Meet Roseanna Boyle Holliday, Miss Idaho 1993!
Local Title to Compete at Miss Idaho: Miss
Twin Falls (now Miss Magic Valley)
Talent: Vocal: How Could I Ever Know from The Secret Garden
Platform: Prevention of Disease
Through Nutrition
Favorite memory from competing at Miss Idaho: Building relationships with other contestants –
most of whom are still part of my life today….
Favorite portion of the competition:
Interview and Swimsuit
Favorite memory from competing at Miss America: Loved performing on that famous Miss America
stage and brings tears to my eyes thinking about walking the runway in Atlantic
City. Also, the visitations were SO much
fun – all of my Idaho peeps were always at my table cheering really loud and
welcoming me in each night just boosting my confidence and making my experience
memorable. My TC (traveling companion)
was awesome and so supportive.
I
remember getting ready to perform my talent on preliminary night and here comes
Miss Kentucky from her performance crying and upset. I tried to comfort her and she mentioned that
her performance wasn’t what she expected and she could tell her state peeps
were upset. I grinned and said that I
thought she did an amazing job (she really did!) and thought to myself that my
state is SO supportive and would probably love me if I accidently walked out in
swimsuit during talent or something else…..
I
wore this huge head piece (definitely show girl material), mostly because I was
one of the tallest contestants. We spend
two weeks, flying into Philadelphia, being escorted to a variety of events and
the security was overwhelming (even for the early 90s). Idaho’s media was very supportive and wanted
to interview me most everyday and even other states (mostly radio DJs) wanted
to know who Miss Idaho was… I was
willing to talk to anyone. I was even
awarded the best swimsuit award on MTV’s Pauly Shore show (too bad he wasn't
one of my judges… LOL).
Favorite memory from being at Miss America: Board walk parade… loved showing my potato shoes and announcing
to the world the nutrition information of an Idaho potato. This was a perfect
fit because I just became a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (from U of Idaho)
and nutrition was my platform
Also,
being from a conservative state, my state director(s) weren’t happy with my
boyfriend (now husband) hanging out. We
couldn’t really hug (kissing, no way!) or show affection for each other. One of the pictures we took together is of us
not really touching each other (just to be silly…)
Did you win any prelims at Miss America? Which
ones? No, darn. But I thought I was in Top Ten because the
producers always called me out and asked me to lead all the contestants in all
the patterns and dance routines.
Did you meet any great friends at Miss America? Yes… From where? Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin. Miss Washington and I were best buds and we
ran into Miss Oregon at Starbucks (imagine that) in Kansas City. I can’t wait for my 20 - year reunion at Miss
America this year. It will be SO much
fun to see each other again and catch up.
How has being Miss Idaho influenced your life
now? Currently, I am the Director of the Miss
Magic Valley Scholarship Program. Having
the experience at both Miss Idaho and Miss America provides credibility to not
only this organization in my belief to promote and encourage women to further
their education and serve others, but aids in helping or offering advice to
these wonderful young, articulate women that compete for a title.
The
platform concept was pretty new when I was competing, but I honestly just
implemented my passion, which was nutrition.
As Miss Idaho, I was able to travel across the state, visit over 100
schools to discuss the important role that nutrition plays as part of a
healthful lifestyle. I learned SO much
over my year and am honored to have been given the opportunity to take the
crown into every one of Idaho’s communities.
Every once in a while, someone will say to me – You came to my
school, I really appreciated your
message of good nutrition and taking care of yourself.
In
fact, nutrition is and continues to be my life’s work. As many of you know, I received my BS in
Nutrition from University of Idaho (scholarships from Miss Twin Falls/Magic
Valley and Miss Idaho) and my MPH from the University of Minnesota (scholarships
from Miss America). I also received my
doctorate from the University of Connecticut in Nutritional Sciences (of which
during my interview my main advisor wanted to know more about my experience at
Miss America). Anyway, as President of
the Idaho Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics this past year, I was invited to
speak at a committee meeting of Idaho State Legislature (both House and Senate)
– guess what my topic was:….. Prevention
of disease through nutrition (yup, my platform), specifically relating to the
state health insurance exchange. My
husband even mentioned to me after my presentation(s) this past January, how
something I worked on 20 years ago, was still part of my life and I had the
opportunity to share my passion and life’s work with Idaho State Legislators
(albeit, 20 years later, but hey, better late than never…..).
What lessons did you learn from competing? You are
only competing against yourself and it is important not to get caught up in who
looks good in what or the latest fashion or gossip. Really rings true in my life today (both
personal and professionally). Just be
the best mom, professor, director, friend that you can be and don’t get caught
up in the small stuff. Also, how to be confident and articulate in all aspects
of my life.
What part of Miss America do you look forward to
today? I am thrilled beyond belief that Miss America
is heading back to Atlantic City. Oh,
the board walk parade, seeing all the stores (merchants) and people excited to
welcome the contestants back to the boardwalk.
Miss America originated in 1921 on the boardwalk (beach) in Atlantic
City as a way to celebrate summer and has evolved and changed over the years to
provide over $45 Million in scholarships to young women. This competition is a life changer,
especially for one lucky girl who will become Miss America.
What was it like being Miss Idaho? A lot of work.
Seriously, performing my talent, speaking and articulating my message to
various groups and a variety of ages. I
look back on my year knowing that 365 days were spent representing our state to
the best of my abilities and hopefully making a difference in the lives of
others.
What is one story that you love to tell people
about your year as Miss Idaho? A lot of people are confused about the difference between Miss
America and Miss USA. When someone asks
me about being a beauty queen, I graciously remind them that I wasn’t involved
in a beauty pageant, but a scholarship program.
I love to tell them about all the doors that opened during my year and
how I am still articulating my platform across this great state. Most people know or have seen Miss America
program and the notoriety that comes with the title. As I’ve lived in 5 different states over the
past 20 years, everyone I encountered that hears I am a former Miss Idaho
always asks me something along the lines of…
Did I have a good experience or a good year as Miss Idaho (sometimes
with a coy little smile wanting to hear the gossip)? I always tell them that I would do it again
in a heart beat (minus a few pounds and wrinkles) because I had an amazing year
and learned SO much being Miss Idaho 19 ninety (cough, cough)…… No, just teasing, 1993. I am truly humbled and honored to have held
this title for a year and am thankful for the opportunity to serve others and
hopefully make a difference.