Category: Miss USA

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Kandice Pelletier Swimwear Selfie Sweepstakes – Miss USA 2014

Last week, I announced Kandice Pelletier Swimwear as the Official Swimsuit Sponsor for the Miss USA 2014 pageant.

In partnership with Kandice Pelletier Swimwear and the Miss Universe Organization, thePageantGuy.com is proud to announce the Kandice Pelletier Swimwear Selfie Sweepstakes for Miss USA 2014.

Kandice takes no shortcuts in designing her swimwear. Made in the USA, these beautifully designed luxury pieces are cut from superior fabrics, utilizing strong durable materials providing a timeless style for any pageant contestant.

Interested in getting your hands on a custom Kandice Pelletier swimsuit that all of beautiful contestants of Miss USA 2014 will be wearing? Enter today to win!

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How to Enter

1. Take a Selfie of yourself and a handwritten note with your Miss USA 2014 prediction that says:
"My pick for Miss USA 2014 is <PICK A STATE>"

2. Post a photo for public view* on Instagram or Twitter with hashtags:
#MissUSA #KPSwimwear

You may submit 1 selfie per day for 2 weeks beginning today. Additional selfies may have different states. One winner selected at random.

Winner receives:
- (1) custom Kandice Pelletier Swimsuit
- (1) Kandice Pelletier beach bag with pageant and summertime essentials

NOTE: If you have a private (non-public) Twitter or Instagram account you must do the following to submit your selfie for the Kandice Pelletier Swimwear Selfie Sweepstakes:
1) Make your account public or
2) Enter using the forms at: http://bit.ly/1g6lDEg

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Journey to the Crown – Devin Grissom (March 2014)

Here she is—the (according to my mom) much anticipated MONTH 1 of Pageant Prep by Devin. As promised, I will be outlining the last month and the progress I have made to become the ever-elusive “pageant ready.”

I’m not going to lie, this month was a pretty slooowwwww start to my journey : /

Nonetheless--my overall goal for March was simple:

GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME DEV!

Getting and staying motivated for a certain purpose is difficult—no matter how far in advance, you always have that voice in your head saying, “this cupcake is more important than your life’s goals and dreams” (or is that just me?)

The trick here is to stay motivated every day and ask yourself with every decision you make if it will take you closer or farther away from your goals. A lot easier said than done so let's just start from the beginning….

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Day 1

About 20 minutes after my introductory blog went live, I had an OH CRAP moment that included thoughts like “Here goes nothing” … “Woo! I’m excited!” … and “I guess I need to throw away that Easy Mac in the pantry.”

Side note: I seriously got rid of the Easy Mac, which is a big deal for me. Usually the day before I start a diet, I eat all of the junk food in my kitchen so it won’t be there to tempt me anymore. Great logic, I know. Moving on…

On top of those profound reflections, I also realized that it was my birthday week. What better way to start preparing for a pageant than on your birthday?! (sarcasm.)

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Turning 23MARCH Week 1 - MY BIRTHDAY WEEK!

Seriously though, the most depressing part about turning 23 is no longer being fully immersed every time Taylor Swift’s “22” comes on the radio.

I can no longer relate to her adolescent frivolities, I am a mature 23 year old. Sigh.

My birthday week went as birthday weeks go...lots of celebrations including wine and cake.

Therefore, I decided to put my "start date" off another week...

Bad idea.

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IMG_1240MARCH Week 2 - MY OTHER BIRTHDAY WEEK!!

Why was that a bad idea, you ask?

Well, after my official "birthday week", my parents flew to California to visit which is really awesome because--like I told you in my intro blog last month--my parents are my favorite people in the world.

Obviously they were here to celebrate my birthday and...

I HAD TO show them a good time.

With Mom in CaliforniaIn Grissom terms, a "good time" really means "good food and drinks" and "good food and drinks" really mean "unhealthy food and drinks". You get where this is headed...

I was planning on starting my "healthy kick" this week but the parentals had other plans and sadly--I did not object to those plans. We decided to take a whirlwind tour of Northern California which included San Jose, Monterey/Carmel, the famous 17-mile drive, Napa and San Francisco all in 4 days!

Good news: We had a blast.

