Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. -Thomas A. Edison
Last night I competed in the Miss Minneapolis/ Miss St. Paul Pageant. Leading up to the pageant many people asked me if I was going to compete one last time since this was my last eligible year. In all honesty I hadn’t made up my mind until a little before the pageant. In late October my family went through a tragedy that changed our lives forever. (Please read under ‘My Platform’ for our story) Reflecting on this whole experience I decided that I needed to be a voice for victims like my sister so I changed my platform. Service is what one of the four points on the Miss America crown stands for and it is what made me decide to give my dream of becoming Miss Minnesota one last shot. My new platform is entitled Speak Up and Reach Out: Ending the Cycle of Domestic Abuse and I plan to use my year of service to create domestic abuse awareness as well as work to make a positive change for the live of victims.
Similar to other pageants I have been in this pageant had many talented, kind, and beautiful women competing. I am glad to have made new friends and to have shared with them some of my wisdom. Each of the women I met through this pageant had many different strengths and I hope that they all continue to compete for a title in the Miss America system. Every time I look back to where I was three years ago I am just awestruck by how much I have grown through my experiences.
Congratulations to my new sister queen, Miss St. Paul, Courtney Igbo-Ogbonna! I am very excited to spend the next year serving the Twin Cities with you! Also, a VERY special congratulations goes to Elizabeth Scipioni and Niila Witikko!!! Both of you were spectacular titleholders and have both been amazing friends to me!
After being crowned Miss Minneapolis, my mom and grandma shared a special story with me on how meaningful this title is to our family. My great grandmother was raised in extreme poverty in Pennsylvania. She heard there was work available in Minneapolis, MN so in 1955 she moved here to start a better life for her and her family. I was told she viewed the city as a place of hope and opportunity; she took great pride living here. I am proud to be a title holder for a city that means so much to my family, and even though my great grandma Alice is watching me from above I pray that she can see me serving this place that she loved so much.
I am beyond humbled to represent the remarkable city of Minneapolis for the next year. I have many big ideas for my reign and I am very excited to be working with my directors, Ashley and Jodi, to make all of my ideas a reality. Thank you to ALL of my family and friends who have not given up on me or my dreams! I am blessed to have such a supportive group always around to cheer me on.
Until next time,
Samantha Phillippi
Miss Minneapolis 2013
Similar to other pageants I have been in this pageant had many talented, kind, and beautiful women competing. I am glad to have made new friends and to have shared with them some of my wisdom. Each of the women I met through this pageant had many different strengths and I hope that they all continue to compete for a title in the Miss America system. Every time I look back to where I was three years ago I am just awestruck by how much I have grown through my experiences.
Congratulations to my new sister queen, Miss St. Paul, Courtney Igbo-Ogbonna! I am very excited to spend the next year serving the Twin Cities with you! Also, a VERY special congratulations goes to Elizabeth Scipioni and Niila Witikko!!! Both of you were spectacular titleholders and have both been amazing friends to me!
After being crowned Miss Minneapolis, my mom and grandma shared a special story with me on how meaningful this title is to our family. My great grandmother was raised in extreme poverty in Pennsylvania. She heard there was work available in Minneapolis, MN so in 1955 she moved here to start a better life for her and her family. I was told she viewed the city as a place of hope and opportunity; she took great pride living here. I am proud to be a title holder for a city that means so much to my family, and even though my great grandma Alice is watching me from above I pray that she can see me serving this place that she loved so much.
I am beyond humbled to represent the remarkable city of Minneapolis for the next year. I have many big ideas for my reign and I am very excited to be working with my directors, Ashley and Jodi, to make all of my ideas a reality. Thank you to ALL of my family and friends who have not given up on me or my dreams! I am blessed to have such a supportive group always around to cheer me on.
Until next time,
Samantha Phillippi
Miss Minneapolis 2013