Rockin the Runway

6AM came way to early, but I rolled out of bed and headed down for another morning work out. I was sore from the day before, and today's workout was much harder! Our trainer worked us hard! E! Entertainment was their filming, so I had to fight my way through the pain!

Ready for our early morning work out!

After breakfast we were in rehearsals all day. I was picked with 5 other girls to be apart of the "A" group. We were all former dancers, so it was fun to work with them on our challenging opening number routine! We nailed the opening number dance and then worked with Lou, runway diva extraordinaire. This woman is amazing! She is a former super model who modeled for over 20 years and now works with Elite Model Management. She is one of the original hot runway girls. Her famous quote is: "There are only 2 people in the world, those who want to be me, and those who want to marry me. Which one are you?"

At breakfast.

Then it was time to get ready for Rock the Runway Fashion Show at the Fashion Show mall. This was a blast to finally get on stage and walk the runway. We all wore shirts sponsored by Forever 21.

Waiting to hit the stage for the Rockin the Runway Fashion Show

Kristen Dalton and I.

Goofy girls!

Then it was off to dinner at Bucca di Peppo. We got to cook with the chef and eat amazing pasta and a huge brownie dessert!

All the contestants outside of Bucca di Beppo!

Cooking with the chef!

With our Amazing dessert!

Yours Truly,

Belinda

Weird and Wacky, Swimsuit Poster & The Price Is Right

We started the day at 4:30AM with our swimsuit poster photo shoot. We had to be down at the pool, with full hair and make up at 6:00Am. It was FREEZING! And it was freezing with our robes on, then we had to strip down and take our poster swimsuit picture. This was an experience I'll never forget ha!

Trying to stay warm!

Official Poster.

A fun picture!

After freezing our tushes off, we headed to the conference room to get our blood pumping with a great work out. I loved this, being the work out nut I am, it was a great way to start the morning. Then it was off to the Spice Market for breakfast!

At our morning work out.

Miss Vermont and I after working out!

After breakfast I headed back to my room to get ready for the "Weird and Wacky" video shoot. Along with other girls, I was chosen to participate in this video. We displayed our wide variety of talents and hobbies in a fun video! Check it out by clicking here --> Weird and Wacky Video. This was a great way for viewers to get to know us a little better!

Miss Mass and I.

Ready for our Weird and Wacky Shoot.

There is so much more to us girls than meets the eye! I was displaying my long jump skills, I hold my high school record in long jump, and went to state 3 years to compete in long jump in high school. Other girls played volleyball, basketball, sang, played guitar and other musical instruments, were winners of a watermelon and pizza eating contests, danced, learned how to ride a bike and much more!

Freezing at the shoot!

The Weird and Wacky Crew!

This video shoot was so much fun! We felt like we were apart of a circus ha! But it was FREEZING! I know that sounds crazy, since it was May and we were in Las Vegas. But it was so cold! Luckily we got through the shoot quick and had a great time! While we were shooting out video, other girls were at the Citi Center Walking Tour and Lunch, The Cupcake Factory, and the Project Sunshine.

Before heading into the Price is Right at Ballys.

After the shoot, it was time to get ready for the Price is Right. This was a really fun event, but I have to admit, we were all so tired!

All 51 girls and Miss USA, Kristen Dalton, at the Price is Right.

Best wishes,

Belinda Wright

Caesars Palace Pool Party & Sushi Samba/Karaoke

Vanbros girls at the pool party.

What do you know, another early morning! We started the day with orientation from Paula Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization.

Ashley, Miss MO, and I catching some rays.

After that we headed to Caesars Palace for lunch and a pool party. This didn't seem like work at all! we laid out, waded in the pool, ate, and socialized.

Brittney Bell, Miss AZ and I.

Renee, Miss AZ and I at lunch.

Ready to head back to the hotel after a fun day at the pool!

Then it was back to Planet Hollywood to get ready for Sushi Samba and Karaoke. This was my favorite event! Sushi is one of my all time favorite foods, and to my surprise I became addicted to karaoke!

