30 Day Challenge - Day 3

Woohoo, 3 for 3! Every day is an accomplishment so I am happy with how I am doing so far. I fought off having a piece of cake, enjoyed a gluten-free item, and drank a lot of water! Checkout what I ate....

B: Purple power protein shake.
L: Lightly fried chicken sandwich on a sesame seed bun with lettuce and tomato, a side salad with a lot of veggies and red wine vinegar, carrots and celery with lite ranch, and to finish it off a slice of gluten-free banana bread. YUM!
D: Grilled chicken breast with brown rice and black beans, and a tomato, onion, and balsamic vinegar mixture.
S: Post-workout shake.
S: I was still a little hungry before going to bed so I had a few pita chips and hummus.

As you can tell, calorie count is not a big deal for me right now as I have to pick up my metabolism by eating every few hours and since I am burning cals at the gym, my body is requiring more nutrients and protein.

For my workout I did interval training on the treadmill for a little over a mile and finished it off with core exercises for 15 mins. It was a lite workout because I was SO sore from the weight lifting I did for days 1 & 2. Gotta rest your muscles...

Other than tracking my health log I also want to share some insight into my life. My spirit was SO HAPPY all day because I received an invitation into the Phi Mu Soroity! Yah! This is all so new to me, but I have met such INCREDIBLE women, that I know I am in the right place and that my future has so much in store....

The funny thing is, once I got home from our fantastic Bid Day celebration, I was told of some bad news from Venezuela. My Godmother's little girl was rushed to the hospital because her failing liver condition was worsening and causing her to have side-effects. Oh, did I mention she is only 7 months old and was born with a serious list of health complications? It just broke my heart. I broke down in tears because no child should ever deserve to be fighting for her life at such a young age.One moment I was jumping for joy at FAU, but then life hit and I felt a rush of fear knowing that this was a very real situation.

I am asking all my prayer warriors out there to PRAY for my little cousin, Estefania. She is a little fighter with a mean punch because she has continually survived such life-threatening moments for these past 7 months. God has taught us all a lesson and my family and I are trusting in Him to help us get through this. Although I struggled with that all night, this morning I saw this picture on Facebook that another cousin posted of our little fighter....

Estefania at the hospital. I mean how can you not love this little girl with her toys and the ribbon in her hair? Lord, may we all look this happy and this faithful in our times of great trouble...

Be blessed,

Nicole

30 Day Challenge - Day 1 & 2

I am back! I have not blogged since a month or two before Miss Florida because...well....I was SO busy! This past summer was just incredible. I am so glad I get to look back at pictures and remember everything I did before and during Miss Florida. But....now, I am here! It took me awhile to get back to just a good, happy, motivated place. After Miss Florida, I was left with so many questions and thoughts that I just broke-down and hid in my Nicole shell for about 3 weeks. It wasn't all bad, I was just slowly transitioning into what my life is today. I am more motivated than ever to get my life back on track! I am excited to share my thoughts, my highs and lows, and my health tips with my friends for the next 30 days. I hope you gain something from my blog!

One of the TOUGHEST things for me is working out. I mean who really loves working out? Yea...not many. So just getting my booty off the couch is a daily challenge. But with 2 days under my belt, I am getting back into the swing of things. For the past 2 days I have started my workouts on the treadmill. Cardio is my favorite part of working out because although it hurts, I feel myself getting stronger and stronger with every stride in my run. I am staying consistant with a solid mile, but as the days go by I will add interval training, incline, and run a little more each night, until I reach a 5K (3.1 mi). Next was resistance training...which pretty much means weighted squats or lunges (OUCH) and arm exercises. Last is core training. I focus on a 10-15 min core set for lower, upper, and side abdominals. For now I am focusing on the basics....getting my balance back, working on stability, and continuing momentum by not taking many breaks. Oh, did I mention I workout at LA Fitness? SO many gym junkies there, it is easy to be inspired!

