Good evening everyone! Welcome to the first installation of
"Monday Minutes with Miss Minnesota!"
This blog will serve as a weekly update and a little glimpse of what it is like to be Miss Minnesota! And let me tell you, it is pretty exciting! :)
First off, if we haven't met by now, hello! I am Brianna Drevlow, your new Miss Minnesota!
I have now been in service for nine days, and it has been such a fun ride! I cannot wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!
A little bit about me:
I am the daughter of Joe and Jodi Drevlow of Thief River Falls, MN, located in the northwest corner of the state. I have ten siblings (yes, you read that right) and we are incredibly musical! Together, we advocate for my platform,
"Brenna's Brigade: Juvenile Arthritis Awareness"
which is inspired by my sister, Brenna, who was diagnosed with JA at the age of four.
I am a graduate student at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, pursuing a Master of Music degree in Composition. I also received a Bachelor of Music degree in Theory and Composition from Concordia College in 2016, so you could say I really enjoy both music and creativity! I have had many wonder musical opportunities and I encourage you to read the rest of my bio here: http://www.missminnesota.org/miss-minnesota.html
This week's Monday Minutes is jam-packed with fun appearances and prep work getting ready for Miss America! I traveled extensively and worked hard, and man did this week fly by fast! Be prepared to read...a lot! :)
Saturday (6/17)
Walking away with the Miss Minnesota crown is the dream come true, and sharing the moment with my Northern Lights Princesses, who also happened to be my sisters Bralynne, Brenna, and Brooke, made it even more special.
Every young woman who competed for this title brought a unique talent and gift to share with the organization and I am simply honored to be among them. Miss Minnesota week was so much fun and I truly believe that we all brought out the absolute best in each other. What a joy to call them my friends!
After the pageant, I was able to meet with our esteemed judges to thank them for their service. They were a phenomenal panel and I hope they come to visit Minnesota again soon!
I then visited with my family and friends along with my local Miss North Star committee back at the hotel everyone was staying at and we had quite the party! To date, I am the first Miss North Star to be crowned Miss Minnesota, and I represented the furthest northern title to be crowned in Miss Minnesota history , so it was incredibly special for my community and especially for my committee. They have worked so hard and their support for both myself and the Miss Minnesota organization is unmatched and I can honestly say I could not have done this without them. Thank you so much to Kara (#SalmonAndSuper), KayDell, Marlene, Katie, Rachel, Mindy, Terri, Laurie, and O'Brien for everything. I love you all so very much.
Another special thank you goes out to my family who traveled from all corners of Minnesota and beyond to support me, from my immediate family and grandparents in Thief River Falls, to family and friends coming from Fargo, ND; Minneapolis, MN; and even Phoenix, AZ! My family is my biggest support and celebrating this time with them was so touching. I love you all to the moon and back!
Sunday (6/18)
We celebrated Father's Day with my first appearance with Brad Carlson on AM 1280, The Patriot! Brad was one of our emcees for the competition and chatting with him about all things pageant-related on the radio was such a treat! Thank you Brad for an awesome first interview! I then relaxed with my family and savored every moment, because from there on out, it has been a wild ride!
Monday (6/19)
I had a 9am photoshoot for the Radisson Blu hotel, who so generously provided lodging for my parents and I on both Saturday and Sunday evenings. I then met with the Miss Minnesota board and prep team for Miss America. We dreamed big over brunch and the plans we have in store for this year are going to be unforgettable! I then had a podcast interview with Jack and Ben from Up and At 'Em Show, which was a total hoot! Thanks for having me on the show and laughing along with me!
Tuesday (6/20)
I was up bright and early for my first television interview as Miss Minnesota on Fox 9 "The Buzz!" It was a great conversation and I loved the experience, having Charlotte, my business manager, and my parents right there alongside me! And interestingly enough, I ran into another Thief River Falls native at the studio; Chris Tveitbakk! What a small world!
I traveled 6 hours north for a short visit and a "welcome home" party in both Thief River Falls (my hometown) and Middle River (the town I represented just 20 minutes north). My arrival into town was one of the coolest things I have experienced to date! Thanks to our long-time friends, Dan and Ann Hible, I was escorted into town on a beautiful Saleen Mustang convertible, along with State Patrol officer Dick Wittenberg, who has known me since I was young, and another squad car leading the way to the City Hall, with the loud sirens and lights! I was greeted by a wonderful crowd and the city mayor, Brian Holmer, where I was escorted in to ring in the evening's session of City Council.
