Luxe Life Blog

Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund looks back on the year of her reign — and to the hopeful, bright future

Posted January 21, 2009 • 6:30 p.m.

In three days, the reign of Miss America 2008 comes to an end. During the past year, Kirsten Haglund, 20, of Michigan has traveled 20,000 to 25,000 miles a month. In that time, she has visited children in hospitals; she has traveled the byways and expressways of America; she has broken down barrier gates in parking lots to keep on schedule; and, of all the days of her reign, yesterday in the nation’s capital, I am guessing, had to be the most memorable of the past year.

Kirsten Hagland: Absolutely. I was so thrilled that this inauguration was a part of my last week, and how great that it fell on the 20th and not after the 24th, so I was able to visit, actually now I have been able to visit two presidents. It was an amazing event. I think they said there were 2 million people that showed up at the Mall or somewhere in the city to be there for the parade and the festivities. How incredible, as a young person, to see that my vote counted, and this election made history.

Robin Leach: So it was a whirlwind, 48-hour round trip. Talk me through the minute you left Vegas, landed in the capital and landed an hour ago.

KH: Well, there was lots of extra security getting on the plane to Washington; we were double ID checked right at the gate, extra bag checks right at the gate. They made security a priority. We felt safe, so that was good. We checked into the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City late at night. Early in the morning Tuesday, about 7 a.m., we went to Fort Meyer, met up with a group of USO folks that we were going to be on the float with. Two wounded warriors from Walter Reeve Medical Center who’ve fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan and a couple other families whose families were serving overseas. There was a nice group of us.

Then we headed to the Pentagon on a bus, and every group and float has to go through a search at the Pentagon. Our bus got swept, we had to take everything off, and we each had to go through security. Then we headed in our bus to the parade route to the Mall, to the National Mall with lots of others to watch the inauguration ceremony. That was incredible. I had my iPhone up, recording device on to record Obama’s speech live, and I was able to witness that. It was cold. We heard of people at 2:30 a.m. that waited, there were people with tickets that didn’t get in. There were just millions of people.

We got back in the bus, we waited in our bus and waited for reports because of Sen. Ted Kennedy collapsing, and then Sen. Byrd was having trouble. So it was here we go, now we’re waiting, here we go, now we’re waiting. We finally boarded the float and got into the parade. We were the sixth of six divisions in the parade, and we finally got into the parade route about 6 p.m.

RL: In the photos that we have, you are inside Cinderella’s pumpkin with two little children.

KH: Right! The USO float was this carriage; they were little daughters of warriors fighting over in Afghanistan who were in the carriage with me. I loved the theme of the day was about dreams coming true and revitalizing the American Dream. It was neat to be in that carriage like every little girl’s dream: Cinderella, a princess, Miss America. What is the American Dream? To set a goal, accomplish it, and achieve it. We still have the opportunity in this country; we still have the power and the access to achieve something great in this nation.

RL: Talk about the excitement going on around you. That must have affected you emotionally. Was your heart doing cartwheels?

KH: I was crying. I think everyone feels a longing to be a part of something bigger than themselves. We go to work every day, we go to school, we are caught in the little microcosm of our life. When you are there seeing eye to eye with millions of Americans at the Washington Monument, taking part in this incredible event, you feel like something bigger than yourself; you are making history. I will be able to tell my grandchildren that I was there. I saw the first African American take office, and I was there to experience it with all of these Americans. I was able to know that hope was possible, that change was possible and that we are going to come out of some of the crises we have been in recently. I was crying.

RL: The parade lasted how long? How long were you in freezing temperatures?

KH: Three hours outside.

RL: Did it matter?

KH: No. Sacrifice for your country, right? It brings it to light when you are sitting with families whose husbands or dads are over there fighting for our country and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq, and you are asked to stand outside for three hours. It is alright when they are out there in 135 degrees fighting.

RL: You don’t have the green gown on at this moment?

KH: No, I had on many layers.

RL: And the tiara?

KH: Yes, the tiara and tights. Several layers. From there, we left with everyone, and we go past the reviewing stand. And there is President Obama and Michelle Obama and Vice President Biden standing there looking at us. So the entire wait in the cold was worth it to see them smiling at us.

RL: That was only fractions of minutes? Do you think you made eye contact with … ?

KH: Absolutely! You know why? It was the very end of the parade. A lot of others had gone home, so there really weren’t too many people in the reviewing box distracting President Obama, and I know that I made eye contact with Michelle Obama. It was a great moment.

RL: Had you met them before?

KH: No. I was a part of a couple Rock the Vote events this year, but I didn’t get to meet any of the candidates.

RL: So that was the first time you saw them, in the reviewing stand. And then you see them again at one of the balls?

KH: Yes, from the parade, we went to the Commander in Chief’s Ball, which was at the National Building Museum.

RL: This is where you suddenly transform?

KH: From pants and a jacket and scarf …

RL: To glamour queen.

