JANUARY 24, 2018 The Crown Chronicle Miss Pageant

A Note From The Executive Director Happy Wednesday everyone!

It’s so hard to believe that we’re already one month into 2018! Boy, time sure flies when you’re having fun! MKYOT May 25-27th, 2018

In this issue of The Crown Chronicle, we’re featuring two amazing women! Tonya Abeln, is no stranger to many of you...she currently serves as our Judges’ Chair! If you haven’t met her before, just look for the best dressed woman during pageant weekend...that’s her! Tonya, a former participant in this program has had a remarkable career and has recently transitioned into a new role at Churchill Downs! Her Q&A is packed with jewels for your Miss Kentucky everyday crown! Don’t miss it! June 28th - 30th, 2018 We also had the opportunity to catch up with Miss Kentucky 2014, Ramsey (Carpenter) Bearse! Ramsey is one amazing woman! The work she’s done with her platform is absolutely remarkable. Check out her feature to hear what she’s been up to as well as some reflection on her year of service as Miss Kentucky!

I’m beyond excited about this program and our future! I want to publicly issue a huge THANK YOU to our Local Directors and Local Pageant Committees. You all are the backbone of this organization and I’m tremendously thankful for all of your hard work and for your support during this transition. Wishing you all a fabulous rest of the week! Yours in Service, Ashley

Dr. Ashley D. Anderson

1 Forever Miss Kentucky: Ramsey Carpenter Bearse Miss Kentucky 2014

• What have you been up to since you’ve given up the Miss Kentucky title? Since I have given up my Miss Kentucky title, many exciting things have happened! I continue to travel to multiple states across the country serving as a spokesperson and advocate for Multiple Sclerosis Awareness (which was my Miss Kentucky personal platform, and I have been diagnosed with MS since 2010). One of my favorite occurrences since passing on the crown was getting married to my wonderful husband, Charles Bearse. We moved to West Virginia to accommodate his career, and I am now teaching 8th grade Science while concurrently completing my Masters Degree in Science Education for Middle Grades with a Teacher Leadership Endorsement; I will be finished in May of this year (2018). • Looking back on your year of service, what was your most memorable moment? As memorable as my entire year of service was--from ATV Safety Days with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, to speaking to student audiences about achieving their dreams despite what their backgrounds/finances/home life may be like, to playing my fiddle and spreading Multiple Sclerosis Awareness to more individuals/venues than I thought were within my reach--my most memorable moment happened at . After the new Miss America was crowned and the cameras stopped rolling, they called my name to receive the LouAnn Gamba Overall Instrumental Award. In that moment, I knew I had received a great gift; a victory over my diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. When I first experienced symptoms (prior to diagnosis), the one that devastated me the most was physically losing my ability to play my fiddle. Through determination, following my neurologist's recommendations/staying consistent with my treatment, and most importantly by the grace of God I was able to regain my ability. Then, to win a national award for a talent I feel is a true gift, after at one point questioning if I would ever play again, was a moment I will never forget. • Funniest moment? The funniest moment of my year as Miss Kentucky was when I went to visit Owen County Schools. It was a very rainy day, and I was glad that at the time I arrived at the school, the rain had digressed. However, when I was halfway from my car to the school front doors, a solid sheet of rain began to fall! By the time I entered the school, I was drenched! My hair and my clothes were completely soaked! The receptionist at the front desk looked up at me questioningly, then said "Oh my! Hold on!" She did an all-call asking if any staff members had a hair dryer at school. When no one responded, an Agriculture teacher came forth and offered a paint dryer. We ended up in the office restroom using the paint dryer to dry my hair and most of my clothing. It was hilarious! • What is something you miss? I miss my connection with the overall state of Kentucky. I spent a year pouring my heart and soul into the state that I will always call "Home" and that I will always believe to be the best state to live in in the country. I miss learning about how different the lives of Kentuckians are even when they only reside two counties away from each other. The people I met through the year left a mark on my heart, and there are many that I still keep in contact with. As much as I loved Kentucky prior to my year serving and representing the Bluegrass State, my admiration of what Kentucky and Kentuckians embody from Pikeville to Paducah grew tremendously the more I experienced in the state. • What was the most difficult thing about being Miss Kentucky? The most difficult aspect of the Miss Kentucky job was time-management. If you do the job correctly, you should be booked almost constantly. It is a blessing to be a busy Miss Kentucky, because you are using your time to positively influence the lives of

