JUNE 9, 2007 MRS. MINNESOTA AMERICA 2007 PAGEANT (ST. PAUL, MN)

WOW, I can't believe I actually have a few spare minutes to finally sit down and update my blog...whew! And I thought I was busy BEFORE the pageant!!! The day after I passed down my title, we left at 8:30 AM for a week in the Bahamas (I was DEAD tired as didn't get home from the Mrs. MN Coronation Party until about 1 AM). I was really excited for our trip but WOW was I exhausted. We had a great time in the Bahamas (stayed at the new Cove resort, which I highly recommend--it's fantastic) but since our return home, I swear we've not had a moment's rest! Anyway, if you are reading this you probably don't want to listen to me ramble on about how busy I've been--you probably want to know about this year's Mrs. Minnesota America pageant! So here goes...

Saturday started out with rehearsals at the Fitzgerald Theater with all of the MN, WI, and IA contestants running through their opening number, then of course practicing the various stages of competition. Everyone was looking great and as I watched in the audience, I seriously could not pick a winner because the level of competition was THAT tough! I was really glad I was not a judge! During one of the breaks, I presented a gift to this year's MN contestants. I designed a poster that had the Mrs. Minnesota logo on it, and then had each contestant autograph a poster to take home. A number of former Mrs. Minnesotas were at the rehearsal, so they all signed them, too (so each contestant took home an personalized poster with all 14 of the 2007 contestant signatures and former Mrs. MN autographs). I love personalized things, so I hope the contestants liked them as well. While rehearsals were going on, a few of us headed over to the infamous Mickey's Diner (it's an old train car and has been featured in many movies) for some lunch. I had never eaten there so that was fun as it really is a one-of-a-kind place.

After our late lunch, I headed back to start getting ready. It was fun chatting with Jennifer Kline (Mrs. Minnesota/Mrs. America 1988) while we were sitting next to one another getting our makeup done. She is GORGEOUS and funny and still looks like she could be Mrs. America today, eighteen years later! My family arrived and my husband Matt brought our two-and-a-half year old daughter Ava backstage so I could show her the stage and explain to her what this whole "farewell" thing was going to be like. She was so excited to be wearing her "pretty dress" and "Cinderella shoes" and she looked ADORABLE if I do say so myself (not that I'm biased or anything, ha ha).

Soon it was SHOWTIME and the pageant started off with a bang with an opening number set to the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack. The contestants were all dressed in white cocktail dresses with silver trim, while Shannon Martin (Mrs. WI) and I were in silver cocktail dresses (Katie Scott, Mrs. Iowa, was unfortunately unable to attend as she and her husband recently moved to Las Vegas). Our husbands escorted us on stage and as far as I could tell, all went well with the opening number and the ladies looked great!

I had a VERY quick wardrobe change right after the opening, and Matt was supposed to be waiting outside my dressing room while I changed (as we then were supposed to run up to the balcony for an interview with co-host Jennifer Kline on my year as Mrs. MN). Well, the wardrobe change went fine, but Matt was nowhere to be found! I was so confused because I had given him specific instructions to wait for me and then we had to sprint to the balcony for this interview. Time was running out, so finally I just had to go without him. I did the interview with Jennifer, but in my head all I could think about was "what happened to my husband?!?!?" Well, shortly thereafter I got my answer...as it turns out, our daughter Ava did just great sitting out in the audience watching the opening number, but when she saw me come out on stage, she went ballistic and wanted to be with Momma RIGHT THEN AND THERE and that was all there was to it. She started REALLY crying and got wound up to the point that my in-laws had to take her outside. Matt saw this (this was all happening as I was doing my quick wardrobe change), so he ran to hold her and calm her down, so THAT is where he was. A great reminder of what TRULY is important--and that FAMILY comes first. And that is what being a MRS (or "Mr" in this case) is all about...FAMILY.

After that, I was able to come out and get her and there was NO way she was letting Momma go. So she came backstage with us and hung out and was great, as long as I was within eyesight! She was so funny backstage...she went from being SOOOO upset to back to being Miss Happy Pants, chatting everyone up and telling the contestants how pretty they looked ("pretty dress" was said over and over), and from that point on she was an angel. We were able to watch a bit of the pageant and she was dancing and clapping SUPER loudly. She kept asking the contestants or whoever was standing nearby "I come with you on stage?" and then taking people by the hand and trying to get them to take her on stage. I guess it's in her blood, ha ha!

