09/08/2026
Reflecting on my week at Miss America. I ran into so many familiar faces, and it reminded me why I fell in love with this American tradition as a little girl.
The warmth was undeniably present. Each and every person who walked up to our booth was met with a huge smile and a welcoming heart. We made Eskew to the Rescue bags, we talked about their pageant lives, and we shared stories of our love for Miss America. I even cried a few times while having meaningful chats with people I hadn’t seen since my competition years almost 30 years ago.
And the new faces! How cool was it to meet State Executive Directors from across the country, shake their hands, and thank them for everything they do for these girls.
They are the oxygen of the organization.
I even got to briefly chat with Robin Fleming. She had a dynamic energy about her that actually made me fangirl. It really did! And I told her that, haha. We shared a hug, and she told me that she loved the Miss America question box. Just wow.
You would think I would have been drained by the end of each day, but it was 100% the opposite. It was like I had been plugged into a charger all day because I would leave the trade show with new levels of enthusiasm that I really did not expect. I would call my husband like a little kid on Christmas morning, outlining every detail of the “gifts” I had received that day: the lovely conversations I was so lucky to have with hundreds of people.
It’s a special thing to be in a room with people who just get what you do and the industry you call home. I felt like the room was a big hug that I needed. Thank you to everyone who spent time with us this week at our cute little booth.
How in the world did I get so lucky?
I’ll never get used to, “Oh, I follow you on social media. I love your good talks.”
Or, “I have watched you grow this from day one, and you have worked so hard. Good for you, Brittney.”
And my favorite: “You really care about these girls, don’t you?”
Yes. I do.
Deeply.
(Continued in comments)
