Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com
Miss America Teresa Scanlan receives a key to the city from Mayor Carolyn Goodman on Sept. 8, 2011.
Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 | 12:32 p.m.
Robin Leach's Vegas DeLuxe
- Check out VegasDeLuxe.com for more celebrity and arts and entertainment coverage.
Miss America Teresa Scanlan visits Las Vegas Academy on Sept. 8, 2011.
Reigning Miss America Teresa Scanlan returned to her Planet Hollywood victory headquarters yesterday eight months after she was crowned there and told me that she’s not ready to give up the tiara and has very ambitious future plans.
“In fact, I may be missing in action come January because I’m not ready to turn it over to the 2012 winner,” Teresa laughed. “I don’t want to give it up. The other Miss America winners have all told me that when you reach the last four months, you're pretty tired from the traveling and the workload and ready to put your feet up and hand over the responsibilities to the next one.
“Not so for me. I’d like to keep going. It’s been absolutely incredible. I’ve loved every minute of it. Since winning the title in January, the time has just raced by. I know it’s eight months, but I feel the entire experience as a blur that began only yesterday.”
Teresa, from Nebraska, was in Las Vegas yesterday celebrating the Miss America Organization’s 90th anniversary. She made appearances at Andre Agassi’s College Preparatory Academy, where she spoke with fourth- and fifth-graders, and at the Las Vegas Academy accompanied by Miss Nevada Teen USA Bailey Gumm. Another highlight was an invitation to City Hall from Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who presented her with a key to the city. Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was on duty for a Vegas DeLuxe photo gallery.
Last night, Teresa met with Las Vegas VIPs who are members of the Miss America Organization board to map out plans for the next pageant here at Planet Hollywood on Jan. 14 hosted by The Bachelor and Bachelor Pad’s Chris Harrison for the third time.
Teresa, who is one of the youngest-ever Miss Americas at age 17, also has traveled to more states and overseas countries than any previous winner and heads to Spain next week for the first time.
She let me in on the secret of her future plans: “In meeting so many people so far and being involved with community activities and charitable events, I’ve come to realize something very important. I’ve grown up the past eight months. I’ve grown, too, as a person and realize my calling with God’s will is to serve and to help make America a better place. I know I won this in order later on to make a real difference. I saw first hand what Andre Agassi has achieved with his amazing young students, and I know everything is possible when you believe.
“So when the time is right, I will do all that it takes to eventually become either president of the United States or a Supreme Court justice. When I return to college next year, I’ll stay focused on everything academically needed for those, and then we’ll take the path of the one that is God’s will.”
Teresa promised that even if she struggles to hold onto the crown in January, she will continue our Vegas DeLuxe tradition of predicting the winner in advance!
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.
If you would like to submit your comment as a letter to the editor, you may submit it here.