2 students across the state of Kentucky as well as the community members involved with your personal platform. Time management was difficult due to balancing school visits, showcasing talent at venues, and serving the state at large with having time to maintain physical fitness, an appropriate amount of sleep, and downtime for relaxation and/or time with family and friends. It is an extremely independent year on a daily basis. • After doing the job for a year, what advice do you have for girls interested in becoming Miss Kentucky? I say go for it! It does take a certain level of tenacity and gumption, but I feel that if any woman is passionate about the pursuit of the Miss Kentucky title, she should look into. Reach out through social media sources to the current Miss Kentucky, or to previous titleholders. Research what the job entails and feel confident in asking questions to learn more and be prepared for one of the greatest opportunities! Even if you do not walk away with a crown your first, second, last try, you do walk away with valuable contacts and with 30+ new friends who will be some of the most inspiring and compassionate people you will ever meet. • What did you learn doing the job that you wish you knew before competing? The job of Miss Kentucky is not scripted. YOU are the deciding factor of whether or not your year is successful and beneficial to others you serve, or not. I had done quite a bit of research before my year, and the years I competed prior to becoming Miss Kentucky I observed the current reigning title holders, so I had become aware of this before I was crowned. This is a detrimental aspect that I feel many may miss out on; when you are Miss Kentucky, YOU are Miss Kentucky. I realized this prior to my year, but I learned it even more throughout my reign. We have had many amazing titleholders, but by being yourself while being Miss Kentucky, you can serve demographics and/or communities that Miss Kentucky's from previous years may not have reached. That is what is so beautiful about the yearly rotation! • What life lessons have you taken from your year of service? You may be the bright light someone needs on a dark day, so be careful that you always show genuine kindness to everyone your path crosses. Even on my busiest days of the job, if I still had individuals asking to talk to me, I stayed and talked after the group speaking engagements. Did it cause me to push a few appearances to later times? Yes. Did it mean that I would have less free time on my schedule? Yes. But it was so worth it! Also, learn to "go with the flow" when things don't pan out in your favor. There were days that plans changed last minute, or weather caused travel issues, or events were postponed and re-scheduled. Deal with it. Life will not always go as you plan, and people will not always treat you how you wish... even if you wear a crown. Be strong and independent, but always take positive criticism. If someone tells you ways you can improve, at least give it a try before shutting it down. • How has your participation in this program impacted your life? Participation in the Miss Kentucky/Miss America organization has helped to develop me into a servant, speaker, and advocate. Throughout the year, I may have worn a crown, but I was a servant; to the state, to the organization, and to my personal platform. I loved every moment of it! Each event prepared me to become a citizen who has passion for all communities I am tied to in life. If there is a needed act of service, I am now someone who can quickly respond and determine how I can assist. Again, there is no script for Miss Kentucky, and there is not a set list of questions provided to schools for the students to ask; the questions range from school to religion, sports

3 to hobbies, talents to personal stories, questions about home life and love, and sometimes questions that hint at something a little bit darker occurring in a student's life. To be a good speaker, you must be prepared to be poised no matter the situation, transparent--even if it is uncomfortable--when you feel your personal life could benefit a child who feels lost/ hurt/alone, and ready to process questions and respond quickly to really answer them. The interview portion of competition is one of the first views of how crucial these aspects are, as judges (and future job interviewers) frequently ask unexpected questions. Of course, my year also helped me get more involved with community services and community groups I advocated for. For that I am very thankful, for I have met so many wonderful individuals who are either diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, or are caregivers for those diagnosed that I most likely would not have without the title bringing attention to my personal story and helping me gain more connections with organizations involved with MS Awareness. • How do you continue to work with your platform today? I still collaborate with events hosted by the Kentucky-Southeast Indiana National Multiple Sclerosis Society Chapter, and am currently reaching out to the chapter in West Virginia (where I live now) to broaden my service opportunities to my platform of MS Awareness. I have also participated in phone-based patient speaking engagements (speaking to others diagnosed through teleconferencing). In addition, multiple times per year, I travel to states across the country to speak as a patient advocate for the pharmaceutical company that produces the medical treatment I use for my MS. Since my Miss Kentucky year, I have had the opportunity to speak at events in California (multiple times), North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Kansas and my old Kentucky home.

