The Holiyear

Don't Quit

2011-04-12T00:53:00.000-04:00

Anything worth having is worth all of the hard work you put into it. Here's a little peak into my journey and hard work. I'm not just telling you not to give up because it sounds good, I can testify to it.

AlwaysLove,

DjuanKeilaTrent

As of Late...

2011-04-08T01:06:00.000-04:00

The past few week have been suuuuper busy, I feel like I have been going going going and have hardly had time to stop and take a water break! Alas...I love it! I love constantly being on the go, however, I do understand the importance of rest and relaxation. You can't go go go if your body is sick sick sick :o(

The weather is changing, yay! The sun is coming out, it's warming up, neighbors are washing their cars and mowing their lawns, kids are playing in the streets, you can ride with the windows down, and in general, everyone is in a great mood! It is such a beautiful time of the year! And I'm glad it's finally here!!!

Cherry Blossom Fever!

DC Central Kitchen

Recently, I was able to go on a trip to DC with some of my Miss America sisters and we had such a good time out there! I truly enjoyed myself, as I have been wanting to visit DC for some time now...now I think I may want to live there! It's magical...kind of, haha :o) I really love the atmosphere and energy in DC, I've never felt anything like it. While I was out there, I was able to meet with the founder of the DC Central Kitchen, Mr. Robert Egger, and many of the staff and students there. DCCK is an amazing organization that provides many homeless and previously incarcerated individuals the opportunity to acquire proper job training and culinary skills to further seek employment within the professional food service industry.The also provide outreach and counseling service. I was able to talk with many of the staff and students there, and this is such a wonderful organization providing good skills and opportunities to those it serves!

Leader McConnell

Senator Paul

While in DC, we did a number of fundraising events, a little touring, lots of picture-taking :o), and also had the opportunity to meet with some of our Senate and Congress members. I was able to meet with Leader McConnell and Senator Paul. I also made a few new friends while I was out there! It was an all around good time. Miss New Jersey, Ashleigh Udalovas, was my roomate...as if I didn't love her already...she is my little love muffin for sure now :o)

The "Classic" Elevator Shot

The timing for this trip couldn't have been more perfect because the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and it was such a beautiful sight to see! However, as beautiful as they were to see, my allergies were not exactly excited about them, I lost my voice on our second day out! Some of the girl might have liked that though...less sarcasm and whitty banter??? No! More sarcasm and whitty banter in my scratchy man voice!

The trip to DC was a really great time for a lot of us "Miss America Sisters" to really get to let our hair down and get to know each other because although there was little to no drama while we were in Vegas, it was still a slightly different atmosphere being that we were all in "competition mode". So this time, we were all more relaxed and able to truly enjoy one another. I liked that a lot. I also made a few new friends out in there as well, who I will hopefully get to come back and see this summer!!! We shall see :o)

Emerging Young Leaders

As soon as I got back from DC, I had the honor of attending a VIP Reception and singing the national anthem at the 2011 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Regional Conference. Although I was still recovering from losing my voice while in DC, I was in just enough shape to sing and not sound like an American Idol auditioner...you know, the ones who DON'T make it to Hollywood, haha..anywho, with that being said, I did okay. I met some amazing women AND had some delicious shrimp and grits! I must also say I was very impressed and please to see their Emerging Young Leaders at the events as well. I got to speak with the young ladies, they were all very sweet and focused...kudos to you young ladies :o)

I did some BIG BLUE remote broadcast promotion with Tabitha from Hot 102 at the Stanley J's "Salute Your Jorts" Big Blue Lunch Party! Congratualtions to UK for making it to the final four, they had a significantly large amount of people running around Lexington in jorts. For those of you who don't know what "jorts" are, they are jean (cut off) shorts = jorts. Ha! Stanely J's also had some yummy big blue cheesecake brownies...I delighted myself in them :o)

I have still been traveling all over the bluegrass visiting schools...I must say, this is the best job ever. Every school I go to, the kids ask "What's the best thing about being Miss Kentucky?!?" and I always respond, "Getting to spend time with you." Every county, every city, every school, every child is a new experience. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to speak to these students and be a part of their lives, even if it is only for a short time, I know that there just HAS to be at least one young person in each group who has really taken what I have said to heart. That just means the world to me.

Picture Time!

Special Backstage Seating at a DC Event :o)

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Regional Director Dr. Giselé M. Casanova

DC Central Kitchen!

Okay...So...I really love ribs. And Keith Miller Sr. makes the best!

Me with two of my favorites! Ashleigh and Dom!

Judged the West Jessamine County Talent Show! Good talents :o)

And of course...there are more pictures on facebook :o)

Always Love,

DjuanKeila Trent!

If you didn't get to see it, this was my send off video :o)

2011-01-26T22:32:00.000-05:00

It's 15 minutes long, but it's bearable...

There is a surprise at the end :o)

I Dreamed A Dream

2011-01-26T22:28:00.001-05:00

Yes, I know, I was quite the fashionista.

Getting a happy meal was always something I really looked forward to as a child, and even sometimes now as an adult :o) However, there were many times I was completely boggled by the drastic difference between the people at my drive-thru window, and the people in the drive-thru windows on the commercials. Needless to say, many of the times the people in my drive-thru window were not "bah-duh-bah-bah-baaah lovin' it". I would say to my mom, "Mommy, you know what my dream is? I want to be the first person to work at a real McDonalds and smile at all of my customers!" Perhaps it was a silly gesture from the mind of an innocent and naive child, but it was something I had seriously contemplated. Sure enough, when I turned 16, I was still holding on to my dream and I got my first job at McDonalds on North Veterans Parkway in Columbus, GA. I did just what I set out to do. I smiled at every customer. Even the grumpy old guy who came in every morning for a "senior coffee. black. 2 packs of the pink" and insisted on slinging his change on the counter...EVERY MORNING. I smiled at him, every morning. Working at McDonald's was a job I loved, sometimes hated, but loved. I loved the people I worked with...well, most of them. I loved the fast pace, hands-on environment. I loved that I knew how to work every position in the store. I loved my customers...well, most of them :o) I loved mostly everything about that job, except for working on the fry station. Anywho...I said all of that to say this:

I believe I was more serious about the "dream" of being a happy McDonald's employee than I was of the dream I had of being the first African-American female president, a famous country singer, or a cow. Yes, I had quite a few dreams as a child, some a little less realistic than others...okay, ONE less realistic than the others, but the point is this... I have always been one to see something that is a rarity or just hasn't been done and dreamed of ways to do it. I knew other kids dreamed of being president, a country singer, or a cow. What other kids were going to seriously dream of working at McDonalds??? It was something that I held onto for years. And I remember telling people about that dream as I was growing up, and people looking at me and saying "By the time you're able to work, trust me, you won't be thinking about McDonalds." Hmph, they were wrong. Not only was it my first job, but I chose to work there over those next 5 years of my life! I made some good friends, actually met my best friend there. Learned a lot of skills there that I still use to this day. And put a lot of smiles on a lot of people's faces...mission accomplished.

Apparently, I/Kentucky was notorious
for wearing flats to visitation. I was not
playing...my feet hurt!

During an interview I had while at Miss America, I was asked, "How long have you wanted to be Miss America? Did you dream of it as a child?" I responded "I can remember watching the Miss America Pageant as a child and admiring the young women I saw. I always thought it was pretty cool, but being Miss America was not something I desired to do as a child. I never dreamed of being Miss America until about two years ago when I was watching the pageant with my best friend and told her, "Hey, I really think I could do that." My best friend looked at me and said "Well, just do it." And thus, a dream was born, and here I am, "just doing it". While being Miss America has not been a lifelong dream of mine, I have always had the desire to put a smile on person's face. I have always had the desire to inspire others. I have always had the desire to push myself to be extraordinary. These desires have manifested themselves through different dreams and adventures on which I have chosen to embark in my life. And throughout every dream, every adventure, every success, and every failure, I have learned that humility is the key to learning and advancing in every experience.
On the final night of the Miss America Pageant, I could not help but to find myself overwhelmed by the excitement and element of surprise that came with the announcement of each semi-finalist! It was such a rush because I had not even TRIED to make a semi-finalist list in my head or anything before the final night. When girls would ask me who I thought would be in the top, I would give them my honest answer "Honey, I don't know, because these judges are hard to read and I really haven't been paying attention to any of the other contestants as far as competition goes." One girl said, "Oh Kentucky, you're no fun!" I just laughed...I was trying to find all the time I could to rest and sleep, not worry about who would make "the cut" and who wouldn't.

When my name had not been called for the top 11, I found myself trying to feel disappointed. I was very confident that I had been strong and consistent throughout the week, was I really not in the judges top scores??? However, there was still a peace and calm that resided in me, something inside of me that said "Djuan Trent, don't sweat it." I told myself, "Okay, I won't sweat it." I already knew we would be voting for a contestants choice because I saw the pens piled up on a table backstage. I pointed out the pens to the other girls and said, "I hope y'all are thinking about who you want for contestants choice because I'm pretty sure we'll be voting for one." I already knew who I was voting for! So when Brooke told us her "special announcement" I was not at all surprised by it. However, what I was surprised when I heard, "Semi-finalist 14 is...Miss Kentucky, Djuan Trent!" WHAT?!? Oh my Lord...I was speechless. I just didn't even know what to do with myself...I turned and hugged Adrianne...or North Carolina...I wanted to go around and hug all the girls, I turned to them and said, "Y'all!!! Wow...I love y'all Thank you!" and one of the girls said, "Go! Go down on the stage!" I suppose I had lost myself in the moment at that point because I wanted to give all of the girls a big hug and I probably would have had I not been reminded that we were on live television. We were hurried off to the back to get into our swimsuits. When we were dressed and backstage ready to go, I stood there thinking to myself, "Well...at least I get to show off my hot buns." Thinking that because I was a contestant's choice, I wouldn't advance to the next phase of competition. Before we went out, some of the non-finalist walked by, to include my forever friend Pauli, aka, Miss Iowa. I could see that she was trying so hard to hold the tears back. She's a strong young woman. She is. But, I knew that this was something she wanted so badly...she had worked so hard for it...half of the state of Iowa was there to see her. I pulled her to me, I said "Pauli. This is for you. I know I'll probably only get to do swimsuit, so these buns are for all of y'all, and I'm going to do my best swimsuit walk ever tonight." And she looked at me, I could see the tears, I said, "Pauli. You are strong. And I love you." She stuffed her doughnut in her mouth and said, "I know. Make us proud." So...I showed off my buns on national television and was excited to do it. But the night just kept getting better and better. I continued to advance in the competition! I guess the judges really did like me :o) After I advanced from swimsuit to evening gown, I gave myself a quick meaningful pep-talk in the midst of hairspraying my hair up into a bun, and it went a little something like this: "Djuan Trent, this is not about you. This is about 38 other young women who could be doing this right now. Let's do it." I felt like a power ranger (the yellow one), and it really was MORPHIN TIME! When it got down to talent and I was sitting on that bench...a lot of people thought I was in some weird deep pageant concentration mode for my talent, but really I was just drinking my water (like it was going out of style) and praying, "Dear Lord, please let me do my talent. I just want TeTe and Sarge to see/hear me." Now, I suppose I should clarify at this point, my grandparents (TeTe and Sarge) did NOT write that song. As far as I know, that song was originally written and recorded by the late Sam Cooke. My grandfather loves Sam Cooke, and he used to sing "Change Gone Come" to me all the time when I was growing up. When it came time for me to pick a song for my talent for Miss America, I chose to sing that song because I knew my grandparents would not be able to make it to Vegas for the pageant, and I wanted to be able to somehow connect with them during the pageant. So, I chose that song. I dedicated that performance to my grandparents, and I sang it with all of my heart. I know my grandfather had to pull out his handkerchief when he heard me sing, and I know my grandmother said to him, "Look at our little Scooter, seems like just yesterday...and now she's all grown up, but she's still the baby." That was all I wanted. And I got it. Thank you God for your guidance. Thank you to my fellow contestants for each being beautifully you. Thank you Miss America Organization for this wonderful opportunity. Thank you Miss Kentucky Board for believing in me and laughing with me. Thank you to my amazing family, friends, and supporters. Thank you everyone for every facebook message, friend request, poke, wall post, tweet, dm...all of the social networking love...THANK YOU! And thank you Djuan, for never ceasing to follow your heart. I am so happy and proud of myself!!! And I say that in the most non-narsacistic way, really. The most consistent word of advice I receieved from any Miss Kentucky or Miss America going into this was, "Take a moment to step back and take it all in, and really enjoy yourself." And that is just what I did. And I loved it! See 11 days spent out there in Vegas are not about a competition...it's about the experience and memories you will take away from it, whether you leave as Miss America or Miss Kentucky...in essence, you are both. It's about the friendships you develop, the jokes you make, the pictures you crash (or maybe that's just me), the 87 times you have to go back and forth to your room at the end of the hallway because you forgot your crown or sash for dinner...it's about the stories you bring back with you to share...the experience that you will always have. Now I get to resume my duties here in Kentucky, of being Miss America to every person that I have inspired and will inspire in some way.

