Third time in Vegas

Third time's the charm...wait, I wasn't so lucky gambling but I sure was lucky to have spent my soon-to-be 26th birthday (next week on Sept. 4) in Las Vegas with my pageant friends for the Miss Universe 2010 pageant and with my family for my parents' 27th wedding anniversary plus mom's belated 50th birthday!  I'm so lucky to have these people in my life and even more lucky to have shared my third Vegas trip with them all.

I attended the dress rehearsals at Mandalay Bay with my dear friend, Mrs. Kansas 2008, Kimberly McDowell and her husband, Troy.  I felt that I was watching the real deal!  The women in the competition were wearing their competition gowns, had their make up and hair completely done, and the emcees/performers (including John Legend) were all on point.  That was the best $25 I spent in Vegas!  This is also where I saw some of my pageant friends and had lunch with this group of funny and sweet guys.

It was 19 years ago that I fell in love with pageantry.  I remember watching Miss Universe 1991 on television as a little 6-year-old.  The pageant was held in Las Vegas and Miss USA was actually from Kansas (who would've known that I'd be wanting to follow in the footsteps of one of those contestants years later)!  That night, I saw a beautiful Latina win the title as I watched with my mom in our living room in Guatemala.  Hailing from Mexico, Lupita Jones won the title of Miss Universe 1991.   

Fast forward 19 years and I'm sitting in the audience, in the same city as the Miss Universe 1991 pageant (by the way, the national director for Miss Mexico is no other than Miss Universe 1991) and guess who wins?  Miss Mexico!!!  This is the second time for Mexico to win the title and both times in Las Vegas.  Let me tell you the entire audience was going crazy for both Mexico and Philippines...it felt that they were the hometown gals...true fans and very patriotic to those two countries.

Instead of traditionally watching it in my living room; this time, I watched it live with my good friend, Meredith McCannel, Miss Montana USA 2002 and the winner of Miss Congeniality at Miss USA 2002.  I couldn't have asked for a better buddy to watch the pageant live!

My friend Craig and I went to the the Miss Universe after party at LAX.  We knew several of the folks in the VIP area where the judges, including magician Criss Angel and actor Chazz Palminteri, were partying...so we got in.  Funny thing is that I kept getting people to ask if they could take a photo with me....some thought I was one of the Miss Universe contestants and one even said I was Miss Korea!  Sorry to disappoint them...I'm a Chinese-Guatemalan-Kansan who has yet to win!  We took a photo with the Miss Universe Organization president's husband, Carl, and his friend, John, and took a photo of the new Miss Universe 2010.

After all the pageant festivities, a family day was in the plans.  We went to Hoover Dam and toured one of the Top 10 Construction Achievements of the 20th century and one of the Seven Modern Engineering Wonders of the USA.  It was definitely a great experience but it was way too HOT (110+ degrees) to be outdoors for more than a few minutes.

Upon my return from the family vacation, I had the honor to speak at the 90th anniversary celebration of the ratification of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote.  I shared the speaking stage with such talented individuals as the morning anchor for KWCH, Felicia Rolfe; founder of Rainbows United, Linda Weir-Enegren; and Sedgwick County District Attorney, Nola Foulston.  These leading ladies talked about the privilege to vote (rather than just the right) and the responsibility that we have to be informed voters at the polls.  We also talked about the determination and perseverance that was needed for the 72 years leading up to the 1920 ratification and the need to be resilient and focused to continue fighting for equality for all!