The Miss America Effect

For my 21st birthday, my dad gifted me a book titled “Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People”. As I was reading this book in preparation for Miss America, I came across an interesting phenomenon called the Pygmalion Effect. In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with the statue of a woman he carved. Pygmalion desperately wanted his sculpture to be real. One day the marble became flesh, and Pygmalion’s archetype woman was born. The legend of Pygmalion transposes to modern times and insinuates that great expectations lead to great results. As I was digesting this new information, I began to wonder what my personal expectations were for the Miss America Competition, and I can assure you, the thought of making Top 10 did not even exist in my wildest dreams.

Rather than expecting awards or accolades, my Pygmalion Effect was personal, not professional. I entered Miss America with the notion that this would be my last competition, my final chance to showcase the years of hard work, perseverance, and personal growth procured since my very first local in 2015. The weeks before I left for Atlantic City, I studied. I fervently read books, reflected on my past experiences, learned from influential people in the Idaho community, and formulated an idea of what being Miss America would mean to me. Visually speaking, Miss America prep mirrored studying for the most challenging test of my life. Instead of fifty multiple-choice Macroeconomics questions or a grueling ten-page paper on infrastructure in the developing world, this was a test of self-actualization, a battle of my past’s ability to shape my present. My biggest takeaway: hard work is shown from the inside out.

This was a new revelation for me considering I spent the last three years polishing my personal appearance, perfecting my evening gown walk, and practicing my public speaking skills. While those areas of preparation did help me succeed in the past, I knew that being Miss America requires skills that aren’t always displayed on stage. When I was called into the Top 15 and then the Top 10, I was astonished. After all, placement was not a priority for me. However, by focusing on performing my best, I was unknowingly setting myself up for success.

My Miss America outcome was not achieved alone. Thank you to my Miss Idaho board & volunteers for always believing in me, my family for always supporting me (my mom and sister created the majority of my “Show Us Your Shoes” Parade costume), and my sponsors for their unparalleled generosity. Allison’s Dresses, Regalia, Dillard’s, Stewart’s Gem Shop, Red Aspen, Rachel at Love Nails, Lash Divas, NanaMacs Boutique, and Marbella at Paradigm Salon all helped me shine on stage.

Perhaps the Pygmalion Effect can be described in a more specific sense and draw causation between positive, personal expectations and external success. Competing at Miss America has taught me that when you prioritize your personal success, you can find reward and satisfaction manifest to other areas of your life, and you don’t need to be on a stage to achieve it. Thank you to my dad for gifting me the most valuable birthday present I have ever received. I did not just learn “The Science of Succeeding with People”, I discovered the science of succeeding with myself, or as I now call it, the Miss America Effect.

The Keys to Success

88 keys lay before me, 88 doors never unlocked until my freshman year of high school. Seven years ago, I had my very first piano lesson. Before then, I thought music was meant to be played like a checklist, each note and measure building up to the inevitable return to silence. I never knew that music is meant to be savored, notes melodically stringing together like veins in the human body. Each vein in our body is essential, carrying blood towards our heart. Similarly, I found each key on the piano vital, transporting soul from our hearts and through our ears. The moment I touched my first key, middle C, on the piano, I knew I had found my key to music.

Bono once said, “Music can change the world because it can change people”. Since my first piano lesson, music has changed me. While the keys on the piano are black and white, playing the piano allowed me to share the spectrum of creativity, emotion, and humanity I had not found the courage to voice. So many things in our lives are out of our control, yet I found comfort in the feelings that piano creates. More so, I found expression in the seemingly endless variations of styles, key signatures and techniques.

Perhaps my unconventional journey with music can also change the world. With the increasing number of six-year-old piano prodigies on YouTube and the toxic, competitive environment we live in today, it is easy to believe that mastery has a cutoff age. However, I am proof that the place you start does not determine how far you can go. There are only 88 keys on the piano, keys that are open to everyone, but only connect to those who invest passion, diligence and perseverance. Of the many lessons the piano has taught me, the greatest one is this: “Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put the passing time to the best possible use.” –Earl Nightingale

Pieces of the Puzzle: Miss America Orientation

I quickly grab my mahogany crown box off the kitchen table, and make a beeline for the door. In a flurry, the latch of the box breaks. My crown topples to the ground and the once secure crystals pop out of place like silver confetti. I look down in horror as the small round gems and statement teardrop rhinestones that form my Miss Idaho crown lie scattered at my feet. Scooping up the pieces from the floor, I realize that my once perfect accessory is missing two points and multiple gems varying in size. However, I had no time to mourn the current state of my crown as I was running late for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Finals night. Hoping my 6-ft. height would ensure that no one could notice the gaping holes in my crown, I scurry out the door.

Although my crown clearly did not survive Orlando, I spent a fulfilling week at Miss America Orientation enriched with new friendships and an eye-opening understanding of the direction for Miss America 2.0. During the first day of orientation, Cara Mund, Miss America 2018, spoke to
the group of 51 representatives. One of the most memorable things Cara said was that Miss America does not fit one mold. Every Miss America brings something different to the title. There is no need to let the title change you, instead, change the title.

Reflecting on orientation week, I don’t think Cara could have said it any better. There is no singular mold required to fit the Miss America crown. Small round stones, large spheres, and distinguished teardrops all combine to form the coveted crown. Missing even one small gem, the
crown would not be complete. Every piece plays a part in a large puzzle, and regardless of size or placement, each piece is of equal importance. Looking at the loose stones absent from my crown, I see that every person can embody Miss America.

