Wardrobe and GirlScout Visit

Well, it is official... I have chosen my evening gown for Miss America! It wasn't as daunting as I thought that it was going to be. Maria and Raquel at “The Crowning Touch” in New Bedford, MA. Have THE most beautiful gowns that I have ever seen and always seem to know EXACTLY what will make you look and feel fabulous. My Dad and Mema (Grandmother) came with me today and we met Buffy, My Executive Director, there. My mom came to my initial visit and was literally overwhelmed with the beauty of the gowns at “The Crowning Touch”. So we decided to trust the opinion of my Dad and Mema. Honestly, my Dad has the best eye for evening gowns... So I knew that I was safe in the hands of “The Crowning Touch” Staff and my Dad! We had a few favorite gowns picked out from my previous visit, but did not end up choosing any of them. I don't want to reveal too much, but the gown that I chose is just what I was looking for. There are some alterations that need to be done, so I need to be patient. I really think that we found a gown that showcases me, my personality, and what a “modern Miss America” would wear.

After we chose the evening gown and had it fitted, we began to chip away at choosing the rest of my Miss America wardrobe. There are so many articles of clothing that are needed... I cannot even think about packing yet! Today we found a walk-on gown and my “On-stage Question” dress. Something particularly special about “The Crowning Touch” is that they fit everything to you FLAWLESSLY. So not only did we choose wardrobe items, we had them fitted. All in all, it was a productive visit!

After about an hour of chatting with the staff, we left “The Crowning Touch” and headed to an afternoon appearance. I was going to visit with the GirlScouts of West Bridgewater, MA. I talked with them about the importance of believing in themselves, how to resist peer-pressure, set goals, and to value their character. The girls were very interested in what I had to say... but were also very anxious to ask me questions about the Miss America Reality Show, “Countdown to the Crown”, which they knew I had been away filming. Since it is near Halloween, I shared a few ghost stories with them and some personal ghostly encounters that I had aboard The Queen Mary! They were so cute and I had a great time with them... I hope to see them again soon!

Love, Alicia

Welcome Home and Catwalkin'

I need to begin by saying:

WELCOME HOME to the 972nd Military Police Unit!

Last Sunday, I had the honor of attending a Welcome Home Ceremony in Faneuil Hall dedicated to the Troops of the 972nd Military Police Unit. They have returned from service in Iraq and were greeted by their families and friends, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry... and ME! :) When I arrived, the Troops presented me with a certificate acknowledging my community involvement! I was in awe of these amazing men and women. The courage that they display in their every day lives is truly admirable. It was a privilege to be present and interact with the troops and their families. I had to hold back tears numerous times during the ceremony. At one point, the Soldier's children were honored and presented with medals by their parents. It was beautiful to see the pride in the eyes on the Troops and their families. I am so blessed to be able to take part in such an amazing ceremony. It made me thankful for my own family and opportunities. I spent the rest of the day enjoying the autumn weather in Boston by strolling Faneuil Hall, enjoying lunch at Wagamama, sipping on warm apple cider, while enjoying wonderful company!

After I returned from Boston, I had a few days to prepare for the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” Fall Fashion Show. The Fashion show is a charity event that features local models and vendors who help to raise money for Breast Cancer Research. I participated in the show last year and was VERY excited to hear that I was invited back to model! Once the rehearsals and fittings were over, it was showtime. I walked the runway in loads of beautiful clothes from local stores including CiCi Boutique in Northampton, MA and Cache. For my final runway pass, I wore a couture gown made of peacock feathers! The event was a great opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause, have a lot of fun, and meet many amazing people and talented models from Western Massachusetts! I am so lucky to have participated this year as Miss Massachusetts 2008!

Love, Alicia

"Countdown to the Crown"

Well, I survived the three weeks in LA and I am even sad that it is over! I can't reveal much about what happened while we were filming, but I can say that I met 51 of the most intelligent, driven, fun, beautiful young woman in the United States. While everyone was slightly saddened to spend three weeks away from home, it was a perfect opportunity for the state titleholders to bond with one and other. The days were long and it was sometimes difficult to sleep due to where we were located. I can honestly say that I did not like where we were staying... However, now that I am home thinking back on it, I say to myself: WOW I can't even believe that we lived there for three weeks!! You will know what I mean when you see where we filmed...