If I have learned nothing else from this experience, I've learned that being Miss America/Kentucky is not about the crown you wear on your head, it's about the crown you wear in your heart. Miss America is not just something you win, it is who you are.

Congratulations to Ms. Teresa Scanlan, she is such a sweetie and I wish her all the best as she has already hit the ground running as our Miss America 2011 :o)

And now for your viewing pleasure...

I love my mommy!

Ms. Kim and me on the plane!!!

This was our icecream truck taxi when we got to Vegas, haha!

That's a super tall short stack!

Ready for whatever!

We are women on a mission!

Hawaii!!! I got lei'd :o)

Won't you take me to funky town!!!

Headed to In-n-Out Burger with my

hairdresser, Rebecca and Miss Kentucky Contestant, Shaina!

As always, there are more pics on facebook! Hope you enjoyed my bout of somewhat witty banter...thanks for tuning in!!!

AlwaysLove,

DjuanKeilaTrent

Just Do It

2010-11-29T00:01:00.003-05:00

National Anthem at UK vs. Notre Dame Game :o)

*singing* I been everywhere man, I been everywhere!
I have! I will definitely say that October and November have been my busiest months yet!!! Shoot. I'm still trying to catch up with myself :o)

Of course, you can look on the Miss Kentucky Website and see all that was done last month, so I don't have to tell you all of that. As much as I have intended and promised to keep my little blog updated, I have clearly failed miserably to do so. But, there may still be hope. I have been trying to find a way to keep people updated on my whereabouts, because people have expressed that they would like to know beforehand so that they can come to events in their area. Well...I think that I will start using my blog for that purpose. Perhpas weekly? Like at the beginning of the week, I can post where I'll be and when. Your responses to this blog post are greatly appreciated because I want to know what is most effective.

Social Networking! Let's Do It!

Now of course, you can always follow me on my facebook and twitter which are updated way more frequently than the blog. I update my twitter almost daily, so following me on twitter could definitely be a solution! I know a lot of people are scared of twitter, or resent twitter for some reason or another, but hey, let me tell ya...I love twitter. It's great. If you don't know what twitter is, let me just break it down plain and simple: It's almost like a worldwide text messaging system. OR, it's like facebook updates, minus the facebook. You can follow your favorite people on twitter and see what they're doing or thinking, and people can also follow you to see your updates. Its fun! Gosh, I sound like a late night infomercial. Haha..

Anywho, I said all that to say this. If you want a better way to keep with me, twitter and facebook may be it. They get updated a lot more often than my blog. I'm surprised I haven't gotten a knock on my door from blog protective services...haha...

Miss Kentucky's a Peach?!?

EVERYWHERE I go...people ask me..."WHERE YA FROM???" It's a Kentucky thing...people like to know where you're from, helps them identify with ya. And they don't go by cities, they go by counties. I'm learning everyday. Everywhere I go people are so nice...so nice. However, I can't help but wonder what's really going through people's heads when they find out I was not born and raised here. The conversations usually go a little something like this:
Person: Well Miss Kentucky, where ya from???
Me: I live in Lexington.
Person: Fayette County huh...Oh yeah? Is that where you're from???
Me: Originally from Columbus, Georgia...I've been living in Kentucky for about 5 years now.
Person: Oh.

AAAAWWWKWAAARRD....yes. Very.
I am Miss Kentucky, and I am very proud to be Miss Kentucky. Very proud. I hate to feel discounted because I was not born and raised in here. And I don't want to have to deny or hide my upbringing in Georgia. It's like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
I came to Kentucky as an adolescent, with a lot of growing and learning to do in life. Throughout my years here in Kentucky, I have grown into a confident and driven young woman who still doesn't have all the answers, but has a lot more answers, wisdom and maturity than she did 5 years ago. I'm not just a part of Kentucky, Kentucky is a part of me.

I was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia. I came to Kentucky for my college education. Decided I liked it so much, I would stay. Decided I liked it so much, I wanted to represent Kentucky at the Miss America Pageant.
Now, to set the record straight, I have never competed in Georgia. I did not decide I wanted to compete until two years ago. I sat in the basement of Seabury Residence Hall at Berea College with my best friend and watched the Miss America 2009 Pageant. I looked at her and said, "You know what? I really feel like I could do that." She looked at me and said, "Just do it." So I did just that...I just did it. No if, ands or buts about it. Well, the little "but" I did have...I lost it somewhere between the gym and lifestyle & fitness. Anywho...it has been...wow. I mean...hello? Two years ago I decided to throw myself into something I had never done before. Honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into, and now...two years later...I am heading to Vegas in 39 days to "JUST DO IT." I am just beside myself...surreal is not even the word. And the journey to get there...I just cannot believe this. One year I'm sitting on the couch eating brownies with my best friend dreaming, the next year I am in Vegas watching my predecessor compete live and materializing what I sought to "JUST DO" the year before, and this year...I am heading to Vegas, making that dream my own reality...walking my toasted almond buns across the Miss America Stage at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

I have been watching my 2009 Miss America DVD like its the first time everytime. That year holds a lot of sentimental value for me. It was the year I made a decision that has forever changed my life. Thank you 2009. Hello 2011.

