Working title in progess

So I got the opportunity to visit the Houston Aquarium during 'Shark Week'. I have actually never been to an aquarium before so I was super excited. It was a great learning opportunity to see the different types of fish. I actually saw a blue catfish that was massive: Here fishy fishy... There was this massive eel that at first I thought was just a log in the tank until it started to move. Each type of fish was grouped within its family/species. I got the opportunity to touch a stingray and I was freaking out the entire time. There was one there that was splashing all of the participants around the pool. this one matches my carpet The sloth...or is that an eel It's Dory from Finding Nemo!! What's Shark Week without an actually shark...

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to visit the Texas based brewery that is right here in Houston. St. Arnold's was started 19 years ago and has recently flourished to a craft beer delight for those who lose IPA's and home brewing. The tour guide was the owner and founder himself of the St. Arnold's which was a awesome delight. To here from the founder himself how St. Arnold's came about was amazing. We toured on Saturday so it was available to walk the entire area and see the big barrels. The tour guide explained the process and whats the difference between the beers out there in the market. I also learned that the brewery is named after a saint and not just a made up one. St. Arnold is not well known but he did spread the word to drink beer instead of water, I believe this is because you we less likely to die from dysentery. For eight dollars you got four tokens and a souvenir glass to try some of the different beers the brewery has to offer. I tried ...

I must confess..I'm not that photogenic in my opinion. I have taken a mini class with Kim of Exquisite Coaching and learned what was my best angle to not look like a 12 year old (hint hint..that's why I try to stay towards the center and have full on frontal photos). I say this to state that late last year and before my bout of influenza I participated in a tv commercial on a whim. I did it more so to say that I had done something and check it off my list. I also learned through my pageant career that I am not the focus of the commercial and merely a seller of a product. Below is a photo and video from the same shoot, you be the judge. Here is another promo I did last year for Miss Florida USA sponsorship package. I really had to mentally prepare for the fact that this was not about me and more so about the product. So all in all I think this post was more about remember that everything is not about you.

Made the Daytona Times about my trip to Washington DC!!

One of the many benefits of competing is that a pageant contestant must stay up with current events. More importantly they must know where they stand on certain issues. Now we all know that everyone does not agree on every issue and that is what makes America great. If everyone was the same it would be boring. So whether you are a liberal, conservative, or honestly don't care. As a pageant contestant you must be ready to answer the hard hitting questions. I myself am a political junkie and I proudly say so. I like to know what is going on in Washington so that unlike those who only get there information from television or family. I can put together my own opinion on the subject and be comfortable about it. I believe everyone should come to their own opinion and not let others decide for you. I was lucky and my parents never talked about their political affiliations while I was growing up and we do vary on what we believe. Had they chosen for me when I was younger my views would b...

So this past weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC for the inauguration of President Barack Obama. It was a great honor to be in the presence of so many people who wanted the president to fight for change. My mother and I were lucky enough (or should I say she was lucky enough) to get tickets to be closer. We did go the last time and got tickets but this time we we in front of the pool instead of behind it. The crowd around us was very friendly. DC had this very welcoming vibe that weekend. We took the metro a couple of times and if someone left anything on the subway people would help out. One event that if you were in the green section would remember was the lone protestor in our section. He decided to climb a tree and protest abortion and Planned Parenthood. It was kinda pathetic, he was only in a crowd of people who probably had already made up their mind on the issue and tickets come in two so it seems no one would come with him. In terms of pro-choic...

So I'm behind with my blog so this will be 1 of 2 that I try to finish within the next couple of days. So in August I made one of the biggest decisions of my life so far and that was to move. Where did I move exactly...Texas..Now I know what some of you are thinking, "um this is a red state why would you go there?" Well for me it was simply leaving the state for a little bit. When someone starts to feel complacent there is only so much more that they can take. I told my parents, set a date (setting a date makes it real), and started the monumental process of getting my stuff together. Fast forwarded to the trip. It took two days total to drive and luckily I was not by myself; one of my good friends made the trip with me to A) keep me company and B) she had never been to Texas and wanted to come. It for sure brought us closer together and yet you could see our personalities clash as well. We made our pit stop in Gulf Port, MS and had dinner at a place called Salute. Funny ...

