Shannon Beam
Miss Apple Blossom Festival 2010
The 2009 National Sweetheart Pageant...A Brief Recap!
After being named as the First Runner-Up to Miss Virginia 2009, I had the option of once again representing the Commonwealth at the 2009 National Sweetheart Pageant. This was really a no-brainer for me considering the fact that I had an absolute BLAST last year and I believe you should never pass up an opportunity to continue to learn and grow. The National Sweetheart Pageant is considered a preparatory pageant for the Miss America Pageant where all of the first runner-ups from across the country are invited to attend (although if the 1st RU declines, the offer is extended to the 2nd RU, and so forth). This year we had a total of 40 girls compete, the largest in the pageant's 67 years of existence. I was blessed to stay with an incredible host family - The Totheroh's - and had Miss Colorado's and Miss Ohio's Sweethearts as my roommates. All three of us had competed the year prior, but really didn't have much of an opportunity to get to know each other very well. I would say that within the first 24 hours we all discovered that we were sisters separated at birth! Could it be possible that I wasn't the only girl born to my parents? Because these girls are IDENTICAL to me! Haha! Needless to say, we probably had too much fun during the week. We did everything from taking crazy photos in the corn fields, watching funny videos on you-tube, quoting movies (especially Ice Age!), and taking jumping photos at every appearance we made. I thought last year was fun, but this year was even better!
Once the competition started I definitely had my doubts. These girls are incredible...beautiful, talented, smart, witty...you name it! I mean, when you really break it down, each and every girl here could have been just a point away from winning their state title. They are all the cream of the crop and it was hard not to be intimidated...Not to mention the fact that I was contestant number 1! Miss Colorado's Sweetheart had to bring me back down to reality quite a few times. She told me about the power of positive thinking and things she had read in the book, "The Secret" (I think I need to go buy this book!) and also reminded me to just do my best, and not worry about anyone or anything else. After the first night of preliminaries, I was utterly SHOCKED that my name was announced as that evening's preliminary swimsuit winner! Out of four state pageants, this was the FIRST preliminary award I had ever won, and I just about fell on the floor! This award was enough for me at this point, even if I didn't make the top eleven I would have remained elated and grateful for this! On night two I performed talent, which I thought went very well and Miss Oregon's and Miss North Carolina's Sweetheart (who just so happens to probably be the most AMAZING tapper I have ever seen!) deservingly tied for talent in my group. Finals night was intense...When being called into the top 11 I had always been called within the first 3 or 4 girls, but this time I was called as number 10 out of 11!! I was literally shaking! Once competition started though, I felt a calm confidence come over me. I competed like I never had before, with no jitters and no worries, feeling completely confident in my own skin...I knew who I was and I was comfortable with it. Before I knew it, they were announcing the top 5...and I made it! Once again though, I was called as number 4 out of 5, so that whole shaking thing started happening again! Haha! When they were announcing the runner-ups I could feel my heart pound with each name called and before I knew it, Miss Nebraska and I were standing in the final two. Miss Nebraska was also a returner from last year, and a good friend of mine, so we were excited to be holding hands. Speaking of holding hands, many of you may have heard of the old superstition that the girl who wins is the one who has her hands on top (which by the way, I do NOT think is a superstition...I collaborated with quite a few of the other girls on this and we each looked at our photos from state...and well...all of our hands were on the bottom! Coincidence? I think not! Lol!). When we were standing in the final two we wanted to make things 100% fair...so we each had one hand on top and one hand on the bottom! When they announced my name as the winner of the National Sweetheart Pageant, I felt completely overjoyed. Sure, this pageant doesn't have any commitments or obligations...it doesn't guarantee a win at your state the next year...and it may not mean a whole lot to people in the grand scheme of things...but it meant a lot to me. I've dedicated over 5 years competing in the Miss America Organization, and to win this pageant was the culmination of all the hard work, sweat (yes sweat, the gym is NOT glamorous! Lol!), and time that I have put into it. Even if I never win, I have this wonderful memory I can always keep. I have a common bond now with five former Miss Americas who also won Sweetheart...and that is pretty darn cool to me.
I've already decided that next year, regardless of what happens at Miss Virginia 2010 or if I even compete, I will be going back to Hoopeston to cheer on our Sweetheart Representative, and I have offered to help crown the new queen alongside Miss Hoopeston. This town might be small, but they really roll out the red carpet for the girls. They open up their homes, provide meals, and are overall just so excited to meet all of the queens...I would love to show my support by coming back and helping in whatever way I could. To sum it all up, Sweetheart is an incredible experience. I feel like I have 39 new sisters...and that means a lot to me considering I grew up in a family of all boys! So here is an ENORMOUS thank you to Hoopeston for putting this on every year, a HUGE thank you to the people who came out to Illinois to cheer me on, and a GIANT thank you to everyone who supported me and sent me well wishes via phone calls or facebook throughout the week!
To the Sweetheart class of 2009, you are all amazing. I wish I could have gotten to know some of you better, but I will be cheering for each and every one of you at your state pageants next year! And to those of you who have aged out, I wish you the best in everything you do!
God Bless,
Shannon Beam
PHOTOS (c/o Joe Whiteko)
Preliminary Swimsuit Winner!
Performing, "Footprints in the Sand" by Leona Lewis for talent!