Bad news: My "Journey to the Crown" was officially off to a bad start.

I told y'all that I would fill you in on the ups and the downs--my first two weeks were majorly filled with downs (pageant prep-wise).

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Attempting to take measurementsMARCH Week 3 

GET. YOUR. HEAD. IN. THE. GAME.

Obviously just winging it was not the best option for me so I decided to create more of a structured plan for the end of March and for my preparations going forward.

After my parents left Cali--I had a good week at home before my next stint of traveling. This was the perfect time to focus without any distractions.

Everyone needs a baseline when they start a plan – so begrudgingly, I have decided to take all of my measurements and “before” pictures to keep track of my progress as I go along!

FITNESS?

My goal this month was to -- from this day forward -- start working out 6 days a week. No excuses. Even if I can only fit in a mile run some days, IMG_1103I will be active! In the past I have gotten in shape with typical gym cardio/weights, Pure Barre, Kickboxing classes and even the Insanity dvds.

This month I am going to focus on lots of cardio at the gym—6 days a week of cardio and 3 days a week with weights.I have always had a pretty athletic frame and can put on muscle pretty quickly. I would love to hear some suggestions from you guys on how to perfect the “long/lean” look.

I will also keep y’all updated as well in the months to come on what I am trying and what is working/not working.

Obviously with a gym routine comes a motivational workout playlist! These songs really make the time fly on the treadmill. Check them out!

Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
My Body by Young the Giant
Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo

DIET?

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My goal for March is to give up dessert completely from here on out. This was not enforced in Week 1 or 2 because obviously I had to have birthday cake. I mean, come on, who skips out on birthday cake?

Although I did skip Thanksgiving while preparing for Miss Alabama USA—perfect example of GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME DEV! Thank goodness I wont have another birthday for 11 months so we wont have this issue again. Phew.

Also, I will be creating a food/workout journal to keep track of my snacking and activities. Even when trying to eat super healthy, it is easy to over-snack during the day or to not realize how many calories are in that green smoothie.

With a food journal, I will be able to keep track of calories in vs calories out. That sounds obsessive and weird but seriously it helps me  (prime example: I didn't have on the first 2 weeks of March.)

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Palm Springs!MARCH Week 4

Week 4 of March included a trip to BEAUTIFUL Palm Springs, CA. My company, Barracuda, had their 2014 Sales Kickoff at an amazing resort, Rancho Las Palmas. It was stunning, fun filled and majorly work filled.

I stayed up for pretty much 3 nights straight creating 'daily wrap ups' by 8am every morning. It was exhausting but honestly, an absolute BLAST. I had such a good time that I didn't mind staying up late and it didn't feel like work--I am so lucky to have a job that I love and enjoy.

Since I was constantly working this week in Palm Springs, I only had one day that I was able to hit the gym. As a slight compensation, I tried to do squats and abs while doing computer work at night.

I figured out this week that I need a quick easy workout to be able to do early in the morning or late at night when I am traveling--which I do quite a bit.

As a result, I ordered T25! I have done Insanity in the past and absolutely loved it. T25 is created by the same guy but it's made for people who don't have much free time--cha ching! I am so excited to start it in April : ) Of course, I will let you know how it goes.

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Soapbox

never give upNow I just want to vent about some thoughts that have been bombarding my brain lately. Excuse me while I step up on my soapbox for a second (hey, that’s what a blog is for right?) --

Why keep trying? I hear this question a lot in pageantry and have really been facing this issue personally in Month 1 of my preparations. Here is my answer:

It’s easy to give up.

Some would say just giving up is easier than dealing with people asking why you keep reaching for a goal when you have already tried twice and failed. Obviously that means it’s not meant to be--right? What if I give it my all and still come up short? Is it worth it? Yes.

When these doubts start to sneak into my head I think of the ladies who have come before me: I think of Brenna Mader who competed twice before finally winning Miss Tennessee USA on her last year of eligibility.

I think of Ana Rodriguez who competed 4 times before finally winning Miss Texas USA on her 5th attempt and went on to place 3rd runner up at Miss USA 2011. I think of Crystle Stewart who also competed 5 times at Miss Texas USA before finally winning and going on to become Miss USA 2008. Both won in their final year of eligibility.

