Who is Miss Nebraska?
I’m not just asking who is the current Miss Nebraska, but who is this person who travels the state wearing a crown and sash? Who is the woman who goes on TV every year and represents all of us at Miss America? Is there even one all encompassing definition of this person we call Miss Nebraska?
Click here and see the incredible compilation of Miss Nebraskas through the years.
Miss Nebraska 1962 Mary Lee Jepsen was the first to crack the Top 10 at Miss America, twirling three fire batons; she went on to earn four college degrees, two of them Masters’ and one of them a Post-Masters, focusing on psychology and family counseling.
Miss Nebraska 2002 Krista Knicely survived a horrific attack and assault before she was crowned; she used her time as Miss Douglas County and then Miss Nebraska to bravely share her story and inspire other victims of sexual assault attempts or attacks across the country.
Miss Nebraska 2006 Molly McGrath traveled 30,000 across the state talking about financial literacy and economic education, has worked with both the Federal Reserve and in the private sector on multi-million dollar projects.
Such different stories during and after their time as Miss Nebraska, yet they all share a common bond, along with this young woman.
MISS NEBRASKA 2014 MEGAN SWANSON
(Photo courtesy Jenn Cady Photography)
“I’m a tall girl with an even bigger heart,” Megan told me recently. “The job of Miss Nebraska is so much more than what you look like, but rather is about the utterance of your heart by the words you speak and the message you believe in.”
THIS Miss Nebraska isn’t kidding about being tall, she’s 6 feet without heels. That kind of altitude is common place in the Swanson household, but just short of legendary everywhere else.
Megan eye to eye with her family.. and *slightly* taller than her pageant sister, Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen 2014 Morgan Holen
Megan wants people to remember more than that; she wants to be seen as the best possible candidate for serving her state. That has been her intention from the beginning; click here to read my first interview with Megan during her time as Miss Douglas County.
“Nebraska is my home, my love, and my heart,” said Megan. “It’s land, it’s people, it’s message, it’s feel. While passionate about the nation, I believe this year I was supposed to make a visible impact on the state of Nebraska, and I believe I did so. This year as Miss Nebraska, I put over 25,000 miles on my Miss Nebraska car, spoke to over 10,000 students alone, and really believe our residents would associate my name and platform in about 2 seconds. THAT was what my goal was: for people to think Megan Swanson, Miss Nebraska 2014, and think: ‘Oh, yeah! She’s genuine, she cares about people in a real way (not for show, not because she has to), and she’s a fitness/health/wellness buff. Total Body Wellness: Spirit, Soul, and Body is her platform, AND she’s really tall!”
“I’ve spent many a surprising time with tears slowly falling down my face at the testimonies from this year,” said Megan. “You see, to me.. it was never about ‘my message’, despite being 328479384% passionate about it. It’s about the people, your audience. Why go into a school, auditorium, arena, business luncheon, or conference and speak about the same topic over and over that has no way of relating to people? I made it my mission to write the framework and research the heck out of all facets of my program, and then make sure I became an expert in each area.”
Megan has also shared each facet of her program on social media. Using Miss Nebraska 2014 Facebook page (now nearing 1,350 followers), and Instagram (with more than 4,500 followers) Megan posts scripture, diet and workout tips and simply inspiring thoughts, along with a steady stream of photos showcasing her ‘days in the life’ of Miss Nebraska.
‘{BE ENCOURAGED!} I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (Ephesians 1:16-23 NLT)’
‘Mar 7, 2014 | {4 hours of sleep} + [5 games (hours) of reffereeing 5th grade boys bball at 8:30am] + {1 small nap} + [my amazing cousins engagement party] = In Bed By 10:45pm and Miss Night Owl is now Miss Sleepy Nebraska 2014.’
‘Day 9 is all about Abs, Abs, Abs!!! And are made in the kitchen folks! Your hormones and adrenal glands also have a lot to do with storage of fat around your middle section- here are a few quick bullet points to help! As always, if you have questions feel free to DM me!’
Megan has also secured sponsorships during her year as Miss Nebraska with private companies including Deep South Pout clothing, Envy Tans By Tammy, Max Muscle, Meal Solutions, and Smart Girl Style. More so, she’s expanded and further solidified Miss Nebraska’s reach; in politics, visiting the state legislature, meeting Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, and singing the national anthem before a major Republican party event this spring.
Megan has also appeared on television news across the state, participated in radio interviews, and has taken part in numerous fundraisers and events across the state, often with hundreds or thousands in attendance. She’ll perform for one of her biggest crowds yet in just weeks, singing the national anthem for 30,000+ at the College World Series. Click here to listen to her audition!