Evening Gown Winner! (Tie with Miss Alabama)
The new 2009 Miss National Sweetheart :)
After being named as the First Runner-Up to Miss Virginia 2009, I had the option of once again representing the Commonwealth at the 2009 National Sweetheart Pageant. This was really a no-brainer for me considering the fact that I had an absolute BLAST last year and I believe you should never pass up an opportunity to continue to learn and grow. The National Sweetheart Pageant is considered a preparatory pageant for the Miss America Pageant where all of the first runner-ups from across the country are invited to attend (although if the 1st RU declines, the offer is extended to the 2nd RU, and so forth). This year we had a total of 40 girls compete, the largest in the pageant's 67 years of existence. I was blessed to stay with an incredible host family - The Totheroh's - and had Miss Colorado's and Miss Ohio's Sweethearts as my roommates. All three of us had competed the year prior, but really didn't have much of an opportunity to get to know each other very well. I would say that within the first 24 hours we all discovered that we were sisters separated at birth! Could it be possible that I wasn't the only girl born to my parents? Because these girls are IDENTICAL to me! Haha! Needless to say, we probably had too much fun during the week. We did everything from taking crazy photos in the corn fields, watching funny videos on you-tube, quoting movies (especially Ice Age!), and taking jumping photos at every appearance we made. I thought last year was fun, but this year was even better!
Once the competition started I definitely had my doubts. These girls are incredible...beautiful, talented, smart, witty...you name it! I mean, when you really break it down, each and every girl here could have been just a point away from winning their state title. They are all the cream of the crop and it was hard not to be intimidated...Not to mention the fact that I was contestant number 1! Miss Colorado's Sweetheart had to bring me back down to reality quite a few times. She told me about the power of positive thinking and things she had read in the book, "The Secret" (I think I need to go buy this book!) and also reminded me to just do my best, and not worry about anyone or anything else. After the first night of preliminaries, I was utterly SHOCKED that my name was announced as that evening's preliminary swimsuit winner! Out of four state pageants, this was the FIRST preliminary award I had ever won, and I just about fell on the floor! This award was enough for me at this point, even if I didn't make the top eleven I would have remained elated and grateful for this! On night two I performed talent, which I thought went very well and Miss Oregon's and Miss North Carolina's Sweetheart (who just so happens to probably be the most AMAZING tapper I have ever seen!) deservingly tied for talent in my group. Finals night was intense...When being called into the top 11 I had always been called within the first 3 or 4 girls, but this time I was called as number 10 out of 11!! I was literally shaking! Once competition started though, I felt a calm confidence come over me. I competed like I never had before, with no jitters and no worries, feeling completely confident in my own skin...I knew who I was and I was comfortable with it. Before I knew it, they were announcing the top 5...and I made it! Once again though, I was called as number 4 out of 5, so that whole shaking thing started happening again! Haha! When they were announcing the runner-ups I could feel my heart pound with each name called and before I knew it, Miss Nebraska and I were standing in the final two. Miss Nebraska was also a returner from last year, and a good friend of mine, so we were excited to be holding hands. Speaking of holding hands, many of you may have heard of the old superstition that the girl who wins is the one who has her hands on top (which by the way, I do NOT think is a superstition...I collaborated with quite a few of the other girls on this and we each looked at our photos from state...and well...all of our hands were on the bottom! Coincidence? I think not! Lol!). When we were standing in the final two we wanted to make things 100% fair...so we each had one hand on top and one hand on the bottom! When they announced my name as the winner of the National Sweetheart Pageant, I felt completely overjoyed. Sure, this pageant doesn't have any commitments or obligations...it doesn't guarantee a win at your state the next year...and it may not mean a whole lot to people in the grand scheme of things...but it meant a lot to me. I've dedicated over 5 years competing in the Miss America Organization, and to win this pageant was the culmination of all the hard work, sweat (yes sweat, the gym is NOT glamorous! Lol!), and time that I have put into it. Even if I never win, I have this wonderful memory I can always keep. I have a common bond now with five former Miss Americas who also won Sweetheart...and that is pretty darn cool to me.
I've already decided that next year, regardless of what happens at Miss Virginia 2010 or if I even compete, I will be going back to Hoopeston to cheer on our Sweetheart Representative, and I have offered to help crown the new queen alongside Miss Hoopeston. This town might be small, but they really roll out the red carpet for the girls. They open up their homes, provide meals, and are overall just so excited to meet all of the queens...I would love to show my support by coming back and helping in whatever way I could. To sum it all up, Sweetheart is an incredible experience. I feel like I have 39 new sisters...and that means a lot to me considering I grew up in a family of all boys! So here is an ENORMOUS thank you to Hoopeston for putting this on every year, a HUGE thank you to the people who came out to Illinois to cheer me on, and a GIANT thank you to everyone who supported me and sent me well wishes via phone calls or facebook throughout the week!
To the Sweetheart class of 2009, you are all amazing. I wish I could have gotten to know some of you better, but I will be cheering for each and every one of you at your state pageants next year! And to those of you who have aged out, I wish you the best in everything you do!
God Bless,
Shannon Beam
PHOTOS (c/o Joe Whiteko)
Preliminary Swimsuit Winner!
Performing, "Footprints in the Sand" by Leona Lewis for talent!
Evening Gown Winner! (Tie with Miss Alabama)
The new 2009 Miss National Sweetheart :)
