"A Crowning Afternoon Tea"

     When Tara Dawn (Holland) Christensen was a little girl, she would watch The Miss America Pageant every year with her mother, never knowing that one day she would wear the crown herself. But, a fateful encounter when she was in seventh grade set a course in motion that would take her down the most famous runway in the world. 
     Tara attended a concert by former Miss America, Cheryl Prewitt. Afterwards, she bought a tape of Ms. Prewitt’s music along with her autobiography. A few months later, Tara was assigned to do a book report on an autobiography. She instantly knew the one she wanted to write. However, the teacher required the book report to be "acted out" in class, asking the students to take on the character of the book. Tara was thrilled. She could become "Miss America for a day!" She fashioned her crown from cardboard, aluminum foil and glitter (she treasures this keepsake to this day). She carried a fake rose and made a banner that read "Miss America." On that auspicious morning, she stood before her classmates and said, "Good morning, I’m Miss America." Tara Dawn Christensen knew at that moment that she wanted to become America’s crowning representative.
     It wasn’t until her senior year in high school, however, that Tara began competing in pageants. She started out with the Seminole County (Florida) Young Woman of the Year Pageant (now known as "Junior Miss"). There were only three contestants, and Tara won first runner-up. She smiles when she says, "I was in the top two-thirds of those competing." She continued vying for her first title in several local level pageants. In the Miss America program, there are three levels of competition. The first is the local level (a city, county or festival). When a young woman wins on that level, she automatically goes on to compete in the state pageant. She may repeat this process and return to the state level as many times as she desires between the ages of 17 and 24. Once she wins at the state level, she gets only one opportunity to compete for the title of Miss America. If she does not win at the state level and desires to try again, she must enter a local level competition once again for the following year.  Tara entered the Miss Gulf Coast Pageant and won that title in 1990, her third at the local level. Two weeks after her high school graduation, she headed for the Miss Florida Pageant, where she won first runner-up. Contrary to the advice of many, Tara decided that she should wait to compete again in the Miss America program for a few years.
     She didn’t want to miss God’s timing, she felt. So a couple of years later, she began the process all over again, competing first at the local level. Finally as a 21-year-old senior at Florida State University, she felt it was time to return to the Miss America program. She had matured and prepared herself, and she felt she was ready to be Miss Florida and Miss America. But, God had other plans for her. This time, she made it only to fourth runner-up to Miss Florida. Again, she decided to take time off  from school between earning her Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree. Then, in 1995, after winning the Miss Immokalee title, she, her parents, and her pageant committee were ready to see her go all the way to Miss America.
     During that year, Tara adopted Psalm 139:16 as her "life verse" because it is a reminder that God knew there would be good and bad days, health and sickness, wins and losses, in each person's life before "time" began. So she was fully able to accept being named first runner-up (again!) to Miss Florida.
     Tara moved to Overland Park, Kansas shortly after the Miss Florida Pageant to begin work toward her Master’s Degree in music education at the UMKC Conservatory of Music. After four attempts at the state level over a span of seven years, Tara finally won the title of Miss Kansas, with the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss America.
     In Atlantic City, her prayer before walking into her Miss America interview was that the judges would see what was on the inside. At the conclusion of the questioning, Tara knew one thing –– her prayer had been answered. She did not know who was going to be Miss America, but they had gotten to know HER, and that was all that mattered. She couldn’t be anyone else. And on September 14, 1996, 23-year-old Tara Dawn Holland was crowned Miss America 1997. And Tara says, "It truly has been a blessing. My life would be totally different if it were not for the experiences I have had as Miss America, but also prior to becoming Miss America. God knew what He was doing, and I needed every moment of preparation He gave me. To God be the glory."
     Since her crowning, Tara has made many public appearances including singing at President Bush’s Inaugural Ball, appearing with the Boston Pops at the July Fourth Celebration, and entertaining as a soloist in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She has also appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Live with Regis and Kelly, and the Today Show with Matt Lauer.
     But, Tara’s real passion is for the youth of our country. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in music education, it was her plan to teach chorus to middle and high school students upon graduation. However, with the title of Miss America, her opportunities to reach youth expanded tremendously. Today, Tara has worked with youth in many ways, both locally and nationally. She has traveled all over the country to speak with young people about the dangers of premarital sex. As a 26-year-old virgin on her wedding day, Tara is able to explain, from personal experience, the value of saving themselves for marriage. She tells teens, "I never had to worry about becoming pregnant, getting a sexually transmitted disease, or having my heart broken because I gave myself away physically, only to be rejected later." 
     Today, Tara is happily married to Jon Christensen, they have a lovely daughter, Petra, and they ride two beautiful horses, Grace and Beauty.
She loves the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom and to be involved in her local church and community.  Being a "Southern Girl," Tara prefers her tea iced and sweetened with Splenda. And, a favorite sweet treat that she often prepares is Buttermilk Pie, the recipe for which she has graciously provided below. It is her husband’s favorite and is always a big hit with family and friends.
     Tara Dawn (Holland) Christensen is a wonderful role model for any girl to emulate. Showing not only grace and beauty on the outside, but on the inside as well (which is even more important), Tara set the bar high for herself and proved that through hard work, dedication and perseverance, you can attain your goals. 

     A great debt of gratitude goes to Tara Dawn Christensen for her generous assistance with the preparation of this newsletter.

Source:   www.taradawn.net 
Photos: © Tara Dawn Christensen

                                     Buttermilk Pie