KH: Yes, to my gown.

RL: So this green dress, which obviously stands for the environment, but you are also going to wear this here?

KH: Yes, at the Evening of Dreams for the Children’s Miracle Network.

RL: On Friday night?

KH: Yes. It is green chiffon, and it has a flower at the neck; it is beautiful. I felt glamorous, but the evening was gorgeous at the National Building Museum.

RL: I was looking for you on Fox News as President Obama was talking to the guys from Afghanistan. Where were you?

KH: I was standing right next to Megyn Kelly waiting to be interviewed. But with schedules and everything, President Obama arrived there early, and when I was scheduled, they got the two minutes for President Obama. So he came on stage, and they only had time for one more, which was the soldiers. That is the way media is: You have to be ready for everything and then hurry up and wait. So I was standing in the audience. I was less than 50 feet from him when he talked to the soldiers live. When asked if he was a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan, everyone was laughing hysterically. I had my phone up recording the whole event. Then Michelle Obama came out, and they danced. They had two soldiers, a female and a male, who came out onto the stage, and Michelle and President Obama separated and they each danced with the soldiers. It was amazing.

RL: Do you think he waved to you again at that point?

KH: I don’t know. There were so many people, and everyone had their camera and phone up. It was about being so close and being there to share that moment and be a part of the ball. I was very happy just to be there.

RL: Were you going to sing the national anthem at one of these?

KH: I was going to sing at the Commander in Chief’s Ball, but Metallica was in the traffic next to us trying to get to the same event, and they never got there.

RL: I don’t see Metallica singing the national anthem.

KH: They were supposed to be at the same ball. They never got there because the traffic was so horrible.

RL: Then the Obamas left. You went to another ball?

KH: We were going to go to the Red, White & and Blue Ball at the JW Marriott, so we made a quick stop there and then we went back to the Ritz Carlton. It was an insane evening.

RL: Was this the longest span of time of the year? From Vegas to Washington, then back to Vegas?

KH: Actually, no. I was doing promotions for Dairy Queen and the Children’s Miracle Network on Dairy Queen’s treat day, and I was in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles in one day. I woke up, did media in New York, flew to Chicago, did media there. Then I flew to L.A, and because of the time change, I was in L.A. in the evening. Three cities in one day. That was the longest day.

RL: Why do you say, think, feel that what went down yesterday was so emotionally uplifting for you?

KH: For me personally, I have always loved politics and history. One thing that I love about Washington, D.C., is that it is a place you can go and you feel like your voice is heard, you can feel like an American citizen doing what you are supposed to do. I was there lobbying Congress earlier this year. The history of that place, and living in this country, I take a lot of pride in that, and I always have.

It really makes an impact on me that this is the first African American president. I have studied the ’60s, the Civil Rights Movement and the Civil War. The impact of things like segregation and slavery have had on this country, and to see us come through that and to see the tears in my former generation’s eyes. Then to have represented this country all year as Miss America, it really makes it very special to me. I think if I was someone who had not paid as much attention in school or thought about the impact, it wouldn’t mean as much to me, but because I took those seriously in school, it really does.

RL: So in three days, forget the fact that you get to sleep in on Sunday morning …

KH: I am someone that really likes to work hard, and I think that after a couple days of sleeping in, not having anything to do, I am going to feel bored. It is all good to sleep in, and then it is back to work.

RL: So in three days, your year is over. You take the crown off your head and give it to a new girl. How will you feel at that moment?

KH: Up until this week, I have thought, “Oh, that’s great and good for her. I am moving on in my life, and there was no bitterness at all.” Now that I am here seeing and hearing what Miss America means to people again, you see again the impact that Miss America has and you feel how incredible this year really was. And I don’t know if I want to give it up just yet; there is always more work to be done. Again, people have said do you feel like you have accomplished all that you could in a year? I say I am only 20, and do you think that I am going to peak in my life at 20? No way! It is upward from here with the lessons I have learned. It is bittersweet, but I will be happy to have my own life again.

RL: A year ago, this was all a dream, it came true, you have pinched yourself. Was it what you thought it would be? How do you look back on that year?

KH: It was much better than I thought it would be. The things that I got to experience and do were empowering as a woman. To have been challenged the way that I was being a beauty queen and talking about eating disorders and lobbying on Capitol Hill for legislation to be passed. I got to speak at some great universities. I was able to speak at Harvard in March, to be independent to say that this is what I stand up for and what I believe in and to be forced to give those convictions to the public every single day. It was so much better than expected, but it also taught me so many things about myself, the world, and it gave me the confidence for what I will do after this year.

RL: What will you do?

KH: I started my own nonprofit organization; it raises money for eating disorder treatment. Our first board meeting was the Saturday before I left for Vegas, and I will continue to raise money for that. I will set up the Web site after about a week back home, and I will be actively fundraising. In about a month or so, I will be moving to L.A. I was training in school for entertainment and drama, so I want to pursue my entertainment career. I have a couple meetings set up, so I will be moving. After I get settled, I will use my scholarship to go back to school doing online or part-time classes in business. I want that business sense to run my foundation. Those are my plans right now.