Next is my diet...I mean daily food intake! HA! I reeeally need to stop using that word! For the past two days I have focused on cutting sugars, fried foods, and dairy. I do not eat red meat or fish so that cuts out a good amount of options. But I replace those with chicken, turkey, whole grains, LOTS of veggies, and nuts. My food mantra is, "If you know it's not good for you, then don't eat it right now." It's a very common sense approach. Should I have that garlic roll? No, unnecessary carbs. Should I have sugary lemonade? No water with a squeeze of lemon is better. Should I have that slice of pizza? Yes, ok I am guilty...but that was an amazing slice.

The best way to improve your diet is to simply replace bad foods with good foods consistently because eventually your body will stop craving those bad foods. I will be doing this for the next 30 days. But that does not mean I won't cheat because I do not believe in self-deprivation of all food items. If so, after these 30 days I will just run to the dessert/pizza/soda bar and go crazy. NOT GOOD!

Yesterday and Today's meals:
9/10
B: Slice of cinnamon raisin bread with peanut butter, banana, cantaloupe, pineapples, and 1/3 cup of granola.
L: Whole wheat panini sandwich with turkey, tomato, lettuce, herbs, and little Italian dressing with carrots, celery, and light ranch on the side.
S: A slice of pizza... yea, I had a 10 min. break in between a 3 hr class. Next time I will plan better :)
S: Almond and walnut mixture before my workout.
D: Whole wheat pasta, grilled chicken with marinara sauce and a salad with avocados, dried cranberries, walnuts, and light Asian dressing. (Kind of random but I was craving something Asian)
*Clearly I do not pay attention to carbs.

9/11
B: Protein shake
L: Whole wheat wrap with turkey, lettuce, tomato, and pesto with a salad on the side. (Just a bunch of veggies and a little balsamic dressing)
S: Hummus with pita chips
D: Post workout protein shake (So important, I should have done it yesterday) and a half quesadilla with last nights left-over chicken, peppers and onions and a little cheese!

Both days I drank water and almond milk! That's it! As boring as that sounds, I need to let go of the juices and sodas. This weekend I may add some OJ or unsweetened tea but I am just drinking what we have in the fridge until we go shopping!

Have a happy week everyone,

Nicole

I AM BEAUTIFUL

Upon returning from the Miss Florida Orientation, I was encouraged to promote my platform message even more! Having a platform truly distinguishes a Miss America Organization titleholder from other titleholders in various systems because we commit 100% of our time and energy to a very personal cause. As you all know my platform is C.R.O.W.N: Confident Radiant Outstanding Women Now. Please read the following excerpt from my essay explaining more about it...

 Mentoring young women on how to improve their self-esteem and body image so that they may be proud of who they are.

Women, especially young girls are struggling to discover who they are, realize their self-worth, and strengthen their self-esteem because of society’s unrealistic standards and the media’s misleading exemplar of true beauty.  I have personally been challenged in finding who I am and the meaning behind words such as:  body image, confidence, and self-respect.  My experience in searching for these meanings has not been an easy one.  For that reason, I felt led to educate myself on these issues and take the initiative to inspire young girls and women who are struggling in these areas.  C.R.O.W.N is my campaign for young girls and women of my age to embrace who they are, love who they are, and celebrate who they are.  Why?  Because we were all created to be special and beautiful in our own way.

Confidence comes through in the way we walk, the words we speak, and the things we believe.  Most importantly, confidence drives us to discover and affirm what makes us unique and fabulous!  Radiance is when our best qualities, our values, and our true character shine through our smile.  Outstanding young women believe they have the power to accomplish their goals and dreams and will not let anyone or anything stand in their way.  As young women, we need to empower and encourage each other as opposed to competing with each other.  Lastly, now is the time to love ourselves for who we truly are, cherish our quirks and flaws that make us unique, and share these messages of positivity with young girls and women around us.  I strongly feel that mainstream media, magazines, and television offer contradictory messages to young girls. These include a certain standard of beauty, perfection norms/rules, and the overall culture of health and body image.  As a result, young girls feel obligated to fulfill these pressures and expectations.  For that reason, the core of C.R.O.W.N, these messages of truth, must be communicated and exemplified to young girls in our communities.

I have gladly shared my platform to over 175 young girls and boys in the past few months. But I am ready to use social media as a tool to reach a greater audience. For that reason, I am starting the "I Am Beautiful" Project. It is very easy! Take a tube of lipstick, any color and write a positive,encouraging affirming message on your bathroom and/or bedroom mirror!