I recently celebrated a birthday. I'm 24 years old now. It's so interesting to me, the older I get, the more I realize how young I am. I'm only 24. I have done a lot more and a lot less then I thought I would have at this age. I also look a lot different then I thought. Zack Morris, Kelly Kapouski and Lisa Turtle led me wrong! I look much younger than I thought I would. In fact, at one of the schools the kids asked me how old I was, and when I told them 23, they said "well you must wear a lot of make up Miss Kentucky because you look 16!!!" Haha...I love it. Anywho...I am just 24 years young...and I have a lot of living to do. I am happy with what I have accomplished thusfar in life and look forward whatever the years ahead hold in store. Also, thank you everyone for my facebook birthday wishes...I received over 300...I would reply to them all individually, but...I received over 300.

Sweet Potato Pie Anyone???

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was just swell! If your tummy is swole, I'll take that as a yes :o)
My Thanksgiving was great! I actually made a couple of sweet potato pies and homemade whipped topping with the assistance of my special helper. They were THE BOMB! I went to see my Ky Grandma, Ms. Deloris, and took a pie to her. I ate dinner out in Winchester...it was yuuuummmmy!!! Yumma in my tumma!
I ended the day/night on East Short street at Central Christian Church, where the Catholic Action Center and volunteers served a delicious dinner to many who otherwise may not have had a "Thanksgiving Dinner." It was just like being home for me. So many smiling and thankful faces. That was my "Happy Thanksgiving." Now it is time for Christmahannakwanzikah!!!

If you haven't seen already, I am the covergirl of December's Kentucky Monthly Magazine! Yay!!! There is a very nice 3 page spread and article on me, and I just love it. I have to say, I believe this article/interview has captured me completely. I love it, it is a wonderful portrayal of Djuan Keila Trent. Because..."I'm just Djuan Keila Trent."

I broke my camera last month so I had to take a lot of pictures with my phone. Enjoy!

Sleepless in Lexington
After getting a little less than 3 hrs of sleep
in her cardboard home for the night...
Miss Kentucky awakes!

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
Kick-Off at the Capital
boy..that is a mouth full!

This is why I love visiting high schools!
Haha...just kidding.
But thanks for the birthday kisses boys!

Caught me red-handed!!!

hello my bluegrass princess mama!

Lexington Homeless Connection
Getting my blood sugar tested!

UK vs. Notre Dame Game!

The finishing touch to my Christmas Tree!

AlwaysLove,

DjuanKeilaTrent

Broken Promise!

2010-10-04T22:22:00.000-04:00

I apologize...on my last blog, I promised that I would update it later that week, and I failed to do so. So...I apologize...please forgive me :o)

This job has taught me the importance of gratitude. Not to say that gratitude held no value to me prior to this year, BUT...sometimes, I don't think we realize how much we take for granted. How much we have readily available to us, but to others may be a luxury. A car. A house. Clothes. Shoes. Socks. Food. Friends. Education. Family. Self confidence. Computer. Television. Peace of mind. Glasses. Toothbrush. Love. Mentors. Mail. Deoderant. Soap. Faith.

Over these past few weeks, I have a had a lot of ups, a lot of downs, seen the ins and outs of society and the way it operates, had some eye opening experiences, insightful conversations...altogether beautiful. This is all truly breathtaking. I wish I could step outside of myself and just watch my interactions with others, and truly capture the essence of the WHOLE PICTURE. I can only imagine! I really have to just, take a step back and take it all in.

I am so thankful for this experience and every single thing I've been able to gain from it. One of the most memorable experiences I have had thus far has been with an autistic student at a school I recently visited.
He came up to me, eyelashes wet, eyes red and puffy...I could tell he had been crying.
His teacher told me, "This is [Little Johnny], and he is autistic. He just about had a fit because he thought he wouldn't get to talk to you, he has something very important he says he wants to tell you."
I replied, "Hi [Little Johnny], I see you've been crying. I'm sorry I didn't get to call you to talk, but I sure would love to hear what you have to say now."
'Little Johnny' said to me:
"Miss Kentucky, you are beautiful. And I know I love you. You are so beautiful and you sing like an angel. I know I love you. You are the best Miss Kentucky. I want you to know. And Miss Kentucky...you are the voice in my head. You are! I hear you, and you are the voice in my head."
I paused...I was taken...I did not know what to say to Little Johnny who had so eagerly poured his heart out to me... I said, "Me? I'm the voice in your head? Well...what kinds of things do you hear? Do I say good and positive things?"
Little Johnny simply said, "Yes. And I love you, and I want you to have this silly band to remember me by."

Who am I?!? Who am I that this beautiful child would say these things to me with such sincerity??? Who am I? I am just Djuan Keila Trent. I have this neat sash and shiny crown. I have these wonderful opportunities before me....I have been chosen to touch the lives of many, and I just feel...I feel so blessed to do it. I am so blessed.

Hey Leslie!

I also went to my FIRST EVER college football game!!! It was madness!!! haha... living in Big Blue country is no joke I tell you! I was able to go to the UK vs. UofL football game, and had a good time! But seriously, I was so blown away by the extreme measures a lot of people took to show support for their team. Let me just say...Wildcats don't play...Cards don't either...but Wildcats fans really don't. Haha... It was all fun for me tho!