I wonder if it ever crossed their minds to “just give up.” Even if it did, these girls didn’t listen—and I wont listen either!

…and lastly, here's my final thought on pretty much everything about this post: 25 Signs Dieting Just Isn't For You

(Steps off Soapbox)

Let's hope that April goes more smoothly and consistently than March, lets do this! --and thanks again for following my journey! xoxo

Devin G.  

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MUO announces Swimsuit Sponsor for Miss USA 2014


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2014


Miss Universe Organization Selects Kandice Pelletier Swimwear
for MISS USA® 2014 Swimsuit Competition
MISS USA® 2014 pageant to feature swimwear during live telecast on NBC

Official Press Release

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Kandice Pelletier spent time interviewing with thePageantGuy.com to answer questions about herself, the Kandice Pelletier Swimwear line, and what to expect from the swimsuit competition at Miss USA 2014.

Also, as the new swimsuit sponsor for Miss USA 2014, Kandice Pelletier Swimwear has partnered with thePageantGuy.com to launch a brand new contest to begin this week. Stay tuned for information on the Kandice Pelletier Swimwear Sweepstakes!

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Interview with Kandice Pelletier

What makes you different from other swimwear brands?
Wearing a swimsuit on stage can be such a point of vulnerability for women, so I think it’s really important that a swimsuit is well fitting and inspires confidence. We consider a woman’s body type first and style second, because when a suit fits correctly a woman feels transformed.

We’re obsessed with quality – Kandice Pelletier Swimwear sources the best fabrics and hardware accents. Everything we do is aimed at making things as easy as possible for the competitor. From nickel-free back clasps to adjustable straps and features to make quick changes as consistent and effortless as possible.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen flimsy plastic back clasps break, which is the principal reason we only use metal hardware, not only do they look better, but also we haven’t had one break yet.

Our bottoms and tops are sold separately because no woman is built the same and most women are not the same size on top as they are on bottom. There are no one size fits all suits.

One big advantage for us is that we’re designed and made here in the USA, in New York City. This allows us to not only keep our finger on the pulse of the latest trends, but also work with pattern makers and craftspeople that are the best in the business. We work with the same craftsmen used by major high-end luxury brands (who sell at much higher prices). These team members bring their experience and expertise to our swimwear and it really shows in the quality of our product– you can’t put a price on that. We wouldn’t get that if we were made anywhere else and it’s a huge differentiator for us.


What is the inspiration for the Miss USA swimsuits this year? What can we expect from the Miss USA 2014 contestants during swimsuit competition?
First, given the opportunity to dress some of the most beautiful women in the world, I wanted to do something special and unique, but without being distracting. We wanted to capture the essence of the Louisiana culture, keeping it fresh and gorgeous, just like the Miss USA contestants. I’ve been itching to use mesh in my swimwear collection for a while to add a bit of dimension, so you’ll see some of that subtle detail in the suits.


Who are some of your more notable clientele?
We’ve had a busy couple of years, for starters, some notables include:

Cassidy Wolf - Miss Teen USA 2013
Nina Davuluri - Miss America 2014
Mallory Hagan - Miss America 2013
Lauren Guzman - Miss Texas USA 2014
Kelsey Griswold - Miss Oklahoma 2013
Myrrhanda Jones - Miss Florida 2013
Denise Richards (actress)


Do you design custom swimsuits for pageant contestants that want a unique design?
We started the company doing only custom work for a few years. A lot of the inspiration and know-how from our custom swimsuits were used to create the classic suits in our line today. We continue to work with clients who want the experience, fit, and feel of a custom designed suit – it’s what we consider to be one of our specialties.


How do I purchase your swimsuits?
Our suits are available in select pageant and prom stores across the country. We’re in the process of launching our web store which will have some special, internet-only suits available in the next month.  A complete list of stores can be found on our website at www.kandicepelletier.com


Why did you start Kandice Pelletier Swimwear?
Growing up as a competitor in Georgia, I had a really difficult time finding a swimsuit that showed off the hard work I put in at the gym. The bottoms would cut into my sides and the top offered no support or lift. My mom and I would deconstruct other suits. In the process we found ways to make them better and more flattering. The reconstructed suits became my secret weapon and it didn’t take long for other contestants to take notice. Soon after, we began taking custom orders for other girls around Georgia.


