What are your hobbies?
Dancing, exercising, competing in adventure races and half marathons, spending time with family and friends, attending Ballets and theatrical performances and watching romantic comedy movies

What makes you special and unique?
What makes me special and unique is my joyful caring personality that allows me to experience life to its fullest. I am interested in so many different things and I live a life I love through a variety of hobbies. Some say I am a well-rounded individual because I enjoy dancing on stage in a beautiful costume and ruffing it in an adventure race. There is not too much I will turn down.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
Confucius once stated, "Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every every time we fall." Those are powerful words which I have learned to live by in every aspect of my life because it advises me to get up, dust my knees off and keep moving toward my dreams.

Name one thing you cannot live without.
I could not live without my weekly planner. It is an amazing tool which allows me to stay organized yet flexible and prepared for almost anything. I carry it everywhere so I don't forget to accomplish those things which are important to me.

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned comes from my favorite childhood book, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. The story begins with a tree who loved a little boy. The boy would eat her apples and swing from her branches but as he got older, he wanted more from the tree. The tree gave and gave and was happy. This story taught me about the gift of giving and the acceptance of another's capacity to love in return. I love to give because it makes me happy.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
It is an honor for me to say that my brother is one of my most valued role models. He made the decision to leave his family for nine months to train and live the army values. Even though he is younger than I, he has taught me much because it takes a disciplined, physically and mentally tough individual with a special heart, much courage and a greater amount of patriotism to serve our country. He is a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. He is an American soldier and for that I am very proud.

What was your most unexpected moment?
My most unexpected moment happened shortly after I returned to dancing during my junior year in high school when I was selected to be the Spanish principal dancer in Ballet Mississippi's performance of The Nutcracker. When I came back to the studio after having stopped dancing for several years I had lost most my technique and abilities so for the next few months, I attended extra classes and worked very hard to improve myself as a dancer. Some months passed and the next thing I knew my teacher is giving me a lead role. That moment boosted my confidence as a dancer and encouraged me to pursue a minor in dance at USM.

What is your workout routine?
As a physical fitness instructor, my personal plan for a healthy lifestyle begins with an understanding of the importance of sport specific exercises including weight training. Because I am involved in adventure racing and training for half marathons, my workout routine is very versatile consisting of running, canoing, trekking, biking and swimming. I also take dance lessons about four days a week.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
My biggest accomplishment to date is graduating with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi in four years. My work ethic has earned me a degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations and minors in Spanish and Dance.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
A very meaningful compliment I received came to me not so much in spoken words but in a written letter stating I had received a leadership scholarship from USM. Throughout my life, I've been told I had leadership qualities and to be rewarded for them in college meant so much to me.

What is your secret wish?
My secret wish is to be featured on the cover of a fitness magazine.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
One of my most embarrassing moments happened last year when my friend and I visited the zoo in Louisville Kentucky. It was very hot that day and we were both very thirsty as we approached the bird feeding area. We saw what looked like juice and decided to buy a drink. As we drank the juice, which happened to be given to us in a small 1 oz. cup, the worker and everyone behind us stared with blank faces. Little did we know we were supposed to have fed the birds with the nectar we drank. I wanted to leave the zoo at that very moment from embarrassment.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
My biggest guilty pleasure is taking a nap in the middle of a busy day. Some may view this pleasure as laziness;however, I wish this Iberian peninsula and Spanish cultural tradition would take influence in America because I love a siesta!

What is your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is the 1995 romantic comedy While You Were Sleeping, starring Sandra Bullock. The movie is hilarious and sweet wrapped around family drama. What I love most of all about the movie is the way true love and happiness is found. What can I say, I'm a romantic savvy.

What is your favorite color and why?
My favorite color is and has always been pink. I believe it can very well be used to describe my personality. It is a very feminine and delicate color that conveys a touch of sophistication and stylishness. When I wear pink, I feel very ladylike or should I say "girly". Pink stands out bright and beautiful among other colors and that is why I own so much pink.

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
I like to say I am an adventurous individual with a competitive spirit. I compete in adventure racing and half-marathons for fun. I have also continued my hobby of dancing because it brings joy to my life when I perform ; and on the weekends, I love to get dressed up to see a good movie.

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I have always dreamed of vacationing in Costa Rica because it seems like an exotic, magical destination. I recently purchased a national geographic book on Costa Rica so I can learn more about the wonders of its rain forest, beaches, volcano and world-famous Manuel Antonio National Park. I can't wait until the day I am there!

