A day with Ms. Day, Miss Kentucky 2013

7:55 AM

I arrived at the middle school as Jenna was stepping out of her car. In a black pea coat, dotted tights and heels, she looked impeccable as usual. The car window as her mirror, she balanced the coveted Miss Kentucky crown atop her head and secured it with bobby pins. Standing in the parking lot, 26 degree wind cutting right through my leather jacket, I felt like a little girl watching a princess get ready for a royal appearance. (Or, in Jenna's case…watching the Republican Nominee prepare for a Presidential Debate.) 

I was happy to see Jenna's mom, Leslie, had accompanied her for the day. In my pageant-world experience, girls become just as fond of the mothers as they do their remarkable daughters. I led them both inside the school, my old stomping grounds, and into the office. Jenna signed her name to the visitor's sheet. In passing, I saw what she had written in the "reason for visit" box: Motivating Kids. 

Once inside the gymnasium, Jenna removed her coat to reveal a chic tan dress with black lace details. She draped the rarely seen black Miss Kentucky sash over her shoulder. It looked like it was made for this very ensemble. The 6th grade class trickled into the gym and noisily whispered to each other, eyes remaining on the lady with the crown.

"We have Jenna Day, Miss Kentucky 2013, here on sabbatical from the one and only University of Kentucky. Please give her your full and undivided attention as we only have 15 minutes with her this morning." 

I took a seat on the bleachers beside her mom, camera at the ready. A hush fell over the crowd of students the second Jenna took the microphone. 

"Hello, everyone. Are you awake yet?" 

"Noooooo…." the kids said in unison. 

In this short 15 minute talk with the 6th grade class at Green County Middle School, Jenna talked about having been bullied at their age. I was just as surprised as the students to hear she hadn't always been the confident, put-together, successful young woman appearing before us. She sang a sample of "My Old Kentucky Home" in her classically trained voice, and before I could blink it seemed her time was up. 

Some students rushed back to their classroom, but a few hung behind to catch a moment with Miss Kentucky. I watched from a distance, toying with my camera, while a 6th grade girl approached Jenna. 

"How did you deal with the bullying?" the student asked her quietly. 

I didn't ask Jenna to share her response, but she later said "Lots of people want to know about my Miss America experience. But, there are much more important things I'd rather talk about. Miss Kentucky doesn't just go to Miss America....she comes home to a very challenging full-time job. " 

9:00 AM

I led Jenna into the Green County Intermediate School, a school for 3rd-5th graders. The office staff looked delighted when she handed them an autographed picture with a message neatly written in permanent marker. 

"We'll send a copy home in the students' backpacks this afternoon. They will love that!" 

We followed the vice-principal into the gym where Jenna stepped behind the curtain on the stage. The soundtrack to Frozen was playing through the speakers and, knowing Jenna’s love of music, specifically, Frozen, I could picture her backstage twirling in her heels and singing the words loudly. I have yet to confirm whether this actually happened, but I am going imagine it did!

The entire student body flooded the gym and sat on the floor, organized by class. Jenna popped her head from behind the curtain and the kids let out a perfectly synchronized gasp. Clearly, this was not the typical guest speaker they had expected. 

Her message for the younger kids was quite different than her first appearance of the day. She used a backpack filled with visual props to entertain and teach the students. These props represented things she does in her every day life to ensure success. She encouraged the students to do the following:

1. Take care of your brain

2. Take care of your body

3. Have a heart for others

4. Stand up for yourself and believe in your dreams

5. Be the best YOU you can be (1=100%)

The kids were not only engrossed in the lesson, but so was I. No matter the age, these tips are pretty darn relevant. I was reminded how easily I forget that there is only one Kiley like me in the world, and I owe it to myself to use that power for good.

When her time was up, Jenna fielded questions and gave a future Miss America system competitor advice on how to minimize pre-interview jitters. We left the Intermediate School right around the time our stomachs began to growl. 

10:00 AM

With 2.5 hours to kill before her last and final school appearance, Jenna, her mother, and I sat down for early lunch at Longhunters Coffee & Tea Co. We indulged in coffee, crepes, and several types of chocolate desserts, but we also had a much-needed chance to talk. I asked Jenna a few questions about her year as Miss Kentucky. To read the official interview and view more photos, click here. 

12:30 PM

Jenna's last appearance of the day was at the Green County Primary School, where my mom is a 1st grade teacher. The entire school had already assembled in the gym when we entered. 

I will tell you this: If you want to feel like a celebrity, walk into an elementary school side-by-side with a pretty girl in a sparkly crown. Half the kids will bombard you with questions..
"Do you know her?!" "Are you her SISTER?!"

The other half will be quietly in awe of the girl with the crown. Their heads will move in unison as they follow her across the gym floor, not even blinking for fear they might miss something. 

Jenna's last message was simpler yet, relating easily to these kids, as young as 4, that the things in her backpack would ensure them more success in their bright futures. 

The kids gasped and ooh'd and ahh'd and laughed and asked all the right questions when prompted. I was very impressed with Jenna's ability to keep the attention of not just these young children, but the attention of each student she had spoken to that day. 

For those of you who didn't know, I was 1st runner up to Jenna at the Miss Kentucky pageant last June. Which means, this entire day, I kept thinking…. "This was almost me." As much as I wanted to win the title, on Tuesday, I got a big taste of exactly why the judges selected Jenna instead of me. I wasn't ready then to do the job Jenna has done thus far. As Miss Kentucky, Jenna has opened new doors for the next titleholder, with an estimated 60 new schools ready to book Miss Kentucky 2014 in the days following her crowning this July. She has worked with State Representatives in Frankfort, defended and protected Miss Kentucky's paid job as a spokesperson for the KY Department of Agriculture, and of course, made our state proud with a top 15 placement at Miss America in September. Not to mention, she has spoken to 18,000 kids since August.

Safe to say...I think she's a pretty cool gal. You go, Miss Kentucky! Can't wait to see what you do with the remaining months of your reign...and beyond!

On her trip back to Louisville, Jenna stopped in Hodgenville to visit the birthplace of a famous Kentuckian: Abraham Lincoln. 

See you next week!