Explain the difference between a "pageant swimsuit" vs a beach swimsuit?
First, a swimsuit built for stage must be double-lined. You want to avoid unnecessary ties and strings, things that are going to be distracting to the body, as well as overly patterned suits. Another aspect to consider is more construction in the top, if necessary.


What are some tips in selecting a swimsuit for pageant competition?
The most important thing is to consider your body type. All of us are built differently.

Then look at your complexion, height and personal style. Not too long ago, we did a detailed writeup on our blog on this very subject: http://www.kandicepelletier.com/blog/2014/2/25/how-to-pick-the-right-swimsuit


You must have some interesting stories from your experience fitting swimsuits for titleholders, can you share one with us?
We did a custom fitting for a client competing in Miss New York a couple of years ago. With all the stress of pageant week, she forgot to pick up her swimsuit at the post office until 3 days before the pageant! When she tried it on, the fit wasn’t exactly right. In 48 hours, our team made the necessary adjustments to the suit to get it exactly right and got it back to her. The client, Mallory Hagan, went on to win Miss New York the next day and later, Miss America.


You have a really interesting background in entertainment, can you tell us about it?
I come from three generations of dancers, so one of my first passions is entertaining and being onstage. I danced as a Radio City Rockette for 5 years, and was created into the Rockette wax figure at Madame Tussaud’s Museum. After winning Miss New York and competing at Miss America, I had the opportunity to compete on two seasons of the CBS show The Amazing Race with my friend and former Miss California, Dustin Leigh Seltzer.

The Amazing Race gave me the confidence that I could do anything. We traveled around the world and experienced other cultures and learned a lot along the way. We did everything from a 17-hour train ride across the Gobi Desert, tamed wild crocodiles, dragged bags of seeds across Kuwait, to jumping off one of the largest towers in Asia, things I never thought I would do in my life. We ended up coming in second place – I have no doubt that our experience in pageants helped us be poised under pressure!


You were selected to be on the cover of an issue of Vanity Fair with James Gandolfini of The Sopranos, what was that process like?
I was in the last semester of school at NYU -- late and in a rush I quickly just threw myself together and my hair was natural and curly.  I was invited back the next day with about ten others and Annie Lebovitz shows up, pulls me aside and sent everyone else home. We shot for 3 days. It was amazing to work with one of the best photographers in the world! Despite his persona on screen, James Gandolfini was a real gentleman throughout, may he rest in peace.

I think being in the entertainment industry has given me the ability to know what looks good on stage, what looks good on a woman’s body, and to be able to finesse things ever so slightly to make things look just a little bit better.

   

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Journey to the Crown – Devin Grissom

Hello World! My name is Devin Grissom.

I’m a pretty normal 22 year old who likes cats, football, traveling the world, and oh yeah—competing in pageants.

That last point is the reason why you’re reading this post right now. I have somehow been convinced to document any and all preparations for my upcoming pageant.

That’s right -- you are invited to be up close and personal to all of the ups, downs, triumphs, and many junk food-craving moments that will fall upon me this year.

If you have never competed in a pageant then be warned -- a few posts in and you will probably start to think I am a few fries short of a Happy Meal. However, if you have competed in pageants then you clearly know I won’t be stepping within 10 miles of a McDonalds until about .05 seconds after some lucky lady gets a crown on her head this fall (more on all this diet business later).

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About me

DevinandFamilySo before you commit to listening to my ramblings over the months ahead, how about I tell you all a little about myself and how I got to where I am now -- California -- if you were wondering.

I was born and raised in Memphis, TN by my precious, wonderful parents who have always supported me in everything I have wanted to do. I take that back – almost everything – but we aren’t quite to that point in my life yet (did I mention I am extremely all over the place?)

After 18 blissful years I decided to take my talents to Tuscaloosa (Lebron joke…anyone?) where I attended The University of Alabama and experienced 3 national championships in my 4 years, ROLL TIDE!

All of this was to my Dad’s absolute horror since he is a die-hard Tennessee Volunteer and we have - to put it nicely - dominated the 3rd Saturday in October for the past seven seasons. Roll Tide again.