I have been doing some work with my platform, in case you all were wondering :o) Homelessness Prevention and Awareness: A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out. On September 15, in Louisville, Project Homeless Connect and Stand Down took place at Old Male High School, under the Salvation Army Banner. The event serves as a "one stop shop" for many needs of the homeless population. Some of the services included: vision screening, flu shots, state ids, social services, and some specially set up services for veterans. I had such a wonderful time there getting to know people and just listening to their stories. You'd be surprised how appreciative people are just to have a listening ear.

There will be another Stand Down in Lexington this month (October), come on down and help if you'd like!

Here's a video from Louisville's Stand Down, I'm in it :o)

And here are some pictures of all the excitement of September!!! And if there are any typos, my bad...I didn't proof read :o/

National Anthem at Kentucky Motor Speedway

Quest Community Church, Fame Contest

Little Mr. Kentucky, haha

Roots and Heritage Festival

Madison County Proclamation

Lexington Rescue Mission Banquet

VA POW/MIA Program

Getting EnergyFit with Joshie!

Red, White, and Blue Days

Go Team Yellow!!!

Signed my first forehead :o)

World Equestrian Games, coolest bus driver ever!

Ladies Night at the World Equestrian Games :o)

FEAT on the Street! Autism Awareness Event

Capacity Inc. Fashion Show

More pics on Facebook!!! Later :o)

AlwaysLove,

DjuanKeilaTrent

Nothing Fancy, Like Ketchup

2010-09-19T21:56:00.001-04:00

Over the course of the past few weeks...I have struggled. And struggled. And struggled a little more. And finally come to a realization and a place of comfortability. I struggled with actually being Miss Kentucky.I love myself as a person. I am in love with being Miss Kentucky. I struggled with finding the proper balance in being myself and being Miss Kentucky. And I, for the life of me, could not understand why...why was I struggling with something I was so sure I could attain, because I knew that I had what it took to accomplish that goal...the goal of being Miss Kentucky. I knew that this would be my year, because I had come to a place in which I was so comfortable with myself, in my own skin, and I had the heart to take on the job.

Sooo...WHY WAS I STRUGGLING?!? I struggled because I allowed myself to be lost in translation. I began worrying that people were expecting me to be some other kind of Miss Kentucky other than the Miss Kentucky that I am. I attained the crown by being myself...showing myself, and everyone around me...who I am. Crown or no crown. Who you see when I am wearing the crown, is who you see when I'm wearing my favorite nike sweats with the hole in the left thigh, and my glasses. I am Djuan Keila Trent. Whether I am wearing the crown or not...I am who I am. I are who I be. I be who I is. Djuan Keila Trent.

In the midst of all of the unneccessary confusion I was experiencing...

three quotes came to mind:

"The most successful girl in the world, is the girl who can be herself."

"Titles do not define me, they simply preceed me."

"Who are you? You're Djuan Keila Trent."

The last quote comes from my mother, Lafondra Venita Gaudette. Almost everyday leading up to Miss Kentucky this year, she asked me that. It may seem silly to some, but...it really kept me grounded. It was a good reminder, to never forget who I am. I can only be me.That's why there is only one me...that's why I'm Djuan n Only...haha...but really. I am fearfully and wonderfully made like no other. And that my friends, is all :o)

I have been blessed enough to have a couple of experiences over the past few weeks that have served as confirmation for me that I am in the right place in my life, doing the right thing, at the right time.

Thank you everyone so much for all of the love and support you have shown me. It means more to me than you can know. And I mean that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

...more to come later this week. i promise :o)

AlwaysLove,

DjuanKeilaTrent

“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast asleep…”

2010-09-02T09:44:00.000-04:00

Do you believe this??? I do! Well, for the most part…excluding that scary dream that I keep having of going to Miss America and opening my luggage to find that all I’ve packed is 12 boxes of Velveta Shells and Cheese, and a purple sequin tutu. Yes…it is a rather odd dream. I’m pretty sure that is not a wish my heart is making, just some mumbo-jumbo my mind configures in my deepest realms of sleep. Haha…okay.

The past couple of weeks have been very princess filled for me! To start, I did Chic-Fil-A Fairy Tale Evenings at all of the Lexington and Richmond locations. I believe it was just as entertaining for me as it was for the little girls (and boys) who came and participated! There was a station set up for the girls to get their nails polished, princess makeovers, pictures, prince charming, princess cow and knight cow! It was a big fairy tale party! The little girls came all dressed up in their princess outfits, it was just precious. I even got to sit on the Chic-Fil-A throne :o) I heard “PRINCESS TIANA!!!” several times! Most of the little girls thought I was Princess Tiana (from the Princess and the Frog) and were in awe of my “real crown”. I enjoyed being able to make every little girl feel like the most special girl in the room. I too felt like the most special girl in the room UNTIL…they saw the cows! Apparently the cows were so much cooler than me! But, I can’t lie, I kind of wished I was in that cow suit. What better wayto fulfill my childhood dream? There were little boys too. They were just too cute and super shy! Well, most of them...not my transforming friend pictured below :o)

11 days of deep fried bliss!

You guessed it! The Kentucky State Fair!!! Kicked off eeeearly Thursday (Aug. 30th) morning, with the Commodities Breakfast at 6:45 am...oh joy :o) I met a lot of people that morning, ate the best sausage I've EVER had in my life, and every bit of styling I had attempted to do to my hair that morning was overcome and defeated by the cloud of fog which so conveniently found its way to the fair grounds. HOWEVER, one cloud of fog doesn't stop the show now does it??? Nope! After the breakfast I still made my way around the fair, seeing ALL I could see. This was my first state fair ever! So it was quite an exciting venture.

