| Subject: Vizza at the pageant: 'Now I get to enjoy it' (The News Star) |
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Date Posted: Sunday, January 06, 03:13:41pm
http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20130105/news01/130105005/vizza-pageant-now-get-enjoy-
Miss Louisiana 2012 Lauren Vizza said she plans on enjoying every minute of her time at the 2012 Miss America Pageant, no matter the outcome.
“It’s all so surreal. It’s finally here,” Vizza said during a phone interview from Las Vegas, where the competition is being held. “It’s very exciting. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work and a lot of time. Now I get to enjoy it.”
“Not only has Lauren been preparing for each phase of competition, but she has been performing the job of being Miss Louisiana,” Warren said. “Most people don’t realize that it is truly a job.”
In October, Vizza spoke to more than 10,000 children in Ouachita Parish Schools, encouraging them to be drug free and to make right decisions throughout life. She has traveled the state visiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, as well as representing the March of Dimes as its statewide spokeswoman. She has spoken at churches, civic clubs, ribbon cuttings and many other events throughout the state, while also promoting her platform — Be a S.T.A.R. (encouraging children and youth to volunteer).
“She has had very little down time over the past six months,” Warren said. “We feel that the best preparation for Miss America is actually performing the job, and Miss Louisiana is always prepared when they get to Vegas because they have performed the job of Miss Louisiana, which is similar to that of Miss America except of course Miss America is on an even larger scale.”
For the talent portion of the competition, Vizza will be performing a lyrical dance to the song “The Time of My Life,” made famous by American Idol winner David Cook.
The song holds personal significance for Vizza, particularly the line “This is the time of my life.”
“That has really been a theme for me this year. This is the time,” Vizza said. “I’m enjoying everything in the moment and recognizing how important and how monumental this moment really is.”
Dewana Little, executive director of the Miss Louisiana Organization, said this is also the time for a Miss Louisiana to take home the national crown.
No Miss Louisiana has ever won a Miss America title.
“We are certainly hoping this is the time for Louisiana to bring home the Miss America crown and it could not be a more appropriate time as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Miss Louisiana Pageant in June,” Little said. “Having a Miss Louisiana as a Miss America would provide us the opportunity to further promote awareness of the goals and purpose of the Miss Louisiana Organization by empowering young women through education.”
Vizza, a Shreveport native and senior at Louisiana Tech University, flew out of the Monroe Regional Airport last Tuesday for the pageant. Preliminary competition begins this Tuesday and runs through Thursday. The pageant culminates in the live televised finals at 7 p.m. Saturday on ABC.
The pageant is being held at the Planet Hollywood Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
During most of her time in Sin City, Vizza and the other contestants will be in and out of rehearsals in preparation for the competition.
Vizza will have her personal interview with the judges on Tuesday morning. She will then compete in swimsuit and evening gown Tuesday evening, talent on Wednesday and on-stage question on Thursday.
“I feel ready,” Vizza said. “I’m prepared in every way possible for all the phases of competition. I honestly don’t feel nervous.”
Vizza said her goal is to enjoy her experience at the Miss America Pageant and to do her best in representing Louisiana.
She said she has enjoyed meeting the other contestants and is sharing a room with Miss Hawaii.
Darris Warren, vice president of the Miss Louisiana Organization, said Vizza has been rigorously preparing since becoming Miss Louisiana in June.
Vizza, competing as Miss Louisiana Tech University, was crowned Miss Louisiana 2012 by predecessor Hope Anderson in June at the Monroe Civic Center. After a friend convinced her to enter, Vizza went on to compete in the Miss Louisiana Pageant three times, making the Top Five each year.
Her days typically start with her physical trainer, then she moves on to interview preparation and then perfecting her dance routine with Miss Louisiana 2007 Amanda May, Warren said.
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