I’m sorry I never updated you on my last week as Miss Indiana but I wanted to enjoy every last moment I had with my Miss Indiana Family and not typing on a computer. Miss Indiana week was different this year and not just because I was ending my time as Miss Indiana. ALL of the girls got along and supported each other and were friends! There were no clichés and no girls off to themselves just a bunch of beautiful, talented, smart, young women giving their personal best and supporting each other. That was one of my goals as Miss Indiana. I wanted part of my legacy as Miss Indiana to be fostering friendly competition among the girls and I couldn’t have been happier of the result! Miss Indiana week went by so fast…even though I slept an average of 4 hours a night! I wanted to prolong the week and it was everything I wanted it to be. Each of the girls brought it and the show was amazing. I was more excited each of the prelim and finals nights then when I had been a competitor because it was such a close race! Congratulations to all of the local titleholder, award winners, Top 10, Top 5, and our NEW Miss Indiana 2009 Nicole Pollard. You have worked so hard, Nicole, and came so close so many times and Never, Never, Never gave up. I know you will inspire so many Hoosiers with your story of perseverance and will represent Indiana well at Miss America. In my last blog as Miss Indiana 2008 here is my farewell speech I gave during Miss Indiana:
“Growing up in Auburn, Indiana I never imagined I would be standing here tonight saying good bye to my time as Miss Indiana. Miss Indiana was not a dream I had as a child. It was a goal that evolved as I began to understand and appreciate this organization. It was my commitment to this program along with the people of Indiana and the experiences I had, as a college student that drove me to attempt to achieve what, at times, seemed like the impossible. I competed for 5 years to win the title of Miss Indiana and 5 times fell short of my goal…but I never gave up on my dream thanks to the many people who believed in me and pushed me to do better and be better. My memories of competing at Miss Indiana will be with me forever.
I think many of us had an inkling a year ago when a newcomer named Katie Stam, was crowned Miss Indiana that she would go on to become Indiana’s first Miss America that following January. I was one of Katie’s Hoosier supporters that traveled to Las Vegas to be a part of that history making moment. If or should I say WHEN that happened, those of us in the MAO pageant circle wondered who would become Miss Indiana? And as 5th runner-up I never imagined it would be me.
For me, becoming Miss Indiana was a chance to make an impact, no matter how small, on the people of this great state. Although contestants are judged on interview, in talent, swimsuit, evening gown, and on-stage question, that really doesn’t begin to skim the surface of what the job of Miss Indiana entails. As a local titleholder and as Miss Indiana I have been able to achieve many things that an ordinary girl named Megan Meadors would have never been able to experience. I have met numerous celebrities such as Marie Osmond, Clinton Kelley, Sam Haskell, Carlos Diaz, Rupert from Survivor and was so close to Mario Lopez we were breathing the same air; Athletes such as Bob Sanders, Josh McRoberts, Brady Quinn, Larry Bird, and Peyton Manning; Politicians such as Senator Kruse, the Mayor of Indianapolis Greg Ballard and his wife, and Indiana’s Governor Mitch Daniels and his wife: along with many Miss Americas. In fact, former Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry custom designed and personally constructed my talent gown last year. I was awestruck that I was meeting, working with, and texting with a former Miss America.
As Miss Indiana I was able to take my platform, Keeping the Memory Alive – Alzheimer’s Awareness, to a new level. I made an impact through my original Memory Box program that introduced young children to the disease. I assembled my “Queen Team” of former and current reigning titleholders to join me at the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Memory Walks. I was named the state spokesperson for the QUASH, Quest to Unravel Alzheimer’s Scavenger Hunt, and educated people on the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, the need for funds to eradicate this disease and how to Maintain Your Brain.
I enthusiastically supported the Miss America organizations national platform, the Children’s Miracle Network. I served at Riley Hospital for Children as a Magic Castle Cart volunteer. It was very fulfilling to bring a smile to the faces of children who at time didn’t have much to smile about. Those visits also boosted the spirits of the parents, as they were able to see their child experience joy. I helped establish the inaugural Riley Dance Marathon at the University of Indianapolis, and served as the WAJI Magic 95.1 spokesperson for all of their events to benefit Riley. I promoted the sale of their exclusive Majic Miracle Music CDs, worked the phones at their annual Riley radio-thon and assisted them at the annual Tapestry A Day for Women event.
