Signing Off...

What a year it has been. Since I was crowned Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen last year, I was able to accomplish so much in this short period of time and now it's coming to an end. I had a wonderful time emceeing a bridal show, performing piano at different events, volunteering at Muscatine and Cedar Rapids, meeting new people and making long lasting friendships, competing at Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen, and so so much more. But this great year really couldn't have been done without some great people supporting me through this. 

I would like thank my amazing directors Elaine, Ashley, and Kindra. Thank you Elaine for rooming with me during Miss Iowa week, we have truly bonded and I thank you a million times for bringing that foot massager. You have been a great teen director. Thank you Ashley for always keeping me updated and making sure I get things done. Thank you for the crazy shopping trip where we literally shopped for 7 hours one day. Thank you Kindra for always making me look perfect and doing an amazing job on my hair and makeup. You guys are truly awesome to work with! I will miss you all. Thank you Michelle and Jessica for prepping me for Miss Iowa week, its because of you guys I felt I was confident in everything I did. I am so blessed to have gotten to know you two, thank you for everything. Halie and Anna, I am so glad we met during Miss Iowa Week, you guys truly made that experience so much fun for me. I am so glad I’m friends with you two, let’s get that sleep over planned soon! Leah and Serica, my amazing sister queens. I am so glad to have gotten to know both of you this year. You guys are wonderful women and I look up to you in so many ways. Thank you to all the Muscatine Scholarship sponsors, without you guys, I would not be standing here today! Thank you especially, Le Chic for providing me gorgeous dresses, Shrik Photography for my headshots, and much much more! But most importantly, thank you mom and dad for always supporting me in everything I do. Thank you for constantly driving me from Cedar Rapids to Muscatine, thank you making sure I always look perfect, and thank you for always loving me even though I can be a bit of a hassle sometimes. I love you both.

Even though tomorrow I will be giving up my crown of Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen, I am so excited for what's ahead of me. As they say, a door closes for another one to open. I will continue working with my platform Diversity Advocacy: Embracing the Unique in Everyone and start my new project called the Youth Leadership Program, a program that brings the topic of diversity and inclusion to high schools. I also hope to embark another journey in the Miss America Organization and learn and grow as a woman. But for now....

Signing off for the last time,

Your Miss Muscatine Outstanding 2014-15,

Nina Yu

Summer 2014

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since I've uploaded a blog post about my life as Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen, so my apologies! My summer has been so great and coming to and end on a high note. After Miss Iowa Week, I took a little time off and went to the east coast for some fun exploring and college searches! I went to Washington D.C., New York City, and Boston and I gotta say, I've fallen in love with all of the cities. I got to see 2 broadway shows, walked in Central Park, ate at Georgetown Cupcakes (the cupcake shop on TLC's D.C. Cupcakes), and did quite a bit of shopping on 5th ave, oops?

Times Square

After my mini vacation, I dove right into my internship at Diversity Focus. What an amazing new experience! They put me in charge of a new project called the Youth Leadership Program. This program was created to bring diversity awareness to our high schools. I've gathered a group of student representatives and leaders from each of the 7 Cedar Rapids Corridor Area high schools and we meet to discuss the different topics and speakers we would like to bring to our high schools. We have finalized our plan and organized for 5 speakers to come to every high school each month to talk about 5 different themes. This year's topics are Diversity Awareness, Breaking Stereotypes, Equality of Genders, Teen's Perspective, and Leadership. I'm very excited to bring this to our school board to get this action approved. This program can really help bring the importance of diversity and acceptance to our schools and classmates and I am so honored to be able to lead this wonderful team!

Students in the Youth Leadership Program

As for appearances, I was honored to perform my piano pieces for Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen's Send Off, Miss Iowa's Variety Fundraising Show, Save the Children, and my favorite, at 2 nursing homes with my sister queens, Leah and Serica where I not only played 1 song, but played some music I've never performed in front of an audience and even sang for a bit! I was honored to play at all of these events and had such a great time. I love sharing my talent with others and playing piano is one of my favorite talents to share.

With Anna at her send off!

At Aly's Variety Show Funraiser

Talking to some elders at Lutheran Nursing Home

Posing with Leah, Serica, and our new friend!

 As for other events, I am pleased to say I am an official member of the State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council or SIYAC, where I will work with other students in the state of Iowa to provide issues we feel important to address to our government of Iowa. I'm very excited to hopefully get something address about diversity awareness on a state level and maybe even written in our law! I'm very excited to see what is in store. I also had a great time at Happiness Choreography Camp and being an official Happiness member (Yellow jacket and all). I'm pleased to say this year's Happiness Inc. is gonna rock! I've also enjoyed catching up on some Netflix shows, having bonfires with friends, and enjoying our Iowa summer nights.

Happiness Inc. 2014-2015

Tomorrow, I start back in school and I can't say I'm too happy to leave this wonderful summer behind. But junior year, here I come!

Until next time,

Your Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen,
Nina Yu

Miss Iowa Week Finish

Hello Everyone!