During the three weeks, we had a few “off”days where we made appearances around the LA area. After getting into the swing of our filming schedule, we took a day to enjoy the LA sunshine while taking a tour of the Warner Bros. Studio. When we arrived at Warner Bros. We watched a short film that outlined the history of Warner Bros. Next we split into groups and were on our way to see the sights! My group got to visit the set of “Ghost Whisperer” where we met Jamie Kennedy, sit on the original “Friends” couch in “Central Perk”, and strolled through fake snow. We ate lunch at the Warner Bros cafeteria and then went to the Warner Bros costume museum. The museum had costumes and memorabilia from Warner Bros movies including Heath Ledger's Jokers costumes from “The Dark Knight”, Johnny Depp's costumes from “Sweeney Todd” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, and costumes from “The Departed”.



After leaving Warner Bros, we were all excited because we were going to be featured on the Ellen Show! When it was time for us to be featured, we gathered outside with Miss America 2008 – Kirsten Haglund, where we sang “a tooney for Mr. George Clooney” trying to coax him out of his office. Unfortunately, he did not show, but we had fun... especially when Mario Lopez came outside to say hello!

The next day was very busy. We woke up and boarded the Miss America bus early for a quick appearance on the KTLA Morning Show where we were all formally introduced on-air. From KTLA, we headed to to breakfast at IHOP in LA. Not only did we get to eat unlimited amount of pancakes, but we also got to flip, stack, and create them!.(I was very proud of the crown-shaped pancake that I made!) Media was present at IHOP so it was a great way to promote MAO and MAO's involvement with “National Pancake Day” for CMN in February. We left IHOP stuffed to the brim and made our way to the Los Angeles Zoo! We spent a few hours scoping out animals including koala bears, giraffes, kangaroos, and apes. Upon leaving the zoo, we had the opportunity to return to our hotel where we had a few hours to rest for tonight's activities. Next we headed to the Manhattan Beach pier just in time to catch the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. It was my first view of the Pacific and it was magnificent! I made sure to take a lot of photos and bask in the moment. Before we knew it, it was dark and time for dinner. I couldn't believe when we arrived at our dinner location to find that we were having dinner on the rooftop of “Shade” Restaurant! It was a chilly night in California, but we kept warm with pashminas and space heaters. The food was delicious (dessert included smores. Mmm...) the scenery was gorgeous, the staff was accommodating, and the company of the other contestants was very memorable.



On Sunday, we got to rest until a lunch appearance at Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. The location was gorgeous and so were the yachts located there! We had lunch and changed into comfortable clothing for the Los Angeles Angels baseball game. I don't know many people who can say that they have been to a baseball game with 52 beauty queens, but it was quite an experience. I had such a great time getting to know the girls better in such a casual setting. Even though it wasn't a Red Sox game, I enjoyed it very much... GO SOX!



Following another long week of shooting and missing home, on Saturday, October 4th, we were fortunate enough to visit the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. I know that I am not speaking for myself when I say that it was exactly what we needed at the end of this trip. At time, filming the reality show was stressful and tiring... but seeing how much genuine joy we brought to the children at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles made me realize why I love being Miss Massachusetts. This year is a year of service. It allows me to interact with and help others in ways that I could never have imagined. It allows me to act as a community builder throughout Massachusetts, touching people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities... and that is an honor.


Filming the Reality Series in Los Angeles was definitely a learning experience... I enjoyed representing Massachusetts there and can't wait to represent our state at Miss America!

~Ohh, I've missed you, Massachusetts and I am glad to be back!

Love, Alicia

Macy's "Shop For A Cause"

For the past two years, I have been involved in Macy's “Shop For a Cause”. It is a fun event that takes place in Macy's stores across the country, that benefits numerous charities. The Macy's at the Holyoke Mall invited me back to their store and I was booked to be in Auburn, MA too.