To those who are not invested into pageantry or no the workings behind the scene the fitness aspect of pageants can usually be the most daunting. Depending on the current fitness level of the prospective contestant, getting into pageant shape can be a mountain or a molehill. What does it involve? Sacrifice and lots of it; many contestant will give up certain foods depending on how much time they have. The gym or fitness trainer will become the new best friend of the contestant seeing how most of their time is spent there sweating it out. What enters the body is more important than every before. Figuring out exactly what needs to change on the body to have a more symmetrical look is crucial to have a pleasing look to the judges. But more important the contestant and anyone really needs to know that the competition is won from the neck up. You body is a complement but in the case of not getting to where you would like to be there are some cheat tips that many pageant contestants ...

Where have I been....sorry for the delay I need to update a bunch so this might be one massive post or I'll get lazy and one short one with a bunch on photos. First off, back from Florida USA I really had a great time this and loved just being myself even if it may be a tad bit snarky and sarcastic but I love it. I will say I did try to take more photos so then last year and that was a success I carried my phone with me everywhere. I was attached at the hip with Miss South Florida USA and Miss St. Pete it was fun they are awesome girls. I also got to know Miss Tampa and Miss Pensacola a lot better. If you are wondering who they are please check out the Miss Florida website and click Miss Contestants to see all of the girls. I very much excited for the time to come but I don't want to relay too much without knowing enough. Enough about me here are some photos. xoxo Amina

This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel down to Hollywood, FL for the Miss Florida USA official pre-taping and seminar weekend. 80 of the 82 contestants were there and we all received our lovely opening number by Elan International and filmed promo spots for the sponsors over the course of the weekend. I taped on Friday which was for the swimsuit sponsor Desiree Nercessian and for the Roberto Cavalli sunglasses sponsorship. It was a lot of fun and I got to meet a decent size portion on the girls competing. For lunch we got to go to Pollo Tropical and have a very nutritious and filling lunch. They sponsor the meals while we are at Bailey Concert Hall during the competition. After that we were free for the day in which I passed out from utter exhaustion and later that evening I got ready for the delegate dinner at Mama Mia’s Ristorante which I had never had the chance to attend. The food was amazing and I ate pasta for the last time until after the competition. Seminar Da...

So I traveled to Vegas for the Miss USA pageant that showed live June 3rd. It was an awesome experience. This was my second time going the first was when Megan Clementi was competing for the title of Miss USA 2010 that year Rima Fakih was crowned instead. Being at the live show is an amazing experience, you get to see all the behind the scenes action; from the makeup artists touching up the contestants to a gentleman who was almost like the promoter during the show keeping everyone excited even after the girl they may have been cheering for has been eliminated. We were sitting pretty far back and they don't allow cameras in the auditorium so the photos I do have were taken before they told me I couldn't take any. Miss Florida USA Karina Brez looked amazing on stage and I loved the dress she had on. Since I watched prelims I had a list and I'm proud to state that I got nine of the top sixteen right and two of the top five correct I had Ohio as my winner and Rhode Island a...

So I haven't been keeping up with my blog which equals epic fail. My birthday is coming up shortly and I need to document as much as possible. So what has been happening as of late. I've competed in both Miss Daytona USA and Miss Orlando USA, I did not win either title so I've decided to go at large this year. It is my last year competing even with another year of eligibility per se. I'm graduating this year and want to focus on getting situated in a new state (hint hint) and my career. I'm getting ready for Vegas or more so I'm starting to pack..something that I'm not crazy good at. I'll make a list and post it in all its crazy weird code name glory. I've made a schedule for the next month of everything I need to get done and when. I'm going to finish another post about pageant girls and I'm even tempted to do a fun make-up tutorial..maybe a Vegas inspired one for the pageant. We will see what way these next couple of weeks go. I'm no...

Much catching up is needed. This past February I competed in the Miss Jacksonville USA pageant. It was my first competition this season and I was rusty. The directors were awesome and I had a wonderful time. The format they use is a 4 minute interview the day before and swimsuit and evening gown the next day. I had a great interview and had tons of fun on stage the next day. Unfortunately the stars were not aligned in my favor that night and Ashley Conley was crowned the new Miss Jacksonville USA. I know she will do great at Miss Florida this upcoming July. Here are some pictures from that weekend.