I can't believe Miss Iowa Week has ended, it feels like just yesterday I was just packing up. The final days of Miss Iowa Week were an absolute blast! On the first night of prelims, I was very honored to win the preliminary talent award with my piano. On the second night, I performed my evening wear/onstage question and fitness. The final night of Miss Iowa, I was very honored to receive the academic excellence award and get 2nd runner up to Miss Iowa Outstanding Teen! I would like to take this moment and thank everyone who has helped get me to where I am today. My Muscatine directors, Elaine, Ashley, and Kindra, you guys have been so wonderful in helping me prepared for this crazy eventful week. Elaine, you are such an amazing teen director and a great supporter for me this week, thanks for being such a great room mate, we must stay in touch! Legacy Group Pageant Consulting, Michelle and Jess, thank you for helping me with interview, I have grown so much from your help and advice, it has truly been a pleasure working with you guys. Halie (Miss Kossuth-Winnebago OT) and Anna (Miss Scott County OT and NEW Miss Iowa OT), you guys made my week so fun from the laughs before the curtain opened, to the craziness in the dressing rooms, and the fun times in every community service project, I am so glad to have met you both! I am seriously going to have major withdrawals. Another huge congratulations to our new Miss Iowa Outstanding Teen, Anna Masengarb! Congratulations girl, you deserve it! I am so very proud of you!

Halie, Anna, and I on night one of prelims

Your first night prelim winners, Aly, me, Molly, and Kennedy

My lovely directors!

Sarah and I

My girls and I on night two of prelims

My lovely teen director Elaine and Halie on the final day of Miss Iowa Week

Thank you again to everyone who made this week possible, I had such a wonderful experience!

Your Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen,

Nina Yu

Miss Iowa Week Day 4

Hi everyone!

Today was the first phase of the Miss Iowa OT competition, interview! I started out my day by going to the Adler theatre and rehearsed for tech talent. I'm so excited to be performing for an audience tomorrow! After that I got ready for interview. My interview went smoothly and I did the best I could. Right after interview we headed to the Fairytale Fashion Show where I was able to meet the junior and little Miss Iowa contestants! Can't wait for them to rock the stage on Saturday! To finish off the night, we drove back to the Adler theatre for one final dress rehearsal before the show tomorrow. Very, very, excited for prelims tomorrow. Let's rock it girls!

Interview

Fairytale Fashion Show

Your Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen,

Nina Yu

Miss Iowa Week Day 3

Hello,

Miss Iowa Week Day 3 is officially done! I had a great time going to the B100 radio station and introducing myself and the other teen contestants on live radio. We were able to talk about the Miss Iowa Organization and the preparation that goes into the pageant weekend. I was proud to represent Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen!

At the B100 radio station

All the Teen contestants

After that we headed to the Children's Museum and helped out (mostly played) with all the children there. It was so fun seeing the exhibits and all the different activities you can do there. It seemed like the 2 hours we were there went by in 5 minutes, time flies when you're having fun!

At the Children's Museum

Getting some "ice cream" at one of the exhibits 

After the Children's Museum, we had a free afternoon (WHAT?) and I went on a quick shopping trip with my director and Halie and her mom. Tonight, we had dinner at Golden Chorral and I had som one on one time with the teen and miss contestants. Then we headed back to the hotel and finished off our busy day with a rehearsal! 

Very excited for Interview tomorrow! I will keep you all posted.

Your Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen,

Nina Yu

Miss Iowa Week Day 2

Hello,

Wow, what a busy busy day! My first day of Miss Iowa Week is over and I can't believe I still have a whole week left. Today felt like an entire week of activities already. I woke up bright and early to package meals for the Kids Against Hunger Organization. We managed to package hundreds of meals for children in Africa and make sure they can life a healthy long life. After we finished packing, we headed to Panchero's to have lunch! A special thank you to Panchero's for being a Miss Iowa Organization sponsor and providing us with free meals! We then headed to Ridgecrest Village to visit the residents at the nursing home. I was so happy to meet all the elders and listen to their stories. I was also honored to play my talent piano piece for the residents as well. After Ridgecrest, we had a rehearsal to learn our opening number dance. Then the Outstanding Teen and Miss contestants went to the Davenport Bandits game and watched the game and made a small appearance! Finally, we went back home and had another rehearsal.

Today was defiantly a whirlwind of activities, but I had fun at each and every one of the service projects! Can't wait for what's coming up. Stay tuned!

Packing food for Kids Against Hunger

All the Teen contestants at Pancheros

Halie, me, and Emma-kate meeting Milo at Ridgecrest

At the Bandits game!

Selfie with the girls!

Your Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen,

Nina Yu

Miss Iowa Week Day 1

Hello everyone!

I am very excited to say that Miss Iowa Week has officially begun! Today was an absolute whirlwind of activity, but I enjoyed every part of it. I checked into the Clarion Hotel at around 1 and started to get ready for the Show Us Your Shoes kick off event! I had a wonderful time meeting the contestants again and seeing all the sponsors of the Miss Iowa organization.

Leah, Serica, and I

With the Miss Iowa and the Miss Iowa Outstanding Teen 

After the Show Us Your Shoes Event, I quickly went to a dinner and meeting for the Miss Iowa Outstanding Teen contestants to get more information about our week. After that, I headed down to rehearsals to learn our new opening number dances and walk formations for our evening gown and fitness! 

Today started out great and I cannot wait for whats to come this week! I'll be sure to keep you all updated!

Your Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen,

Nina Yu