It was in Tuscaloosa that I decided I wanted to get back into the pageant business. Unfortunately, I literally gained the Freshman 100 – you’re not getting a picture to document that time in my life, just take my word for it.

DevinSweetHomeAlabamaNeedless to say I had to put my “walking on stage in a bikini” dreams on hold until I had my fill of messy fries (Tuscaloosa staple—seriously worth it). Finally my sophomore year I decided it was time to compete – Miss Alabama USA here I come!

It just so happens that God yet again had other plans for my life.

I was given the opportunity to star in a brand new dating series on CMT called “Sweet Home Alabama” and that meant I had some serious decisions to make…

Who am I kidding? They asked my 20 year-old self if I wanted to take a month out of my year to date 20 cute guys?!

If the suspense is killing you…I said yes...thus putting the Miss Alabama USA pageant temporarily on hold.

I had the absolute time of my life. I met some amazing guys who continue to be great friends. The guy that I picked – Adam – is now adorably married (not to me just to clarify) and expecting his first little kiddo! Go Adam, so happy for you 🙂

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Miss Alabama USA 2013

Okay back to pageants! After the whirlwind that was CMT passed through my life, it was finally time to strap on the Chinese Laundry heels and butt glue. It was my Senior year at Alabama and I was definitely at a crossroads in my life. I just KNEW that this was the year all my dreams would come true.

DevinMissAlabamaUSA2013I busted my butt at the gym for 6 months, found an absolutely stunning dress and honestly did just about everything I could do to win the Miss Alabama USA crown.

I even skipped Thanksgiving!!! No dressing or blackberry cobbler for Dev – now that’s commitment. When December 2012 finally arrived – I was more ready and confident than I had ever been.

Everything went exactly according to plan – except the result. I placed 1st runner up to Mary Margaret McCord – and although I was disappointed, I couldn’t be prouder.

I mean have you SEEN that stunning gal? She is a 20 out of 10 and placed 1st runner up at Miss USA 2013! (Does that technically make me an unofficial 2nd runner up at Miss USA? No?)

Not even one week after the Miss Alabama USA pageant, I graduated from The University of Alabama. Graduating college is a huge step in every young person’s life and just like most people who came before me and most who will come after me...

I had no clue what to do.

I spent a couple of months on the job hunt before I got the call from my one of my best friends about a job opportunity. She worked/still works/now I work for an IT company called Barracuda. That opens up the next chapter in my life: California!

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California!

DevinBarracudaDon’t let the tech stereotype fool you --  I work for the absolutely coolest company in the universe. I do a little bit of everything for Barracuda including marketing, video production, events, social media, trade show presenting and much more.

In my first year I have traveled to just about every city in the United States, plus Barcelona, Dubai, London and Paris… Did I mention I’m only 22?!

Even with all of the excitement of building my career in California, around April of 2013 I caught the bug again. All of you pageant girls know what “the bug” is and what it feels like. I absolutely had to compete so I decided to sign up for my home state pageant, Miss Tennessee USA.

I made the assumption that it would be just as easy to workout, eat right and make all of my preparations as it had been when I was in college and had absolutely nothing to do besides go to class and sleep.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE WRONG IN MY LIFE.

It was a struggle from the beginning. As I have mentioned before, I travel a ton with my job. I absolutely love it and would not trade my travel experiences for the world. However, when you are a major foodaholic like myself, constantly traveling to new places and trying new amazing restaurants is TORTURE when trying to prepare for a pageant.

Also, finding time for all of the other little details needed to prepare was difficult as well. So I did the best that I thought I could - worked out when I could, ordered a dress online and hoped for the best.

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Miss Tennessee USA 2014

DevinMissTennesseeUSA2014When October 2013 rolled around, I was in a completely different place mentally than I had been at Miss Alabama USA not even a year before. I knew that I had not done everything that I should have (and honestly COULD have) to be my very best.

It made me feel guilty that I had not pursued my dream with more determination and also much less confident than one should be going into pageant weekend.

Even so, the Miss USA system is incredible and Kim Greenwood’s team puts on a flawless weekend for all of the girls...so of course, I had a blast.

