 AM