Robin Mason (Mrs. GA 2006 and my roommate at Nationals) was a judge this year, and so she, myself, and Shannon Martin (Mrs. WI 2006) and I all had a fun on-stage interview as well. Robin was nearly three months pregnant when we were at Mrs. America, and I had NO CLUE (so much for a mother's intuition--and she kept giving me these hints and I seriously was completely clueless). So we talked about that and had some laughs. The contestants then competed in the various areas of competition, and the Top 8 were named for Minnesota: Tressa Avestruz (Mrs. Rosemount), Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. Edina), Tina Godes (Mrs. Eagan), Lindsey Kurhajetz (Mrs. Maple Grove), Wendi Russo (Mrs. Eden Prairie), Katina Schroeder (Mrs. Savage), Nichoel Skramstad (Mrs. Minneapolis), and Katie Thiry (Mrs. Washington County). The Top 4 were named for Wisconsin: Jayne Black (Mrs. Green Bay), Penny Godbout (Mrs. Hudson), Jennifer Schluga (Mrs. Waukesha County), and Sarah White (Mrs. Kenosha County). The ladies recompeted in Swimsuit and Evening Gown, and a neat part of this year's pageant was that the contestants were escorted by "junior queens" (little girls between the ages of 5-10). It was very cute and the girls LOVED it.

The Top 5 were then named for Minnesota: Tina Godes, Bessie Giannakakis, Lindsey Kurhajetz, Nichoel Skramstad, and Katie Thiry. The Top 5 were all given headphones and answered the Final Question, and then the auditor got to work tabulating the scores. It was finally time for our farewell speeches, and Shannon gave hers first followed by the announcement of the special awards for Minnesota: COMMUNITY SERVICE-Janelle Zunker (Mrs. Hennepin County), PHOTOGENIC-Katina Schroeder (Mrs. Savage), CONGENIALITY-Katie Thiry (Mrs. Washington County), STATE COSTUME-Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. Edina), SWIMSUIT-Lindsey Kurhajetz (Mrs. Maple Grove), EVENING GOWN-Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. Edina). It was finally time for my farewell walk and speech...I didn't cry, as I felt like I had the most amazing year possible, and was totally at ease with "handing the reigns" over to the new queen, whoever she may be. My angel Ava walked out with a bouquet of flowers and she was SO DARN CUTE and then Daddy followed behind. Ava did such a great job and waved to the audience and I was so proud of her. It was funny because she did not really want to leave the stage...she would have been happy to hang out and stay a while! I said it all in my farewell speech, but it was an amazing year with amazing supporters, directors, friends, sponsors, you name it. Thank you for EVERYTHING, it was a blast! Did I mention it was AMAZING?

It was finally time for the announcement of the runners-up and new queens. Iowa was announced first: 1st RU-Bridie Sellers, and Winner-Winner-Taryn Schuler. Wisconsin was next: 2nd RU-Jennifer Schluga, 1st RU-Sarah White, and Winner-Jayne Black. Next it was on to Minnesota: 4th RU-Katie Thiry, 3rd RU-Nichoel Skramstad, 2nd RU-Tina Godes...and there were two left standing: Bessie Giannakasis and Lindsey Kurhajetz (who was my 1st RU last year). Lindsey's name was announced as the 1st runner-up, which meant that Bessie Giannakakis was the new Mrs. Minnesota America 2007!!! Congratulations! I am thrilled for Bessie and think she will do a great job, as will the other queens from Wisconsin and Iowa!

After the pageant, we headed over to the Embassy Suites for the Coronation Party, which was a great time. It felt GREAT to get out of my silver gown (it's my favorite dress in the world, but it weighs 33 pounds and as a result my feet were literally numb by the end of the night so it felt REALLY GOOD to change clothes). It was great to catch up with old friends and congratulate the new winners. A great time was had by all but I was SUPER tired and had to get up early for our flight, so I finally headed home around 1 a.m. As my head hit the pillow, I gave thanks for a truly blessed year...this pageant experience has been incredible, but at the end of the day it is not what is most important (but it sure was fun!). It's been a wonderful ride but now it is someone else's turn, and I can't wait to see what spectacular things lie ahead for Bessie!