RL: Now a year ago, Lauren Nelson gave you some advice as you took the tiara. You know the girl that takes the tiara from you will ask for advice. What will you tell her?

KH: I am absolutely going to tell her to journal. Something amazing and incredible happens at least once a day. You need to write those things down because people will ask you all the time, what was your favorite thing, who was the coolest person you met, and you will just forget, you can’t keep all those details in your head, so journal. The second thing is to know those things that make you distinctly you and take the time to do those. For me, it was making sure I worked out and downloaded music. Music is a passion of mine. Having good books was very escapist for me. Making the time to keep in contact with friends, remembering who I was outside the crown. That is really all people see you for, and if you get into that mindset that all you are is Miss America, it will be really hard for you to give up the crown. It is going to become your identity. You can’t let it. I had to remain Kirsten.

RL: Is there now room and time for romance?

KH: Yeah, there is always time and room for romance! There was for me this year. I had a great time. That is another thing that makes you you. For me, that was one thing that kept me grounded and reminded me that I had a life before and after Miss America.

RL: You have met some of the girls in this year’s crop of candidates. We were talking about how it is difficult for some of them to follow in your footsteps. You were a 19-year-old teenager, now you are only 20, but you are a reigning queen. Do you see any of you in this crop of candidates?

KH: I really do. It is an “it” factor, it is something that you can’t really explain, it is a poison, a presence that person has. You get the sense that they can do the job if called upon to serve. Not that they want it more than anything in the world, but that they accept it. I think that is something you see in our president. I think throughout the entire campaign, he had that presence that he could accept the responsibility if called upon. I see that in some of these girls.

RL: Did you grow into the office, or did the office help you grow?

KH: I think both. I was terrified the first week.

RL: You didn’t show it.

KH: Thank you. You know what is expected of Miss America, and Miss America to me was always a very mature woman. I felt like a girl. I had to come to terms very quickly that I could not be anyone else; I had to be myself. The judges chose me for a reason, and I had to be confident in that.

RL: Are you glad you were picked?

KH: Oh my gosh, yes! I would not have missed this for the world. I could not have picked a better year to have met two presidents. It was amazing.

RL: When are you 21?

KH: In September. Nine more months.

RL: You can’t even go in the casino here.

KH: Technically, I just have to walk and not look at the slots. My face is in the casino, though!

RL: What did you learn?

KH: I learned to give people a lot more credit for things that they do. I learned how much hard work goes into doing things. Hard work goes into running a nonprofit organization. How much hard work goes into being a parent. How hard people work. That was something I never realized until I was thrown into so many different industries and careers. I saw how difficult it was to put together events and to do jobs and work with others. I saw how hard it was to work in this country, and people really don’t get enough credit for the jobs they do. So I learned to give people credit and respect people. I am a young person, so my eyes were completely opened.

RL: In a sense, you have become a role model, but headlines always talk more about celebutantes with drugs and alcohol and bad marriages. Those are the headlines of a troubled youth America; you don’t make headlines all that often. Yet, you, as Miss America, are better than all the troubled youth and young people. What is the message in that, and how do you get the message across that it is OK to be a goodie two shoes?

KH: One, America and people love scandal. Look at the 24 cable news shows that we have. Everything is breaking news. Everything is trouble and scandal. We love a scandal. Two, psychologically, we like to have people who are making mistakes so that we feel better about ourselves. It is just natural. People don’t always like to hear the good news. It is not necessarily about making the headlines because people can stop paying attention to those at any point.

It is about the personal impact. I know that I have met hundreds of thousands of people this year that I have been able to have some sort of influence on in their personal life. When I talk to girls about their eating disorders, I talk about choosing role models that are not two-dimensional but three-dimensional, people in their lives, their mom, best friend, or a teacher, choosing someone they know personally that they look up to. I have talked to girls face to face, and the people I have met traveling the country, that is the very best exposure. We say think globally, act locally. That is what Miss America is all about. I made an impact on that one person’s life today, and that makes a difference.

RL: Are you optimistic about the future of America’s youth?

KH: I am, absolutely. I am so excited. I have so many great, young friends who are so smart, motivated. They are not apathetic, especially because this election has given us hope that what we say can make a difference, it can impact other people. I have met a lot of adults who have been affected by the attitude of young people. This is real, this is what I’m saying, and this is what I am going to do. I am going to be real, I am going to do what I say and not be phony. I think that is what our generation has learned from generations before us, and we are doing it. I have met and worked with a lot of great young people in this country who make me feel where we are going is in a positive direction, and we have a great couple decades ahead of us.

RL: You will still be Miss America 2008, even though you are about to become a former Miss America.

KH: I will always have that: Miss America 2008. It is a great legacy.

Link Share This