Tara Allain

Hi everyone!

2008-03-03T02:41:16Z

    I feel so blessed to be coming back to the state of Maine after the hard work I put into competing for Miss America in January. My friends, family, and the entire state of Maine were so supportive and encouraging. For that I am so very appreciative. I was proud and honored to represent you all.
    The weeks in Vegas were a thrill ride. I have so many fond memories and experiences that I will always look back on. Planet Hollywood was very good to all of the contestants and welcomed us with fantastic rooms and daily gifts. The appearances were incredible! We rode in the gondolas at the Venetian, attended a Children’s Miracle Network gala and concert, flipped pancakes for IHOP, participated in a fantastic fashion show at the Fashion Show Mall, saw a STOMP performance and met each of the performers after the show, and attended the red carpet RAMBO premiere. Aside from all of these great opportunities, we rehearsed intensely and practiced for each night of preliminaries and the final night of competition. The time spent laughing on the rehearsal floor with all of my Miss America sisters and keeping each other encouraged is the part that I will hold most dear. I will never forget any of them.
    The competition itself seemed to go by so quickly. I felt very comfortable and confident in my interview, and my talent felt like one of my best performances ever. I answered my onstage question comfortably and had a blast while strutting my stuff in swimsuit and evening wear. My hard work paid off, and though I was not named in the top 15, I knew that I had done my absolute best. I was proud to stand among the countries’ most beautiful, talented, intelligent, and community-oriented women and to feel as if I truly belonged with them. Kirsten Haglund, our new Miss America, is an outstanding woman. I know she will do a fantastic job.
    After this wonderful experience it has been great to get back to “normalcy,” whatever that may be. I am back and enrolled at Colby College for my final semester, graduating in May with my degree in biology. Already in February I was able to visit with the veterans at Togus on Valentine’s Day and have continued my school tour. I also appeared on television on Maine’s 207 which was a blast and hopefully has helped to promote the pageant.
    In my days ahead I will be completing my school tour throughout Maine and doing many other appearances for such organizations as the Maine Fur Trappers Association and Gifford’s Ice Cream who have been such wonderful sponsors of our program. I am also excited to continue my work with Habitat for Humanity in Maine and raising awareness of homelessness.
    So, thank you again for all of your kind words, support, and encouragement I received in January. It was truly an experience I will never forget. I could not be more proud to come home and continue to represent the wonderful state of Maine.

Miss Maine Update!

2007-10-28T00:00:45Z

It has been a very hectic the last two months, moving back into college and also getting the news of the L.A. trip! I am so excited to go on the trip and to get more details about the reality television show. My hopes are that this television show will shed new light onto Miss America, and may be a great opportunity to showcase how Miss America should be a real college bound, goal-oriented woman; not a Barbie doll in a swimsuit.

Unfortunately, these two weeks in L.A mean that I will no longer be able to go on the Miss America cruise. I had to make this decision based on the fact that in order to meet my graduation requirements I would have to choose between the two. Because I deeply value my education and believe that this program should support that, I have chosen to stay in school and skip out on the cruise.

My fundraiser at the end of August went really well. I had a lot of fun, and it is truly amazing how people come out of the woodwork to help out. I am very blessed for all of the support I received.

The trip to Orlando was a blast! I met so many of the contestants, and they are all really fun and different. We were treated like celebrities and the Disney trip with no waiting in lines was amazing! The Teen pageant was also so much fun. Erin Buck did an outstanding job. I was so proud to have her as my teen.

This semester I am trying to juggle my Miss Maine duties along with three courses: Neurobiology, Spanish literature, and American Business and Management. I am also taking dance classes in Augusta to keep my training fresh and getting to the gym on a daily basis. I am looking forward to a trip to Georgia with Valerie in December, to become a national ambassador for Habitat for Humanity.

Every day I am still devoted to my cause, helping to provide affordable housing for families all across the country through Habitat. I worked at the Habitat booth at the Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston in August which raised lots of money for the organization. I also assisted at a golf tournament fund raiser in Leeds and an art auction this month in Lewiston which raised more money for the organization. I met some wonderful people.

Last weekend I had a blast in NYC and Philadelphia with Valerie, Robert, Terry and my mom. After a lot of searching, we finally found the gown of my dreams! Now I am preparing for the two weeks away in LA, and then the big show! Thank you all so much for the continued support; it means so much to me!

Crazy Days of Summer!

2007-08-16T23:55:58Z

Hi everyone! I just thought I would give you a little update about what my summer has been like...

