First Day in Vegas.......DONE!

I woke up this morning feeling amazing. The flight was great, the shuttle bus was fast, Planet Hollwood is the perfect hotel and I had so much fun with my first photoshoot! I wish I could say more, but I am pretty sure that I am not supposed to give anything away as far as the theme of the shoot. These pictures will be posted online and they will be used in the program book. All I can say is......THEY ARE HOT! WHEW!

I was able to meet several of the girls at the photoshoot; Wyoming, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, and Oklahoma. Nadia Moffett, Miss NC USA and I were back to back in the photoshoot so we were done around the same time. We were starving so we hit up PF Chang's for dinner. The wait was 90 minutes so we decided to sit at the bar upstairs. I must admit, it was nice being able to see the Boston vs Cleveland playoff game...lol We split lettuce wraps and devoured our main courses. Us East Coast girls were so exhausted and it was only 8:30pm!!! But remember it was really 11:30pm eastern standard time. Poor Nadia only had an hour of sleep the night before so we headed back to our rooms and crashed.

Day 1 was a success! Today is chill.....catching up on emails and unpacking. Everything starts tomorrow at 9am...YAY!


Talk Soon!
Megan Clementi
Miss Florida USA 2010

Road To Vegas! I am on the Plane! YAY!

Wake me up ‘cause I feel like I am dreaming! Am I really on a plane heading to Vegas to compete for the title of Miss USA 2010? Wow…..this is surreal! As exhausted as I am, I cannot seem to stop smiling. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I feel privileged to represent my home state of Florida, the state I was born and raised! It seems like just yesterday, I captured the title of Miss Florida USA 2010….amazing how quickly 9 ½ months flies by!

In that time, I have traveled from Pensacola to the Keys, from Ft Myers to Merritt Island. I have become ‘one’ with my car as I have put nearly 35,000 miles on her since July 18th 2009. I have enjoyed my time with various non-profits including my personal platforms Give Kids The World, Climb For The Cure, and the Future Female Scientist Award. My platforms have allowed me the opportunity to speak throughout the state and make a positive impact in each community I visit. To date, I have made 193 appearances and there is no reason to stop now! If I am chosen to be your next Miss USA, you can bet I will be as devoted to our country as I was to my state. I hope to travel constantly speaking on behalf of Susan G. Komen and Give Kids The World as well as visiting schools to inspire the next generation of engineers. I plan to make a difference one city at a time!

One of the best compliments I have received was from a patient at the Watson Clinic in Lakeland, Fl. I was there learning the ins and outs of what a cancer patient goes through, focusing on Breast Cancer but learning about ovarian, prostate, anal, and skin cancer as well. I was told later by my mentor, Dr Sandra Sha, that one patient said she did not think ‘pageant girls’ were anything more than pretty girls that know they are pretty. She was shocked to see how involved I was with Susan G. Komen and honored to know that I am speaking out about Breast Cancer on behalf of her and all patients past, present, and future! You never know if you are making a difference, but every once in a while you will see or hear something that puts a smile on your face. These little moments remind me why I love my job and why I devote my time to the community. Turns out this woman happens to be a lighthouse enthusiast and I have seen her at 2 of my lighthouse visits; once in St Augustine and again last weekend at St George Island. I am thrilled to see her around the state as I know she has fought cancer and won! She is a success story and should be used as inspiration for those who are currently battling the disease. She is the reason why it is important to speak out. Early detection is key. Knowing this, I have hope for a very close family friend who was diagnosed on March 1st, 2010. She is currently healing from a double mastectomy and will begin radiation and chemotherapy shortly. Please keep her in your prayers.

I am 4 hours from landing in Las Vegas. This is the perfect time to reflect on my life, my accomplishments, and my support system. Although many people credit my success on my determination and perseverance, I cannot help to credit my success to my wonderful team of family , friends and sponsors.

Thank you to my PERSONAL SPONSORS

Exquisite Coaching

Kim Antos: You have given me peace from past experiences that would have prevented me from achieving my dreams. I will never forget seeing you and James outside my hotel door at 4:30 am in Miami the night I won Miss Florida USA 2010. You were going through one of the most traumatic experiences of your life and somehow managed to drive 7 hours from Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville to congratulate me in person. You are an amazing person with the biggest heart I have ever seen. I love you so much and appreciate everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) you have done for me! You are not a ‘pageant friend’ but a lifelong friend that I care deeply about. I am fortunate to have you and James in my life!

Revive Lifestyle Management
Arnold Kolozsvari: I must admit, I was not so sure about starting with a new trainer 2 years ago. I had a good thing going on in Orlando and I could not imagine how special you could possibly be for me to drive an hour to Ormond Beach to train with you. Well when I woke up the next morning and could feel the results….I knew I needed to make a change. You have a unique way of balancing weights, cardio, and ply metrics. Sometimes I think 'wow that was not so bad' until I wake up the next day and I cannot move…lol You challenge me in new ways and I like it! You have great intuition; you know my breaking point, you know when I need take a break. On the days where I have been sick, you have saved me from myself! My body looks better than it has ever looked which I did not think was possible after state last year :) YOU are one of a kind! THANK YOU Csaba!

