On Instagram, I asked what questions people would ask a Miss America 100 candidate. Several wonderful questions were submitted. Elle Mark, Miss Minnesota 2021, was kind enough to take a crack at answering them for us. This is the second of a two part post. I hope you enjoy it!
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| Photo Courtesy Miss MN Org |
When you’re crowned as a state titleholder, people love to ask you “Has it hit you that you’re going to Miss America yet?” and you respond with a polite variation of “no”. My favorite response to the question was, “I don’t think it will hit me until I’m on the flight home!” and frankly, I wasn’t wrong. The flight home from Miss America was the hardest of my life - processing everything that had happened and realizing that the event I had worked towards for so long was over.
Now that a few weeks have passed and the many emotions have been processed (well, partially processed that is), I’m having a lot of fun reliving my Miss America experience by doing some Q+A! When Section 36 offered me the chance to answer a few of the fans’ questions, I couldn’t resist!
Without further ado, let’s chat Miss America 100!
What was it like backstage during the competition?
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| Photo Courtesy Miss MN Org |
It depended on where you were! If you were in the dressing room, the vibe was fun, chatty and supportive! If you were in the general backstage area where candidates were rehearsing and getting in the zone, it was a little more quiet and intense. If you were in the wings ready to go on, it was surreal. Everyone was just in awe of what was happening around us. It’s hard to describe! But it wasn’t like the movies with the cattiness or drama - the vibes were always positive.
What goes through your mind as you’re standing on the Miss America stage?
“Wow - I can’t believe I’m here.”
I never competed in pageants as a kid, but I watched Miss America every single year. Back then, I never knew how to get to the Miss America stage or even how to become Miss Minnesota - yet there I was! It was so surreal, and I was just awe-struck. It was very emotional!
How did you select your gown?
They say “you know when you know” - and golly, I just knew! I went to our gown sponsor, Regalia Magnificent Apparel, and saw the dress on the hanger. I loved the fringey sleeves, but I thought I “didn’t want a black gown”. When I put it on and it zipped up, I instantly started crying. That’s when they told me it was a one-of-a-kind Jovani that had arrived two days earlier and I was the first to try it on. And get this - NO ALTERATIONS NEEDED (which is pretty amazing, if you didn’t know). It was meant to be!
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| Photo Courtesy Miss MN Org |
What were your first thoughts after it was all over?
“I wish I could go back and do it all again” - and no, not because I had regrets. I wouldn’t change a thing about my performance. I wanted to do it all again because it truly was the time of my life. People tell you how life-changing the experience is, but nothing prepares you for just how empowering it is to be around so many like-minded, motivated, and kind-hearted women. Nothing prepares you for the realization that you are a part of such an incredible legacy. I am humbled beyond belief to have been part of the 100th anniversary class of Miss America.
I can't thank Elle enough for answering these questions for us. I hope you enjoy both of her posts.
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