Sunday, July 1, 2012

Hi...I'm Mrs. Nebraska

Kim Daniels is 2012 Mrs. Nebraska




How do you introduce yourself when you're Mrs. Nebraska America? Ask Kim Daniels. She's the reigning queen and recently shared her personal journey on what it takes to wear the crown during the Omaha IABC monthly professional development luncheon. Kim competed against 12 other amazing women to end up taking home the title. She's a busy wife, daughter, sister, friend, civic leader and career woman who also manages to schedule multiple Mrs. Nebraska appearances, as well as doing some fundraising while gearing up for the Mrs. America Pageant that will take place August 27-29 in Tucson, Arizona.  
 
I know what you're thinking. The Mrs. America Pageant is just like TLC's reality show, "Toddlers &Tiaras", right? The show focuses on showing moms (and sometimes dads) in the height of drama, getting their young daughters veneers on their teeth, hair extensions and a pageant coach to take them through the steps of winning a crown and a trophy that's often taller than the little girls. The Mrs. America Pageant couldn't be more of a contrast.  
 
Yes, Kim got a coach and a personal trainer. She's also beautiful, successful and has gorgeous gowns. But more importantly, Kim is raising awareness about the importance of family, civic duty and empowering other women to achieve their dreams and goals. She's also shedding light on her personal platform for the Abused & Neglected Children’s Emergency Shelter, a part of Heartland Family Service. Says Kim, "I entered the pageant as a way to challenge myself, to step out of my comfort zone and meet other women with similar aspirations. The journey of introspection and articulation is critical in bringing you to the forefront of the pageant competition. It was a lot of work, and a lot of fun."
 
The Mrs. Nebraska America Pageant judges contestants on the following three pillars: commitment to family, commitment to community/civic duty, and empowering other women to reach their highest potential. Pillars, I think most if not all women aspire to.  And let's face it, sometimes it is hard for women to toot their own horns, to decide they're worthy to run for something like this and to make time for themselves. Kim shared how she crafted her personal brand, came upon her platform to be the voice for Nebraska's abused and neglected children, and how she balances it all as the community relations manager and event planner at The Scoular Company and staying anchored in her marriage of 23 years. In addition to winning the title of Mrs. Nebraska, Kim, some achieved some additional awards including:
  • The Marriage Longevity Award
  • The Leadership Award
  • The Entourage Award
  • The People's Choice Award
  • The Evening Gown Award

So, how do other people see you? What ideas pop up when someone hears your name? Whether networking internally to get that promotion, interviewing for a job or making a presentation, building a strong personal brand could be the one thing that helps you rise to the top.
 
Be sure to root for Kim as she competes against 50 other worthy competitors who are successful, determined and beautiful both inside and out.

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