I learned a lot about the origin and history of the state fair, and I must say, it is such a beautiful thing to see something blossom the way the Kentucky State Fair has. What started out as a venue for agricultural, stock, and cattle competitions and markets, has become something that the whole family and even those not deeply involved in agriculture can enjoy! There's food, games, rides, health fair, trade show, cooking show, cattle showings, produce competitions...LOTS GOING ON!!! I am learning new things everyday. One day I was walking through an aisle of corn. I noticed some of the corn had ribbons on it, and some didn't. Now...I have NEVER in my life heard of award winning corn. How do you judge that??? I have no clue! My only question is..."Is it edible and yummy?" and if the answer is yes, then *ding*ding*ding* we have a winner! haha...but really, my point in saying that is this: We all have a passion in life. Whether it be farming, singing, or eating, we all love to do something. I am proud of that award winning corn for the simple fact that someone has invested their time and energy in it. That corn is award winning because it has something that the other ears don't. Now while I don't know what that is, corn competitors and judges do, and just because I don't know what it is, doesn't make it any less important. Love what ya do and do what ya love!

Ham never looked so good! That's right...I'm talking about that $1.6 milllion ham.

I'm pretty sure that running that 16 lb ham back and forth in my 5 inch heels made up for aaaalll of the workouts I have NOT done since July 17, 2010, haha...but really, it was a workout. I always knew I would have that much money in my hands one day, but I never knew it would be this soon! The Kentucky Farm Bureau's 47th Annual Country Ham Breakfast auctioned off a 16.05 lb country ham for $1.6 miilion. The bidders will get to choose what charities will benefit from the money that was bid on the ham. I know from the outside looking in, it may seem silly to bid $1.6 million on a ham, BUT...that is not the point. You see, in my opinion, it is not really the ham that is being bid on, it is the charity. The money that the bidder puts towards the ham goes directly to the charity of their choice...how beautiful is that?

In the midst of going back and forth to Chic-Fil-A Princess Nights, and the State Fair, I was able to make it out to beautiful Western Kentucky by way of Kutawwa (Lake Barkley)! Went out there for the Lake Barkley BBQ Festival and had myself a good ole time :o) One thing I can definitely say about my year so far is that I am falling more and more in love with Kentucky everyday. There are some truly beautiful souls here in the bluegrass, and I feel so blessed to be able to spend a year meeting many of them! Needless to say, I had a grand time out at Lake Barkley!

Because of obligations to the State Fair, I was not able to make it down to Orlando until Thursday!!! While most of the other Miss State's had arrived on Monday and Tuesday. It's all good though! I still got to see Laura on her talent night, and she did phenomenal as always!!! Let me just tell y'all a little something about my LauraBoo... I LOVE HER. She is beautiful on the inside and out, and her inner beauty is what truly makes her glow. It is what sets her apart. And that, my friends, is the epitomy of excellence. On that final night, there was nothing she could have done any better than she did, she was absolutely fabulous. And I'll tell you what...if I have ever heard Laura play that fiddle, she played that fiddle like it was going out of style on Saturday night!!! She looked radiant in her evening gown and answered her onstage question like a star! She is just such a beautifully poised young woman, and I am so proud of her and love her ;o)

Got to meet the other Miss girls down in Orlando! That was nice. Everyone seems so nice, and I'm glad about that. I really look forward to the time we'll all get to spend together in Vegas!!! Although I was late arriving, I did make the most of my time there, and even got to stay a couple extra days! Thursday, as soon as I arrived I was rushed to the hotel to do some viral marketing recording for ABC. I had fun with it, and was myself as always. That was followed by dinner at Maggiano's, hosted by Mary Sullivan and Regalia. It was yummy! And the night concluded with the last teen preliminary competitio, in which Laura did amazing. I figured that talent would be between Laura and Alabama, who did a very spunky/sassy dance, ballet on pointe to be exact, to MJ's "The Way You Make Me Feel". The next morning we were up and at 'em pretty early at THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!! Did some video recording, interviews, and photos and also got to ride a few rides :o) It was a good day, which was followed by a fundraiser that evening. It was a good time! While I spent a good 30% of the party resting my po' lil feet, there was dancing, socializing, laughter...it was just a good time.

Saturday we had a meeting about production, sponsors, what Vegas will be like, what Miss America will be like, what being Miss America will be like...it was a very good and productive meeting. I would however, like to clear the air just a little. I 've had a lot of people approach me in both a serious and joking matter saying "I heard you asked Caressa about her wigs!!!" Check it out, this was the jist of the conversation :o) Caressa had already proceeded to talk about hair care, in referenc to all contestants, she was specifically speaking on highlights, weaves, and any other procedures you could have done to your hair that would eventually be time consuming in the long run. I asked her what kind of weave did she wear at Miss America. I was also curious to know about the opportunities and amount of time she had alotted for hair care, which she let me know wasn't much because unfortunately she has not had a relaxer since Miss America :o( I can completely understand. Some things you have to understand when it comes to African American hair care are:

1. You do not let just anyone and everyone touch and do your hair. You just don't; African American hair is just too fragile. And contrary to popular belief, we do not all have the same type of hair. So when we have our beauticians, we are pretty loyal to them, because they understand our hair and the specific care it needs.

2. Look, I could right a whole blog on this, which I think I will do. Yes, thanks for the idea :o) So for now, I think #1 serves as sufficient enough insight.

N E X T ! ! !

Although I was scheduled to head out on Sunday, I was able to get my flight changed and stay a couple extra days! Disney gave us park passes, so I stayed a couple extra days and got to enjoy the parks. Shout out to New Jersey and Massachusettes, my roomies ;o) We had a good time down there! I think I may be changing my career goals pretty soon, haha... I was so taken by how princess likeand animated the Disney princesses were! I'm pretty sure they take princess classes! I watched them very closely and have been practicing...so, watch out Disney ;o)

Well folks, it seems that I have yet again managed to squeeze 2-3 weeks worth of blogging into one blog post. I did promise that I would get better and post more frequently which I will. There are often times that I want to share with you all, along with my experiences, thoughts that I often have as I go throughout the year, insightful and interesting things about me and life...I think I will start to post those things as well. Until next time...you know how it goes...PICTURE TIME!!!!

OH! And this post is dedicated to my beautiful LauraBoo. She is truly a Proverbs 31:30 woman.

