Thankful Thursday ~ Remembering The Miss Oklahoma Pageant!

This weekend is the Miss America pageant and I must be honest, for years I did not watch the pageant.

It was though the pageant experience was a chapter of my life that had closed and I had moved on.  But life is funny. There are turns in the road we never expect that could possibly take us back to where we started so long ago.

That is what happened when last year I was appointed Chaplain to the Miss Oklahoma Pageant.  So now I have spent a lot of time back in the throes of pageant lingo, as well as is in prayer for all the contestants and especially our Miss Oklahoma.

My heart is full of gratitude on this Thankful Thursday as I reflect on my week at The Miss Oklahoma Pageant back in June.

It is hard to believe that I competed more than two decades ago in the very same pageant. Not much has changed in that time except there are now two-piece swimsuits that are, simply put, “teeny tiny” and well, the abs these women have are to die for.  The choreographing is over the top!  Now to our credit we did sing to a live orchestra and now they use CD’s. Other than that much remains the same.

The women of the Miss Oklahoma pageant are talented, smart, and gifted; and over the past 40 years these quality women remain a constant in the race of Miss America.

When I went to the Miss Oklahoma Pageant last June, I spent time with my dear friends and some former contestants, which was a huge highlight.

We couldn’t help but realize that life and distance had gotten in the way of us all staying in touch, and so we did a lot of catching up.  We took a gazillion pictures and deleted a million that we didn’t like and took a gazillion more.  Former contestants are very picky about how they look in photos.  People laughed at us.  We laughed at ourselves and we laughed at each other and laughed a little more. We ate and we ate and we ate some more and we barely slept.

Seeing all my friends and those that we competed with so many years ago was a treat.

We were older, but were still the same women.

The Miss Oklahoma pageant made an indelible mark on my life. More than I had ever believed until I returned several years back.  It is people and experiences that shape us. I have had some incredible experiences and known some incredible women in my life. I want to give you a glimpse into the lives of the women I knew so many years ago.
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Before I started competing at Miss O, there was once a ballerina.

She was not just any ballerina, but a drop dead knock out beautiful brunette that was simply unforgettable.  She competed in Oklahoma and then decided to compete in the Miss New York pageant since she was attending Julliard.  Yes, Julliard.  Her name was as special as she was ~ Mia Seminoff.  Mia was a beauty!  She won  Miss New York in 1988 and then competed at Miss America. She won Talent at Miss America.  I am not sure Mia knew how much I admired her, but she does now.  Mia now trains other young women sharing her gift. That is what we are to do … share our gifts and talents with others.

Mia has taught ballet for the last 15 years in Dallas and does choreography for Miss America contestants looking for talent choreography.  Jennifer Berry won Miss America with her talent piece.  Also, Emoly West, 4th runner-up. You see the  Oklahoma connection.  Once and Okie always and Okie!  She has worked with young women from Oklahoma (obviously), Texas, Missouri, Kansas, New York, Mississippi, Tennessee.  All this just means she is has a great gift!

As Winters likes to say “We must share our wisdom.”

Then there was another beautiful brunette and you would get goose bumps when she sang.  She became one of my lifelong pageant buddies and friends for life – Debra Ramirez – who was first runner-up two years in a row at Miss Oklahoma and once in Arizona.  She  loves to say ” it was clear God shut that door.”  Debra and I were car mates at Miss O years and years ago.  So Mia and Debra and I and several others savored a moment in time.  A time where we could laugh, love and relive those moments was simply beyond words.

Debra and I we  have been there for each other all these years. She was in my wedding, I was in hers. She sang at Eldest SONs’ Christening and then at mom’s funeral. And she sat with me as family at my father’s memorial. And I am telling you this beautiful women can preach and pray up a storm!  We forged a friendship for life. Our friends are a part of our life and they remain a constant whether we see them often or not.

There were also other wonderful women that I loved knowing including a comedian named Mignon, a trumpet player named Lucia, a blues singer named Tamara and so many more that I treasure.

To reconnect with so many amazing women that I had not seen in years and hug their necks, laugh with, and love on, was, well, simply unforgettable.

So in honor of Miss Oklahoma and the Miss America Pageant Blessing to all my dear friends.  Thank you for making an indefinable mark on my life forever.

Be blessed and encouraged abundantly on this Thankful Thursday and remember, it is a gift to have great friends and to be so loved!