I awoke on Monday morning, when my alarm clock went off, and I heard a very familiar voice. Katie Stam, our Miss Indiana and now MISS AMERICA, was doing a radio interview and I couldn’t have been more proud of my friend. As Katie spoke about being Miss America, her winning moment, and her journey, I was reminded of what had occurred just two week prior.
Ashley Casterline, Claire Buffie, and I made the trip to Las Vegas to support our favorite Miss Indiana (Please visit http://www.clairebuffie.com/triotovegas/ to read about our trip). A week before we left for Miss America, we were sitting in Ashley’s living room discussing Katie’s chances of becoming Miss America. We knew she had it in her! “Who do you think will be Miss Indiana if Katie wins Miss America”, I asked. Ashley and Claire looked at each other as if they had already had this discussion and then stated, “We think you would be the next Miss Indiana.” Man, just the thought of that made me emotional! As our Miss America week progressed, it became more and more clear that Katie had a great shot at winning it for Indiana for the first time ever! It was so exciting to see her at visitation, pray for her voice to come back, and talk to her on the phone (once her voice returned). Nothing was more exciting than finals night. It started off great when, the first thing Ashley and Claire said to me was, “Hair down for ALL phases of competition!” We had lobbied Frank and Michael to convince Katie that “A crown looks better with hair down!” Sitting up in the balcony we were surrounded by Las Vegas residents that knew nothing about Miss America and even screamed, “down in front” when we stood for Miss America 2008 during her farewell! They knew NOTHING about pageants so it was fun because we could scream as loud as we wanted for Katie! As each elimination phase was completed Claire, Ashley, and I gripped each other so tight, then cheered in excitement each time Katie’s name was called… “that was our Miss Indiana…our FRIEND down there!” When it was down to the final three, we held each other so tightly and the funny thing was as we were watching Katie everyone in our section of the balcony was watching us. It was as if they KNEW Katie was going to win and they wanted to see OUR reactions! As Mario announced Katie as Miss America 2009 we jumped up, (which could have been bad considering I was wearing a strapless dress), hugged, screamed, and of course I cried. I was thinking to myself…did I just become Miss Indiana? I know Ashley and Claire had said they would not take the job if offered and had heard rumors that the other two runners up would decline the job if approached but I was thinking…..what if I was 6th place…5th runner-up…what if I become Miss Indiana! A man in front of me grabbed my arm and said “Do you all know her?!” I told him we competed with Katie and my two friends next to me were her runners-up. He asked if one of them would be Miss Indiana and I told him about the possibility of ME becoming Miss Indiana and he said, “well CONGRATULATIONS!” Ha ha if only both of us knew! I have made so many friends in this organization and that came in handy on Saturday night when “unofficial calls” were made to our other runner-up friend who said she would turn down the job of Miss Indiana as well. Ashley told me that later that night in the middle of the mall at Planet Hollywood and I started crying…”What if I was 6th place! Ashley…What IF I just became Miss Indiana!” I tried to keep a level head the rest of that night but I couldn’t sleep. The next morning Ashley, her mother Anita, and myself headed to the airport. We put our credit cards into the kiosks about 2 seconds apart and guess what, they wouldn’t let me board because they said I was “late” and I would have to “stand-by” for a flight that left at 9:30 am instead of at 6:51am. Well 9:30 am rolled around and I got on that flight and sat on the plane for an hour and a half. Then at 11:00 am we de-boarded that plane due to mechanical problems and were scheduled to leave at 12 pm and then at 3pm. You know what? I was never mad or frustrated during that whole experience…I always tell myself everything happens for a reason and try to have a positive attitude. I was bored waiting so I texted Michael Nash and he told me Katie was at the airport too! I texted her and she was flying out of the same airline and same terminal as myself. She texted “look for me, I’m going through security right now.” I marched myself over to meet up with Katie asking myself, “why didn’t I wear any make-up today I’m getting a picture with Miss America?” Just then I saw her coming up the escalator. “Hi Miss America” I said, we hugged and I got to speak with her for a few moments and take a picture with her before she was swarmed by fans asking for her autograph and telling her congratulations. I was so proud of my friend- she did it! She was Miss America. I was scheduled to get to Indianapolis at 3pm and got in at 11:30 pm but it was okay because I had just had MY Miss America experience and it was an amazing one!
I had given up hope of receiving a phone call from Frank on Monday morning. The 2008 Top 5 girls had the right to change their minds (I mean saying you won’t take the job of Miss Indiana and then saying that when it is right in front of you are two different things) and I for all I knew I could have been in 10th place! I thought at least I can try for my 6th attempt to win Miss Indiana in my final year of eligibility. Just then at 11:09am (it’s on my call log on my cell phone) I got a call from…Frank Ricketts (Miss Indiana Co-Executive Director). I took a deep breath expecting to be told that another girl had accepted the responsibilities of Miss Indiana 2008 and then answered the phone. Frank and I had some small talk about Katie and his appearance on TV earlier that morning when he said,” Megan, how would you like to be Frank’s girl?” and tears poured out of my eyes and I said, “I would LOVE that!” My dream had come true after 6 years…I was just crowned Miss Indiana, via cell phone, and no one was there to see it but my chocolate lab Jaxon and the bowl of cereal I was eating! I had never been more happy to be in 6th place! Frank filled me in on the responsibilities of the position and what I would get as the new Miss Indiana but to tell you the truth he could have told me I wouldn’t get a crown and my clothing sponsor for the year was a brown paper bag company and I would NOT have cared! I was just so excited to be MISS INDIANA!! After I hung up the phone I cried and jumped up and down and so did Jaxon! I sat in my chair and Jaxon came up to give me a hug! He was excited to be the dog of Miss Indiana too!
