Q. Who is the most influential person in your life?
A: My mom and dad have had the most shaping influence on my life. They made our family their first priority, and I always felt that I could go to them at any time for any reason. There are so many things that go into the development of a young person, and they were so faithful in helping me to be not only healthy and secure in their love but have practical training that would help me to succeed in the world.

Q. What is one thing about you that people you meet may not immediately realize?
A: People may not realize that I grew up as the oldest of five brothers and together with my parents we have traveled around the world as a family band.

Q. What is your hometown like?
A: I grew up in a small farming community where every fourth vehicle on the road was a tractor. When it came time for the hay to be cut, everyone came over to help buck it onto the truck for the pay of a root beer float. The thing I loved about my hometown was that it was close to the bigger cities and yet it still had the small town feel to it. You could go for a jog and pass eight of your friends.

Q. What makes your state so special?
A: California is a destination for as many reasons as there are people who come to visit because California truly has it all! California may be best known as the film capital of the world, but many do not realize that California is host to a myriad of manufacturers, which is why California consistently ranks as one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Many do not realize that the fourth largest industry in the state is agriculture. California has an abundance of performing arts organizations, more institutions of higher education than any other state, major theme parks and everything a sports enthusiast would want. If states were measured by the size of their economy, California would be the fifth largest country in the world. I repeat, California truly has it all!

Q. What was one defining moment in your life?
A: When I was about 6 years old, I was at a pancake house where they had those little gumball machines, and I wanted to put my quarter in and get a gumball. I announced my plans and my dad came over and we discussed the purchase. I'll never forget what he said. He explained to me that when you put your quarter into the machine, it belongs to someone else. You get your gumball, and it may taste good for 10-15 minutes and then you get tired of it and throw it away. Then the gumball man has your quarter and your gum is gone, too. You have nothing to show for your money! I was so shocked at this realization, and I wondered why anyone would ever make the monumental mistake of being tricked by this enticing but sly gumball machine! The seeds of money management were really planted in my mind that day, and every time I see a gumball machine, I smile.

Q. If you are named Miss America, what do you want to accomplish during the next 12 months?
A: As Miss America, I would like to speak to as many groups, schools and individuals as I could about my platform, the importance of character education. I would want to talk with young people about where they are, where they are going and how having good character leads to the choices they make and the outcome of those choices, even dictating the way their lives ultimately turn out. I would make every day an opportunity and see it as a chance to make a real difference -- not just to make people feel better -- but to help them make life changing choices and to take control of their lives. I feel that so many people ride in the passenger seat of their own lives. As Miss America, I would make a difference and hold myself to that higher standard of being a credible role model, someone who is approachable, warm and genuine.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
A: The best piece of advice I ever received was from my father. He told me that in life, you cannot control the way other people act. The only person you can control is yourself. The analogy that he used to illustrate his point was of a remote control. He said that if you hand people your remote control, they can push your buttons. But if you keep possession of your own remote, no matter how much they would like to push your buttons, you are in possession of how you act or react in any given situation.

Q. What have you learned about yourself after winning the state pageant?
A: I have learned that I can handle a lot at once, but that there is no substitute for planning ahead, leaving early and being organized.

Q. What advice would you give today's teens?
A: I tell teens all the time that they are at an extremely exciting stage of their lives and that the choices they make now can have so much impact on the rest of their lives. I encourage them to be visionaries and to see themselves not only as they are now, but as they will be in a year, in five years, and in 10 years. I can remember when I was that age, and sometimes it was hard to picture life as any different than it was right then. I like to help kids to see the big picture and mobilize them toward setting goals and seeing themselves as what they have the potential to become.

Q. What is one important thing you have learned from being in pageants?
A: Run your own race, but keep in sight the fact that your value as a person is not dependent on whether you win or lose.

Q. What is the silliest thing you've seen at a pageant?
A: The silliest thing I've seen at a pageant is girls doing crunches right before they get on stage. If they're not ready by now, they're not going to be ready after those 20. Your face will just be red.

Q. Do you have any fun/funny behind-the-scenes stories?
A: At Miss California this year, one young lady was in a big hurry to put on some eyelashes and ended up using her neighbor's finger nail glue instead of eyelash glue. When she told me, we laughed so hard we cried. She was fine, but those eyelashes may still be on today!