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised." I think that Just about sums it up ;o)

My Lovely Laura

In between events at Lake Barkley! They caught me half passed out on the couch, haha...

Monica Hardin, Miss Kentucky 2001 and me :o)

The million dollar ham and it's lovely bidders!

IT WAS HAMMER TIME!!!

I ate LOTS of chicken that week :o)

WHO FORGOT TO PUT ON DEODARANT?!?

He's such a ladie's man...mouse...man-mouse.

Miss America Class of 2011 :o)

It's yumma!

!OJO!

What a pleasant surpise ;o) Thanks for coming Candace!

And of course there are many many MANY more pictures on my Facebook, so be sure to check it out. Until next time, which hopefully won't be long....Be Beautiful! Be You!

Always Love,
DjuanKeilaTrent!

BROWN is the new BLACK

2010-08-14T16:58:00.004-04:00

Thought it'd be nice to give you a little sneak peak into the HARD WORK I'm having to put in at these schools, hehe...BEST JOB EVER!!!

As some of you may or may not know, as Miss Kentucky, I am employed by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture as a spokesperson for the Kentucky Proud campaign. I get to travel to schools and events all across the commonwealth!!! Of course, I can already tell that speaking and spending time with the children will be my favorite :o)

The heart and mind of a child are just the most precious things in the world because they are so HONEST. Children will say and do almost anything and it is usually rather entertaining!

This is a conversation that happened yesterday in one of the classrooms I visited.

Child: MISS KENTUCKY!!! How do you keep your crown on?!?

Me: With these magical clips I bought from Wal-Mart!

Child: You can buy magic at Wal-Mart?!?

Me: You can buy anything at Wal-Mart!

Child: Well, I still can't wear your crown because I'm bald!

Me: Yes, they may present a problem.

Child: Mr. Wesley can't wear the crown because he's bald too!

Me: You're very right!

Child: I'm bald like Mr. Wesley, but Mr. Wesley is brown!

(My eyes got so wide and I just burst out into laughter! The child began laughing too)

Child: You're brown too Miss Kentucky!

Me: Yes, that is very true! And so are some of your classmates!

Child: Yeah! That's pretty cool!

Haha, I get tickled just sitting here thinkin about that. I was not at all offended by it, because it really was just an honest observation made by "child". Often times those are things that we tell children not to say or mention, and we often avoid those conversations as adults. But I feel that those are the conversations that children need to be able to have. What I liked most about that conversation that I had on Friday was that, the child in no way implied that it was a problem or strange to him that his teacher and I were both "brown". He was simply stating the obvious. I feel that his statement was more intuitive as to why we were brown and he was not,but we were all seemingly the same. I am sure that there will be more conversations of this nature to come during my year of service, and I look forward to them!

I have had some fun times at the schools I have visited thus far. The first school I went to was on their first day of school! It was sooo cool! They had a red carpet/hollywood theme. I was just thinking to myself, "Man! My school never did cool things like this!" I would have looooved to walk down the red carpet for my first day of school! However, I digress. It clearly was not about me, haha, it was about the kiddies :o)

Thursday, August 5 was MIRACLE TREAT DAY! Did you get your blizzard??? I did! I had three blizzards before lunch time even rolled around, and boy did I have a tummy ache! It's okay though, I'll take a tummy ache for the kids :o) I was able to help promote Miracle Treat Day on a couple of a news stations here in Kentucky, and I also posted it all over my facebook and twitter (twitter.com/misstrent) #shamelessplug :o) I even took the liberty of recording my own PSA for Miracle Treat Day, in which you will see me working on my third blizzard, haha...Miss Kentucky Miracle Treat PSA! (<-click to watch)
I was also able to spend time with some of the children and families who's lives have been saved through the UK Children's Hospitals. These children are strong. They are so strong. To go through the things they've been through, and to fight and stand against the odds... It is so beautiful. Their strength gives me strength. I'm really not sure who was more excited to be meeting who!

Last thing I want to write about today...

I took off one weekend to DC to support one of my best friends, Ashley Miller (Miss Black Ohio USA) in the Miss Black USA Pageant! I was so excited to just be out in the area because DC is someplace I have always wanted to visit and quite possibly live. She did very well, placing as the 4th Runner Up, shining like a queen! I told them I was going to burn something down if she didn't win! But, that did not go over very well with my board, so I opted to do a peaceful inner protest.

This post is dedicated to my Ashley.
Ashley. I am very proud of you. You know who you are, and whether you win or not (in anything you do) you are just as poised as ever. I admire you, and you are such an inspiration to me. You took me under your wing and have taught me everything you know. Although you don't need it, this Miss Kentucky crown that I wear on my head is yours too. You are a queen. You wear your crown everyday, whether you are headed to spinning class or a Stop AIDs event. I love you, and I respect you, and I thank God for placing you in my life. This one's for you!

I really left out a lot of things, and I'm soooo sorry! I will try to do better and update the blog more often! In the meanwhile, hope you can enjoy the pictures!!!

i like to rally the kids!!! they like it too :o)

Thank you Dr's White Greer and Maggard! Making sure I have that Miss America smile!

posing with Dr. Jim (Greer)!

she wanted me to sign her wristband

future miss kentucky??? we shall see :o)

i got to meet stacey mckenzie (she has a beautiful story to tell)

got caught with my hand in the cheese ball jar!!!

she loooves princesses!!!

signed my first cast!!!

There are more pictures on facebook, check them out when you have time! Later!!!

AlwaysLove,
DjuanKeilaTrent!

Bling! Bling!!!

2010-07-26T11:45:00.031-04:00

WHAT TO SAY?!? There is so much to say, I fear that I should be writing a book rather than a blog! But, a book would take much more time, and I want to share these moments as they come, so...a blog it is.

