What is your fondest memory of being Miss Columbus?Īfter competing in the Miss Columbus USA Pageant and winning, I remember arriving at the airport in Columbus, Ohio, and having very little time to catch my connecting flight returning to Atlanta. And Marissa, our 9-year-old daughter, who will be entering fourth grade at Reese Road Leadership Academy. My husband and I are so proud of our 14-year-old twins, Maryn and Jared, who are entering Columbus High School as freshmen this year. Of course, in 1984, I didn’t realize that my largest endeavor would be to raise three wonderful kids. So, now that that I own a computer consulting firm, I feel I am living the goals of that young woman.
She was a fabulous competitor when she was in the Miss Georgia competition, and as a current professional choreographer, she was able to give back to the Miss Columbus family by working with me.ĭuring my interview in 1984, I said I wanted to have my own business one day. Here is a cool fact for you: Miss Columbus 1997 Brea Vaughan Colagross actually choreographed my talent dance for me. This year when I competed in Miss Georgia as Miss Columbus, I presented a jazz dance to “Feelin’ Good” by Michael Buble.
Dance is a joy in my life and I will always enjoy sharing that with an audience. I am currently a ballet instructor at Studio Dance Academy in Athens. My talent is dance, which I most certainly still do. What was your talent? Do you still do it? It was such a fun experience to be Miss Columbus and welcome the other 39 contestants and 36 teen contestants to “my city.” We actually hold the record for longest-running host city of a state level pageant in the entire Miss America organization. The city of Columbus has hosted the Miss Georgia Pageant for many, many years. What is your lasting memory of being Miss Columbus? I have recently revamped my platform to be called “Breast Cancer: Fighting the Fear” because of my experience in dealing with that fear when my mother and grandmother both had breast cancer. As Miss Columbus 2010, I was able to volunteer throughout the year, offering my help to others. Becoming Miss Columbus was a huge help in my efforts to spread breast cancer awareness, since this has been my personal platform for six years.