Here are some examples:

• I Am Beautiful

• I Am Loved

• Be You!

• Beauty Starts On The Inside

• I Believe In Myself

• Be Happy

And the list can go on and on! Be creative! The next step is to share it with the world! Post it on your Facebook wall, post it on my Facebook wall (or tag me), Instagram it and tag me (xonicolevega), or Tweet it and tag me (nicolevega36) with the hashtag #IAMBEAUTIFUL! Whatever you decide...let's start a movement of girls who love themselves and are proud of who they are!

Check-out my mirror at home...

Love, 

Nicole Vega

Miss South Florida Fair 2013

"I am beautiful because....Whether my hair is up or down, whether my make-up is on or off, I follow my heart and love myself for who I am inside. Not for what those around me think I should be or look like. "

CMN: Children's Miracle Network

Many of you have heard me express the partnership the Miss America Organization has with the CMN! It is a heart-warming partnership which continues to promote community involvement and giving back to those who need our help.

Please read below about this incredible organization and how you can help me reach my fundraising goal!

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across North America, which, in turn, use the money where it’s needed the most. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4 billion, most of it $1 at a time. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of our mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Learn more at CMNHospitals.org. Supporting children’s hospitals is a community effort, and your local contestant (ME!) needs your help. Because funds donated to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals stay in the community, when you donate you’re helping kids near you—maybe even the children in your own life. Help your local contestant reach her fundraising goal by donating to these two wonderful causes.

Over the past four years, I have collected $1,050 for the CMN! All thanks to the help of many of you...so give yourselves a pat on the back! ;) Your help is not limited though. In just a few weeks, I'd like to collect $350 for my state fundraising goal! Can you help?

Click on the link below to be directed to my fundraising page and make a donation!

MISS SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR FUNDRAISING PAGE

Love you all!

Nicole Vega

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” 

― Maya Angelou

April

What an exciting, busy, overwhelmingly awesome, challenging, and maybe a bit stressful month! ;)
If any month can represent Miss Florida training, it would be April. I am so motivated to make the most of my time as Miss South Florida Fair and to impact as many people and organizations as I can. I am discovering that in the process of doing so, I am uncovering more of who I am and God's plan for my life continues to unfold right in front of me! I feel alive and I never want those feelings to go away.... Therefore if I continue to impact lives as Miss South Florida Fair or even as Miss Florida....I am know that I am fulfilling my life's purpose!

This month I participated in 11 different appearances, all which touched my heart in various ways, and some even moved me to tears. Check them out!

Western Pines Middle School Jam Club
My favorite thing about being Miss SFF: sharing my platform message with  teens! 

Jam Club speaking engagement at Western Pines Middle School There's nothing better than waking up at 6 a.m. to get beautified and prepare speaking notes! Ha! I truly enjoyed this experience because not only was I able to share my platform message, but also discuss how finding your confidence in Christ can improve your self-esteem and body image.
Judging Miss Relay For Life the Acreage Definitely the less glamorous side of appearances because a minor hurricane took over the event! Ha! But, the show continued and it was truly inspirational to see such young boys and girls share their love for family members touched by cancer and how they continued to remain hopeful under tough circumstances.
Sharing my Testimony at Grace Acreage Thank you SO MUCH Pastor Sims for giving me this opportunity! I had never shared my testimony with such a large audience but it challenged me to be open and honest with myself and others. My main message, "Don't ever let that voice that tells you, you can't do something, stop you from believing in God's power in your life."
U-Turn 8th grade "Identity" Seminar I am so excited to be a team leader for U-Turn because I am able to give back to a school that gave me so much growing up! I loved my small group of girls and I can't wait to speak to the 7th graders about how to find and solidify their identity.
Palm Beach State College LW Awards Night Hostess Hosting this event was an honor, as it awarded outstanding students of PBSC in the areas of academics and service. I love giving back to my PBSC family!
SWEEPS Pageant/Contestants Day The Miss Florida Board did a fantastic job of informing us about the coming weeks before the pageant. I loved meeting most of the contestants and I cannot wait for more fun during orientation weekend! It really is a sisterhood of young women trying to make a difference. I am so honored and blessed to be apart of it...
Career Day at Berean Christian School I loved educating young high school girls about the Miss America Organization and how they can get involved in the Teen or Miss program. We laughed, played a game, and hopefully their misconceptions about pageants were changed!
Sweet Corn Fiesta You can now call me the "Corn Shucking" queen! Hahaha! I loved rooting on my dear friend Marianna in her competition and cheering on the professional corn eaters!
YWCA's Tea by the Sea Luncheon Attending this event allowed me to learn more about the YWCA. Check out their mission statement: "YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all." Needless to say, I am looking forward to see how I can contribute more to this organization as Miss South Florida Fair because it aligns perfectly with my beliefs.
Atlantic Ave. Magazine photo shoot Hair, make-up, gorgeous outfits, beautiful titleholders, a beautiful location, yummy Italian food, and a big luxurious yacht all describe how awesome this day was! I cannot wait to see the photos of us in the next issue!
South Florida Fair Volunteer Luncheon I loved catching up with my SFF family and meeting my princess, Kendell. The SFF continues to enrich my life and I could not be more honored to represent this organization!
Special THANK YOUS I'd like to take the time to send a big TY to Consie Morgan for providing me my jewelry for Contestants Day. To learn more about her accessory business, check out her facebook!
TY all so much for my birthday wishes! It feels great to be 22 along with my new short haircut!