As calm and collected as I was arriving at the SAE House on Sunday, July 11, 2010....I could not help but to feel as though I was about to jump right out of my toasted almond skin!!! OH THE ANXIETY. It was like waiting for the season finale of Boy Meets World! You are think you know the ending, but then again, you just never know. Thankfully, there was never a dull moment leading up to "thee moment", because I had the most awesome roommate in the world who very strongly resembles Kelly Kapowski. I love you April Reinle. We quickly discovered that we both shared a love for sarcasm, beyonce, lady gaga, britney spears, will ferrell, and youtube. Needless to say, between the two of us, it was an interesting week. And of course there were new and beautiful friendships and bonds developed throughout the week. You hear people talk about that being one of the benefits of the program quite often, and it's very true. You meet people who share the same heart as you, the same interest as you, or perhaps not very many interest at all, but that is what makes you interested in each other! And being a "vet in the game" (haha..), I really do feel that I was able to be of help to some of the new girls this year, whether it was being a listening ear, talking to them, helping pick out earrings, or even exercising with milk jugs I really hope I was. I know I was truly blessed by you guys :o)

Sidebar: PLEASE continue to compete. EVERYONE. We really had a great group this year, lots of talent, personality, and potential. Whether you placed or not, take the good from this program, add a little salt (or Mrs. Dash's low sodium seasoning), and continue to make your dreams come true. I know that this year was a little rough, but DO NOT focus on those rough spots. This was a new year altogether. Lots of new things. So it was a learning experience for everyone. Look back on it, and focus on the things and people that really helped you grow.

"Make new friends, but keep the old...one is silver and the other's gold..."

Although my shoes were a size two small, and I could not feel my big or pinky toes, my interview went well. I came out and did the running man, yes, the MC Hammer Dance. Oh, you want to know why I wore small shoes? Well, as my mother would say "Djuan Trent is gonna do what she wants." I found the perfect shoes online, that I simply could not find in the stores, and when I ordered what is normally my size, I quickly found out that at this store, it was not. I didn't want any other shoes, so I did what any shoe-loving girl would do, I wore them everyday for about a half hour around the house in an attempt to stretch them out. I really just did not want any other shoe! It all worked out okay. After competition, I gave the shoes to my friend who has a smaller foot than I, I know she is just loving them.

I really want to write about the crowning moment, and how I felt when my name was called, but...it is so hard because...well, there are so many emotions felt in that one tiny second that it is almost as if there are no emotions felt at all. Perhaps it is a feeling of disbelief. Although that moment is really happening, and I was right there in it, it felt as though I was not there at all. Right after they called my name, and I was struck with the whirlwind of emotions, i tried to gather myself when I turned and saw Mallory and Jamie walking towards me with things like roses, and a crown, and a sash! Because, those are the things that you get when you win. And I believe I was stuck in awe once again, like, "oh! these things are for me!". I know that this is a very sketchy description, but really, I can't...there just aren't words...I just. Here: I know that I will never feel anything like it ever again in my life. It was a beautiful moment, and even moreso it was humbling.

After looking at the crowning moment pictures, I would like to applaud Mallory and Jamie and thank them, because it looks like I gave them a bit of a hard time trying to get my "things" situated :o)

I woke up on Sunday morning (July 18, 2010) and stared at the ceiling. And smiled. And stared. Looked over at my sash, crown, and big bouquet of white roses...and it still had not hit me that I was Miss Kentucky. It still has not hit me yet. But I'm sure it will hit me soon...or not. Maybe it will never hit me. This is starting to sound a bit abusive. But, you get it :o)

The first place I went when I left the Hyatt was to Ms. Delore's church. I call Ms. Delores my adopted grandmother. I met her at the Lexington Rescue Mission where I volunteer, and she has cared for me just as if we shared the same blood. She is just a blessing to me. I went to the church, and it was just amazing. I was called up to address the church, and as I was talking, I looked out into the congregation and there was not one face out there that was not glowing with pride. There were so proud of me, and it was just a beautiful feeling to have a group of people care for and support you like that! After church I was taking pictures with children and adults. Signing autographs on programs, fans, gum wrappers, just whatever people could find for me to sign, it was just so overwhelming, in a good way! I just thought to myself, "Little ole' Djuan Keila Trent, taking pictures and signing gum wrappers, making someone's day...I get to do this for a year!" How awesome is that?!? I made sure to post this picture of the little girls with braids and beads because I used to wear my hair in braids and beads when I was a little girl! I experienced a bit a of nostalgia when they came up to me, and I was glad that they were able to have this experience, because I know they will never forget it :o)

This past week, of being Miss Kentucky has been so lovely. So much more than I could have ever imagined. Besides that fact that I wore my sash almost everywhere I went last week, I feel like people know I'm Miss Kentucky. And that is how I know, I'm Miss Kentucky. Even when I don't have my sash or my crown pin on, I still feel like people know that I'm Miss Kentucky, and even if they don't know I'm Miss Kentucky, they know there is SOMETHING about me. It does not take a crown or a sash or a title for me to have that sparkle about myself. On the contrare, it is the sparkle that got me the crown, the sash, and the title. I feel as though I'm about to start getting all deep and teary over here, so let me wrap it up...

I have said it a thousand times before, and it will be a billion before the year is out, but, I am truly humbled and honored to be your Miss Kentucky 2010, and I will savor every single tiny little moment of it. Thank you all for your support, and your love, and your prayers, and your thoughts.

This entry is dedicated to my loving grandparents, TeTe and Sarge, who were unable to make it to the Miss Kentucky Pageant, but are just as proud of their Little Scooter (thats me), as they always are.

A few snapshots from pageant week and my first week as Miss Kentucky!

Who looks cheezier?

They told us to label everything that would be in the dressing rooms, so...I labeled EVERYTHING :o)

This is what happens in the midst of no sleep, too much caffeine, and gas leaks.

My family at the Lexington Rescue Mission.

Thank you Lexus of Lexington!!!

Hello little ms. baby goat...I'm Miss Kentucky :o)

Thank you for hangin' in there with me this week mommy! Love you!!!

Hope you enjoyed my first blog!

AlwaysLove,

DjuanKeilaTrent!