Working title in progess

So with my cause for the upcoming year being 'Running for the Cause' I picked up my second 5k of the season with the Stonewood 5k in Ormond Beach. It was cloudy and drizzling but still I went on and completed. This time I did less walking than last time and improved me time by one minute!!! So excited I was third in my age group with 33:19. I was impressed and this time around it didn't hurt as much as the time before. I'm already on the lookout for the next one. You'll just have to wait and see what's up my sleeve until then here are the before and after photos from the race. Enjoy. <3 MWVUSA2012

December 4, my sister queens and I were to one of the many guest of honors at the Gainesville Tree Lighting Ceremony. The most important guest being Santa of course : ). We help facilitate the evening and took tons of photos with tons of people. On of the highlights was going on a horse-drawn carriage ride in which they lined the streets with candles. It was just the right amount of cold so it was a great ride. Second was getting a photo with Santa..who doesn't love that. It was great seeing all of my sister queens for the 2011 pageant year I hope we get to do another activity before my reign ends this upcoming February. <3 MMCUSA2011

So for some random urge I felt the need to run a 5k this past thanksgiving. I hadn't actually done a length to that extent since April 2009 when I did the Midnight Fun Run at the University of Florida. I signed up and on a very chilly Thursday morning I went running with about 1000 people. my hand were frozen and sweat was rolling down my face but I trudged on and completed it, even when I was ready to give up. The runners around me were the encouragement I needed. After I finished and attempted to vomit the nothingness in my stomach the endorphins kicked in. HELLOOOOOO MY NATURAL HIGH!!! This helped me to realize that there is always a reward for completing a task whether easy or hard. And with this run I decided to make my platform for the year: Running for the Cause. Running for the Cause: In my opinion every single disease is important and everyone needs help so from now until November of next year I will be dedicating myself to running AT LEAST 1 5k a month. And because 5k can

Don't forget to get tested tomorrow for World's AIDS Day, there are plenty of free testing sites around the county. Know your status and save a life. http://www.worldaidsday.org/

The first weekend in November I was out there once again competing for another chance to vie for the title of Miss Florida USA, this time for 2012 and not 2011. I was a great competition and I'm proud to say that I was awarded the title of Miss West Volusia 2012. I want to thank everyone that helped me get ready for the competition starting with Arnold; who started pushing me back in August when I came back and decided to compete very early on. Kim for being an amazing woman and knowing I would do well. My mother for always coming to my competitions win or lose. I'm gearing up for the upcoming year and deciding what I will do to help shift my focus to July of next year. I'm also excited for my new sister queen Emily, we are going to do are best and make as many apperances as possible in west volusia. We are looking to do a christmas parade so you'll have to wait and see. <3 MMCUSA2011 <3 MWVUSA2011

Two weekends ago I was given the opportunity to be a part of the University of Florida Homecoming parade. It was truly an honor and given the fact I am a new alumnus of the school I was very proud to be there. The parade started around 12pm and was about two miles down University Blvd, it was televised in Gainesville, the parade is considered a holiday and all of the schools had the day off just to watch.

Thank You to all my sponsors!! These were the ads in the official program book for Miss Florida USA 2011

I had a blast this past week at Miss Florida USA 2011. I went to the pageant as a rookie and came out a new and improved person. I learned a lot about myself and achieved one of my goals in life which was to compete for the title. I now know what I need to do in order to hopefully make the cut at finals next year but for now I'm taking at least the rest of the week off and then will start to prepare for next year. Here are some photos from the pageant. Enjoy!! <3 MMCUSA2011<3

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to help out at Volusia County Health Departments program for National Testing Day for HIV/AIDS in which they were doing free 20 minute rapid test to anyone who wanted one. I was able to answer any questions that came my way about HIV/AIDS and the Miss Florida USA system. Which for me was a great chance to explain my platform of bringing the education about HIV/AIDS back to the spotlight and helping to get more people tested. There is certainly a stigma attached to who everyone thinks contracts the disease and I'm here to tell you that's not true. Only a week until I leave for Miss Florida USA getting excited. <3 MMC2011<3

