Final Dress Rehearsal!

Hello All!

Last night was the very last dress rehearsal for Beauty and the Beast.  We open tonight!  I can't believe how fast the past ten weeks flew by.  The dress rehearsal went smoothly.  The cast had a lot of energy, especially when they saw how fabulous their costumes were...

With Madam La Grande Bouche and Mrs. Potts!

With Belle...who also happens to be my little sister!

How adorable are these girls?

My aunt and cousins flew in from Canada just to come and watch the show!  My grandmother also arrived from the Philippines yesterday morning!  It has been almost a year and a half since the last time I had seen all of them.

One of life's greatest blessings is family and I am so grateful to have such a wonderful and supportive one!

So tonight is the big night!  I can hardly contain my excitement!  We sold out of tickets about 3 days ago and had to request that more chairs be brought in.  For many of the kids in the cast, this is their first time in a theater production.  I cannot wait to witness the hype they get from seeing the crowd and in knowing that their hard work paid off.  If there is one thing that I hope the cast learns from this experience, it is that hard work is the key to success.  

I will be posting more pictures from the play so stay tuned!

Kristina 

St. Thomas Aquinas School Auction

Every year, the St. Thomas Aquinas School Board hosts an auction.  This year, I was asked to co-host the live auction with the school principal's husband, Jerome!  The theme this year was "A Night in the Orient."  The place was beautifully decorated.  There were dozens of baskets and items that were a part of the silent auction and a total of nine items in the live auction.  I had a great time!

This upcoming week is finals week and it is also tech week for Beauty and the Beast!  So...needless to say...there is much work to be done!  It is going to be a tough week...but definitely not one that I can't handle! =)

God Bless,

Kristina

Sweeps Pageant

This afternoon, I attended the Sweeps Pageant in Dade City.  It was in this very city that I won my very first Miss Florida Local, Miss Pasco County Fair.  When pulling up to the auditorium I began to reminisce about that very day, three years ago, when my journey began.  I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw all of the members of the Miss Pasco County Fair Board.

The pageant was great!  There were so many talented and beautiful girls in the pageant!  I'm sure the judges had a hard time choosing the four winners!  Congratulations to all the girls who won this afternoon! 

Below are photos from the pageant...

With my sister queen, Jackie!

With my sister, Samantha, and Miss Florida 2008, Sierra Minott

With the Miss Florida Executive Director, Mary Sullivan and Jackie

With Jackie, and Miss Pasco County Fair, Chloe Lupo

Filipino American Association

Yesterday, April 18th, I was given the opportunity to speak at the Filipino American Association's annual festival.  This festival is a celebration of the Filipino culture and it also commemorates the Filipino veterans.  I was truly honored to meet many of the veterans at the Festival...But little did I know that they were just as honored to meet me!  They asked for autographs and photos with me.  I felt so special!  Below is a photo of me and two of the veterans... 

I was able to speak about the Miss America Organization and about all of the opportunities that one can receive while competing in the system.  I explained that what truly separates the Miss America Organization from other pageants is the scholarship money that is awarded to the young ladies who win and/or place in any of the Miss America sponsored pageants.  I also spoke about my C.A.R.E. program and the Children's Miracle Network.

I was truly honored to have been given the chance to speak at this event.  I have always embraced my Filipino heritage and witnessing so many other people who also have pride in their Filipino culture put a smile on my face.

Relay for Life

Today I went to the Relay for Life, held at Plant City High School, with Miss Lakeland, Jackie Raulerson, and our director, Angela Harwell.  There was a huge turnout!  It was so heartwarming to see that there were so many people that support the Relay for Life cause.

There were dozens of tents set up throughout the school track field with many different activities and sponsors of the relay.  Jackie and I were given the opportunity to work at a particular tent where little girls were being made into princesses.  There were tables set up where the girls would get their nails, hair, and makeup done.  Once they were finished being made into a princess, they were brought to Jackie and I who gave them the finishing touch.  I sprinkled "fairy dust" on them and Jackie waved a magic wand and turned them into real life princesses!  Seeing the little girls' faces light up after we told them that they were true princesses was so adorable!  

We were also given the chance to meet the Plant City Strawberry Queen and her court!

As for other aspects of my life, I have been busy with school as the semester is coming to a close.  Finals are in two weeks!  Also, Beauty and the Beast is opening in exactly 12 days!  I am so excited!  I know that there is still so much work that needs to be done but I know that show will be great!

I will be writing very soon!

All the best!

Kristina

Miss Florida Sunshine!!!

Hello Friends!  

I know it has been so long seen I have posted any blogs!  But my weeks have been jam packed with so many different events!  So I will do my best to catch you up...

First things first...I won a local to Miss Florida!  On Saturday, March 28th, I was crowned Miss Florida Sunshine!  I am truly honored to have been awarded this title and I cannot wait to witness all the exciting things this year will bring!  Jaclyn Raulerson is the new Miss Lakeland and I have been privileged enough to have her as my sister queen this year.  We are both under the direction of the Miss Lakeland Executive Director Angela Harwell!  A week after being crowned, I have already made three appearances:

Friday, April 3rd, I attended the Miss Orlando's Outstanding Teen pageant.  I was able to see many old friends while I was there:

The following night I went to the Miss Orlando Pageant and was able to reunite with even more friends!  Seeing some of the friends that I had made during the Miss Florida competition last year truly made me realize that I am going back again this summer!  I am truly grateful to be given the opportunity once again.  My mom, younger brother, D.J., and younger sister, Samantha also came to the pageant to show the girls support.  They are all true advocates of the Miss America system and truly enjoy coming to watch the pageants.  

Lastly, today (Sunday, April 5th) I went to the Grand Prix which is held in St. Petersburg, Florida.  I was given the job of a grid girl where I was given the opportunity to stand with Dario Franchitti and his team.  Dario Franchitti is the husband of actress Ashley Judd and believe it or not, she was standing about 3 feet away from me when she came to wish Dario good luck! Unfortunately, I was not able to formally meet her, but it sure was nice to be only several feet away from her!  I was also able to to see Sierra Minott, the reigning Miss Florida, and Mary Sullivan the Exectutive Director of the Miss Florida pageant!

It has truly been an eventful week and I am truly thankful for all of these wonderful opportunities that I have been given.  I will be posting soon!

Much love,

Kristina