Although I had accepted the job, protocol had to be followed and I was sworn to secrecy. I telephoned my Miss Central co-director, Debbie Wiley, and with mixed emotions told her that I would be relinquishing my Miss Central Indiana title as I had just been offered and accepted the job of Miss Indiana! Then Debbie had to contact the first runner-up to notify her that I had relinquished my title and see if she would assume the Miss Central title…Congrats Bethany! If you think waiting 30 seconds to a minute before the emcee announces the winner is a long time, imagine having to wait hours!!! I wanted to tell everyone right away and it was so hard to keep my secret (although I did tell my family, let’s be honest…I was EXCITED!). Once Aren gave me the green light I tried to call everyone who has supported me in my journey to tell them my good news before they could read the press release! Joy Robbins, Morgan Jackson, and my sister screamed for about 2 minutes straight and Jim Robbins, Linda Stayer, Michael Nash, and Barb Helm said they were going to cry they were so happy for me. My friend Lisa Allen didn’t even let me finish telling her my good news, she just screamed NO WAY, NO WAY!!! Kaleena Dale answered her phone by saying “Hello Miss Indiana” (I guess Aren sent out an email to the board) and Lauren Allen said I could borrow her Miss Illinois state crown until mine came in…man do I have great friends. Word sure travels fast in the pageant world! I was receiving text messages, emails, and Facebook wall posts congratulating me. I received several messages from former Miss Indiana’s welcoming me to the sisterhood!! Sarah Wiley Goude, my now former co director, and former Miss Indiana emailed me with some secret Miss Indiana traditions that she had a feeling Katie might not have the time to share with me. Every time I made a new call it was like I had really won Miss Indiana! I have never heard so many people scream and cry and tell me how proud they were of me! It was like I had really won…I DID really win…I am Miss Indiana 2008!
Now, I had just accepted a job with American Senior Communities before I left for Miss America and was scheduled to sign my paperwork on Monday afternoon to finalize the process. As I walked into the rehab manager’s office she said, “Did you have a good vacation? I heard Miss Indiana won. That must have been exciting!” (It was and she was about to find out just how exciting) I told her my story, my journey, and how I had grown up in the Miss Indiana program. I told her that I loved the position I had accepted with her company but that I was asked to be Miss Indiana; but still wanted to work for her and asked if they could be flexible with my schedule to allow me to hold both positions. You know what she said? “I just hired Miss Indiana…that is so cool!” She was so excited and even more excited when I told her about my platform and affection for Alzheimer’s patients and families. Funny that you plan and plan for 6 years and make sure if you win, you have no loose ends and the minute I didn’t plan for anything it all worked out…how ironic! So, on Monday, I got two new jobs!
People have asked me my thought process behind accepting the crown. I had one more year of eligibility and amazing directors in the Wiley’s but I weighed my options. I had tried for 5 years to become Miss Indiana and only came as close at 4th runner-up. I actually wasn’t even going to compete, this my last year, but my desire to be Miss Indiana was too strong. I know the odds of winning at Miss Indiana. Don’t get me wrong I had big plans for my last year and it would have been the best yet but even if I had a bangin’ body, the perfect dress, entertained the audience “America “Idol” style with my talent, and had the best interview of my life there were NO guarantees that I would win. I could have been at the top of my game and still the judges could have picked someone else. That’s the funny thing about pageants, there could be 10 girls that would be an amazing Miss Indiana but there is only one crown and how could I pass this up after all of my hard work when all I had to do was tell Frank…..yes!? Sure I’ll never get to compete at Miss America (watching it this year I feel like Katie did that for me), I’ll never be a reality TV star (at least not until I sign up for Big Brother), and I’ll never have my shocking crowning moment, but I will be Miss Indiana 2008 for the REST OF MY LIFE. Me, Megan Meadors, who started in this program so long ago at 18 years old is Miss Indiana, and THAT is all I have ever wanted!
I’m going to rock my 5-6 months like it was a whole year and do everything I can for this program that I have been promising for the past 6 years. If any of you know of any appearances I can make just contact Marietta Hite! I’m looking for a car sponsor so email me with that information as well! meadorsma@uindy.edu
Thank you so much Katie for being so amazing! I have always said Heather French Henry was my favorite Miss America but she better move over because the girl who made my dreams come true has just taken her spot! (I know Heather will understand)
I had lunch during Miss America with some of my “sisters” from Sweetheart and I asked for their advise as I was about to try to win Miss Indiana for the last time. Angela Corsi, Miss Michigan 2007, won her state title after 5 years. She said she was asked in her interview, “Why are you still competing? You have graduated, you have a great boyfriend, and you have a great job…why pageants?” What she said in response rings true to my journey as well. Why pageants? Well sure, I’ve been competing for so long and I have truly gotten everything possible out of this program I can and now I’m ready to give back. I’m ready Indiana! I’m ready to give back to you for all you have done for me, and I CAN’T WAIT!!
XOXO
Megan Meadors
Miss Indiana 2008
Miss Indiana's Blog 