Kim and Arnold- I am so fortunate to have both of you in my life. Together you have balanced my body and soul.

Florida Hair Extensions and Great Lengths
Natalie Dyson-Thank you for making my hair look amazing. I have never felt more beautiful!!!

Regalia Magnificent Apparel Forte Salon and Spa
Lush Lash Dr Lach Dr Costello
Melanie Pace-personal stylist for my Miss USA wardrobe

Thank you to the OFFICIAL Miss Florida USA SPONSORS
La Casa Hermosa
Don Baker Communications

Thank you to the Prize SPONSORS
Bejeweled
Bijoux Terner
Carroll's Jewelers
Bob Lasky Ritchie Swimwear
Elan
Fredrico Leone
FICA


Thank you all for providing me with needed services throughout my reign!

Thank you to my Family and Friends!

I could not possibly remember everyone who has impacted my life over the years, but there are several who I will never forget (in no particular order…lol)!

Mary Lou, Grant Sr., and Grant Jr. Gravitt
Kim and James Antos
Becky and Gary Bangert
Rachael Denney
Sean Ocando
Jeanine Klem-Thomas
The Orlando Magic Dancers (2004-2009)
The Orlando Magic Organization
Veronica Livesay
David Lang and Carry O’Neal ver
Strever Family
Kreiger Family, Mr and Mrs Brian Walsh
Melissa Witek
Alan Goldstein
Chris Bischoff

Jeff Higuera, BodyTecz
Dan Hrabko and my Miss South Florida Fair Family
Keep Flippin Gymnastics
Jill’s Dance Center/Jupiter Dance Academy
The University of Central Florida College of Engineering and Computer Science

And Lastly….MOM, DAD, MIKEY, DAVE , THE MACK FAMILY, AND THE DARREY FAMILY

I appreciate all your love and support!

Love Always,
Megan Clementi
Miss Florida USA 2010

Forgotten Lighthouse Challenge!

Such a cool weekend! It was non-stop from Thursday evening until Monday morning. I began my weekend Thursday night as Kim Antos and I traveled to Tampa to attend the Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen Pageant. Before we got very far, we made a pit stop in Kissimmee to visit Give Kids The World. I had a $500 check for GKTW that was made by the wonderful people who attended my Central Florida Send Off Party. We raised a total $1500 for charity in which there are 3 beneficiaries.

Anyway, being that the families that visit GKTW stay for exactly 7 days, GKTW is able to plan weekly celebrations like morning visits from Disney Characters, Wednesday night Village Idol, and the Friday night Pirates and Princess Party. Every Thursday Mayor Clayton Celebrates Christmas which I should mention that Mayor Clayton is a very handsome 6 foot tall bunny rabbit who happens to be the Mayor of Kids Village. His wife, Merry, loves celebrating Christmas by having an evening Christmas parade. Now, I intended to be in the parade, but I never left the Gingerbread house (this is where all meals are served). I spent a couple hours mingling with the families and signing autographs. Before you knew it, it was 8:10pm and I had missed the parade! It is ok though…the families appreciate me being in the Gingerbread house with them especially since many of the families were leaving the next day to go back to their home.

Kim and I stayed in Tampa that night and planned our schedules for the next day. With only one car, there was figuring out of who gets the car when. I slept in (YAY) while Kim spent the morning training clients in Ocala. When she returned, she was able to take a nap while I headed to Tampa as I had a new family member to meet! Ella Lynn Darrey was born on the morning of Wednesday April 21st weighing 6 lbs 11 oz.

She is absolutely beautiful!!! I told Ella how much I love her and that she was my good luck charm at Miss USA…I promised to make her proud :) It was so nice to be able to spend a few hours with my cousins…I wish I could have stayed longer!

From there I scooped up Kim and we were off to Dade City for the 2010 Miss Florida's Oustanding Teen Pageant.

Kim, me and David at pageant. David emceed with Galen.

Rachel Strever after preliminary competition. She was awesome!

Both Kim and I worked with girls who were competing so we were there for moral support. The teens were fabulous and very talented. My dad met us out in Dade City so I went home to Orlando with him while Kim stayed for Saturday night finals. I believe we got home around 1:30am. I barely closed my eyes and next thing I knew, I was back in the car for a 4 hour trip to St Mark’s to begin my Forgotten Lighthouse Challenge!!!

