Alter Ego.

I will never forget this night, or this performance. I sang "Quando m'en vo," also known as "Musetta's Waltz" by the great composer, Giacomo Puccini for millions of people. I had worked for hours on the Italian, the choreography, and my singing to get my Miss America talent performance to the highest level possible. About two months before the performance I picked out the red ball gown that really pulled the performance together. The character I am playing in the performance is Musetta and she's trying to get her boyfriend back by telling him how gorgeous she is. Basically, she tells him she knows it sucks that he lost her, but he can have her back if he acts right. I thought about it being like I was trying to get my crown. My alter ego is Regina George, or Musetta, so in my mind I was thinking, "The crown or the judges should be able to see that I have what it takes to be Miss America." This may seem a little conceited, but you kind of have to trick yourself into feeling like the best, even though everyone you're competing against is so good. You have to keep your confidence up when you're surrounded by some of the most beautiful, talented, and intelligent women from all over America. This was just my technique. By the end of the performance I thought: Maybe I can really snatch this crown tonight.