Miss Maine and I at dinner.

We sang just about every fun girly song there is! Spice Girls, Pussycat Dolls, and Britney Spears had nothing on us! We danced to the cha cha slide and had a blast! I was sweaty by the end of the night from all of the dancing and singing.

Showing our Same Sky Bracelets in the picture above. The power behind these bracelets is amazing. Same Sky employs HIV positive women in Rwanda who survived the 1994 Genocide. These unique bracelets are made of handblown glass beads crocheted by these women.

Each bracelet carries the signature of the woman who made it. By buying a Same Sky bracelet, you become part of a movement of women empowering women and the men who support them under the same sky. This is a fair-trade company of women empowerment. All proceeds go directly to these women.

This lifts poverty and gives them the tools to become entrepreneurs and lead self sustaining lives. These are gorgeous bracelets, and I encourage you to buy one. They make great gifts and more importantly are for a great cause! Click on the Same Sky link above to check them out!

Singing and dancing away!

Yummy sushi!

This was the best way to get close with all of the girls. We were able to let loose and have fun with each other in a different setting. After the event, we were back on the buses, back to the hotel, and back to bed!

Miss New Hampshire and I!

Tired from a long night of fun!

xoxo,

Belinda

Red Carpet Welcome Event

Miss USA and the 51 contestants at the Miss USA Red Carpet Welcome Event.

I was up bright and early at 7:15AM to get hair and make up done for interviews. Now this was a very long process. We did our web interviews and NBC interviews this day.

Ready and excited for the Welcome Event!

I waited, and waited some more, 4-5 hours to be exact! We had to be sure to be quiet, not to interrupt the interviews going on in the other rooms. Luckily, I had about 10-15 other girls waiting with me, so we whispered and got to chit chat quietly.

Patiently waiting, I was next in line! I went into a quiet room where I was asked numerous questions in front of a camera on the spot. Check out my web-interview to see which questions they chose to put online!

With Miss USA at the Red Carpet Event.

And by 3:00PM, I was done with registration! It was back to my room, and I got ready for the Red Carpet Welcome Event at Planet Hollywood. I was surprised when I arrived at my room with a fabulous gift bag full of goodies on my bag! Like I said, they made us work hard, but rewarded us with "Star" treatment. Our many sponsors for Miss USA filled a bag with a HD flip video camera, journey necklace, Chi styling products and straightening iron, Same Sky bracelet, Miss USA robe, Kandy Wrappers Gift Certificate, Pjs, make up, and much much more! How can you not be extremely thankful in this situation!

Introductions.

We dressed up in our cocktail dresses and were on our way to the Red Carpet Welcome Event held outside of Planet Hollywood. There were tons of people gathered around. We each got to walk up to the microphone and introduce ourselves. Miss Kentucky caused a little controversy by passing out during the middle of it. Heat and exhaustion were the causes, but they rushed to her side and immediately took her to get help and feeling better.

Miss MO, Miss MI and I at the Caesars Palace Meet and Greet.

Then it was off to a meet and greet at Caesars Palace, followed by dinner at an Italian restaurant at Caesars. We were dined with a luxurious four course meal with about four dishes per course! It definitely hit the spot after a long day!

Our fun table at dinner!

We had a really fun group of girls at the table! This was the relaxing part of the day. We got to get to know each other and just sit back and enjoy our meal. Soon after dinner, it was back to the hotel and straight to bed! Day 2 flew by! I was excited for everything to come!

Yours truly,

Belinda

I Can't Believe I'm Here!

Time sure does fly by when you're finishing up finals early, packing for 2 and a half weeks in Vegas, spending all free time in the gym or library studying, and working on top of it all! But finally, things calmed down, my bags were packed and I was at my sister's in Omaha to get a good night's sleep before heading to the airport bright and early with full hair and make up, dressed up in a cute summer dress and heels, to compete for the job of Miss USA 2010.

