Locals Season

It's that time of year...time to round out the Miss Idaho Class of 2014! In case you're wondering, here are our titleholders so far:

1. Kim Ford - Miss Gem County
2. Paige Jensen - Miss Western Idaho 
3. Laura Haun - Miss Three Rivers 
4. Cynthia Huntsman - Miss Idaho Falls
 5. Kayla Jepson - Miss Southeastern Idaho 
6. Sierra Sandison - Miss Magic Valley 
7. Emma Humphires - Miss Canyon Rim 
8. Megan Wilson - Miss Canyon County 
9. Katelyn Strobel - Miss Pocatello 
10. Kalie Wright - Miss Gate City 
11. Carolyn Pace - Miss Boise 
12. Kristen Tatilian - Miss Capitol City 
13. Morgan Hill - Miss Tri-Counties 
14. Emily Hosman - Miss Nampa

Titles Still to Come: 
1. Miss Meridian 
2. Miss Treasure Valley
 3. Miss Syringa 
4. Miss Rexberg 
5. Miss Upper Valley 
6. Miss Riverview
*If you're interested in competing email missidahoboard@gmail.com*

We only have three local pageants left, and I cannot wait to see what ladies will be competing at Miss Idaho this year. Being able to spend time with the contestants at local pageants as Miss Idaho instead of a fellow competitor has been amazing. I get to relax and get everyone pumped up for each area of competition. One of my favorite parts is helping run the show from backstage...there's just a special feeling you get when you see everything come together as each girl goes from being nervous and shaky to rocking their area of competition. There is no doubt that the Miss America Organization is a launching pad for women's confidence!

Outside of local pageants, I have been busy with appearances. Now that the weather is warming up, I will have the chance to visit farmers' markets around the state and help get people starting on their personal gardens, including my own! The 11-week St. Luke's YEAH (Youth Engaged in Activities for Health) Program is only a few weeks from ending, and I have just started the 6-week Cooking Matters Program with the Idaho Food Bank. I will also be speaking to a class at Boise State on Nutrition, participating in the Speed to Feed Idaho 5K, continuing my nutrition series with the YMCA, starting a 30 day hot yoga challenge, getting some amazing photos taken, making school visits, touring the State Capitol, judging National History Day, attending the Miss New Hampshire pageant, visiting Philadelphia, and much more! Although my year is on the downhill slope, I can go full throttle until the very last day! If any of you have suggestions for appearances or you would like me to speak at your event, please contact me by emailing missidahoboard@gmail.com!












Miss Idaho 2013 || Week Two

I have the best news! My Miss America paperwork is finally turned in! After many days of filling out every question you could possibly think of, filming videos, and taking photos, it's finally turned in.

My focus is now shifting to making appearances and getting all of my preparations ready for Miss America (which might be more work than all of those forms!) I also get the pleasure of attending local pageants, and Miss Magic Valley was this past Saturday. I had a great time meeting all of the contestants and watching Emma Humphries and Sierra Sandison win the titles of Miss Canyon Rim and Miss Magic Valley. The teen winners were Mariah Thornquest and Sarah Christensen as Miss Canyon Rim and Miss Magic Valley's Outstanding Teens. This program is truly amazing - I was able to attend last year and it just keeps getting better. The set was amazing and so was the production. And a big congratulations to their director, RoseAnna Holliday, for her 20 year anniversary of being crowned Miss Idaho 1993! 

I am so proud of the outgoing titleholders for their incredible year of service - thank you Kalie Wright, Emily Hosman, Sierra Norman, and Macy Urrutia! This Thursday I will be heading to Idaho Falls for the Miss Idaho Falls program where Kaitlyn Anderson, Kayli Schwendiman, and Aubrey Campbell will be passing on their titles. The show starts at 7pm; be sure to come out and support our contestants! 

Now that I've had some time to reflect on Miss Idaho week and what lies ahead, I feel grateful and joyful. My goal for my year as Miss Idaho as a few parts. First comes Miss America. I am putting my whole heart into preparing so I will be the best Sarah I can be in Atlantic City. I want to make friends, have the time of my life, and take time to soak in all the events that take place. If I do not win, I will come back to Idaho and spend the year reaching out to the community, promoting my platform, and revving up our local programs. If you know young women who are looking for scholarship, recommend them to our program!

I'm looking forward to working with the board on wardrobe, interview, walking, talent, and all of the small details it takes to go to nationals. I also get to see Abby Bitzenberg, our Miss Idaho's Outstanding Teen, compete in just a few weeks in Orlando. Be sure to keep an eye out for a detailed post the following week that talks about Miss America Orientation. Thank you to some of our sponsors I've worked with so far: 
  • Taralynn Pugmire -photo shoot and headshots
  • Andrea Greenwood - hair for photo shoot and shampoo donation
  • Annita from the Edge Counter at Dillards -make up for photo shoot
  • Katilyn at Planet Beach Contempo Spa - full year  spa membership! Thanks Deidre Edmunds for the connection!
Miss Idaho LOVES her sponsors!!!