I starred in three Public Service Announcements for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, played in a celebrity softball game for the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, donned sneakers and an evening gown to benefit Champ Camps, sang the national anthem for many sporting events, and am probably best known in northeast Indiana as the titleholder who wearing her crown and sash took a Polar Plunge into 30 degree water!
I had the opportunity to touch the lives of every age group. My talks to children across Indiana encouraged them to make smart choices and good decisions to achieve their dreams through the Right Decision’s Right Now program. I met with veterans and active soldiers and had the opportunity to thank them for their service to our country. I was honored to participate in the crowning of many of this years’ local titleholders and to serve as emcee at two pageants. As I traveled across this wonderful state, I promoted the Miss Indiana organization on local television and radio stations as well as in the print media. I packed nearly 100 appearances into my 5 month “year” of service all the while working 30-40 hours a week as an Occupational Therapist. I met thousands of Hoosiers and traveled over 5,000 miles.
I have so many special memories of this past year. Some of the highlights are being crowned Miss Indiana by our Miss America, graduating with my Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy, and becoming engaged to the man of my dreams! These past 6 years have been a whirlwind and I would not be where I am today without the love and support of what seems like thousands of people. Please forgive me if I have forgotten you in my long list of thank yous!
To my fellow Hoosiers thank you for welcoming me with open arms and for being so excited to meet me and get an autograph or picture. Although many of your confused me with Katie you all made me feel like a celebrity even after you realized I wasn’t Miss America!
To the City of Zionsville thank you for allowing us crazy pageant people to invade your town once a year for these past 5 years. You make this experience so much more special because of the hospitality of your people and the beauty of your town!
To the Elks I had such an amazing weekend with you at your state convention. The scholarship dollars you have given to the many women who have graced this stage have helped us all to achieve our professional dreams!
To the Lions what would this pageant be without the chick-fil-a cow, your yellow shirts, and your open arms of kindness. I look forward to our time together every year and as a fellow Lion am proud of your commitment to community service…Bite ‘Em!
To my Hometown of Auburn and the Univeristy of Indianapolis. Thank you for allowing me to grow up and become the woman I am today in a small town and university that embodies Hoosier Hospitality! Kent and Shelly I would not be here today if it wasn’t for you improving upon my performance skills and helping me to become a better entertainer!
To my many friends including Ashley, Callie, and Leah I could not have imagined that as I brunette I would be living with three of the prettiest blonde-haired women to grace the face of the earth. Thank you for supporting me in my times of stress and pushing me to believe I could do everything I put on my calendar!
To my OT classmates…some may say that graduate school is all work and no play but not with us! You pushed me to be a better student and to become a better occupational therapist all while having the time of my life.
To my co-workers thank you for allowing me to have the most flexible schedule ever and for always covering for me when I needed you and helping me practice my baseball skills before I threw the first pitch at the Indian’s Game and played in the Hometeam celebrity softball challenge.
To Craiger thank you for pushing me to have better fitness. Even though it was very hard for me to fit in your very reasonable cardio requirements with my busy schedule. I look forward to working with you in the future to look great on my wedding day! You all should check him out…How is that for an advertisement Craig?!
To Janit at Divine Chic…thank you for letting me borrow my crowning dress for Katie’s homecoming…I truly felt like Miss Indiana in that dress
To Elizabeth at Miss Priss thank you for helping me with my entire wardrobe for Miss Indiana 2008 and for letting me borrow your gowns for this weeks pageant. Very few dress shop owners are as caring, selfless, and involved as you. You truly want each of your clients to feel like a million bucks. I will forever treasure your friendship!
To All of the Miss Indiana local directors and volunteers – Even though I was never officially “your girl” you always made me feel a part of your pageant family. I will treasure your hugs and words of support and love forever and I hope you all know I would have tried to be your titleholder if I would have met the eligibility requirement and the age-out year was 39!
To my many local directors. Well the one thing about losing so much is that I was able to have you all in my life!
To my first and third local director Jama: You always helped me to keep a realistic level head and see the big picture when it came to competing. You instilled in me the belief that the pageant is not the be all end all but the means to an end. A vehicle to better my communications skills and confidence so that I could achieve my career ambitions and be the best Megan I could be!
To Lyn: I have to say I was sweating it out a bit the year I became your local titleholder. I had lost out on 5 titles before I was crowned the VERY last titleholder of the 2005 season. You were the first person to implant the seed in my mind that I would become Miss Indiana. You had unfaltering confidence in my abilities and allowed me to achieve my best placement ever at Miss Indiana as 4th runner-up which enabled me to become Miss Indiana National Sweetheart. I value your energy, enthusiasm, love, and friendship!