Wow did I have an early morning! I woke up an hour before my alarm went off at 4:30AM. So my day started promptly at 3:30AM. I was so excited I couldn't sleep! Amber took me to the airport and I was on my way, but this was not an easy task. Try packing light for 2 and a half weeks for Las Vegas competing for Miss USA with numerous appearances. It was not easy! I checked in 4 huge suitcases and unfortunately went over the weight limit on one bag. But I got to my gate at the perfect time and was on my way to Vegas!

Ashley and I at the airport.

The flight was a perfect start to the trip. I got to meet and sit in the pilot's, chair and pretend to drive the plane. Then I was announced and introduced to the passenger's on the plane. The flight attendants were cheery singing tunes. This was the perfect way to start the trip.

My closet for the trip!

When I arrived, I ran into Ashley, Miss Missouri USA! What a relief to see one of my fellow Vanbros sisters! We got our bags and hopped on a limo to take us to Planet Hollywood. Needless to say, we were very fortunate to get the "star" treatment right away!

My make up for the Fadil shoot.

Right when I got to my room I unpacked half of my things and headed down the hall to prepare for my Fadil Bershia photoshoot. The theme this year was "Waking up in Vegas." The make up was phenomenal. These pictures brought lots of controversy to the Miss USA pageant. Our pictures were shown and displayed on just about every news and TV station like E! The Daily 10, The View, ABC, NBC, and many many more. This was definitely a great thing, because this brought lots of press and interest into the Miss USA pageant. The pictures were done very classy and tasteful. If we weren't comfortable in what we were wearing, they let us change. Something about us Miss USA girls that some people overlook, is that we can pose for Victoria's Secret in the morning and help out with the Best Buddies program in the afternoon. Today's women is modern and does it all! I felt comfortable in my ensemble, it actually covered much more than my swimsuit!

The controversial Fadil "Waking up in Vegas" glamour shot.

After taking my glamour shot, I went down to registration. This was the longest day. I signed paperwork, got my hair and make up redone for my official headshot, swimsuit, and evening gown pictures. We got fitted for our swimsuits, sponsored by Kandy Wrappers; shoes, sponsored by Nina footwear; and opening number dresses, sponsored by Sherri Hill.

Official Swimsuit Picture.

Hair and make up was a long process. Try putting 51 girls into a huge room scrambling to get ready for pictures. It was fun but very exhausting. I didn't finish the day till 12:30AM that night. So by the time I got to bed it was about 1:30AM, meaning 3:30AM CT, MEANING I had a 24 hour day! haha But I had so much adrenaline, that I got through it with excitement, smiles and determination.

Official Evening Gown Photo.

My roommate, Miss West Virgina, and I bonded that night, talking about everything that happened that day! I wrote in my journal and hit the bed pretty hard! Excited for what was to come the next day!

Official Headshot.

These photos and more can me seen at missusa.com!

Much more to come,

Belinda Wright

Miss Nebraska USA

Interview Excitement

Hey everyone!

I've had a great and busy schedule promoting Miss USA. Check out my latest interview with the Omaha Morning Blend! http://www.omahamorningblend.com/videos/91806189.html

Also, for all of your chocolate or sweet connoisseurs out there, here's my favorite cookie recipe!

Belinda's Mississippi Mud Cookies

Ingredients:

1 c coconut

2 c sugar

1/2 c cocoa

pinch salt

1/2 c butter

1 c peanut butter

3 c quick-cooking oatmeal

1 1/2 c chocolate chips

Preparation:

In large saucepan, combine sugar, milk, cocoa, salt, and butter and mix well. Bring to a boil and cover the saucepan for 30 seconds to allow steam to wash sugar crystals down sides of pan. Stir mixture and bring it to a boil that can't be stirred down for 1 minute. Then remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until smooth. Add oatmeal, coconut and 1 c of the chocolate chips.

Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Drop mixtures by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. While cooling add some chocolate chips on the top and reshape the cookies how ever you want them! Let cool and enjoy!

Hope everyone had a GREAT weekend! T-6 days until I arrive in Vegas with an opportunity of a lifetime!!! I'm so excited!

--Belinda Wright

Miss Nebraska USA 2010