Letter from the Editor This year has been the 4th year that we attended the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City; every year it keeps getting better than the year before. The competition is becoming more fierce, the women are incredibly intelligent, and the fashion is to die for – both on & off the competition stage! This year we covered all of the events related to the MAO pageant…from red carpet interviews with celebrity judges, to a red carpet interview with the lovely Savvy Shields; a week of celebrating Miss America has been nothing short of amazing! Our Facebook page has even more photos for you to enjoy & share! We’re also proud to say that the team of Bravura Magazine did their share for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals during Miss America week, as we raised $1,193 with our beach ball raffle! Thank you to all who donated to CMNH and supported our efforts! We hope you enjoy this bonus issue!
xoxo
Tirusha
Dear Savvy, This past year, you were the National Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals; not only did you advocate for the national platform of the Miss America Organization, but also for your personal platform, Eat Better, Live Better. You’ve truly lived in the public eye and made yourself vulnerable to all who followed you on social media; but you never once let that change the person who you were before the crown was placed on your head. You’ve become a role model for not just young girls in the US, but an international icon as well. Here’s a look back at some of our favorite moments, of you, that you’ve shared with us! Love, Your fans everywhere!
Photos: P.G. Photography
Photos: Miss America Instagram Account
Photos: Miss America Instagram Account
Photos: Miss America Instagram Account
Photos: Miss America Instagram Account
Looking Back at Savvy Shields
Photo: P.G. Photography
Photo: P.G. Photography
Photo: P.G. Photography
Photo: P.G. Photography
Photo: P.G. Photography
Photo: P.G. Photography
Who Is Landon the Intern? Photos Courtesy: Landon Chapman
“Landon the intern is a little Mississippi boy who has been blessed with so many incredible opportunities…” –Landon Chapman
“He loves to dance; and he loves to entertain. And really just make people smile.”
“I always grew up knowing I wanted to work in the entertainment industry; it came time to apply for college and I applied to one in Mississippi and I ended up getting a full ride. One of the scholarship programs is the Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy and the chair of that program is Mary Haskell, Sam Haskell’s wife…they found out I wantd to work in entertainment and we had breakfast, and they took me under their wings and offered me this internship.” -Landon Chapman
“…show people that Miss America has struggles too; it’s really amazing to see that women all over America, no matter who they are, can relate to Miss America. I think that’s the most important quality you can have.” -Landon Chapman on what he hopes for the next Miss America
Catching Up With Jessica Baeder
Photo: Jen Cady
How did you plan and prepare for MAOTeen once you won your state title? Once I won my state I tried my best to be the best Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen I could be. I tried to do as many appearances as possible, I tried to work my public speaking skills. But I’ve been in the program for three years and that’s what (has) really prepared me the most…just coming back and competing in my state those three years. I started in this program as a shy little 15-year old who never thought that she would make it to Nationals. Just putting in all that work for the years prior really helped me prepare for Nationals (as well). Now your personal platform is Healthy Food for All. What have you done, and what do you plan to do, in order to keep bringing more awareness to this? My platform, at the state level, I did a lot more hands-on work. With the YMCA in Montgomery, Alabama, they have what is called a ‘brown bag bus,’ and they take healthy foods to kids in low income communities, so that they get a meal that day. For a lot of those kids, it might be their only meal for the day. And especially what my platform is focused on is lowering food insecurity. But now at the national level, we are going to work to raise more awareness towards it. Photo: MAOTeen
Side by side, you are also going to be acting as the official National Teen Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. How do you find that you’re going to balance both of these platforms? CMNH has always been very close to my heart. When I was six years old, I was treated for a kidney malfunction. I was between my house and Children’s Alabama hospital for four years, so I’ve always loved the hospitals and what they stand for. When I was being treated there, I don’t remember all the tests I went thru; I remember how the doctors treated me. It has been something natural that I’m able to do – just go in and love those kids and remind them what it’s like to be a child. Rumor has it you want to go to medical school; what drove you to that? I am very much interested in medical school; I think growing up as a dancer, I’ve been interested in how the body worked and how it moves. I am interested in orthopedic surgery. I am looking into going to West Point possibly?! I still don’t have my life figured out. But one of my options is looking at West Point, and going to a graduate program after that, and being a doctor in the Military. So absolutely all the scholarship money from MAOTeen will help to pay for my graduate program.