Until next time friends!
Love, Nicole

"I said Somebody should do something about that. Then I realized I am somebody." - Lily Tomlin

March

March was a month of personal ups and downs. That's no surprise, as being a titleholder for the Miss America Organization and balancing being a full-time college student is no easy task! No matter what, the challenges I faced have allowed me to continually grow and discover more of who I am and what I am truly capable of. Throughout the month I was reminded of a Thomas Jefferson quote that greatly impacted me, "If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done."

Check-out the events and fundraisers I took part in throughout the month:

Miss/Teen Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale Pageant 
Adell & Janae, the pageant was an absolute success! It was very entertaining and the personal touches made it a unique pageant! Alex, throughout the pageant I had a feeling it was going to be you! You radiate so much confidence and you never gave up on your journey to the crown. That is such a beautiful testament to the person you are on the inside. I am so glad to have been apart of your journey and to call you my friend! (XOXO)

Miss Boca Raton, Alex Cossio

With my beautiful pageant sister, Miss Palm Beach County Brittani Robbins

International Women's Day
This was such an educational event. My mom and I joined some of Palm Beach County's most influential, educated, and wise women in celebrating Rosa Park's 100th birthday. It sounds simple, but cutting a cake in honor of her was an experience I will never forget.

How sweet, my two friends wanted to crown me!

Peggy Adams Walk for the Animals
I am a dog-lover so this event was so exciting to be apart of! I spent the morning with Theresa and hundreds of dogs, how awesome! The moment I arrived, a medium-sized dog came over and licked my entire right leg calf. I started laughing and knew I had "arrived!" From there, I joined the CEO of the Peggy Adams League, Rich Anderson in the pace car to begin the animal walk. Later, I
joined 4 other fabulous judges to judge the pet contestant...which was SO FUN! The dogs were adorable and I kept thinking to myself, "I am so blessed!" After taking pictures with many dogs and kids, Theresa and I called it a day! Thank you Lauren for the opportunity to take part in something so unique and worthwhile.

A few of my favorite dog costumes! That's Marilyn Monroe on the bottom left! Ha!

Women's Chamber of Commerce Giraffe Awards
This was such a fantastic night. The women being honored that night were truly inspiring and accomplished. After eating my giraffe shaped chocolate (oops), I bonded with several women including my dear friend, Maria Vallejo, Provost of Palm Beach State College LW campus. Being apart of this event allowed me to meet successful women of all backgrounds, which in turn, motivated me to continue working hard for my goals.

