Nicole Swanson crowns Jennifer Hudspeth as
Miss Minnesota 2007

Meet Miss Minnesota 2007
Jennifer Hudspeth

What thoughts went through your mind when you were being crowned Miss Minnesota 2006?

I was and still am in complete shock!  It is amazing how your life can change in just an instant.  When my name was called I thought I was being announced as the first runner up and it wasn't until the sash was around my shoulder that I realized my dream had become a reality.  I have never felt so much joy at one time.  Although there are no words to describe all of the emotions and thoughts that were running through my head, I remember feeling extremely humbled.  I thought of all the people who had helped me to get there and how I would be nothing without them;  I am so thankful!  The rest of the night I was in a dream-like state, still in disbelief.  I slept with the crown on a pillow right beside me and I prayed that it would still be there when I woke up.  It was! I am so excited to spend the next year of my life representing the beautiful state of Minnesota!

What is your favorite area of competition?

I absolutely love the evening gown portion of competition whether I am actually competing or just watching.  It doesn't matter if you win the title or not, everyone feels like a queen during this area of competition, and it is great to see all of the ladies literally glowing. An evening gown is the pinnacle of grace and elegance;  I love it! 

Aside from being awarded the title, what was the most exciting part of Miss MN week for you?

My favorite appearance of the week was our visit to the Gillette Children's hospital.  Many of us were aprehensive about the donation to the Children's Miracle Network we had to raise in order to compete.  After meeting the children our money was going to help, $250 seemed very small.  They are so courageous and I admire each of them for carrying out their day with a smile.  It broke my heart to see children who are so brave at such a young age.  I can't wait to partner with the Children's Miracle Network in hopes that my donation will better a life.


What do you hope to accomplish during your year?

My platform of Understanding Autism is extremely personal to me.  Growing up with two brothers diagnosed with autism has been both a challenge and a blessing.  My goal as Miss Minnesota is to educate the public about autism spectrum disorders so that they may begin to see autism not as a disability, but rather a beautiful difference.  Each child with autism has a special gift, my brother for example is a chess champion, and I want to share their attributes with the state of Minnesota so that everyone can learn to be more tolerant and accepting of people who are different.  I would love to partner with the Best Buddy program.  This program was developed by the Shriver family and is slowly making its way into school systems across the state.  I want to speed up this process, ensuring that all children in special education have a friend and mentor they can count on. I have many ambitions and goals associated with my platform and am excited to watch them unfold!  Where I am concerned there are endless possibilities....


Tell us a little bit about yourself; who IS Jennifer Hudspeth?

Haha, This is a question that you can't take too seriously!  I am a fun loving person who loves to laugh!  I have been through many life experiences which allow me to connect with a variety of different people in many ways.  I love seafood, and my favorite tv show is America's Funiest Home Videos(I told you I like to laugh!).  I love fishing and primative camping with my mom, although we do bring our own beauty regimen along!  You can't go camping for five days without putting a mask on your face!  I have owned a number of exotic pets including a hairless guinea pig named King Louie, and a hedgehog named Sonic. My passion is performing and I love all genres of theatre.  My family is very important to me, and I am blessed to have a family who is so supportive of everything I do.