At the Auburn Mall, I was well received! I had an autograph table set up for the first part of my appearance. For the second part of my appearance in Auburn, I got to walk around the store and chat with costumers. There were all sorts of activities set up throughout the store including face painting, a finger print station, and video games. I even had my blood pressure checked, which was quite an event for me because I am deathly afraid of having it done. I am glad to report that my blood pressure is normal and that I met many amazing people, who made my visit worthwhile.

I quickly left and headed to my second appearance of the day, which was Macy's “Shop For a Cause” at the Holyoke Mall. I was very excited to be greeted by my cousin Toni and the Manager at Macy's, Tanya. I changed into a royal purple dress that they let me borrow for my appearance and met with local titleholders from Massachusetts.

I got to walk around the store meeting customers, tasting food, signing autographs and even got to hangout with Cinderella and Elvis! :) A Ray of Elvis is a local Elvis impersonator who participates in numerous charity events that I attend. He was very entertaining and even called attention to me every time I walked near is stage. It was a lot of fun dancing and signing along to his tunes!

The Macy's “Shop For A Cause” event was a perfect way for me to exercise my title of Miss Massachusetts for a worthy cause, have a little fun, and spend a day of quality time with my family before I leave for LA in the morning.

Love, Alicia

Massachusetts Day at the Big E

I went back to the Big E today to help celebrate “MASSACHUSETTS DAY”! I was thrilled that I was representing my STATE at my city's local fair. When I arrived, I set up my CMN table outside of the Massachusetts State Building. The table was outside this time... which presented some challenges! It was freezing and very windy where we were, but Auntie Josie, Mema, and I sat at the table hardly able to chat people up for donations!

Within an hour, things began to warm up. I spotted an old friend Gloria Tuperkisis, from “Dance Capers”, which is a dance competition that I used to compete in. She introduced me to her dancers and even let me take over her stage for a few minutes to speak about the Miss America Organization and the Children's Miracle Network! That prompted people to come over to my table and talk. For most of the day, I collected donations and got to know the wonderful people of my community a little better.

In the early afternoon, I had the opportunity to meet a very special guest and to see a few familiar faces, as well. While greeting visitors to the MA State Building, I met with Massachusetts Governor, Duval Patrick! We had the chance to chat a bit about what was going on in our lives and the state. I also ran into State Representative James Welch again! I met Mr. Welch at the Massachusetts State House this summer and since then feel like I have been bumping into him everywhere.

After the meet and greet of guests, I was running to catch my car for the Massachusetts Day Parade. Parades are a lot of fun for me because I love smiling at people and seeing their reactions. Even when I am crownless, I always smile at strangers. It brightens my day when someone smiles back and makes me laugh when they don't! :)

Love, Alicia

West Springfield Day

Today was the day that I have been waiting for... WEST SPRINGFIELD DAY at the BIG E! The Big E is a fair in my hometown that has fantastic opportunities for shopping, meeting new people, riding a Big Yellow Slide, and eating some of the most delicious food that New England has to offer! Each day at the Big E is designated a “state day” and since it is held in my hometown of West Springfield, MA there is a West Springfield Day too. I thought that I wouldn't be able to attend the Big E this year due to the filming schedule of the Miss America Reality Show. You can imagine how excited I was when I heard that the filming was pushed back a week and I would be able to go! I can remember waiting to be let out of school, free attendance ticket in hand, and rushing to the gates of the Big E to enjoy West Springfield day with my friends and family. This year it would be even more special...

The people at the Big E were very supportive of the Miss America Organization! They allowed me to set up a table in th Massachusetts Building where I could accept donations on behalf of the Children's Miracle Network. I spent the morning greeting and talking with individuals about both the Miss America Organization and CMN. The vendors in th Massachusetts Building were generously offering me delicious food for my fundraising efforts! I met many wonderful individuals who truly touched my heart with their generosity and encouraging words. One elderly woman called me to her side and kept pointing at my face. She motioned for me to bow my head and I thought that she wanted to take a closer look at my crown or to see how I kept it on. Instead, she pulled my head closer and kissed me blessingly on the forehead. It was a beautiful gesture and made me realize that I am affecting people young and old.