To Tim and Matt: you were the “Dream Team” I had wanted to be a part of for so long and you never let me down. You helped me to believe in the game plan of doing my personal best and I continue to this every day and follow the North Central Golden Rule!
To Deb and Boo: Your enthusiasm for the Miss America program and your tireless efforts to help promote me in this state laid the foundation for me to effortlessly and confidently step into the role of Miss Indiana and make it all I had ever dreamed it being. Your fun and wackiness was just what this 4 year veteran needed. You showed me that I didn’t have to wait to be crowned Miss Indiana to start making an insane amount of appearances. I truly felt like Miss Indiana at every event you helped me to book. I treasure our friendship and wish you luck in your future endeavors!
To Mark, Debbie, and Sarah the second time was a charm for me at Miss Central and it was so bittersweet for me to leave that title behind to take on the role of Miss Indiana. You are a family that will always have a special place in my heart and not just because you introduced me to my future husband! I know we would have done great things at Miss Indiana 2009 but I know you were so thrilled to see me reach my dream!
To the State Board: To Frank I know you wanted to call me first to become Miss Indiana and everything else was a formality…just kidding! Troll and I had a blast traveling around the state together!
To Aren you are the backbone of this organization. The many hours you put into the meticulous details of the website, paperwork, program, photographs, autograph pads, the list goes on and on…Your huge smile and effervescent personality are a bright light in this organization! I wish you and Steve the best in your life together.
To Breanne thank you for all of the hard work you put into this organization to make pageant week such a memorable time for all of us contestants. Your calming, loving demeanor and words of wisdom were always a blessing during Miss Indiana week……….and the food is great as well!
To Pat, Sara, and Stacey: The behind the scene work you do with the princesses, tickets, and CMN monies is truly appreciated. I know my Miss Indiana experience would have been so much more stressful if it had not been for all of your hard work!
To the Aurthurs: You enthusiasm for the Miss Indiana program through your photography is wonderful. You have captured so many memories that the local titleholders of Indiana will share with there families down the road.
To Anthony Mosley: Thank you for volunteering your time to take photos of me. I loved spending time with you and your photography is amazing!
To Craig and Karen: first off thank you for NOT making us do production numbers in our swimsuits!!! Your commitment to make Miss Indiana first and foremost a GREAT show is appreciated by all that attend. Once I got over my fear of you Craig I saw you were a big teddy bear who cared about making this experience enjoyable for the whole audience. Karen thank you for helping me with my wardrobe and making sure that I looked my best at Miss Indiana!
Marietta I would have been lost with out you and our Google Calendar system. If it wasn’t for you I would have been so unorganized because of my crazy schedule. You helped me to achieve all of my goals as Miss Indiana and book all of the appearances I wanted to do this year!
To Tony, Quinn, Joe, Jenelle, And all of the backstage crew of Miss Indiana and Hostesses at Miss Indiana. You make Miss Indiana the show it is…PERIOD. We would be lost with out all of your handwork! Thank you!
To Co you were always there to calm me down during my first couple of years competing at Miss Indiana before you pushed me out on stage for the different phases of competition. During my latter years you would get me pumped up when I needed a pinch of enthusiasm in my step. No one can make me smile like you and help me to enjoy the fun of being backstage at Miss Indiana! You made my experience as a 500 Festival Princess and Miss Indiana competitor 1,000 times more fun. Don’t ever lose your spunk!
To Brad: You MCed my first pageant and you will MC my last. I remember being in high school and thinking that I had finally met a celebrity when I met you and I always had fun when you would come to the football games and let my cheerleading squad be on your TV sports show. You make Miss Indiana the show it is because of your amazing people skills and sense of humor. I wish you great national success with your TV career but I always hope you come back to Miss Indiana because it wouldn’t be the same with out you!
To Barb Helm: Your constant encouragement and love helped me to carry on during times of defeat and sadness. Your presence in many of my interviews helped to calm my nerves when I would see a familiar face in the room. There are many things I looked forward to when I would become Miss Indiana and having you decorate my dressing room was one of those things. It was everything I had hoped and so much more! Also thank you for allowing your family to be a part of my journey to Miss Indiana, having your granddaughter as my princess is one of my happiest memories during my year in the MIO. I treasure your friendship and all of those Black Buggy Dinners!