I then traveled out to the Thief River Falls Golf Course, where I made an appearance at the "Hole in One" tournament sponsored by Thief River Falls Radio (my former employer) where I swung for a prize. Though my golfing skills are nowhere near my musical skills, it was fun nonetheless. :)
After that, I then met with Dan and Ann again, where I was escorted into the town of Middle River, along with the Marshal County sheriff, fire department, and ambulance all blaring their sirens and lights as well, which was so much fun! I was then welcomed by a crowd filled with familiar faces and smiles, along with the official "key to the city" from mayor Mark Stromsodt! What you must understand is that the population of Middle River is exactly 303 people, and at this party, everyone was there. It was incredibly special, not only for myself, but for the people of this tiny community with the world's biggest heart. We had so much fun visiting and sharing in our accomplishment together, and as I said to them that night, "this crown is not about me, but rather about 'we'." Wherever I may go, I will always take the community of Middle River with me in my heart. And a special thank you to my committee, who so graciously hosted this awesome event! It could not have been more perfect. That evening, I spent time with my family and one of my dear friends (and former Miss TRF) Brittany. It was a perfect end to a perfect evening.
Wednesday (6/21)
I traveled with my mom and sister back to the Twin Cities where I moved in with my host family. While I will miss being with my family over the summer, I am so excited to spend time and get to know my new host family!
Thursday (6/22)
I spent the majority of the day hammering out Miss America paperwork with my incredible state director, Kathy! We had a blast together and time simply flew by! That day, Brenna had rheumatology appointments at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, so she kept busy as well, and after her appointment, we went to the Mall of America with our friends Tami and Tori. Tori is an awesome young lady who also has arthritis and is Brenna's "bestest buddy," so it was special to spend time with her as well. Not only did we do some shopping, but more importantly, we went to the girls' favorite restaurant...Buffalo Wild Wings! Both Brenna and Tori are as sweet as the "sweet bbq" wings they order. ;)
Friday (6/23)
Friday was so much fun, as I took my official Miss America headshots with Paula Preston! James and Penny made me feel beautiful and pampered with hair and makeup, and I cannot wait to release the official photo soon enough! Thank you to Paula, James, and Penny for being generous sponsors and bringing out the inner beauty within me! From there, myself, Kathy, Shelly (the MMNOT director), Emily (my teen queen), and her family all traveled to Davenport for the Miss Iowa pageant! We had so much fun on the road and I don't think I have ever had more fun with a group of people outside of my family! Getting to bond with Emily was great and by the time we reached the hotel, we had dubbed ourselves "The Clown Car," due to many jokes and laughs we shared!
Saturday (6/24)
Emily and I had a great time at the Miss Iowa and Miss Iowa Outstanding Teen pageants, where we were able to welcome our newest sisters in the Miss America and Miss America's Outstanding Teen Class of 2017! I am so excited for Lydia and Chelsea's Year of Service and I can't wait to reconnect with them next month in Orlando! And of course, we felt so fashionable and trendy in our cocktail dresses thanks to our newest wardrobe sponsor, Le Chic Pageant and Prom Boutique! We were able to meet with several amazing women involved with the Miss Iowa board and were so impressed with the state and their organization. What a treat to visit and learn from them! In addition, we also met "Nurse Kelley" Johnson, who emceed the pageant!
Sunday (6/25)
Talk about an exciting day! Both Emily and I met with Heather and Stacy DeLong from Le Chic, where we spent several hours finalizing our national competition wardrobes! They have so many beautiful gowns and outfits in their store with selections ranging in all different styles, colors, designers, and prices. They are so incredibly attentive to your personal style and make sure you feel and look your absolute best. I cannot wait to show off this incredible new wardrobe at Miss America this September! Thank you to both of them for their generous sponsorships and their wonderful friendship! After our visit, we all went to dinner, where we planned out our visions for our year and inspired one another to think big! By the end of our conversation, we were all eager to hit the ground running!
Monday (6/26)
You have probably noticed by now, dear reader, that there has barely been a break in my entire week! However, today has been my "break day." I have been in my comfy clothes, resting at Kathy's again and finalizing paperwork, and of course, updating you on this busy week! If you have made it to this point, thanks for reading! There will not be a video this week, but starting next week, I will be going live on Facebook with Monday updates as well, so stay tuned for those!
Remember to follow me on social media for daily updates on:
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Snapchat --> @missamericamn :)
Thanks for tuning in to this week's "Monday Minutes with Miss Minnesota!"
Until next week, keep shining!