As I attempt to superglue the rhinestones back together, it is incredibly clear that my Miss Idaho crown is comprised of nearly 500 unique stones, none of which can be substituted for the other. Heading to Miss America, I can never attempt to conform into something that is not me. Each of us is our own version of Miss America, living our own versions of service, style, scholarship, and success.

Thankfully, my Miss Idaho crown will make a full recovery, but I do not regret its unfortunate (and untimely) downfall. Destruction creates an opportunity for the new. In this situation, the “new” was an idea, the realization that regardless of size, shape, or extrinsic sparkle, every person is capable of growing and creating their own destiny. A path is not paved in a day. Every mile is curated with time, experience, and care. Your path can lead in any direction, but if the pieces crumble, fear not: pick them up, and remember anything can be fixed with a little effort and superglue.

On Being a Potato

To be honest, potatoes are not my favorite vegetable, a fact that repeatedly shocks curious Idahoans considering I represent the state with the largest potato production in the United States.  While, yes, I will gladly devour a steaming plate of sweet potato fries, the thought of biting in to the starchy interior of a plain, undressed potato makes my taste buds tremble back in to the far corners of my culinary tongue. However, on a recent trip to the Idaho Potato Commission, I realized that I do not need to enjoy potatoes in their organic state to appreciate them. In fact, after speaking with Frank Muir, the Idaho Potato Commission’s President and CEO, I have come to terms with potatoes being the underrated vegetable needing to be on everyone’s radar.

Not only are potatoes one of the most allergy friendly foods, they are also the world’s fourth food staple- facts that are often overlooked when browsing grocery stores or restaurant menus. Potatoes have also reached new heights and were the very first vegetable grown in space.  While they get a bad rep for being fatty and unhealthy, an 8-ounce baked potato only contains about 100 calories. Simply put, there is more to a spud than meets the eye.

In fact, we should all aspire to be a little bit like the potato. While potatoes have an unassuming exterior, their insides contain a smooth center that can transform into fluffy mashed potatoes or crispy French fries. Potatoes are both an indulgent treat and a nutrient-packed source of potassium as well as other essential ingredients. The pickiest of eaters and ficklest of palates can all enjoy a potato in one of its thousand forms. Malleable. Reliable. Beneficial. An Idaho Potato.

Furthermore, it’s no wonder our state produces the most of a crop which resembles who we are as Idahoans. Mashed, fried, baked, or steamed, Idaho potatoes come in many forms, and Idahoans come from all walks of life. Yet, we all call Idaho our home. Community is built on
care, but its foundation thrives on acceptance. Of all the states and countries I have traveled, no community can compare to the unity, like-minded values, and heart present in every corner of our state. The same soil that grows our famous crop also fosters and cares for our people. The next time you think of a potato, don’t just think of dinner or argue whether a potato is a fruit or vegetable. Think of Idaho, think of Idahome. After all, it is who we are.

Nina's Miss America Milestones

Miss America Milestones

My Miss Idaho experience has had its fair share of obstacles, yet at the same time it has also been filled with many memorable milestones. Some milestones are significant like placing in the Top 5 at Miss Idaho or perfecting my talent piece. Others, like the slow intrinsic evolution marking the person I have now become, are more subtle. These are the milestones that have defined my life. 

When I started competing in the Miss Idaho Organization my senior year of high school, I was blindly ambitious and only loved what I assumed would make me successful. Now, I see with purpose. This clarity instilled in me over the last four years has made me a kinder friend, a more passionate scholar, a devout servant to my community, and ultimately, a more authentic version of myself.

Each year competing at Miss Idaho, I gained something different. My first year as Miss Nampa, I found confidence. Growing up with eczema, I always hated the skin I was in. Walking on stage in a swimsuit changed everything for me. It forced me to embrace the flaws I tried so hard to conceal as a teen, but most of all, it altered my lifestyle.

I was always a runner, but every mile I ran left me further out of tune with my body. I would use my 6ft height as an excuse for not being able to touch my toes. Now, after three years of stretching and strength-based exercises, I can do the splits. Most of all, my outlook on fitness has evolved. Working out is not punishing your body for what you ate, rather it is celebrating your body for what it can do. My year as Miss Nampa left me healthier, happier, and more confident.

My second year competing as Miss Treasure Valley was a test of endurance and personal strength. Being an out-of-state college student miles away from home took a toll on my mental health. Yet while faced with uncertainty and anxiety, I found a crutch through the Miss Idaho Organization. In my third year competing as Miss Pocatello, I finally realized being Miss Idaho goes beyond the State competition. Simply put, being a local titleholder prepared me for the job of being Miss Idaho.

Looking back, though being a local titleholder did not prepare me for 4am wake up calls or hours of traveling in a car, it did prepare me to be the kind of person who is excited to wake up before the sun does and spend hours driving to an appearance knowing that I am making an impact. By being a local titleholder or Miss Idaho, I know I may not be able to change the world, but I can change someone’s world just like this organization has changed my own. I no longer look at service as a task I must complete. Rather, it is an opportunity I want to experience, an opportunity to share joy, hope, creativity, and strength.

This entire chapter of my life can be summed up as one incredible life changing experience. I started to compete because I liked winning, and pageants were the jet fuel to my competitive engine. Over time, winning meant more than just receiving awards or recognition for I found true success in the form of self-betterment. Every local competition I entered, every local title I lost, and every friendship I formed at Miss Idaho made me more successful. While I did not “win” every moment in my Miss Idaho experience, I won the battle that matters most: the battle within. Today I can say that I am compassionate, confident, thoughtful, determined, and resilient. Four years ago, I was none of those things. Four years from now, I know I will be all those qualities and more. I know I will be my best self, and I owe it all to the Miss America Organization.