ASPIRA speaking engagement
Through my friendship with Dr. Vallejo, she encouraged me to get involved with the ASPIRA organization. "The ASPIRA Association, a 501(C)(3) organization, is the only national Hispanic organization dedicated exclusively to developing the educational and leadership capacity of Hispanic
 youth.  Since 1961, ASPIRA has been working at the grass-roots level to provide programs that encourage Hispanic students to stay in school, prepare them to succeed in the educational arena, develop their leadership skills, and to serve their community.  ASPIRA is a very diverse organization working with substantial numbers of Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Central Americans, Mexicans, and Cubans, as well as with African Americans, non-Hispanic whites, and Haitians, among others."
Because of my Venezuelan background attending the "Muchachos and Muchachas Conference" held at Palm Beach State College Lake Worth was very significant to me. It is my priority to invest time into the advancement of the Hispanic community and by sharing my platform C.R.O.W.N. with them, I felt as though I was passing on to them the many lessons I have learned as a young women. 

Miss Florida's fundraiser for The Miracle League
Later that day, Theresa, Miss PBC and I drove to Miami to join Miss Florida 2012, Laura and other local Titleholders for a fundraiser for Laura's platform: The Miracle League. Not only was our time together educational, but we also got to know each other on a different level. We laughed, shared our thoughts about the Miss America Organization, and overall had a fantastic time. I am so grateful for Laura....she is a beautiful (Inside & out) representative for our state and she's just a cool gal ;)

Miss Florida 2012 Laura McKeeman, top 16 at Miss America!

Miss Miss Coral Gables, Brickell, Hialeah Pageant
Wow, what a pageant! Over 18 Teen and Miss contestants competed for these various titles. What an accomplishment for the director Rose Martinez and her team! The talents were very entertaining and the crowd loved cheering for and encouraging the girls on stage. Once again, what a relief it is to just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. ;)

My pageant sisters!

Quantum House fundraiser at Jersey Mike's
"Fueled by the vision, energy and resources of Quantum Foundation, The Junior League of the Palm Beaches and St. Mary’s Medical Center, Quantum House opened its doors in 2001 to serve more than 1300 family members each year. As the only facility of its kind between Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale, Quantum House is proudly celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2011. Families and their children from every state and more than a dozen countries have found a caring a supportive home at this ten guest suite facility.  Quantum House - where "hope has a home." 
Participating in this fundraiser with Theresa was great because it gave us a chance to educate Jersey Mike's customer that day on this incredible organization. 100% of the proceeds that day went to the Quantum House, woohoo!

Regalia's
David and Carry are without a doubt the pageant kings! We laughed, tried on BEAUTIFUL gowns and they made me feel like a princess. I am so excited to wear my gown on the Miss Florida stage! THANK YOU for your hospitality!

Wearing a gown that Miss America 2012 wore for a photo shot. VERY COOL moment! 

Until next time readers!

Love you all,

Nicole

C.R.O.W.N Thought of the Week

My personal platform: C.R.O.W.N: Confident Radiant Outstanding Women Now

"What if we all followed Maya Angelou’s advice and removed the word normal from our vocabulary? Maybe then, we could focus on seizing every single opportunity to embrace our “crazy” inner dreamer, say adios  to our stuffy inner critic, and live our version of a more amazing life."                                                                                                                   -Terri Wingham

I love this Maya Angelou quote and the challenges posed by writer, Terri Wingham. What if we spent our time leading a more amazing, I can do it, I believe in myself mindset and attitude? How would that change us? I remember a time, when the thought of calling myself "amazing" or thinking I could do "amazing" things sounded crazy and self-centered to me. But now, I use it  as a tool to fuel my passions and aspirations. It's boring to be normal, to not believe in yourself, to not see the potential that we each hold within us, and to not feel alive every single day.

Where do you need to add the word amazing to your life and remove words like, fear, apathy, and disbelief?

Love and blessings,

Nicole Vega

February

My first official full month as Miss South Florida Fair is coming to a close and I truly could not be happier. I have put my title into action with the help of my auh-mazzing director Theresa!

I have attended several events this month that have enriched my life greatly...here are a few reasons why:

National Pancake day was such a fun experience. Not only did I meet new people and share some laughs with them, but raising awareness about the Miss America Org and the Children's Miracle Network was very special to me. I visited two locations and all-together we raised a generous amount for the CMN! (Woohoo!)