Photo: P.G. Photography
What advice do you have for your Princesses or young teens who are looking to step into the Miss America Organization? What have you learned from it and what have you gained from it? I’ve learned that to be Miss America or Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, you don’t have to look a certain way, talk a certain way or be a certain way. The organization wants new girls and they want diverse girls to build this program around. To girls who are just starting – just be yourself. It sounds so cliché, but be yourself, because the organization wants to promote the best version of you possible, and that’s really what it does. It develops your talent, and your passion, and your public speaking. It’s really working to develop those skills which are already inside of you.
Photo: P.G. Photography
“…My gown! I’ve never worn a gown that big before; and that white gown was the biggest I’ve ever worn…”
Photo: P.G. Photography
Photo: P.G. Photography
How has your journey been so far as MAOTeen? It has been a whirlwind. And I think it’s starting to settle down now since it has been a little over a month. Being in Atlantic City right now is pretty crazy because this is the first time that I have actually traveled as Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. Doing this interview right now is crazy! When I said I never thought I would be on a national stage, I was not kidding. Because I didn’t grow up in pageants; I started when I was 15-years old. And it’s all I’ve known. My first year at states, I competed and walked away with nothing but experience. And that prepared me to be at Nationals. It has just been so fun and I cannot wait for the rest of the year! What is it that you look for in a Miss America? In a Miss America, I want someone who can bring more attention to this organization, and promote what it really stands for. We’re not just a beauty pageant. I think people from other organizations understand that, but there are still so many people outside of this who think we are. But it’s really promoting community service and scholarship. And that’s what sets us apart. I hope the new Miss America can stand for that and promote that, and draw more girls in because of that.
Tell us a bit about what fashion is to you. Fashion is another way to express yourself. Everyone’s fashion is different. There can be trends, or “what’s in,” but it’s really what you define it to be. I do like to dress up when I am going out or doing appearances, but if you catch me at school, I probably have no make-up on and am wearing a t-shirt. So, my fashion really differs on where I am going. I do like bright colors because I think it makes a statement. But your statement is whatever you want it to say.
Photo: P.G. Photography
How do you balance the life of being a teenager and being MAOTeen at the same time? I always love to be busy so when I don’t have something going on, I (do) get a little bored, so I love trying to balance everything. For school, I am able to do all my classes on-line, so my school has been very supportive.
When I am in town, I make time for my friends and hang out with them, so I can keep a normal social life, because I would probably go crazy without my friends. And after this, I am going to go to New York for college visits.
Photo: P.G. Photography
What final words do you have for everyone who has supported you throughout this entire process? All the girls who are following you on social media? Thank you; I would not be here without my support system. They say it takes a village, and I happened to find the perfect little village. My local directors stayed with me until the National level. And my state directors the same thing; thank you to them for that. And to everyone who’s following me on social media… I’ve never had this many followers on social media. It’s so crazy that when I post something, I get thousands of likes. I love each and every one of them. Without a following and without supporters, we wouldn’t be here. I just want to tell all the young girl`s out there to be confident in themselves. It’s so important for young girls to remember who they are, and what they stand for. Photo: P.G. Photography
Fitness & Lifestyle, Swimsuit Highlights Photos: P.G. Photography
Talent Highlights
Photos: P.G. Photography
Evening Gown Highlights
Photos: P.G. Photography
“Show Us Your Shoes” Parade
Photos: P.G. Photography
MASTA Event
Photos: P.G. Photography
Miss America Red Carpet
Photos: P.G. Photography
Miss America Finals
Photos: P.G. Photography
Official Toe Dip
Photos: P.G. Photography