CLICK HERE TO SEE KETV’S STORY WITH MEGAN, SEPTEMBER 2014
CLICK HERE TO READ MY FEATURE ON MEGAN & MISS IOWA ALY OLSON BEFORE MISS AMERICA
CLICK HERE TO READ ONE OF MEGAN’S FIRST INTERVIEWS, WITH KETV, AFTER WINNING MISS NEBRASKA
Still, Megan wanted more. She told me several times leading up to Miss America she intended to win; her experience was no doubt memorable, but not all positive. An unflattering camera angle of Megan, seated behind ABC’s Miss America host, made national headlines. Megan’s post on Facebook shortly after, ‘liked’ more than 400 times, spoke VOLUMES about her character and confidence.
‘Despite all the explosion of media recently- there are apparently pictures of me in a swimsuit even I didn’t even know existed! Hilariously, these show clearly more than the one accidental second caught on national television! Haha. To everyone- I have laughed about this and moved on! I am a strong woman of character, and confident in who I truly am and where I am going! I guess I am also quite definitely a true basketball player at heart and forgot for a second that I wasn’t on the bench ready for coach to tell me to get in the game! (Lesson learned…) obviously- this In no way means I am anything less than a person of extremely high moral standards. If you know me, you know that. Here’s to the future aiming to be the best Miss Nebraska yet! God can turn any situation for good, and hey- I’m excited to see how even this ends up being an outlet for my TRUE message: helping people to love, accept, grow, and transform themselves through the eyes of wellness education from the inside out! Spirit, Soul, and Body! I have even MORE of a reason now to advocate for my cause! #missnebraska#missnebraska14 #lifestyleandfitness #fitness #laugh#teammegan #tbw #wellness #missne‘
“I choose to BE overcome by a circumstance, or take it by the horns and OWN it, overcome IT myself,” Megan told me. She remains focused on her positive take-aways from Miss America.
“It was so amazing to get to sing on the Miss America stage, and it’s a time I’ll never forget,” said Megan. “I am so blessed to have a network of 52 sisters that I bonded with at Miss America and still talk to literally every, single day. We’re go-getters, we don’t take no for an answer, and we work for every dream in our hearts. Watch out, world! In ten years, we will have conquered wherever we land. The CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, beautiful, intelligent, confident women broadcasting on television or ESPN, future famous musicians, teachers, educators, Super-Moms, and leaders alike, will be women who competed.”
How do you measure a year? How do you define Miss Nebraska?
“This job has abundantly transformed my life for the better this year, and most importantly, grown ME as a young woman,” said Megan. “I’m honored that every, single day, I woke up with the responsibility of being a role model for people of every age, gender, background, status, and walk of life and I don’t take it lightly. It’s exactly that: a responsibility. It’s my duty and my job.”
Megan Swanson’s chapter in the History of Miss Nebraska will end this Saturday night, as she passes her crown on to a woman who was in her place one year ago. She will return to Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue her Commercial Voice Major. Megan will continue to write and produce music, and pursue her family ministry through their church and via their new website (click here to check out We Are Swanson).
“Knowing who we are is the foundation of everything we become,” said Megan. “I believe any role model must first know who they are and where they’re going, or they can’t lead! I think that’s what makes me different. My laser focus in on not just speaking for 30 minutes or an hour, but leaving a lasting impact, creating new leaders, helping people change their path and start walking towards the person they were created to be; first recognizing what makes them special, and then operating in those gifts.”
(Photo courtesy Midwest Photo Pro)
“When I go to schools, I get to look students in the eyes and genuinely convince them that all things are possible. All future hopes and wishes are possible,” said Megan. “Through hard work, trust, a stubborn perseverance and faith, God blossomed this caterpillar into a beautiful, young lady butterfly. Confident. Strong. Firm in her goals and identity and ready to take on the world. What’s holding you back? What excuse are you taking as truth? Run. Run towards your dream every day. Because even if you’re at 0, and your goal is at 100, 1 + 1+ 1 eventually = 100.”
Follow Miss Nebraska 2014 Megan Swanson
on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram
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The Miss Nebraska Pageant will take place June 3-6, 2015 in North Platte. Click here to visit the organization’s website, to visit the pageant on Facebook, to follow the pageant on Twitter, and to follow the pageant on Instagram.
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PREVIOUS.. Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen 2014 Morgan Holen
THANK YOU, SINCERELY, FOR FOLLOWING THIS YEAR’S SERIES ON THE 2015 MISS NEBRASKA AND MISS NEBRASKA’S OUTSTANDING TEEN CONTESTANTS!
GOOD LUCK, LADIES!!!
Click here for my recap of the 2015 Miss Nebraska & Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Pageant
To read more about the Miss Nebraska Class of 2014, click on the ‘There She Is’ link at the top of the page.
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