Attending the Miss Miami and Miss Palm Beach County pageants allowed me to "sit-back and relax" (Whew! A feeling many titleholders love!) while watching my friends "werk it" on stage! At Miss Miami, I was able to chat with our beautiful Miss Florida state director, Mary Sullivan and Miss Florida 2001, Kelly Gaudet. It was a fun, entertaining pageant as Miss Miami & Miss Dade County were the funny but charming MC's! What I enjoyed the most was seeing my friends Amber, Abby and Alex compete for the title. They were beautiful, talented and confident...what more could you ask for!? Congratulations to the new Miss Miami, Janae Deleon...her entire performance was done with such elegance and confidence!

Right: Miss Miami 2013 & Miss Miami 2011...awesome!

The Miss Palm Beach County pageant celebrated it's 50th Anniversary! There was an excitement in the air and feelings of love and encouragement throughout the night. Watching my friends Ty, Jamie, Stephanie, Brit, and Rachel compete was so exciting! I loved cheering them on and I could not be more proud for Rachel, as she was awarded 1st runner-up and Ty for winning the Talent award. (The girl can sing!!) Congratulations to your new Miss PBC, Brittani Robins...she had so much energy on stage and her evening gown....jaw-dropping!

Alongside Theresa, we enjoyed the company of the most influential, powerful, and kind people in our state, the members of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. During both lunches I had the opportunities to meet our Governor, Rick Scott and the 1st woman Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. (I just typed that, those things actually happened to me, what!?) Can I say that I love our Governor? He was very charismatic and an excellent conversationalist! We spoke about the Miss America Organization, my role as Miss SFF, and I even invited him to Miss Florida. I hope he took that invitation seriously! Ha! Let's see what happens! ;) I was also able to hear him speak about many prominent state issues. They included, educational funding, gun control, and everglades restoration. I am so proud to be a Floridian for many reasons and he motivated and encouraged me to love Florida even more and serve my state as much as I can! 

Unforgettable moment...

Hearing Madeleine Albright speak was beyond...beyond...beyond incredible. I will truly never forget that moment. Her words were so carefully crafted, her thoughts were concise but triggered so much emotion, and  she had a surprising sense of humor! I can go on and on about her speech but most importantly she inspired me to believe in myself and work even harder than I am now! I urge everyone to read about her life or pick up one of her books! I promise, you will gain so much fulfillment from it! 

Actually, since you're reading, check-out some of her quotes that I love!

"I love being a woman and I was not one of these women who rose through professional life by wearing men's clothes or looking masculine. I loved wearing bright colors and being who I am."

"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent."

"I am a beneficiary of the American people's generosity, and I hope we can have comprehensive immigration legislation that allows this country to continue to be enriched by those who were not born here."

"For me, America is really, truly the indispensable nation."

Next, I attended the PGA Black History Month Golf Clinic. The first order of business was to find a sassy golf outfit, check! TJ Maxx! Once Theresa and I arrived we were greeted by Mr. Earnie Ellison, director of business and community relations for The PGA of America. He instructed me to enjoy myself, learn about golf and interact with all the children. Needless to say, it was a beautiful day and we had such a fun time! I also chatted with NBA World Champ and analyst, Steve Smith (Who is now following me on twitter, say what!?).

I think you can guess, he's the former NBA player ;)

Lastly, Theresa and I attended Daddy-Daughter date night at Chick-Fil-A. In order to make it really special for the girls, I gifted them princess crowns and my Miss SFF pin with my platform message. I am so glad I had the chance to hangout with them and hopefully make their experience special and unique! It still brings a big smile to my face when they call me a princess... :) Thank you to the Chick-Fil-A staff for the awesome goodies and for making us feel so welcomed!

Do you see her little crown!? Awe!

As this month comes to a close, I am reminded of a few things...

Service without passion is time "not" well spent so always believe in the work you are doing! You never know how something can positively change someone's life. 
And, God continues to prove to me why He is in control and why I need to put my full faith in Him. While that is happening, I'm just enjoying this awesome ride! 
It's okay to do an appearance without heels...I am in much less pain and have much more energy! Ha!

Love and blessings,
Nicole Vega


"Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.
You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato
and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to
know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a
soul generated by love."