MESSAGE FROM MISS KENTUCKY 2017 MOLLY MATNEY "Today I had the pleasure of visiting Nicholas County Elementary and I was so happy to see all those sweet faces in the crowd during my assembly! It is such an honor and responsibility to be given influence over young children. On the other hand, today was also the tragic shooting at Marshall County High School. Words can't even comprehend the horror felt by everyone across the state at such a terrible act, but it truly impacts the hearts of those who come into contact with students everyday. My prayers go out to all the families, friends, and teachers of all involved today in Kentucky. Life is so precious and so very fragile, and I want to take this time to remind everyone to dedicate your life to good. May God Bless!"

4 Volunteer Spotlight: Tonya Abeln • Tell us about your new position with Churchill Downs. After a decade in the print media industry, I never thought I would have an interest in returning to the corporate world, but when an opportunity came along to assume the position as Director of Community Relations for Churchill Downs, it was a fit too perfect to ignore. The simple answer is that I head the company’s foundation and corporate giving program which is responsible for millions of dollars in financial and in-kind contributions annually. Giving away someone else’s money to nonprofit entities sounds like a lot of fun, right? It is, but I’m tasked with identifying strategic partnerships that further our charitable initiatives which are industry- related concerns (Thoroughbred after care), public health (Oaks Survivor’s Parade) and meaningful opportunities in the areas of art and education (Awards in the Arts). What many may not realize is that Churchill Downs owns six other racetrack or gaming properties in the country, so I need to make sure we are being socially responsible in those surrounding communities as well. It is my goal that Churchill Downs will be viewed as a responsible corporate citizen to the city of Louisville and the state of Kentucky, and that we can be good stewards of the Kentucky traditions that it has come to symbolize. • How did you get involved with the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Organization? Growing up in a small town in Kentucky, I was very lucky to have an incredible mentor in Joey Neal (current local pageant director). He was my cheerleading coach, choral teacher, color guard director, and at the time he was the director of our local Jr. Miss program (now Distinguished Young Woman). I was an extremely awkward and socially crippled child, but I loved to sing, though most of the time I required everyone to turn around and not look at me (in church I sang behind a curtain to curtail stage fright). Somehow, he saw potential through all that cringing and encouraged me to get involved with Jr. Miss and then with Miss Kentucky. He “snuck” a few of us (Elizabeth Cruse who all of you know, of course) out of cheerleading camp in Lexington to watch Miss Kentucky…and I was hooked. I started competing when I was a freshman at University of Louisville. • What do you think is the best aspect of the organization? The greatest aspect is, by far, the devoted volunteers without whom this program would not exist. It is only through their belief in this system and their dedication to its success that young women can see, believe and achieve this dream. Few organizations can take the public dismantling that we have just witnessed and come back stronger than ever which is the exciting renaissance that we are now all a part of. I think this has taught us that there is no room in this program for a self-serving agenda. Truly, your motives must manifest from a heart of service to others, particularly young yet capable women. • What was your best memory of competing in the Miss America system? One of the two years I competed was in 1999, which, as I’m sure is committed to memory, was the year that was crowned Miss Kentucky and went on to be crowned Miss America. How exciting to be a small part of that history-making year and to witness the evolution of a woman who, one moment was a college student like the rest of us but then quickly became an icon of the program. When Heather returned during her reign to the Kentucky Derby in 2000, I was a Derby Princess at the time and I joke that no one had any interest in meeting the piddling Derby Princesses when Miss America was in the room. But Heather was gracious as always and made us feel important. During the parade, I recall Heather’s mother stopping the float to get a photo of me and I remember thinking, “Goodness, your daughter is Miss America and is the

