Update on everything!

In two weeks I will be competing for the title if Miss Mohave County 2013! I am so grateful to have become apart of such an amazing program as the Miss America Organization. It's absolutely fabulous!
This past week I signed up for a wonderful thing in my community! I became a Chamber Ambassador for the Parker Area Chamber of Commerce. Being a member of the Cham Bams I will be volunteering through out the community in activities through out the year and also helping with the Chamber Mixers! I am very excited to continue staying involved with my community.
I am also getting anxious for my San Diego trip! I haven't been to San Diego in so long. My speaking engagement also falls on the day of my boyfriends birthday! What a coincidence!!
This Tuesday I have a doctors appointment at PCH. Staying positive!
XO- A

San Diego in May!

I received a phone call about a week ago from a Network I joined called SPEAK Network (Sharing People's Experiences And Knowledge). SPEAK allows me to volunteer my time sharing my story to inspire others. One week ago I was asked if I would be interested in speaking at a pharmaceutical conference in San Diego in May. I was very honored and shocked! I received a phone call today with more information. I will be speaking to 175 people about my story and about a medicine I take. I will be staying at the Hard Rock, where the conference will be. All expenses paid for by the SPEAK Network!! The time I am in San Diego, it will also my sweetheart's birthday! What a great way to celebrate! I am so excited for this opportunity! I will definitely be blogging about that day when it comes!

Farewell Miss La Paz County 2012

The evening I was crowned Miss La Paz County 2012 a new journey started for me. I started living a dream I dreamt of for year’s prior. Up until the night I was crowned I did not know the true beauty of winning this pageant. I was overwhelmed with excitement as I heard my name announced as the winner, but I about fainted when Miss Arizona 2011, Jennifer Sedler, hugged me with her kind words, “Welcome to the sisterhood!” I then realized at that exact moment that I was to be a part of something much greater. Becoming a titleholder of the Miss America Organization has taught me mostly about myself and who I am to become, but also what I can accomplish. My first year serving was made possible by me, but was made incredible by many.

            My family has given more encouragement than I honestly know what to do with. Crowning night I arrived to my back stage mirror approaching signed cards with encouraging words, taped all over my mirror. Weeks after and into Miss Arizona, I received cards daily from family members near and far wishing me luck and joy. As I spent my week competing I was given a card a day of which my family had signed with personal notes, small gifts, and flower arrangements. Preliminary nights, I had the best support group any one could ask for. My family all wore t-shirts with my picture on them with words “Team Tozer”. To all of my family, thank you for being Team Tozer all year long!

            My dearest Mother and Father: to put this simply, I do not have enough time in all eternity, not enough words in my vocabulary, and most certainly not enough paper to express my gratitude for all you have given me. You both are my foundation and biggest supporters. You’ve seen me fall, you’ve seen me shine, and mostly you’ve seen me grow. I am grateful for all you have given and taught me, and I look forward to all I still have to learn. My one goal as your daughter is to always make you proud. I love you with all my heart Mama and Daddy.

            Kursten, my very best friend and closest thing I have to a sister. As we both grow into adulthood there are special things I want to encourage you with: I want to inspire you to be the incredible woman you are meant to be, I want to lead with example showing you that anything is possible, I want you to believe in yourself knowing when you do that outstanding things will happen. You give me such pride in myself, but more than that- I am proud of you. You have taught me your best quality, to be brave. I love you so much.

            Josh, never have I known a man to be as such a great friend to me, and also a beautiful partner in a relationship. You always remind me to be my best. Through every idea, every appearance, every suggestion, you have always supported me. Having you at Miss Arizona with my family meant the world to me. You really have become a solid part of my foundation. You continued to remind me that you believed in me and that I was beautiful in heart and physically. Having you be a part of this journey is such a treasure. Thank you for always being positive and helping me be my best.

            Three very special women in my family deserve all the credit I could possibly give: Cherre Hooper, Lindee Woody, and Erin Woody. They were always there for questions coming from me, or my parents. They taught me how to do pageant hair and make up. They taught me how to walk on stage, how to speak on the radio, Miss America secret rules, my platform and paperwork, and made sure I was dolled up for my pictures. My dream to become Miss La Paz County started with their daughter, Lexi, as she was crowned in 2009. You have all helped mold me into my dream of being a Miss America titleholder.