To Terry thank you so much for your “Orange Power” my orange swimsuit last year was all for you! Your pep talks before my interviews always got me pumped up to show the judges I could be Miss Indiana. I will miss your big hugs and all of your stories about Miss Indiana History. You need to write a book…I would be first in line to buy it!
To Michael: I have always wanted a big brother to look out for me. When I met you I got that plus a great shopping buddy. NO ONE in the Miss Indiana Organization made me feel more like Miss Indiana but you! Your calls to check in on me helped my drives to appearances pass faster and texts of encouragement helped me to carry on in times of great fatigue and stress! I appreciate you giving of your time to be my “date” at numerous appearances and I value your fashion sense and will always treasure our trips to Cache where we found the perfect ensemble so that I would be “appearance perfect!” I hope we will always keep in touch and you will always think of me as your little sister.
To Morgan and Trina Jackson you are what every family should be…….. full of love and Christ. No one has a bigger heart than the two of you and I value our friendship more that you will ever know! And Morgan if by some chance I don’t end up being a local director I will follow up on my second plan 
You are going to rock the Miss America stage some day I KNOW it!!
To my Miss Indiana Sisters thanks for beating me so many times and allowing me to have the chance to return to Zionsville year after year and learn more about myself. God knew what he was doing with this timing. Kelly, Brynn, Sarah, Susan, Betsy, and Nicole. I learned so much from you all. Thank you for taking the time to give me such wonderful advice. When I became Miss Indiana I was most excited to be a part of your sisterhood!
To Megan Thwaites I don’t think there will ever again be two sister queens with the same name from the same high school. I have enjoyed getting to know you through our joint appearances and wish you the best of luck next year at DeKalb High School with Cheerleading and Classic Connection!
To Katie Stam from the moment I heard you were competing against me in Miss Central I was…well let’s face it…I was a nervous wreck! I had heard about your successful pageant reputation but upon meeting you I was genuinely excited to see that you had a heart as big as all of your pageant success! You are the most gracious, hardworking, good-hearted person I have ever met and I am so honored to have you as a friend. I am so excited to continue to watch the many blessings unfold for you and Brian!
To My Princesses: Jordan I will always remember the second year you were my princess and you told me that you had to mow 40 lawns at $5 a piece to pay for your own Miss Indiana Princess entry fee. I felt so honored that you would work so hard to be with me. The following year I was saddened yet amazed when you made such an adult decision for such a young woman. You told me you could have still been my princess but you were getting tall and felt I would have a better chance of winning if my princess didn’t tower over me so you decided to end your princess career! You have such a huge heart and I hope you never lose it! And to Jordan’s little brother Cole thank you for always making me feel so special…you are a great “pageant boyfriend”
To Delaney I have watched your confidence grow these past few year as my princess. I was so thrilled to learn that you were Indiana’s National Princess and I hear you were the star of the show. Thank you for being there when I competed in locals and always supporting me. I wish you could be my princess forever but I look forward to the day when you are on the Miss Indiana stage and hopefully my little girl can accompany you in evening gown! You will make an amazing Miss Indiana some day!
To Pageant Posse (Bridget, Erin, Erica, Tonya, Sarah, Lindsey, etc.): I have so many memories, inside jokes, and facebook albums because of all of the girls I have met in this organization. I am so excited that I can truly say those stereotypes are not true!
To “The Trio” I thought that when all of my friends aged out of Miss Indiana I would be lonely but then I met you two! We have had so many amazing times together on our pageant travels from Indiana to Las Vegas. Ashley and Claire I will be at Miss America cheering you on some day soon…You know I’ll give you pageant mental coaching FREE of charge!
To Kaleena, Lisa, Lauren because I made friends like you I know all the stress, time, and tears I have endured from competing were all worth it. When I first started out in this organization we were told that my fellow competitors would most likely end up being my bridesmaids…at the time I didn’t believed them but I have been a bridesmaid in two of your weddings with one more to go! I look forward to having you stand up with me at my wedding in January! I also will look forward to the vacations we will take together without men in the years to come!
To Jim and Joy YOU have supported me like no one will ever know (because I can keep a secret). I met you when I was Indiana’s sweetheart and our friendship blossomed over the years. You both are shining jewels in my crown. Thank you for sharing your amazing gift not only with me and the contestants of Indiana, but with women from across the country. Miss Indiana and the entire MAO are very lucky to have you be a part of this organization. I will be praying for you both along with the whole Miss America Organization. I know you will kick cancers butt again Joy!