Q. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
A: My allergies!

Q. During your pageant competitions, what has been the most difficult question you've been asked to answer?
A: If you could un-invent something, what would it be? Try to come up with that answer in 1.5 seconds! (You'll have to meet me to find out my answer.)

Q. How many pageants have you competed in during your life?
A: Counting the locals to get to state competition, I have competed in seven total pageants all within the Miss America Scholarship Program.

Q. What do you feel is the most important issue facing the nation at this time in history?
A: I think the biggest issue facing our nation at this time in history is the lack of unity. I feel that we need to quit fighting with each other, get together behind our elected officials and let our voices be heard. After all, we have elected them. As Americans, we have been so blessed, and we need to continue to pass our blessings on, as was evidenced during the Katrina crisis. It doesn't have to be much. It can be as simple as a smile that can make someone's day.

Q. What do you think is the greatest misconception about pageant contestants?
A: I think that one of the greatest misconceptions about pageant contestants is that pageants are the only thing the girls have going for them. The term "pageant girl" really bothers me. Interestingly enough, if a young woman isn't in college or graduate school with a respectable G.P.A. pursuing a degree and honing not only a talent, but an opinion on world and local events, she wouldn't even qualify to be in the program. As title holders, we have a wonderful opportunity to educate the public about what the Miss America Scholarship Program is all about. The caliber of young women I have had the opportunity to meet in the Miss America Program have been outstanding and an inspiration to me.

Q. Do you consider yourself a role model? If so, are you comfortable in that position?
A: Yes, I do consider myself a role model, and I am very comfortable in that position.
This is not to say that I don't make mistakes because I do. But I really think the important thing is not to focus on the mistakes we make but instead on how we can learn from them.

Q. What is the last book you read?
A: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Q. What do you consider your greatest strength? Weakness?
A: I feel that my greatest strength is leadership, but it can also be my greatest weakness. Because I am a strong leader, I can motivate people to work together towards a common goal and have fun doing it. Sometimes I have to be careful that I don't make the task more important than the person and make sure I take time to validate people and their feelings and concerns along the way.

Q. What qualities do you look for in a leader? Do you have these qualities?
A: Strong communicator, passionate, engaging, professional, flexible, team player, caring and dedicated. I am working on being all of these things. I don't feel like I've 'arrived', but I'm working on it!

Q. What does it mean to you to be an American?
A: To be an American to me is to be among and part of some of the most amazing people on earth. I do not take our freedom for granted for even one moment and realize that they are the result of the sacrifices of many outstanding young men and women. My family performs musically, and at every concert, we take time honor our military. We ask them stand so everyone can applaud them. From the stage I can see tears of joy and remembrance on the faces of these proud men and women. I also love that America reaches out to help people all over the world.

Q. What are you studying, or what did you study in school?
A: I majored in speech communications and will continue my education pursuing a masters and Ph.D. in counseling.

Q. What were you like when you were a child?
A: My nickname was "muffin head" because I had dark brown hair and a bob haircut. I loved having friends spend the night, and we were famous for having "midnight parties" where we would sneak upstairs and put up Christmas lights and try to bake something so when everyone woke up they would be in a party wonderland. Most of the time we woke mom up, and she sent us back to bed. I also remember having lemonade stands. One time we sold raffle tickets all over our neighborhood for a batch of cookie dough we made into one huge cookie. The tickets were a dollar each. We made $12 on tickets. The big cookie ended up burned on the edges and raw in the middle, but the winners were as excited as if they had just won the lottery.

Q. What are you most excited about regarding this year's pageant?
A: I'm so excited that I get to be a part of the Miss America program at the national level this year and to meet and work with so many outstanding people. We are surrounded by giving, encouraging people who work with us to help prepare us to be the best that we can be. What an overwhelming and incredible opportunity 52 young ladies have! I am humbled to be amongst them.

Q. What is the best thing about participating in this year's pageant?
A: As a fiddle player, I've really enjoyed the country twist that CMT is bringing to the table. I love country music and was super excited to get to fly to Nashville for interviews and while there bumped into Kenny Chesney!