JANUARY 24, 2018 The Crown Chronicle Miss Kentucky 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 Miss America. 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.