Meeting all of the awesome contestants is definitely always a highlight for me at any pageant. It truly makes you feel inspired to be around such a big group of accomplished and beautiful ladies (special shout out to Sarah Stonier and Lauren Ledford for being AWESOME!)

When finals night came around I really didn’t know what to expect. Interviews went great (I got to meet Herschel Walker!!) and I was feeling pretty good after prelim competition, but with pageants you really just never know. By the end of the night I was in the Top 5 and absolutely freaking out, I couldn’t believe it!

I ended up placing 3rd runner up and truly was content – I knew I did not deserve to win. Congrats again to ALL of the girls who competed but especially to Kristy Landers Niedenfuer for winning the crown. You are going to be a stunning representative of Tennessee at Miss USA 2014!

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The Present

I walked away from the Miss Tennessee USA 2014 pageant with a determination that I would try one competing more time and give it my absolute all, no matter what the obstacles that may stand in my way. That’s where this blog comes in.

I am putting my preparations out there for the world to see. The main reason, honestly, is to keep me motivated and on track while I navigate through the struggles to following my dream of becoming Miss USA and also pursuing my career.

So what can you expect of me in these coming months?

Each month I'll set specific monthly goals that will help me move closer to attaining my overall goal of being 100% prepared to win my next pageant. To stay accountable, I'll also set weekly "sub-goals" that I will try to achieve as I go along.

After outlining my monthly and weekly goals for you, I'll document (with photos, videos, and text) and keep you informed of my ups and -- hopefully not so many -- downs for that week 🙂

So for all you readers out there I have a few favors...

If you think pageants are silly or a waste of time then I hope you get more than a few belly laughs out of my coming experiences- I won’t be holding anything back.

If you are in the process of preparing for a pageant as well then please feel free to reach out and ask me any questions you have or even to tell me something I am doing is completely crazy. There are no right or wrong answers when preparing to compete on any type of stage but I think it’s great to have a community to talk to about it—event if it’s just to say YOU AREN’T ALONE.

For everyone—I would seriously love to know what you guys think, feel free to write comments below the post or reach out to me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!

So I guess I will see you guys next month! Until then… I’m hitting the gym (ugh.)

DevinSignature

  

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VIDEO: Jesica Ahlberg – Miss Alabama USA 2014

Jesica was born and raised in Selma, Alabama. She moved to Destin, Florida in the tenth grade, and graduated high school as a Bright Futures Medallion Scholar. She returned to Alabama for college, attended Auburn University, and graduated with a degree in Public Relations. She has been a full time actress and model since graduation.

Jesica won the prestigious title of Miss Alabama USA 2014 on November 16, 2013. She will represent Alabama in the 2014 Miss USA pageant, televised live on NBC. Miss USA is owned and operated by Miss Universe Organization, a Donald J. Trump and NBC/Universal partnership.

Jesica is an avocate for education. She is a volunteer for the Better Basics M.O.R.E. program, Motivators Of Reading Enrichment, which focuses on improving reading skills and comprehension in forth grade students. (Bio courtesy of JesicaAhlberg.com)

You can follow Jesica and her journey to Miss USA 2014 on Twitter: @JesicaAhlberg

Enjoy Jesica's exclusive interview below with thePageantGuy.com. Video by Zac Grimaldo/Pixelbroom.

-Will the Pageant Guy

  

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Inside the Making of a Gown (A. Klinzing)

GUEST BLOG: Gown designer, Kate Walz and Aly Klinzing

I’m Kate Walz, a 17 year old women’s wear designer from Omaha, Nebraska. I have been designing since I could hold a crayon, sewing since I was 8, and started selling my clothing in a boutique when I was 12 years old.

Original Kate Walz gown on the runway at New York Fashion Week.
Original Kate Walz gown on the runway at NY Fashion Week.

I have participated in over 30 fashion shows, including Omaha Fashion Week, Kansas City Fashion Week, and an offsite show of New York Fashion Week. I am currently the spokes designer of Fashion Camp NYC.

I had the pleasure to design Miss Kansas Teen USA 2013 - Aly Klinzing's gown for  Miss Teen USA 2013.

Aly’s gown was a slightly altered version of the finale gown of my Fall 2013 collection.

The original had a leather bodice and a less full skirt which was inspired by the history and architecture of New York in the 60?s.