What do you like best about your hometown?
I like that my hometown is the capital of our great state. Jackson, Mississippi offers intriguing history dating back even before it was selected as the capital in 1821. It is the largest city in the state ,and it provides great shopping, dining, attractions and events. One of my favorite events to attend every four years is the International Ballet Competition considered the Olympics of Ballet. I also enjoy touring the capital building and visiting the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science which reveals the state's diverse species of animals, insects and plants. Last but not least, I always make sure to ride the rides and eat as much food as I possible can at the Mississippi State Fair in Jackson.

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
I like the fact Mississippi offers year-round adventure. I like how one minute I can shop or dine in the city and the next I can canoe or bike in the woods. The people and communities of Mississippi are diverse allowing this state to be rich in heritage and culture. I truly believe it's the best kept secret in the nation.

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
I like a variety of music and listen to artists and bands ranging from Yanni and Michael Buble to P.O.D. and Cold Play. I also have my easy listening favorites of the 70s, 80s and 90s that include Elton John, Rod Stewart and Madonna with "Dancing in the Moonlight" by Van Morrison as my all time favorite.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I hope to be enjoying a successful occupational therapy practice and spending much time with my husband, children and extended family. I also hope to own a fitness facility working side by side my husband to remain physically fit. I dream of taking my family on fun summer vacations and being very involved in my community and church.

Who am I?
I am a 22-year-old graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi where I was involved in Phi Mu sorority, Public Relation Student Society of America and numerous honor societies. My participation in a variety of campus organizations has introduced me to a passion for public service, giving me many community service experiences. I aspire to be like Caroline Kennedy because she is an ambitious woman that makes things happen for the good of others.

While in college, I began working within the fitness industry as a certified personal trainer and dietary supplement consultant. Because I enjoy working with people and helping them to live a better lifestyle, I have continued working in the health scene and desire to further my education in occupational therapy.

I have a very loving, supportive and fun family. We are very close with our extended family making holidays look like a scene from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. At Christmas, my mother makes her famous bracciolini (an Italian meat dish) and tiramisu. I have such a good time with my relatives and consider my sister and brother my very best friends. My other best friend is my 75lb. red nose pit bull I call Jester. He is my adorable companion that lights up my day when he smiles and acts goofy.

Some may say I am a jack of all trades because I am a writer, dancer, speaker, personal trainer, educator, fitness and pageant competitor. I do what I like and I like what I do. I consider myself a positive individual that loves a challenge, testing my abilities anyway possible. One challenge I've been working on for years is learning how to whistle. (I guess it's just not meant to be.) Other than that, I believe it's my discipline, dedication and will power that has allowed me to do well in my endeavors.

Tell us about your occupational experience.
As I look back on past jobs and think about my most recent ones, I am able to see how every job I've had has played some role in shaping me into the person I am today. I can't forget about the summer days when I was young standing on the sidewalk selling lemonade or staying after school to tutor the younger students. Little did I know that what I learned about selling lemonade would later help me with selling Mary Kay cosmetics and my internship in college; and having helped students at a younger age would give me patience and the ability to see studying in a different light allowing me to excel in academics.

I can remember being all excited after passing a babysitter certification course and beginning to baby-sit in the seventh grade which is a side job I still have to this day. I know that being responsible and caring for others' children will only make me a great mom one day.

Now my interests lie within the health field because of my previous and current jobs. I am a certified personal trainer, office assistant at a fitness facility and employee of a Vitamin store involved with retail sales and consulting of dietary supplements. The written and verbal skills developed from my public relations degree have given me an edge in promoting my business and conducting person-to-person interactions.

I am considered a hard worker and energetic individual. Because I enjoy interacting with people and helping others, I desire to work within the occupational therapy field. Looking back, these jobs have been but stepping stones toward something far greater, something yet to come.

Tell us about your platform.
I have been committed to serving my community, endeavoring to make a difference in the lives of many. Through the South Central Chapter of the American Red Cross, I have been able to provide aid to those affected by the disasters our region has endured. I am an activist for disaster preparedness because I believe being prepared for the unimaginable will ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.

I have received American Red Cross training in shelter operations and disaster assessment. Three years ago in the days following hurricane Katrina, I was able to use this training to help operate an American Red Cross shelter housing over 3400 people. Knowing I took part to ease suffering and restore hope has made me enjoy being an American Red Cross volunteer. I desire to continue my efforts in educating those around me what to do in any natural or man-made disaster. Life is too precious to not be prepared.