Until Next Time,
Sarah Downs Miss Idaho 2013

Miss Rexburg 2013

Last weekend I drove back to Idaho for the Miss Rexburg pageant. Our current Miss Magic Valley, Kalie Wright, joined with me Saturday afternoon to head up to Rexburg. We arrived the AmericInn to get to know a few of the Miss Rexburg contestants before and after their judges interviews. It was so much fun to catch up with Miss Rexburg 2012-2013 Jessica Bracey and Miss Upper Valley 2012-2013 Makenda Bickmore. It feels like almost no time has passed since we were all competing together at Miss Idaho last June.

After interviews, Kalie and I grabbed some food and took a trip to Walmart to pick up some fake eyelashes for the stage…. It never fails! I always forget something whenever I travel!! After our quick break, we made our way to the Rexburg Tabernacle to get ready for the show. I steamed some dresses, ran through my piano piece a few times, and even had a chance to speak to all the contestants before they started the show. When I look back at my past pageant experiences, the best ones were not necessarily just times when I won the crown, but the times that I was able to just enjoy, have fun, and be myself! I think all of the girls that competed in Miss Rexburg Saturday night were able to do just that – they looked so natural onstage and blew the audience away! J

A huge congratulations is in order for Jennah Coray and Lauren Parkhurst, our new Miss Rexburg 2013 and Miss Upper Valley 2013!!! I can’t wait to see these beautiful girls again in two weeks at our Miss Idaho Orientation! 1st Runner Up Tierney Warren and 2nd Runner Up Jordan Hill did a fabulous job as well, and I hope and pray that these ladies will continue to share their talents and compete. The whole group of ladies at Miss Rexburg just had incredible potential! Lori Price surely knows what she is doing when she prepares her girls.

Before wrapping up this post, I want everyone to know what amazing titleholders Jessica Bracey and Makenda Bickmore have been this year. Not only were they a blast to spend the week with at Miss Idaho, but they have continued to represent Rexburg and the Upper Valley with dignity. Here is a link to the Miss Rexburg’s Facebook Page and blog. You’ll definitely want to check out Jessica’s Farewell video! It is AWESOME!!

As Miss Idaho preparing for Miss America in January, I definitely had my fair share of discouraging days, and these ladies were always so supportive by sending me facebook messages and texts exactly when I needed them. I feel SO blessed to have become friends with Jessica and Makenda through the Miss Idaho Organization, and I hope all of the girls that will be competing for Miss Idaho 2013 in July will value this great opportunity to make some incredible friends.

Talk to you all next week!

Whitney Wood
Miss Idaho 2012

Kalie and I met up with Jessica and Makenda at the AmericINN for interviews on Saturday afternoon. 
We had so much fun catching up and laughing together!

With the Miss Idaho Falls crew! Here we have Miss Idaho Falls 2012-2013 Kaitlyn Anderson, our new Miss Snake River Valley Aubry Campbell, and Miss Idaho Falls' Outstanding Teen Mikaela Beck, who will be competing at the Teen competition at the end of this month! Welcome Aubry and best of luck Mikaela! :) And above us we have Heidi Brendle, the fabulous Miss Idaho Falls director, and her cute daughter Kaidence. I have so much love for all everyone in this picture!!! We have definitely made some irreplaceable memories!


Miss Idaho sisters forever! Here we have Kristina Nye, 1st RU at Miss Idaho 2012, Miss Rexburg 2012 Jessica Bracey, Miss Upper Valley 2012 Makenda Bickmore, (me), Miss Upper Valley 2013 Lauren Parkhurst, and Miss Magic Valley 2012-2013 Kalie Wright. Makenda and I would make for a lovely Christmas card... haha ;)

Jennah Coray is our brand new Miss Rexburg 2013!! Here she is with her "Dazzling Diamonds!"

Kristina Nye, our former Miss Snake River Valley and 1st Runner Up at Miss Idaho is
responsible for recruiting her roomie, our new Miss Upper Valley, Lauren Parkhurst!!!


My road trip buddy Miss Magic Valley and I after the pageant! Love ya Kalie! <3


I have never seen Jessica without a smile on her face!! Her platform is Pay it Forward,
which she has done a fabulous job promoting throughout the year.

How cute is Makenda!? I LOVE this picture of her with her crown!
Our Miss Upper Valley 2012-2013 ROCKS!

Crowning Moments

One of the most exciting part of the pageant is to see that crowning moment. After months and sometimes even years of preparation  you got to see that moment of sheer excitement and shock as women gets to wear the crown! Did you see Mallory Hagan when she was crowned Miss America?


The thing that is so beautiful about this Miss America Organization isn't the woman up front being crowned, but the women in the back. Do you see their reactions? They are so happy for Mallory! Well we are so happy for the young women we have competing at Miss Idaho this year. So here are a few crowning moments from this year's locals.



Would you like your own crowning moment? We would love to have you compete in one of our locals and then at state. Upcoming pageants are:

Miss Canyon County || March 2nd
Miss Rexburg || March 9th
Miss Meridian || March 22nd & 23rd
Miss Riverview || March 29th

Email missidahoboard@gmail.com for more information || Subject: Become a Contestant