Whew! I am so glad to be back in North Carolina! I have been gone for the past 2 weeks, taping reality television programming starring all 52 Miss America contestants. Although I cannot share details about my time pretending to be a TV star in California, I can say that the Miss America Class of 2008 (all the upcoming contestants) are probably the most fortunate in the history of the organization. No other class has been given the opportunity to bond in the way that we have. Imagine 9 days of living together, eating together, playing together, and no cell phones to link to the outside world! We may have been taping a reality show, but we felt very detached from reality. Luckily, we all traveled home feeling like we had made wonderful friendships and had participated in producing a show that will positively promote the Miss America Organization.

I know that it is frustrating that I cannot explain what exactly we did for such a long period of time. But I hope that everyone allows the excitement and anticipation to build until the four, one-hour episodes air on TLC. Our partnership with TLC is a perfect fit in terms of quality and values. And the network reaches 95 million homes. Our faces are going to be everywhere!

Back in June I knew that I would probably participate in taping television programming in the fall, based on last year's CMT "Pageant School." However, the prospect seemed so far down the road. I cannot believe it is already November, Thanksgiving week. Time has flown by, yet summertime feels like ages ago...In the same way that my time in California went by so fast, but it seemed like I was gone for such a long time. It is like I am living in a strange time warp from another dimension. I guess that is the best way to describe a happy and fulfilling life.

Judging by the way things have gone so far this year, January competition week will be here before I know it. I am thrilled! Hopefully Thanksgiving and Christmas will provide enough excitement to distract me from the big event.

Now I am headed off to the Carolina's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Charlotte and the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla in Wrightsville Beach...

Gobble, gobble,
Jessica

Ahoy Maties! I send my best wishes and lots of buried treasure from aboard the Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas cruise ship. I know, I know. Sounds like hard work. But someone's gotta do it!

After 4 months of traveling by car, I thought I would add boating to my repertoire. Along with about 30 other Miss America contestants, I am in the midst of sailing from Miami to Key West to Cozumel and back. This means a week of lots dressing up, photo ops, and conversational chatter. It is refreshing to learn that each girl is experiencing the same things I am in her respective state. Everyone is friendly and everyone is working hard. Most do not get much time off, some are still in school or working another job as well. In fact, most of us have appearances once we return this weekend, just to turn around and board another flight to Los Angeles for the taping of the Miss America Live! reality TV show. I will spend time at the Pecan Festival this weekend, which I have been informed by my father is pronounced "Pee-can" not "Pa-can".

So yes, we are all anticipating LA, wondering what awaits us. But, we are all in this boat together. Literally. All of us agree that this bonding experience allows us to make friends in a non-competitive context, and before being thrown into an unusual and new reality TV situation. By the time Miss America is complete, we will have spent 3 days together in Orlando for Miss America's Outstanding Teen, 5 days in the Caribbean, 10 days in LA, and about half of January in Vegas for the big event. It's like a super-intense camp. And I predict that we will leave with the types of friendships you make over marshmallows and hide and seek as a child gone for the first time in the summer.

At a seminar yesterday morning on branding ourselves and marketing our abilities and the program we were encouraged to drink in these moments. They only happen once, our "Ta-Da" moments. These are the moments you can never re-live because they are unique due to the time, place, and circumstance. And we will always have these memories as the Miss America Class of 2008.

Time aboard the ship has also been a blessing because I have spent time bonding with North Carolina committee members (although not nearly enough!). Their support and encouragement abounds, and for that I am appreciative. They remind me to own the experience, make it memorable. They remind me that I am the only Miss North Carolina 2007 that ever was or will be. The reality of that has really hit me this week. More than any reality TV show could portray. To be here is a dream in and of itself, Miss America or not.

Here is a run-down of a few of the events we have experienced this week...

Key West Train Tour and lunch at Alice's famous restaurant (can you say Key Lime pie?)
Captain's Party and Guest Meet and Greet (filled with fellow cruisers who are curious about what so many crowns are doing on this ship, and rightly so!)
A Contestant Talent Showcase
Pool time
Meal time
And...the Halloween costume party is tonight (I plan to dress as a Twister game, spin board for a hat)

The best thing is that none of us will have time to miss one another once we dock at port tomorrow and go our separate ways. We will reconvene on Sunday for another round of activities and productions. This means that I am missing North Carolina and will look forward to the holidays spent with all of you!

Sailing away,
Jessica