Brianna
"Monday Minutes with Miss Minnesota!"
This blog will serve as a weekly update and a little glimpse of what it is like to be Miss Minnesota! And let me tell you, it is pretty exciting! :)
First off, if we haven't met by now, hello! I am Brianna Drevlow, your new Miss Minnesota!
I have now been in service for nine days, and it has been such a fun ride! I cannot wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!
A little bit about me:
I am the daughter of Joe and Jodi Drevlow of Thief River Falls, MN, located in the northwest corner of the state. I have ten siblings (yes, you read that right) and we are incredibly musical! Together, we advocate for my platform,
"Brenna's Brigade: Juvenile Arthritis Awareness"
which is inspired by my sister, Brenna, who was diagnosed with JA at the age of four.
I am a graduate student at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, pursuing a Master of Music degree in Composition. I also received a Bachelor of Music degree in Theory and Composition from Concordia College in 2016, so you could say I really enjoy both music and creativity! I have had many wonder musical opportunities and I encourage you to read the rest of my bio here: http://www.missminnesota.org/miss-minnesota.html
This week's Monday Minutes is jam-packed with fun appearances and prep work getting ready for Miss America! I traveled extensively and worked hard, and man did this week fly by fast! Be prepared to read...a lot! :)
Saturday (6/17)
Walking away with the Miss Minnesota crown is the dream come true, and sharing the moment with my Northern Lights Princesses, who also happened to be my sisters Bralynne, Brenna, and Brooke, made it even more special.
Every young woman who competed for this title brought a unique talent and gift to share with the organization and I am simply honored to be among them. Miss Minnesota week was so much fun and I truly believe that we all brought out the absolute best in each other. What a joy to call them my friends!
After the pageant, I was able to meet with our esteemed judges to thank them for their service. They were a phenomenal panel and I hope they come to visit Minnesota again soon!
I then visited with my family and friends along with my local Miss North Star committee back at the hotel everyone was staying at and we had quite the party! To date, I am the first Miss North Star to be crowned Miss Minnesota, and I represented the furthest northern title to be crowned in Miss Minnesota history , so it was incredibly special for my community and especially for my committee. They have worked so hard and their support for both myself and the Miss Minnesota organization is unmatched and I can honestly say I could not have done this without them. Thank you so much to Kara (#SalmonAndSuper), KayDell, Marlene, Katie, Rachel, Mindy, Terri, Laurie, and O'Brien for everything. I love you all so very much.
Another special thank you goes out to my family who traveled from all corners of Minnesota and beyond to support me, from my immediate family and grandparents in Thief River Falls, to family and friends coming from Fargo, ND; Minneapolis, MN; and even Phoenix, AZ! My family is my biggest support and celebrating this time with them was so touching. I love you all to the moon and back!
Sunday (6/18)
We celebrated Father's Day with my first appearance with Brad Carlson on AM 1280, The Patriot! Brad was one of our emcees for the competition and chatting with him about all things pageant-related on the radio was such a treat! Thank you Brad for an awesome first interview! I then relaxed with my family and savored every moment, because from there on out, it has been a wild ride!
Monday (6/19)
I had a 9am photoshoot for the Radisson Blu hotel, who so generously provided lodging for my parents and I on both Saturday and Sunday evenings. I then met with the Miss Minnesota board and prep team for Miss America. We dreamed big over brunch and the plans we have in store for this year are going to be unforgettable! I then had a podcast interview with Jack and Ben from Up and At 'Em Show, which was a total hoot! Thanks for having me on the show and laughing along with me!
Tuesday (6/20)
I was up bright and early for my first television interview as Miss Minnesota on Fox 9 "The Buzz!" It was a great conversation and I loved the experience, having Charlotte, my business manager, and my parents right there alongside me! And interestingly enough, I ran into another Thief River Falls native at the studio; Chris Tveitbakk! What a small world!
I traveled 6 hours north for a short visit and a "welcome home" party in both Thief River Falls (my hometown) and Middle River (the town I represented just 20 minutes north). My arrival into town was one of the coolest things I have experienced to date! Thanks to our long-time friends, Dan and Ann Hible, I was escorted into town on a beautiful Saleen Mustang convertible, along with State Patrol officer Dick Wittenberg, who has known me since I was young, and another squad car leading the way to the City Hall, with the loud sirens and lights! I was greeted by a wonderful crowd and the city mayor, Brian Holmer, where I was escorted in to ring in the evening's session of City Council.