I just came back from the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, FL. Erin Buck really made Maine proud! She did such a great job and we really do have an outstanding teen representing Maine. I was so happy to be there supporting her. As a Miss Contestant, the organization held numerous events for us. We were able to visit a local CMN hospital and spend time with some of the patients. We saw some of the MAOT preliminary competitions, had a wonderful tour of Disney World (all the rides none of the lines!), had lunch at Planet Hollywood, attended a fabulous gala for the teens, met some former Miss America's and many of the organization's key people, and saw the final MAOT competition. I had a blast and really got to know some of the new members of the Miss America 2008 class.

Before FL, I had a wonderful time with Valerie Clemens in PA. I got a real taste of what it felt like to be Miss America. Valerie took me to do some wardrobe shopping as well as numerous appearances. I danced and spoke at places such as the Ronald McDonald house, an inner city children's ESF camp in Philadelphia, the Sunrise Assisted Living Center, Benchmark summer camp, Melmark home for the mentally and physically handicapped, and even got to work on a Habitat home while I was there. I also met up with Miss NJ, Miss RI, and Miss Virgin Islands to take a tour of Atlantic City and the new Miss America office in NJ. I learned so much about the history of the program and I was even able to do a piroutte on the fabulous stage in the Atlantic City convention hall where so many Miss America's had been crowned. At the end of the week, we had mock interviews, talent and swimsuit reviews and a great reception for the visiting titleholders in preparation for Miss America. I had such a great time with Valerie and her family and I know that it really helped me prepare for everything ahead.

I have also been doing several appearances throughout Maine such as the Rockland Lobster Festival Parade and the Taste of Greater Waterville. Each experience has been unique and exciting and I have been able to meet so many great people.

This upcoming weekend I will be attending a fund raiser in Lewiston for Habitat for Humanity where I will be helping to serve food for the organization. I would love to have as much support there as possible for the festival and hot air balloon rides so if you are around that area please stop by! I also have a trip scheduled to Georgia for the last week in August where I will see the national headquarters of Habitat for Humanity and learn how about how it all began. I am continuing to help with Habitat projects and fund raising and I urge you to check out the Habitat website and do the same. There is something for everyone to do at Habitat. I have also corresponded with Congressman Michaud to learn about how our representatives in Congress are continuing to push for more assistance for low income families in Maine.

I will keep you posted as more things happen.....All the best!

Just the Beginning...

2007-07-19T23:13:08Z

Hi everyone!!

First off, I'd like to apologize for my first blog entry being so late. I am not very "computer savvy," and I have not had much time to try! I would also like to begin by thanking everyone that has helped me get to where I am. My family, the Miss Maine board, all of this year's contestants, and everyone I have met along the way; I have learned so much from each and every one of you and I know this is just the beginning of an incredible journey.

I must be honest, no amount of preparation can have you truly prepared for the whirlwind that comes with the crown...... Now I am going to share with you just a couple of things that have been going on during the first month of my being crowned as the new Miss Maine.

The very same week, I had my official headshots taken with Stewart Smith and I had a blast doing them. I really felt like a movie star!

I also took the Dale Carnegie public speaking course and completed the immersion seminar in 3 days. By the end of the training, I already noticed a difference in my comfort level speaking in front of an audience.

I also started my appearances!

I have done thank you tours with Audrey, performed at a dance recital, rode in the Windjammer Parade, spoke at STAR camp, was a guest at the Miss Connecticut pageant, and helped emcee the Beach Baby Contest at Thomas Point Beach.

I have also already started preparations for Miss America!

I have chosen some new music, met with a choreographer in NYC, and have been practicing my interview skills.

Most importantly, I have been able to do some work with Habitat for Humanity (my platform) in Maine. I was lucky enough to meet with some of the affiliates in Portland and even donated a day of work to a Habitat House in Yarmouth, ME with first lady of Maine, Karen Baldacci.

I also got to throw out the first pitch at the Maine Day Red Sox game, it was a blast! What is even more exciting is that there is so much more ahead of me!

Next week I am leaving for Pennsylvania where I will experience "Miss America Bootcamp!" with Valerie. After that I have more appearances coming up followed by a trip to Orlando in August for the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant where I will be cheering on our Outstanding Teen, Erin Buck. I have also coordinated a trip to Georgia in August where I will be getting a tour and visiting the National Headquarters of Habitat for Humanity as well as the Carter Center.

I will keep you posted on everything to come, and I still can't believe this is just the beginning......