To Linda Stayer…it’s all your fault! I say that lovingly. You were the woman who got me involved in this crazy thing called pageantry. If I would not have won the title of Miss Auburn in high school and worked with you, who knows where I would be. At your urging I competed in the Miss Northeast pageant, and so the journey began. Had it not been for you my life would have been completely different. Thank you for being my biggest fan you have truly changed my life for the better!
To my family that is no longer with me: Grandpa Meadors and Grandpa and Grandma Banwag you are the reason for my platform and I know that in a very short amount of time no one else will have to endure the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
To Grams if only you were here to see me. I know you would be proud of me and I still love you Grams!
To the Meadors Family, Grandma, and Aunt Sue: Thank you for your support of me during the Miss Indiana competition and for coming to cheer me on at many of my appearances as Miss Indiana! Having you at those events made them so much more special!
To the Meyer Family: Mitch, Michelle, Daniel, Michael, Lorea, Great Grandma Johnson and my many great Aunts. You have come to support me in not only Miss Indiana competitions but so many of the locals I competed in. Thank you so much for helping me to set up so many appearances and for the very special candy dish! I love you all so much!
To Grandpa and Judy: no one was more excited when I called to tell them I was the new Miss Indiana then you two! I can always feel the pride you have for me when we speak and I enjoy our time together more than anything in the world. Grandpa you have been there to counsel me through so many difficult times in my life and I love you more than you will ever know. I never wanted to let you down and having you in my life pushed me to achieve my biggest dreams!
To my Dad: Thank you for becoming such an involved pageant dad over the years. I will never forget when you told me that when I won Miss DeKalb County you were as proud as if you had had a son score the winning point in a ball game. Even though at times I acted embarrassed I am so appreciative of all of the pictures you have taken over the years and all of my appearances you traveled with me to.
To Kelsey: Lord knows we have had our times…as sister do. But the day I graduated from high school I remember the words you said that brought me closer to you. You said, “how will I do it without you?” and Kelsey you did it! You have grown into such an amazing young woman who is much more responsible and level headed then I could have ever been at your age. You have an infectious scene of humor and God could not have picked a better friend for me that just happens to be my little sister.
To the love of my life and my future husband, Steven. This has been a very difficult journey for me and even more difficult for you. Every year when I would come back from Miss Indiana so disappointed in myself from not reaching my goal you were there with a shoulder for me to cry on. I know it was hard for you and these past six months have tested our relationship because of the lack of time we have for each other. Well guess what?! I reached my goal with your loving support and now we can move onto achieve our goals of marriage, family, and creating a successful business. January can’t come soon enough!
To my Mother: what can I say there is no possible way that I would have been able to achieve this dream without you. I would not have been able to do everything scheduled on my calendar with out you. You are the best personal assistant, motivational speaker, wardrobe stylist, blog proof reader, email drafter, event coordinator, hair stylist, make up artist, project finances, cheerleader, room decorator, suitcase packer, ect that money could buy…and you did it all for free. Because you believed in me and wanted to se me reach this dream. You never pushed me and when I wanted to quit you said quit and when I wanted to try again you said…I knew you would never quit. You know me better that anyone and I pray that every young competing in this organization can have a “pageant mom” like you…and that is a complement! I love you so much and cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me in my 24 years of life!
To my heavenly father at times it was hard for me to trust in your plan. My journey was nothing like I had imagined for myself but you knew what you were doing all along. I thank you everyday for the blessings you have given me in my life and I pray you will continue to bless me my family and my friends for our whole life and that we may all remember to trust in you and your plan for our lives.
May the next Miss Indiana, all of the contestants tonight, and all of the future Miss Indiana contestants be as blessed as I have been on my journey. I hope that my story of perseverance will inspire others to Never, Never, Never, Never give up!”
People have asked me if I was sad to give up my title and the answer is no. I spend 6 years in the MAO and really got everything out of it a girl could ask for…what is there to be sad about?! I did get teary eyed at different time during the week when it would hit me that I actually was Miss Indiana 2008 (it is still very hard for me to believe). Actually I probably would have cried during my farewell walk and final song if it hadn’t been for the former Miss Indianas. As I waited during the finals off in the wings I watched as each former Miss Indiana in attendance speak about their time as Miss Indiana and what they are up to now. At that time a peace came over me. I was no longer going to cry because my time as Miss Indiana was over I was overjoyed to be a part of this amazing sisterhood FOREVER. I look forward to continuing to support this program as a FORMER MISS INDIANA and that is something to smile about!
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