After lunch, I made my way to line up for the West Springfield Day parade. While there, I was thrilled to see the Pee-Wee, Junior, and Senior Cheerleading Squads from West Side! Being a former cheerleader, I enjoyed catching up with the girls and having photos taken. It was almost surreal because not too long ago, I was one of them and never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would be “Miss Massachusetts” going on to compete for “Miss America”... During the parade, I was lucky enough to be accompanied by my Mom, Dad, and Mema in a gorgeous light blue Mustang. I could tell that they were having a blast waving and talking to the crowd!

When the parade came to an end, I was allowed to walk around the fairgrounds wearing my crown and banner. I was amazing to see so many people that I knew well or had gone to school with... It is so inspiring to talk with old friends and it keeps my feet planted firmly on the ground. I'm a small town girl who has been blessed with amazing opportunities and I will never take that for granted.

Love, Alicia

"Walk In The Park"

Yesterday, I had the privilege to act as an Ambassador for the first annual Six Flags “Walk in the Park”. The event was a Walk-A-Thon to raise funds for “Cure Kids Cancer”. I arrived in the early morning and skipped my usual 67 cups of coffee... uh oh. I was relieved to find out that Dunkin' Donuts was a sponsor of the event and had a booth set up to caffeinate those involved! My task for the day was to act as a motivator for the volunteers. I gave out many high fives along with encouraging words. A definite highlight of my day was meeting Justin Kie-Burdick. Justin is a young man with an amazing spirit who also served as the “face” of Six Flags New England's event. He told his courageous story and had everyone hanging on his every word as they fell in love with his charm.

I also had the chance to meet Jerry from "Ben and Jerry", the President of Six Flags New England, and Chris Kellogg from 94.7 WMAS! The event was a great success for all that were involved and I am thankful to have been a part of it.

For more information about “Cure Kids Cancer” visit: http://curekidscancer.org/

After the event, I was surely caffeinated.... but starving! My chaperon for the day was my local director, Nikki Pajer. Her family owns a wonderful Italian Delicatessen in Agawam, MA. We decided to pay her family a visit and get lunch.It was great to stop into a local eatery and see the response of onlookers. I signed some autographs, took photos, and noshed on an ENORMOUS turkey sub. A fantastic way to end an appearance!

Love, Alicia

LA Prep

The time is getting closer... I will be leaving for Los Angeles on September 21 to film the Miss America Reality Show. I am excited to see all of the girls again, but a little anxious to see what is in store for all of us. All that we know is that we are all flying into LAX on September 21st and will be flying home on October 9th. That's it... Not knowing what we will be doing leads to some stress. I am trying to keep an open-mind and stay positive. I will miss my family, but when will I have the chance to be on a reality show again? This is a blessing.

This past week, I have been busy packing and shopping for the required wardrobe for my stay in L.A. Today I went to visit to the Miss Massachusetts clothier, “The Crowning Touch” in New Bedford, MA. My dad came with me to help me pick out cocktail dresses for my three-week stay in L.A. Every dress is beautiful at “The Crowning Touch”, but I think that Maria picked out some versatile pieces for me to wear, which is key because we don't know exactly what I will be taking part in. I even tried on a few gowns for Miss America... Nothing is decided quite yet, but I felt like a million bucks in every dress that I tried on! I am very excited to pick out my evening gown for Miss America! You will have to tune in to see...

Thank you to the Crowning Touch in New Bedford, MA. for providing me with lovely wardrobe options and words of confidence!

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Mother and Darling Danny~

Love, Alicia

Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant

I just returned home from the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando FL... and what a week it was! I must begin by congratulating Taylor Kinzler, "Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen". Taylor did an incredible job of representing Massachusetts. Throughout the week long competition, she was always poised, gorgeous, and friendly every time that I saw her both on and off stage! We could not be more proud of you, Taylor!!

The Miss America Organization had quite the week planned for the Miss contestants jam packed with activities... I must mention that there were over 40 Miss America contestants present. It was a treat to be able to meet everyone!

