What an experience to be practicing our opening number routine to "I'm Every Woman" on Whitney's BDay! Sooooo excited!

Pageant Week: Day 2

Orientation Day!

This morning the delegates attended our official orientation where we presented our stiletto project. Each lady was to prepare a short oral introduction and describe her special personality with her stiletto and an arts & craft visual made from a poster. Miss Black Alabama 2009 Kimberly Brown facilitated the event.

After a quick lunch, we each had our talent review with the pageant producer. Went very well and they liked it! SOOO excited to show everyone else!

In the hallway waiting for our talent review with the producer.

Then we went on to rehearsal for the opening number. Love the dance and Love the song!! Our choreographer did the dancing for Dreamgirls on Broadway!

Charis Wilder, Miss Black Alabama USA and I at opening number rehearsal.  Love her, but we will beat Bama this year!

After rehearsal we had a short break to prepare for a top secret evening activity. While waiting we ran into our little sisters, the Talented Teen delegates!! First time seeing my teen Tori Turner in months! Here she is!

We get upstairs to the CEO Suite and we are finally given our mission: The 2012 Miss Black USA Scavenger Hunt! Each team was required to take pics with the required items. Some of the required items included:

Someone over the age 65
Someone wearing The Red Dress pin
The Jefferson room of the hotel
A cute pic of stilettos
Etc. Etc, Etc

Although my group lost horribly (last place LOLOL) we had a great time. What a sight to see pageant contestants RUNNING around the hotel like this!

I had a really great day. We will close the evening out with a debriefing meeting with Mama K and then off to bed. We have a full day of rehearsals tomorrow including our first preliminary: THE INTERVIEW!

Pageant Week: Day 1

It is officially pageant week! I arrived in DC this morning and met up with Miss Black Michigan and Missouri to catch the shuttle to the Washington Hilton. After I was settled I put my gifts together for all the queens...a pageant week survival kit for each of them. Because I wouldn't be allowed to bring them to orientation tomorrow, I would have to find a creative way to get them to each delegate.

Alescia Maraboushontrell Hollowell, Miss Black Michigan USA &  Diana Atai Emuge, Miss Black Missouri USA 

After some free time, several other queens and I visited the Smithsonian sculpture garden and grabbed some lunch, then back to the hotel to get dressed for the 2012 Red Dress Reception.

The Heart Truth^® is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through the campaign, NHLBI leads the nation in a landmark heart health awareness movement that is being embraced by millions who share the common goal of better heart health for all women.

As a voice for the Heart Truth campaign, the Miss Black USA Organization strives to warn women about heart disease and provides tools to help them take action against its risk factors. 

Tonight's reception was a celebration of the hard work we have all completed throughout our reigns, The Heart Truth AND our personal platform. Each delegate was allowed a chance to introduce themselves and their platform and give the group their favorite quote upon closing.

Domonique Price, Miss Black Washington USA & Imani Josey, Miss Black Illinois USA

Shelby Jenkins, Miss Black Kentucky USA

After the reception all the queens came to our room (Miss Black Massachusetts and I :) ) and got their gifts. Everyone was surprised and loved them! Thanks Brenda lol!

Bedtime. Orientation and rehearsals start tomorrow!