5 grand marshal of this entire thing, yet you have shown this excitement and interest in me.” That family could teach a master class in humility, kindness and making everyone in the room feel important. All favorable qualities for any title holder. • What keeps you coming back to volunteer each year? On the most base-level scale, I am thoroughly intrigued and entertained by this program and will always be on the edge of my seat in nervous anticipation for a results announcement. But on a deeper level, I volunteer to encourage and support those young women within whom I see a reflection of my young self. Look, I was never going to be Miss Kentucky even on my best day; but, because of the encouragement of a few volunteers, being involved in this program changed the trajectory of my life. Financial resources were very slim for me at that age and sometimes pulling a competition wardrobe together was a challenge, so I look for the girl who is perhaps doing this all on her own and needs that extra push to keep going. I don’t want her to feel like she is fading into the background of those who have more experience or more polish. She should feel like a shining star every single time she steps on stage or out of the interview room. Ultimately, they will all realize that the crown was never really the goal and be grateful that they stuck with it. • What advice do you have for a young woman thinking about competing in the Miss America system? If you focus on self-improvement rather than a title, then every competition can be viewed as a success win or lose. That should be your ultimate motivator. This organization is not about comparing yourself to others and it’s not about being perfect. It is about knowing yourself fully and portraying that authentically in all phases of competition. If you are trying to live up to someone else’s idea of perfection or model yourself after a previous winner in hopes of mimicking their success, you will set yourself up for major failure. Inasmuch as you have to spend time in the gym or developing a talent, I encourage you to spend just as much time with your own inner monologue questioning who you are and how you feel about matters that are significant or silly. Authenticity in your delivery cannot be rehearsed, but it can be prepared. The number one regret I hear from former competitors is that they wish they had trusted their gut in decision making. Do that! You will have a lot of well-meaning people in your ear trying to impart their wisdom and advice, but you are the one who has to live with this experience as part of your personal narrative. It all goes back to knowing yourself. Trust your instincts and feel empowered to make important decisions for yourself when it comes to gown, talent selection, etc. You are the only expert on you. • What makes the Miss America system different from other pageant systems? It’s no secret that because this program puts such an emphasis on the interview component, and because it is the first phase of competition, it is a major driver in the success of a competitor. I had the privilege of judging last year and I spent a great deal of time talking with the other judges about the “X” factor. Ultimately, we agreed that the X factor is a likeability that is hard to define and impossible to teach. In the end, that all important interview is not about having all the right answers or the most compelling fact sheet. It is about making a human connection with other humans, which is something you do every day with your friends and family. That component fascinates me more than any other and is what I think separates this program the most from the others. • What have you gained from your involvement in this program? Undoubtedly, through my involvement with this program I gained confidence in public speaking and an aptitude and unusual tolerance for high

6 pressure interview scenarios which proved invaluable in my professional career. For my most recent career transition I encountered a five-hour interview and was thankfully able to call upon those skills that I learned in this program which are how to control the tone, pace and flow of an interview.

ANECDOTE FROM MISS KENTUCKY'S OUTSTANDING TEEN ABBY QUAMMEN "This past weekend I attended the Miss University of Kentucky pageant, and I was so blown away at the level of talent and grace of the women competing. It was a great pageant! I'm looking forward to attending the Miss Danville pageant this weekend and welcoming more teens into the MKYOT Class of 2018! Currently, I am preparing to open the Music For Wishes concert benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I am so humbled by this honor for such an amazing cause! I would lastly like to ask that you please keep the community of Benton, Ky and the victims and families of the Marshall County school shooting in your thoughts and prayers as they are coping with the shock and devastation from the recent tragedy."

Congratulations to these 3 Women heading to Miss Kentucky!

• Miss Wildcat Country: Taylor Parks

• Miss Lexington: Alex Francke

• Miss University of Kentucky: Molly Morgan

Want to book Miss Kentucky or Miss

7 Kentucky's Outstanding Teen?

For Miss Kentucky, email: [email protected]

For Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen, email: [email protected]

Upcoming Events:

Miss Danville/ Heart of Central Miss Richmond/EKU Miss Grayson Kentucky February 24, 2018 February 25, 2018 January 27, 2018

Miss UofL/Cardinal Miss America Serves Miss Kentucky & Country Day MKYOT Orientation March 3, 2018 April 7, 2018 April 7 & 8, 2018

8 Have something you would like to see in the Crown Chronicle? Contact us! Sydney DeLong Phone: (859) 509-3561 Email: [email protected]

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