            Spending a week with Marion Shontz at Miss Arizona was one of my most cherished parts of my experience. I have the best memories from our late night conversations. Every night Marion would tell me something I will never forget: to let me light shine in all that I do. Thank you for being the best traveling companion.

            Mary Hamilton, you have helped me exceed my dreams of my organization of Grin & Bear It. As we have now started the lengthily process of creating Grin & Bear It into an official 501c3 non-profit organization, you have also become a dear friend and wonderful supporter. You inspire me on so many levels!

            Thank you, Kelly Edwards, for being the best seamstress a pageant girl could ever ask for. From helping me select my wardrobe, to rescuing me from wardrobe disasters a week before Miss Arizona. You’ve always been so flexible to help me in my time of need. You helped me look fabulous competing for Miss La Paz County, you helped me feel confident in my presentations and appearances, and you helped me shine at Miss Arizona. Thank you for always helping me look and feel unstoppable.

            When I decided to compete for the title of Miss La Paz County, I continuously ask myself “Why do I want this?” Always to follow was my answer, “I want to represent my home and the people I love.” I have carried that same passion through my year. I love this community and have done my best to represent my home. I would like to thank our community as a whole for my outstanding year.

            I am forever thankful for the Miss La Paz County Scholarship Pageant committee for providing such a beautiful opportunity for young women though out La Paz County to enter as contestants in this pageant. I would not be where I am today with out that same opportunity.

            I am proud to say that I am a part of the Miss Arizona sisterhood. I could not be more fortunate to know such a perfect group of inspiring women. The love we all share for each other is so much appreciated. Thank you for welcoming me and supporting me all year.

            All five of the Miss La Paz County 2013 contestants have become friends of mine. To the young lady I crown tonight- Congratulations! Every woman will walk away as a winner: 1 with a crown and 4 with the growth of heart. You will all do amazing things in your lives. I am proud of all of you!

            It has been an honor to serve as Miss La Paz County 2012. My organization, Grin & Bear It, will blossom into a beautiful creation in years to come. As the Miss America Organization is the leading scholarship provider for young women in the world, I am a full time student pursuing my scholastic ambition of achieving my Doctorate’s degree in Forensic Psychology. To Keerstyn Edwards, Miss La Paz County Outstanding Teen, and Aubry Herrell, Miss Parker Outstanding Teen, I know you will both do amazing at the state level. I will be there to cheer for you both and the newly crowned teen. Good luck my friends! To all the wonderful people I have not thanked individually, know you are appreciated and cherished in my heart. I will forever adore my memories and experiences as Miss La Paz County 2012.

All my love,

Alyson Tozer

Miss La Paz County 2012

            

Great Beginnings!

Two weeks from today I will be giving away my title of Miss La Paz County 2012. It has been a long time dream of mine to become a Miss America titleholder. I have loved my first year but I can not wait to get back on stage to perform again! My next challenge is to win Miss Mohave County in April. I will continue to aspire my dream of becoming Miss Arizona one day!
I have been given the opportunity to become a member of a program called S.P.E.A.K. (Sharing People's Experiences and Knowledge). I am very excited to have this opportunity to share my story and success with my disease, Cystic Fibrosis. I have always been afraid to share my disease with the world until I competed for my first Miss America local pageant. I am now addicted and cannot share it enough! I will have the chance to share my story and encourage/inspire others. I will be doing many interviews of all sorts, conferences, media of all sorts, and more! I am 1 of 10 nationally in a specific division of S.P.E.A.K. This journey has just started!
I am also a writer who can one day call herself an author! I am in the midst of writing my first book. A tragic love story starting in the year 1436. I will share quotes from my story as it progresses and my achievements as they come. I also plan to write a book called "iSurvived", an autobiography of my journey through my experiences in the Miss America Organization and my triumph with my disease.

I can't wait for my future!

-Love, A.