We arrived in Orlando on Tuesday afternoon, where I met my roommates for the week, Ashley Fairfield - Miss New Jersey and Emily Cox - Miss Kentucky. We checked into our room and then met our Directors for lunch. That evening, we attended the first night of Miss America Outstanding Teen preliminaries. During intermission, I had the opportunity to meet Miss America 2008 for the first time!

After the preliminaries, I had the chance to catch up with a few of my good friends who were attending the pageant, Cherise LeClerc and Amanda Kelly. They are Miss Massachusetts contestants who also came to the pageant to support Taylor! We all had a late dinner and turned in for the night.

My roommates and I awoke very early the next day to make an appearance with the rest of the Miss America contestants at the "Daily Buzz" television show. It was early, but the crew greeted us with open arms (and coffee!) We all had a blast being in the studio! Thank you to the "Daily Buzz"! That afternoon, we attended a Miss America Workshop where we were all moved by the motivational speaker Brendon Burchard. Brendon is the author of "Life’s Golden Ticket." His speech reminded us that we all have a purpose in life and that we need to always act "on" and "alive" because every day that we have is a gift. After the workshop, the Miss contestants attended a fundraiser for MAO. The fundraiser was a "mix and mingle" event at the home of David Seigel. We were delighted to talk with supporters and dine on food from area restaurants. All of the girls were in awe of Mr. and Mrs. Seigel's home, family, and support of the Miss America Organization.

Thursday was another early morning because the Miss contestants went to Disneyland! When we arrived, we spent most of the morning filming a promo with Mickey Mouse! The afternoon was spent riding rides (SPACE MOUNTAIN!) and getting to know eachother in a fun atmosphere! The fun continued into Friday when we went to Sea World... I saw Shamu for the first time and fed dolphins! On Friday evening, MAOT arranged a special event for both the Teen and Miss contestants... a Sock Hop! We dressed in out 50s best and danced the night away!

On Saturday, we had a meeting for the Miss America Reality Show where we learned a little more about what we will be experiencing in September. Most of it will be a surprise for us, but it was nice to receive some clarification. The show will be filmed from Sept. 21 - Oct. 9. That evening the Miss contestants had an autograph signing and attended the final night of the MAOT Pageant! Congratulations to the new Miss America's Outstanding Teen, Taylor Fitch! Everyone did a phenomenal job and I was blown away at how much talent and poise these young women possessed.






It was a week that I will never forget! Thank you to everyone who made it possible!


Love, Alicia

Dairy Queen Miracle Treat Day and Glamour

What a dream... On August 9th, I had the chance to attend "Miracle Treat Day” in Milford, MA. For those of you who don't know, “Miracle Treat Day” is an event sponsored by Dairy Queen where all of the proceeds from Blizzards sold, go to the Children's Miracle Network. I was super excited for this event not only because I love Dairy Queen... but also because Jim Hall, the CEO of the Children's Miracle Network, would be in attendance!

I was lucky enough to be accompanied to this appearance by my Mema and Executive Director. When we arrived, we were introduced to Jim Hall, the Dairy Queen staff, and Max – a CMN “Miracle Child”. Shortly after our arrival, Jim, Max, and I were brought behind the counter and each learned how to make a Dairy Queen “Blizzard”! I have to say that I may have found my calling after my reign as “Miss Massachusetts”... I can mix and blend the “Blizzards” like it's no one's business! :) We also had the chance to work the drive-thu window and personally thank customers for contributing to CMN.

I stayed at Dairy Queen for longer than expected because I became engaged by talking with customers and eating icecream! Nothing beats good conversation and DQ soft-serve...
When I returned home, I was ecstatic to learn that I was featured in September's issue of Glamour Magazine! There was an article about my involvement with Kmart's Style Showoff contest!

Thank you to Jim Hall, the staff from CMN, and to the wonderful staff of Dairy Queen in Milford, Massachusetts for preparing me for the swimsuit competition at Miss America by feeding me desserts! I will be sure to visit again soon!

Love, Alicia