Only one more week until contestants report to St. Petersburg for the Miss Florida pageant. It will be a week filled with activities, events and excitement, not to mention the competition itself.

The preparation has been quite an experience already, and I can’t imagine what is still to come. I have been working out with my personal trainer four days a week, preparing for the swimsuit competition. I meet with my vocal coach every week to work on my song for the talent competition. It’s “Defying Gravity” from the musical “Wicked.”

I am also gathering my wardrobe and accessories for the week and getting my evening dresses altered.

I am focused on staying true to myself and not changing or getting caught up in the hype of pageantry. Sometimes girls might change themselves toward what they think the judges want for the job of Miss Florida. For me, I want the satisfaction of knowing I can win Miss Florida by being me and no one else.

I look forward to taking readers with me each day through my “Quest for the Crown” blog updates on TBO.com and filling a Snap! gallery with many photos during pageant week, June 25-30.