My Regards to Miss and Teen District of Columbia International

Dear Queens,

It is with great regret that I inform you that I will not be able to attend your sendoff party, because I am currently en route to compete in a nationally competition myself. Though I know that you will make me and every judge who helped select you proud at nationals, I wish I could be there to support you. I still remember that day judging and I recount it in my head frequently as I prepare for my national pageant. Judging experience is invaluable and I appreciated and took in every moment of it. I regarded myself the "nice judge" that day because I believed I was asking easy questions to make you all feel comfortable and to treat you all as I would like to be treated as a contestant. The things that I learned from watching each judge and contestant that day will help me be the best that I can be at my national pageant.

Enough about me and my experiences...

Juliana: You are a phenomenal young women; I only wish that I was as focused on a goal as you are on your platform. If you show that same confidence to those judges at nationals, I'm sure you will blow them away as well. Remember to always let your inner beauty shine on-stage and in interview! At the risk of sounding strange: I will never forget those piercing blue eyes.

Amanda: Your inner beauty shined, shined, shined brighter than any light in that interview room. Not only was I impressed when I looked at your photos and platform statement, but meeting you was the icing on the cake! You exemplified the meaning of true beauty and showed me what every beauty pageant should be based on. I learned so much from watching you that day. Please show them the same Amanda at nationals.

I'm looking forward to having tea and toasting to your (our) national titles!

Cheers,

Tia