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“The Drum Major Instinct”
Delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, February 4, 1968

To Melissa

This next "thank you" post is dedicated to my dear friend, mentor, and longtime pageant sponsor Melissa. She has SO many qualities that I absolutely love! She is incredibly kind and generous but she is also hilarious and always the life of the party!

In order to fully understand our relationship, I must share the story of how we met. In 2009, as I was searching for a pageant sponsor, my mom gave me the wonderful idea (of course) to call the sponsors from the year before. Melissa was my second "cold call" so I was definitely nervous. As I told her the reason I was calling, I could hear the curiosity in her voice. Then....began the questions. Needless to say, I was "grilled." (Lol) She asked me about my goals, personal/family life, about FAU and my major, and anything else in between. She even asked me to come in to her office for an interview! I had no clue what I was getting myself into, but something told me this could potentially be a fantastic relationship. Well, 4 years later, our relationship and friendship has blossomed into so much excitement, love and encouragement.

Melissa, THANK YOU for welcoming me into your life. I am so blessed to be your friend, that there really aren't words to describe how I feel and how grateful I am for you. You have challenged me to be a better person, a better community advocate, and a more educated young women. You have provided me with an endless amount of opportunities that have opened my eyes about our nation. Thank you for financially sponsoring me all these years and never giving up on my dream to win a local title. Now, I'm on my way to Miss Florida and I'm so excited to see where life is going to take us next.

I love you with all my heart, I love scrappy, I love your business Accounts Receivables Inc., and yes I love Bama football too ;)

Nicole

"That's all they really want

Some fun

When the working day is done

Girls - they want to have fun

Oh girls just want to have fun"

- Cyndi Lauper 

(I just felt this was fitting!)

To the loves of my life!

This is the first post of a series of "thank you" blogs! My parents are truly my world. Actually, just a few nights ago, at around 11:30 p.m. I was hanging out with them in their bedroom. We were saying how much life is going to change in a few months when my sister goes off to an out-of-state university and  I said, "Well, I'm turning 22 in a few months and I'm still here! Hahahah." We laughed because it's so true! I'm not going anywhere unless my life changes on the Miss Florida stage, until then I'm all theirs and they're all mine!

In order to truly understand why I am so grateful for them, I have to share some of our background. I was 4 years old when my dad made the decision for us to move to Florida, from Venezuela. As immigrants, life was never easy but my parent's work ethic, faith in God and their immense and deep love for our family allowed us to live a comfortable and happy life here in the states. Today, we have been here for 18 years and couldn't be happier!

My mom is a dreamer. She loves imagining things and developing new, innovative ideas. She has been the driving force behind many of my accomplishments because she's believed in me so much. My daddy, has been an incredible example for me. He has such a warm, loving heart which is evident at home and in relationships with his employees and co-workers. Two of his greatest qualities are his ability to work long, hard days but remain positive under life's pressures and he rarely complains about anything! My parent's characters and souls are simply beautiful.

To my parents: Thank you for believing in me, loving me and supporting me my entire life! I would not be who I am today without the foundations you each have established in our household. I am so incredibly blessed and not only are you my parents but my best friends too. I love you both and I am so excited for our future in pageantry and in life because as a team, we can accomplish anything!

The night I was crowned!

Xoxo,

Nicole

Affirming words from moms and dads are like light switches. Speak a word of affirmation at the right moment in a child's life and it's like lighting up a whole roomful of possibilities. 

-- Gary Smalley

Town Crier Article

Hey friends!

I was so thrilled when I first recevied the news that my dear friend Denise was pitching my story to the Town Crier! When she told me the news that Jessica, a staff writer would be giving me a call to do a phone interview, I thought, "Okay...whoa. This is really happening!"
I read it and I loved it! In case you haven't here is the link:

http://gotowncrier.com/2013/02/rpbs-nicole-vega-enjoying-reign-as-2013-fair-queen/

BUT before you read it, I'd like to share a quick, funny story.
When my parents, my sister and I first came to the United States my dad found a small job delivering papers. Basically, at night we would hop into my dad's station wagon and distribute these newspapers. [Throw out of the car window and onto people's driveways ;)]. Well, guess the newspaper?....The Town Crier! Ha! 18 years later, the girl that would throw them onto people's driveways, was now on the front page of that newspaper! That makes me laugh, it makes me feel so accomplished, but most importantly, it strenghens my faith in God! His plans for my life are incredible, He has always taken care of my family and I, and He also has a sense of humor!

