My quest for the crown at the 2007 Miss Florida pageant is not about the result. It’s about the journey.

The pageant takes place June 27-30 at the Mahaffey Theatre, returning to St. Petersburg for the first time since 2003. I competed last summer in Miami, and am looking forward to experiencing the excitement in our own backyard.

I hope to take readers with me on the journey by updating a blog each day on TBO.com, and writing an update for the Tribune each week leading up to the big event - a preliminary to the “Miss America” scholarship pageant. I’ll make updates about what goes into preparing for such a pageant. And I’ll keep my digital camera handy for an ongoing Snap photo gallery, giving you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the preparation and pageant week.

A little bit about myself: I am 22 and a recent graduate of the University of South Florida. I obtained my degree in Telecommunications-News with aspirations of becoming a fair, accurate and trusted news reporter. I used to be a live-in nanny for three girls and was also a performer at Walt Disney World, claiming Snow White and Belle as “friends.” I also used to be the catcher for an all-boys baseball team.

My “Miss Tampa” platform is “Moving to Prevent Childhood Obesity.” I currently volunteer with MORE Health Inc., and work to educate children and families about how to prevent childhood obesity through healthy eating habits and exercise.

I am so very excited to show you the behind the scenes of pageant preparation and pageant week. Thank you all for your support, and I can’t wait to tell you more!