I could go on and on about the various lighthouses, but I realize that 6 lighthouses and 1 festival later this blog would be massive. So I am going to post a few pictures with comments instead:)

Saturday April 24th: Florida Lighthouse Day
St Mark’s Lighthouse

First Lighthouse of the weekend!
Posing on the beach with titleholders Morgan Mount Miss Northwest Florida, Natalie Martinez Miss Alachua Cty Teen USA and Cassi McFarland Miss Emerald Coast Teen USA.

20th Anniversary of the River Front Festival in Carrabelle
Natalie and I were posing with an iguana which I need to mention that he is a heavy little guy. Holy cow, that was my workout for the day. Anyway, Mr iguana was posing nicely until his owner said 'you should kiss him'. As soon as Mr iguana heard the word 'kiss', he turned really fast and tried to lick us! He was cute :)

Crooked River Lighthouse
2nd Lighthouse of the weekend!
Signing autographs for those in line :)

St George Lighthouse
Inside of the 3d Lighthouse of the day!
My dad, Cassi's mom and Cassi at the top of the St George Lighthouse. You can see behind me little beach homes in the background. That is where I stayed for the evening. They were the most adorable skinny houses with the most gorgeous views!

Low Country Boil (St George Lighthouse Fundraiser)
BIG JUMBO Shrimp....yum!
The two bookends are Terry and Jim Kemp. They were so wonderful to set up this appearance for me and to find a home for me to stay. Thank you Terry and Jim..you two are awesome :)


Sunday April 25th
Cape San Blas
Interviewed by Panhandle Outdoors at the Cape San Blas Lighthouse
Titleholders at the base of our 4th lighthouse. Jami Lynn Daniels is the reigning Miss Emerald Coast USA. as well as the director of the Miss Northwest Florida Pageant. She brought her girls as well as her USA lil sis Cassi McFarland. Together they presented me a good luck gift with handmade cards. It was so sweet!


Port St Joe
Port St Joe was my favorite lighthouse because it was converted into a home. It is a private lighthouse for that very reason. Pictured above is the owner Danny. We are standing next to the stairs to the top of the lighthouse. That room is only 5'7" in height since that was the average height of a lighthouse keeper in the 1800's.

Signing the lighthouse keepers diary. Cassi and I each posted a diary blog about our visit and then signed it. Now we are apart of the Port St Joe Lighthouse History :)

Pensacola
Warm welcome by confederate soldiers during the Pensacola Lighthouse Visit.

Miss Pensacola USA 2011, Chelsea Cooper and myself. In the background is the Lighthouse Keepers home and the Pensacola Lighthouse.

Inside the lighthouse in the dark tunnel leading tothe Keeper's Room. The captain just finished telling us about the infamous Pensacola Lighthouse Ghost Stories! This lighthouse was featured on a special lightouse episode of Ghost Hunters.

Artist of the Pelican. He autographed a minature pelican for me :)

As you can see, it was quite the weekend! By 6pm CT, it was time to begin our journey back to Orlando. Around midnight ET, I noticed my dad nodding off at the wheel so I spent the remaining 3 ½ hours driving us home. Not sure how, but I was wide awake! Must have been all the cat naps betweens lighthouses :) The drive home was rather therapeutic. 1100 miles later, we just looked at one another and reflected on how much fun we had in the last 72 hours. It was an awesome weekend!

Now, it is time to pack for Miss USA. This entire week will be filled with fittings, appointments, workouts, and hopefully sleep….but I am not going to count on it :) Next time I talk I will probably be on the plane. Wish me luck and I will see YOU in VEGAS!!!!!!

Until Next Time!
Megan Clementi
Miss Florida USA 2010

Happy Ending for the Week!

Good Morning Florida!

It is 9am on Saturday morning and I just finished breakfast....eggs and oatmeal :) It was nice to wake up sans alarm clock although I am surprised I woke up so early. Last night was awesome! I attended my South Florida Send Off Party in Sunny Isles, Fl. My Tel Air Family with the assistance of Barbara Ewald and Lulu Orange planned my party and approximately 100 people mingled at Kitchen 305 inside the Newport Beachside Resort. There are a ton of pics on the Miss Florida USA Flicker site http://www.flickr.com/photos/missfloridausa/ Check it out and feel free to download any of the pics for free.

I was a little emotional last night and had a brain freeze when it was time to THANK my wonderful sponsors, so I figured I would give some shout outs via my Blog :)

Let's start with last nights sponsors!

Thank you to...
Newport Beachside Resort's Kitchen 305
for hosting my send-off party and being
incredibly gracious



Barbara Ewald and Lulu Orange for assisting in putting together my South Florida Send Off






Cake Kingdom (Tequesta Fl) for baking the yummiest and most elegant cake


























La Casa Hermosa for dressing me in a fabulous white lace Sherri Hill cocktail dress






















I have to go workout with Arnold now! But the rest of the thank yous are on the way!







More Thank Yous to come!