I am truly grateful that my platform received attention and I hope my message is positively received by the readers. If anyone would like to share their thoughts (good or bad) please share!! I would love to know what you thought!

Love you all,

Nicole

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

They call me "Fair Queen"

Miss South Florida Fair loves animals, especially this little piggy, Stella Dot!

I'll try to describe how I feel, but I am not exactly sure how to put it all into words! Before anything, I have to thank God for proving to me once again, that He has a perfect, marvelous plan for me. He has been my rock throughout my entire journey and this first blog is truly dedicated to my heavenly father.

The moment I was crowned continues to replay in my mind! It was all so surreal. It finally happened!! I am not sure if many of you reading this know my story with this particular pageant...I'll share it briefly. In 2009, the first year I competed, I was awarded 2nd runner-up and received $750 in scholarship money. This was all thanks to Kelly Hoback, my mom for believing in me, and my awesome, hot pink pageant resale gown! Ha! In 2010, I competed once again, but was awarded 3rd runner-up and $500 in scholarship money. In 2011, I was awarded 1st runner-up (so close!) and $1,000 in scholarship money (woohoo). And finally, a few weeks ago, the moment I knew would happen, but wasn't sure when it would...HAPPENED!

Many, many people have asked me why I kept going, or if I was frustrated all those years not winning.

I kept going because I was so passionate for this title. My friends and the incredibly talented previous titleholders (Jess, Court, Cassie, and Brit) were young women I looked up to and they were always so happy, I wanted to be them! I also continued to compete because it was so fun! This pageant is seriously one of the best in our state! New friends, a glam wardrobe, the thrill of being on a stage, the hair...make-up...the talents...I loved it all! And of course the wonderful pageant committee and staff. They made my experience these 4 years so enriching and special.
To answer the second question, no I was never frustrated! Of course, there's that thought of, "Dang, it..." but I just smiled and thought, "Okay, it's not my year, that's alright God...next year!"

So here I am, I finally achieved my goal and I couldn't be happier! As many of you have seen, I have been posting several pictures on facebook highlighting my journey so far. I have been at the fair nearly everyday, pretty much having the time of my life! It all happened very quickly, I was crowned Saturday night and was right back at the fairgrounds Sunday morning. I had no problem with that, great prep work for Miss Florida ;)

I have experienced some incredible moments at the fair...here are a few:

Modeling with animals...for real! A giant turkey, a beautiful chicken named Phoenix, all kinds of cows, a very famous little piggy (Who I might have kissed made-out with...twice!) ...and many more!

Riding on my first motorcycle with my friend Pete. What an adrenaline rush!

Being in my first parade with Dr. Dennis Gallon, President of Palm Beach State College. I can't even describe how amazing that was!

Finding healthy fair-food options! Chicken Kabob, roasted corn (don't hold the butter), and kettle corn!

Being arrested by the Yesteryear Village Sheriff...that was hilarious!

Sitting on top of an elephant! What!?

Taking pictures and having short conversations with little girls and boys. THE BEST part of my job. They call me princess but they are the true princesses and princes! One little boy came up to me and said, "Can I take a picture with the prettiest girl at the fair?" AWE. YES. I melted.

Having my face on a pin (lol) that various fair board members, trustees, and volunteers wear. Oh, I can't forget, actually pinning it on the Fair's President/CEO Rick Vymlatil. What!?

Enjoying the beautiful fair theme "Our Nation's Capital: Washington, D.C." (In case you don't know, I have a strong love affair with DC! The fact that I won this year, with this theme is not a coincidence whatsoever!)

Lastly, being surrounded by such supportive, encouraging individuals on a daily basis! I'm now apart of the South Florida Fair family, and that in itself makes my eyes teary and my heart warm.

I've been having an incredible time and since it is the closing weekend of the fair, I encourage everyone to come and enjoy it! I am so excited for these next two days!!

My next blog post will be all about thanking everyone!

Love you all very much!

Nicole

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20