Just got back from seminar day in Hollywood, Florida and it was a blast. The sessions were very informative and all of the girls are really nice that I met so far. Today, I participated in the last shooting for the prize package for Miss Florida USA 2011. I was able to model the pearl necklace that the winner receives and being an AKA myself it wasn't hard. Driving home wasn't that much of a blast due to the heavy thunderstorms but I made it home safely. Little less than a month before the pageant and I'm starting to get really excited. I started a fundraiser page (giveforward.org/alowery) to hopefully earn enough money to get a really nice dress. Check it out if you like. I'm attaching my promo photo for the jewelry enjoy!! <2 MMCUSA2011<3

So Vegas was interesting to say the least. The pageant was great, well run and the winner was gorgeous. I was there for five days, I went to a comedy club, tried my hand at gambling and actually won 20 bucks!!! I met up with one of my friends that moved out there and actually climbed a mini mountain. The view outside of the city is amazing and I recommend visiting Vegas at least once. It is very much an adult playground.

Things have been crazy since my last post, I've been working out with my trainer to get ready for state I have exactly two months to go. I'm still looking for sponsors I've been dropping letters all around town. I need to go drop so more letters today in fact. I have a job interview Thursday and I really hope i get it. So for the POA today, gym, sponsor letters and work. Hopefully going to the Miss Orlando pageant this Saturday.. can't wait. <3 MMC2011 <3

This past Saturday I had the privilege along with my sister queen Nicole Kelley Miss Alachua County to attend the Daytona Beach Invitational Golf Tournament at LPGA. I was a great event, we received a free 10 minutes golf lesson from the pros and we spoke with sponsors of the event, alerting them to the fact that we were from the area. I had a great time but we had to cut the event short so that we could head over to Orlando to Regalia to try on gowns for the state competition. I'm not going to let you know which one you'll have to wait until July for that. But her are some of the pictures from the golf tournament. Enjoy!! <3 id="gwProxy" type="hidden">

So yesterday I had a chance to help out at the send off party for Megan, Miss Florida USA for the Miss USA pageant. It was a Vegas themed party and a fund raiser at the same time. I got a chance to meet a couple of the other title holders from around the state. I got a chance to practice my Black Jack which will help me when I go to Vegas in a month for the national pageant. Also update, I got in contact with the lady in charge of the Florida Invitational and I've gotten tickets so I'm going..so excited. Picture will follow for that weekend. I'm uploading photo's from last night, enjoy!!

So this past Saturday I got the chance to attend Daytona Beach's 1st annual Oyster Festival. I was a great experience and my first appearance as Miss Marion County USA 2011. People were really friendly and I actually got the chance to talk to a couple of them...especially in line for oysters. My friend Katrina and I waited almost two hours for oysters but there were worth every minute. Some guy even wanted my photo with him so it's some where out there on facebook. I'm still waiting to hear from the producers of the Florida Invitational, that will be a great appearance and hopefully I get to partake. I'll let you know as soon as I know. <3>

March 20th I had the chance to emcee the Miss Gainesville and Miss North Central FL pageant in Gainesville, FL. I was a lot of fun and the girls were amazing and sweet. We actually crowned three Miss contestants so my pageant family consist of eight queens, three teen and five miss. I'm super excited to get to know all of the girls I'm posting some of the photos from that pageant. Enjoy!!

This is my first ever blog and I feel I chose a great time to start one. About Me: I was recently crowned Miss Marion County USA 2011 and I super excited! I'm a current graduate student at the University of Central Florida. And I really pumped up to make this year my year. To learn about myself and find out what type of woman I really am. Why should you follow my blog: 1. I'll be updating with all of my appereances, I really want to get my name out there. 2. I'll be answering any questions I get weekly as a blog to my followers. 3. I'm pretty much a big deal lol!!! 4. Honestly, the more people who follow the more inclined I am to keep this blog up. That's all for now photos will be coming soon!!!