Nice message from a scholarship winner's parent :)

Dear Megan,

Thank you so much for taking the time to encourage the young women of Florida. My daughter, Erica, used the prize money to buy a walking robot kit. Oh, and a video game!

Here is the picture I took of the two of you at the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair. Her project that won the Harris Corp. prize in Manatee County was; Affect of Launch Rod Length on the Flight of a Model Rocket.

Picture; Erica Zampello, Megan Clementi

Mike Zampello

This is exactly why I started this scholarship! So that young girls can be inspired to pursue their passion for the science and use their scholarship money in that manner. I congratulate Erica for her winning the scholarship and congratulate her parents for assisting her in choosing how to spend her winnings wisely :)

This message put a HUGE smile on my face when I read it :)

Megan Clementi

Miss Florida USA 2010

Florida Science and Engineering State Fair in Orlando

April 7th-9th was the big finale to my Future Female Scientist Award as it was the Florida Science and Engineering Science State Fair in Orlando Fl. Thursday morning I traveled to the Orange County Convention Center to meet the 874 students competing on the state level. These kids are the brightest science students in the state. If you had seen the projects that these students produced you would have been blown away! I was able to meet and greet with many of the students as well as the judges. Once registration ended, I was off to a full day of Miss USA preparation.

I returned Friday evening for the Awards Ceremony. Unfortunately, I missed the Special Awards Presentation as I was emceeing the Orlando Magic vs New York Knicks game. I left the game after the 4th Quarter 1st Time Out which was my last spot. I made the last 20 minutes of the Awards just in time to speak to all the students, teachers, and parents and to shake hands with each of the First Place Award recipients. When all was said and done, there was a line of students for photo ops. It was a pleasure to stay the extra 20 minutes for these amazing kids. I was delighted that several of my Future Female Science Award recipients went out of there away to introduce themselves to me. I am looking forward to their parents sending me the pictures from that night.

Congratulations to all the Florida Science and Engineering State Competitors

and

Best of Luck to those who are competing at Internationals in Arizona this May!!!!

I wish you all the Best!

Saturday morning was a big day for my personal trainer Arnold Kolozsvari! He had the Grand Opening of his new Ormond Beach gym REVIVE Fitness and Lifestyle Management! http://ormondbeachbootcamps.com/ From 10am-2pm locals attended the opening participating in various classes and enjoying food, massages, and a local band. Arnold declared it 'Cheat Day' making sure that everyone had cake and champagne. Arnold worked really hard to open this gym...his dream has come true! YAY for Arnold...Love you Csaba!

Today was awesome! I slept in until 10:30am! Yep, that's right! It felt amazing to not wake up to a blaring alarm clock. I took my time, laid out for an hour, and then headed to Windermere for a send off party. Five teens celebrated there soon departure for the 2010 Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen Pageant. The young lady to my left is Rachel Strever. She has been a part of my life since I began pageants. She was my Sunshine Princess when I was Miss South Florida Fair 2005. Now she is all grown up and will be competing at state on April 23d and 24th. All these young women are as sweet as can be. They are beautiful, talented and most importantly intelligent! I was listening to there conversation as they candidly spoke about how excited they were. They were not focused on winning, but on having fun and doing there personal best....they have a great attitude and will be great at state. I wish the all the luck and I hope they have memories to last a lifetime :)

Tomorrow is a random day to myself. Have not seen one of those in a while...lol. I plan to workout with Arnold, lay out if the day is as beautiful as it has been, work on the reformer with Darla at Fitness Partners and work with Rachel Strever on her talent. All in all it should be a relaxing day. Do not worry though, Tuesday I am back to be out of the house at 8am and returning at 10pm :) Never a dull moment!

Love Always,

Megan Clementi

Miss Florida USA 2010

Thank you Central Florida!

I cannot explain how appreciative I am to all my Central Florida Family, Friends and the Community! My Central Florida Send Off Party was on Friday night April 2nd and it was a complete success. There were over 200 people in attendance and at least 20 of them were titleholders. I am proud to say that the food was yummy, the auction was awesome and we were able to raise $1500 for my causes. Yay! Also, thank you to Toby Unwin, Console of Austria and Roman Inochovsky, Console of the Czech Republic for attending my send-off as well as participating in our Mr. USA Pageant :)

I want to give a big shout out to a very close friend of mine, Wayne Sysock. He has been the Unofficial photographer for the Magic Dancers ever since I remember making the team in 2004. He graciously accepted my plea for him to be the photographer at my send off party. The pictures came out awesome and they are available for you to view and even copy at no cost. Instructions are as follows.

Please go to http://sysock.com/


Then to: events

And then to: Miss Florida USA – Send off party

If you want to check out his work feel free. He has taken great shots in the past :)

Thank you to everyone for making April 2nd so special

Love Always,

Megan Clementi

Miss Florida USA 2010