I then traveled out to the Thief River Falls Golf Course, where I made an appearance at the "Hole in One" tournament sponsored by Thief River Falls Radio (my former employer) where I swung for a prize. Though my golfing skills are nowhere near my musical skills, it was fun nonetheless. :)
After that, I then met with Dan and Ann again, where I was escorted into the town of Middle River, along with the Marshal County sheriff, fire department, and ambulance all blaring their sirens and lights as well, which was so much fun! I was then welcomed by a crowd filled with familiar faces and smiles, along with the official "key to the city" from mayor Mark Stromsodt! What you must understand is that the population of Middle River is exactly 303 people, and at this party, everyone was there. It was incredibly special, not only for myself, but for the people of this tiny community with the world's biggest heart. We had so much fun visiting and sharing in our accomplishment together, and as I said to them that night, "this crown is not about me, but rather about 'we'." Wherever I may go, I will always take the community of Middle River with me in my heart. And a special thank you to my committee, who so graciously hosted this awesome event! It could not have been more perfect. That evening, I spent time with my family and one of my dear friends (and former Miss TRF) Brittany. It was a perfect end to a perfect evening.
Wednesday (6/21)
I traveled with my mom and sister back to the Twin Cities where I moved in with my host family. While I will miss being with my family over the summer, I am so excited to spend time and get to know my new host family!
Thursday (6/22)
I spent the majority of the day hammering out Miss America paperwork with my incredible state director, Kathy! We had a blast together and time simply flew by! That day, Brenna had rheumatology appointments at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, so she kept busy as well, and after her appointment, we went to the Mall of America with our friends Tami and Tori. Tori is an awesome young lady who also has arthritis and is Brenna's "bestest buddy," so it was special to spend time with her as well. Not only did we do some shopping, but more importantly, we went to the girls' favorite restaurant...Buffalo Wild Wings! Both Brenna and Tori are as sweet as the "sweet bbq" wings they order. ;)
Friday (6/23)
Friday was so much fun, as I took my official Miss America headshots with Paula Preston! James and Penny made me feel beautiful and pampered with hair and makeup, and I cannot wait to release the official photo soon enough! Thank you to Paula, James, and Penny for being generous sponsors and bringing out the inner beauty within me! From there, myself, Kathy, Shelly (the MMNOT director), Emily (my teen queen), and her family all traveled to Davenport for the Miss Iowa pageant! We had so much fun on the road and I don't think I have ever had more fun with a group of people outside of my family! Getting to bond with Emily was great and by the time we reached the hotel, we had dubbed ourselves "The Clown Car," due to many jokes and laughs we shared!
Saturday (6/24)
Emily and I had a great time at the Miss Iowa and Miss Iowa Outstanding Teen pageants, where we were able to welcome our newest sisters in the Miss America and Miss America's Outstanding Teen Class of 2017! I am so excited for Lydia and Chelsea's Year of Service and I can't wait to reconnect with them next month in Orlando! And of course, we felt so fashionable and trendy in our cocktail dresses thanks to our newest wardrobe sponsor, Le Chic Pageant and Prom Boutique! We were able to meet with several amazing women involved with the Miss Iowa board and were so impressed with the state and their organization. What a treat to visit and learn from them! In addition, we also met "Nurse Kelley" Johnson, who emceed the pageant!
Sunday (6/25)
Talk about an exciting day! Both Emily and I met with Heather and Stacy DeLong from Le Chic, where we spent several hours finalizing our national competition wardrobes! They have so many beautiful gowns and outfits in their store with selections ranging in all different styles, colors, designers, and prices. They are so incredibly attentive to your personal style and make sure you feel and look your absolute best. I cannot wait to show off this incredible new wardrobe at Miss America this September! Thank you to both of them for their generous sponsorships and their wonderful friendship! After our visit, we all went to dinner, where we planned out our visions for our year and inspired one another to think big! By the end of our conversation, we were all eager to hit the ground running!
Monday (6/26)
You have probably noticed by now, dear reader, that there has barely been a break in my entire week! However, today has been my "break day." I have been in my comfy clothes, resting at Kathy's again and finalizing paperwork, and of course, updating you on this busy week! If you have made it to this point, thanks for reading! There will not be a video this week, but starting next week, I will be going live on Facebook with Monday updates as well, so stay tuned for those!
Remember to follow me on social media for daily updates on:
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Snapchat --> @missamericamn :)
Thanks for tuning in to this week's "Monday Minutes with Miss Minnesota!"
Until next week, keep shining!
Brianna
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