When I was little, the #1 person I looked up to was Annie Plummer. Our dads worked together, so every now and then growing up our families would get together and we’d go swim at their house or something. I don’t know how much older Annie was than me, but I thought she was so pretty and so nice and I wanted to be just like her. I remember sitting on her bedroom floor and her showing me her ballet point shoes, and not being able to wrap my mind around the thought of a human balancing on their toes. One of my favorite childhood memories was my Mom taking me to see her perform as Clara in the Nutcracker Ballet, which only sealed her cool factor!

I went years without seeing her when my Dad came home and told us that she’d be competing in the Miss America pageant in 2001. This came as no surprise at all; if anyone was the embodiment of beauty and brains, it was Annie! Tony Danza hosted that year, and though Annie didn’t win the crown, she was 4th runner up. I had so much fun rooting her on with my family. :)

You can see Annie here in the final 5 – She’s the one in the navy dress.

Tonight, twelve years later, my eyes will be glued to the Miss America Pageant again! This time I’ll be rooting for Laura McKeeman,  my little sister’s high school best friend, who happens to be the current Miss Florida!!

(These are some photos from a shoot we did with her and Amelia years ago!)

Laura McKeeman is an incredible ballerina, that perfect mix of sweet and silly, and let’s admit it- The girl is downright stunning! Laura has worked her tail off these past few years, graduating from college and nailing a reporting job for Fox Sports. Laura is so charismatic that she even makes me want to watch sports! (And she totally has that perfect “reporter voice.”)

She deserves every bit of success that’s come her way and I was not at all surprised when she was crowned Miss Florida- What a lucky state to have her represent! :)

Laura, my family is rooting for you and whether you’re the next Miss America or… Well… I can’t honestly see this thing going any other way! I’m over-the-moon proud of you and I can’t imagine a better role model for the next generation. Break legs and kick some ass!!! :)

And blog readers, be sure to tune into the Miss America Pageant tonight on ABC at 9:00EST and send all your positive thoughts to Miss Florida- The world could use some more Laura McKeemans. :)