I took inspiration from the architecture of the buildings and the fall fauna of Central Park.

Aly first saw the original gown when she walked for my show at New York Fashion Week.

"The first time I saw this gown was at New York Fashion Week last February.  The gown was Kate Walz’s finale piece of her Fall 2013 collection. It was a show stopper and I just fell in love with the gown the minute I saw it! I was thrilled to be able to spend time in New York on location doing a shoot for the collection after walking in fashion week for Kate, keeping my fingers crossed I would get to wear the gown for the shoot."
-Aly Klinzing, Miss Kansas Teen USA 2013

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Original Kate Walz gown (with leather bodice and slimmer skirt) worn by Aly Klinzing during photo shoot in New York.

On our trip to New York, we were also able to have a few photo shoots around the city with photographer Greg Higgins. We tended to do them at strange hours (like 3am) because of lack of time during the day.

We were able to get some really cool pictures this way however, because we were able to capture New York almost empty, which was an interesting perspective and helped focus the eye on the clothing and Aly.

A few months after our trip Aly contacted me saying that she would be interested in wearing the gown to the Miss Teen USA 2013 pageant.

"Aly and I in the city, it was so great growing so close to her and becoming such great friends!"
"Aly and I in NYC, it was so great growing so close to her and becoming such great friends!"

Being that we are so close in age, (at the time she was 15 and I was 16) I think that she really connected to the gown because we have a similar taste in style.

I think the deciding factor that caused her to ultimately choose my gown was that we had both already achieved so much through this dress and created so many great memories in it.

I was so excited she chose my gown! Not only was it great publicity to have it seen by so many people that wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to my work, but it was also great having her represent my brand. After having it approved by her pageant director I got right to work.

"Once I put on the gown during that time, it just stayed with me…I really, really loved it. A few months after the trip to NYC, it was close to have to finalize my gown choice for Miss Teen USA (13 weeks and counting), so I decided to show a picture of the dress to my directors to see what they thought. They loved it too and really wanted me to have the gown of my dreams, so I decided…this is the one!"
-Aly Klinzing, Miss Kansas Teen USA 2013

Aly’s first time trying on the dress after the Omaha Fashion Show.
Aly’s first time trying on the dress after the Omaha fashion show.

It’s a pretty simple gown to construct, just a bodice with a sweetheart neckline and a circle skirt with a layer of taffeta and a layer of organza over the top. I made Aly's gown from scratch and it probably took close to 8 hours to construct.

I changed the bodice from leather to dupioni, and made the skirt a bit fuller to make it more pageant appropriate.

The flower was the tricky part. I wanted it to have some dimension so I put tiny pleats in each petal and attached them all to a big circle of taffeta separate from the skirt.

I did this so it would still have some movement to it. I also added vertical top stitching to cover the bodice for extra detail. I finished it with a feathered pin in the center of the flower.

I actually ran out of fabric for the flower and didn't have time to order more. I made one with what I had, but it wasn't big enough so I had to take the flower off of the original dress and switch the two!

Since she has modeled for me multiple times and lives 3 hours away, I just made it to her size without having a fitting. When she came to Omaha to model in a show for me she tried it on, and it fit perfect the first time!

"I remember at my first fitting that it fit perfectly (literally like a glove) and I felt like I was at my personal best in the gown…confident, elegant, and beautiful. I remember how much I was looking forward to wearing it at Miss Teen USA! It was perfect for me.”
-Aly Klinzing, Miss Kansas Teen USA 2013

I first saw Aly's gown on stage when I was watching the preliminaries online. Seeing her float across the stage gave me such a rush of pride in both my work and in what Aly has achieved. It was so incredible to see Aly's gown standing by Sherri Hill gowns and other big name designers.

Aly is truly one of my best friends and favorite people, so seeing her in my gown really meant a lot. She was so radiant and happy on stage, and I may have been smiling just as hard she was!

It was truly an honor to have her wear it! Aly placed Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2013 and I couldn’t have been more excited! She is the perfect representation of my brand, and I was proud to have her wear it.

Aly Klinzing. Photo by Miss Universe Organization.

(Photos courtesy of Miss Universe Organization, Kate Walz, and Greg Higgins)