Many people have asked me "what's next for Holly", and the answer is that as of now, I have no plans to compete again (but never say never, ha ha!). I plan on continuing my work with my child safety/abduction education platform and the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, and will be spearheading the education committee for the JWF Board of Directors. I am also FINALLY able to get into another passion of mine--pageant coaching! I am currently working on my website but if you are in need of a pageant coach, please feel free to contact me. Once I get my website up and running, I will post a link on this blog. I love helping others achieve their goals and I can't wait to start this new adventure!

In the meantime, thank you everyone for your support...it's been one heck of a ride! Signing off for now,
Holly Ernst
Mrs. Minnesota America 2006

PHOTOS:
(Crowning photo by Scott Hedblom)
1) Me with the newly crowned Mrs. Minnesota America 2007, Bessie Giannakakis
2) Shannon (Mrs. WI) and I in our "Team Schway" t-shirts that our State Directors Faith & Carl had made for us.
3) Shannon and I having lunch with Tami Theis (a fellow 2006 contestant and a SUPER cool chick!) at the famous Mickey's diner in St. Paul.
4) Me explaining to Ava what was going to happen during my farewell walk.
5) With my mom, parents-in-law, and Matt and Ava in the lobby before the pageant.
6) Matt, Ava, and I before the pageant.
7) Shannon & I in our silver "opening number" cocktail dresses.
8) With the MN contestants before the start of the Opening Number.
9) Backstage with some former Mrs. MN's: Tami Krause (2003), me, Robin Duffney (1995), Jennifer Kline (1988), and Faith Schway (1984)
10) Matt and I in the Opening Number
11) Shannon (Mrs. WI), me, and Robin (Mrs. GA) ready to go on-stage for our interview
12) Robin Mason (Mrs. GA) holding her new baby Evan and me holding Ava...Robin was pregnant when we were roommates at Mrs. America!
13) The contestants in Evening Gown
14) The contestants in Swimsuit
15) With Vanessa VonBehren (Miss MN Teen USA '07) & Alla Ilushka (Miss MN USA '07)
16) Backstage with some of the contestants (L to R): Katie Thiry, Tressa Avestruz, me, Tina Godes, and Bessie Giannakakis
17) My farewell as Mrs. Minnesota America 2006
18) Ava brings me some flowers during my farewell
19) The two most important people in my life, my husband Matt and daughter Ava
20) Crowning Bessie Giannakakis as Mrs. Minnesota America 2007--CONGRATS!
21) The "Top 5" for Mrs. Minnesota America 2007
22) Bessie and I pose with Sarah Moses, owner of the Pageant Shop by Michael's. Sarah has had the "Best Gown" winner in this pageant for the past 5 years in a row!
23) With the new queens (L to R): Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. MN 2007), Taryn Schuler (Mrs. IA 2007), me, and Jayne Black (Mrs. WI 2007). Congrats ladies!
24) With my dear friend Donnell Rank (Mrs. MN Int'l 2007)
25) Celebrating Bessie's win at the Coronation Party are (L to R): Anne Marie Moore, Sarah Moses, Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. MN 2007), and me
26) Catching up at the Coronation Party are (L to R): Kris Mohlin, Andrea Sabin, Angeline Gard (all former contestants), Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. MN 2007), Sarah Tichich (also a former contestant and the current Mrs. MN United States 2007), me, and Sonja Fisher (also a former contestant)
27) The "former Mrs. Minnesotas" take a photo (clockwise from left: Mary Beth Roe ('89), Robin Duffney ('95), Tawnja Zahradka ('94), me ('06), Kathy Thompson ('01), Jane O'Hern ('83), Faith Schway ('84), Bessie Giannakakis ('07), and Charity Kelly ('02)
28) With good friend and my "backstage helper" from last year Sue Jackson. Sue was Mrs. Wisconsin America 1996 as well!