"RESOLVE TO SOLVE!": Cinderella's Night at the Ball!

BIO

In 2008 I interned for U.S. Senator Larry Craig who later appointed me a United States Senate Page for the 110th Congress. I attended the prestigious United States Senate Page School during my tenure.

Upon returning to Idaho, I worked as a correspondent for the Magic Valley Times News and interned atKLIX-FM Radio in Idaho, and also in the News Department at Southern Idaho's CBS affiliate KMVT. I was home schooled and have attended College of Southern Idaho. I will begin Law School in Fiji in 2011.

I am founder of 2-Way-Street, a program that empowers, enables and encourages refugee and at-risk-relocated-youth, and also TATUR, a program that teaches kids in developing nations to access and use technology responsibly. In April 2011, I will launch UniTeen to address the problems of stereotype and prejudice faced by polynesian youth. Im also working on a program to provide counseling to individuals who abuse others.....they are hurting and need comfort and understanding, not condemnation.

Awards and commendations

After relocating to Twin Falls, I became active in public service, with an emphasis on relocated and at-risk-immigrant youth. I am a recipient of the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medal Congressional Awards, a Jefferson Award recipient and the President's Award. I am also the recipient of a $30,000.00 Discover Scholarship, and was named a Philanthropic Education Organization Scholar. In 2009, former First Lady Laura Bush formally recognized me for my public service and presented me with the Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

I earned Girl Scouts' highest honor, a Gold Award, and was named one of ten Girl Scouts Young Woman of Distinction in 2010. The organisation appointed me a lifetime member of the National Girl Scout Advisory Board.

In 2010 I was nominated as one of Idaho Governor Butch Otter's Brightest Stars.

In addition to my work with the Times News, I have written for UNLOCK MAGAZINE, and appeared on the covers of two national magazines, (Justine Magazine and Savvy Magazine) I serve as a representative and spokesperson for the H.Y.P.E. Movement. In November 2010, I was honored to be a featured speaker at the Destined for Greatness Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In December 2010, Three Dot Dash announced me as one of their 26 Global Youth Leaders.

I am proud to have represented the great state of Idaho in the 2010 Miss Teen USA pageant, where I was named Miss Congeniality...hey! No Jokes!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Cinderella's Night at the Ball!

Hi guys! It's been 3 days since I was swept off my feet and crowned Miss Idaho Teen USA 2010 in Boise!

I still cant believe it and have to keep asking my little sister if its REAL!

To those of you little girls, who think dreams only come true for others, I hope you will reconsider!

I have never entered any kind of pageant, and seldom wore makeup or walked in high heels until I entered the Miss Idaho Teen USA pageant earlier this year! In fact, I was considered an, "egghead," by most of my freinds and family!

Since I was crowned, a number of people have asked me how I prepared for the pageant...they want advice on how they can succeed at next year's pageant. In this post, I want to address this question and its my sincere hope that all of you girls reading this, (and maybe your moms,) will take what I have to say into your hearts and act on it.

I never "prepared" for this pageant.

I prepared for life.

As a little girl, my mom and dad encouraged me to live a life of compassion and service to others.

In addition to studying my tail off, I got involved in Girl Scouts, (GO GIRL SCOUTS!) the U.S. Congressional Award Program and other service organizations. I helped found the Leo Club, (a youth branch of Lions Clubs) in my town and worked for 2 years to help raise money for our library youth wing.

Growing up in a remote area of the Fiji Islands, (check back for more about life in a traditional Fijian seaside village!) I was fortunate to be able to serve my community in various ways! Some of those were helping my parents establish the very first rural library on the island of Vanua Levu, and founding the first rural pre-school. Sometimes I got to "assist" my mom in her free health clinic, by putting on puppet shows for sick kids or reading to senior patients.

Beauty really IS about character and integrity.

If you hope to enter a Miss Teen USA Pageant, then spend time serving others! Rather than piling on make-up and trying on gowns, try visiting a retirement home and painting a sweet senior citizen's nails or combing her hair!

I am so blessed to have a family and community who support me and encourage me to be the best I can be! My hope for the coming year is that I will in turn, be a blessing and encouragement to other young people, and that they will be motivated and challenged to AIM HIGHER and GO FURTHER than they ever thought possible!

I am also so thankful to have participated in a pageant operated by men and women of INTEGRITY! Pageants NW staff are si supportive, honest and above all, kind! If you think pageant life means rudeness and self-service, THINK AGAIN! My experience was so wonderful and I felt loved, protected and challenged every minute. THANK YOU PAGEANTS NW! Mahalo David, Miss Tammy, Miss Kay-Kay, Miss Portia, Miss May, and all the rest of you fabulous people! Vinaka and Kopkunka GOOD FOOT! YOWZA! YOu can dance! Thanks to Mr. Videographerman, Mr. Mike and you other guys behind the scenes!

I hope you will keep me in your prayers and check back for more on my life in the days ahead!

Thank you for your support! OH! So many of you have written and asked about my gown! That gown made me feel like a PRINCESS! It is by Niki Livas and was given to me by the wonderful people at DonateMyDress.org & Seventeen.com/prom! THANKS GUYS!
Thanks also to my sponsors:
Naidiri Bay Resort Fiji
Dr. Bryce at Summit Dental Care Twin Falls ID
Mrs.Anne Stevens
Mr. and Mrs. Con Paulos
Kay Jewelers
Seventeen Magazine and
Ms. Tammy Tibbets
My family and the people of the Magic Valley, IDAHO!