KAITLYN CHRISTOPHER
MISS INDIANA USA 2005 & CRITICAL BEAUTY AWARD RECIPIENT
How did you prepare yourself for Miss USA? Did you have to give up certain things
to attain your personal best?
Preparation for Miss USA was non-stop! I spent
a lot of time working out, planning my wardrobe, having mock interviews, practicing
hair and makeup techniques, and making sure my “walk” was at it’s best. Because the
schedule leading up to the competition was so busy, I was forced to drop out of
college for a semester. That was really hard for me to do because I truly love
being a student and living the college life that most people my age are. However,
all the hard work was well worth it, because I really believe that I was at my very best!
Tell us a little about the Miss USA pageant. Who were your closest friends?
Any funny moments? Were there any catfights backstage? I heard that Miss This and
Miss That didn’t get along as roommates because both had severe personality disorders!
(Laughter)
Wow, the pageant and the weeks leading up to it
were unreal! I always tell people that they will never fully understand what it’s
like to compete at Miss USA until they have been there and competed themselves.
I honestly enjoyed the company of every girl there,
because each was very unique in their own right. I know that there were “catfights”
between certain girls, but I was lucky enough to stay away from it. Thank God!
My best friend at the pageant was and still is
Kristen Johnson, Miss KY USA. She is an amazing woman that embodies so many attributes
that I admire: honesty, self-confidence, determination, beauty, and style.
I also really enjoyed Oklahoma, West Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, and Utah.
I can remember so many funny moments, but I
think the topper was how Kristen and I were always trying to sneak greasy food!
The only thing I ever really wanted during those weeks was fast food or pizza.
(Laughter). Sometimes our directors would sneak food to us during rehearsals or
other times our parents would bring food to the lobby and have the bellman bring
it to our rooms. I remember one time specifically ordering a pizza and picking
it up in the lobby, but apparently I was not allowed to do that! The chaperones
told me that I could be kicked out of the pageant for such behavior.
Many pageant fans, including myself, were terribly disappointed that the
judges did not include you among the semi-finalists. How did you cope with this
disappointment, and has it made you a stronger person?
I will forever be heartbroken that my only
chance at Miss USA did not turn out the way I had hoped. It was very hard to
walk off the stage and know that it was all over especially when I knew that I had
every quality that Miss USA should.
I’m not going to lie; I cried for probably
a week straight. But in the end I have come out a better person. I have thicker
skin now than I ever had before. The opinion of one set of judges will not hold me back from achieving my dreams.
Maybe Miss USA was the vehicle I thought it would be, but I am sure to not give
up on all that I have planned for my future.
What does your job as Miss Indiana USA entail?
A whole lot of fun! I have had such an amazing year,
and I am so lucky to have a job that I think is pleasurable. I have made numerous
appearances across the state, mostly doing charity work, but I also have the
opportunities to just be “VIP.” Some of my favorite experiences were: riding
around the Indy 500 track in a two-seater race car going 180mph, competing at
Miss USA, participating in the Jeff Gordon Bowl-a-thon, shooting my first
poster with MSA, organizing events such as HOGS 4 Dogs, meeting Alexa (a Riley patient),
emceeing the America’s National Miss pageant, and participating in the
St. Jude’s style show.
What is your take on cosmetic surgery to improve one’s looks? One international
pageant organization has proposed a charter to ban contestants who have had
breast implants and other physical enhancements such as hair extensions, wigs,
colored contact lenses, and even padded bras. Do you agree with this charter to
a certain extent?
No, I don’t agree with the charter. I don’t
believe that whether or not a person has or hasn’t had the enhancements on “the list”
is relevant to how well they will represent their state or country as a titleholder.
Furthermore, I believe that nearly everyone does “something” to enhance their looks.
Where do you draw the line? Wearing braces as a child cosmetically enhances one’s
smile; is that acceptable? What about bleaching your teeth? What about highlighting
or coloring your hair? Wearing makeup? All of these are ways of improving your
appearance. It is a very personal decision as to which “enhancements” are right
for each individual.
In Baltimore, I had the pleasure to meet you and to honor you with the Critical
Beauty Award. What does the award mean to you?
It meant more to me than words can express.
It was recognition not for what I look like but for what I stand for, and I truly
believe that it was the most honorable award that I could’ve been given while I was
at Miss USA.
The prize money I received enabled me to help animals in Indiana even more than
I had before. Half of it went to sponsor the treatment of Lexis, a heartworm positive
Cocker Spaniel at the Humane Society of Indianapolis, and the other half was donated
to Pals for Paws, an animal rescue organization in my hometown. They used the money
to help provide food, shelter, and medical care for the abandoned and abused pets
in our state. Thank you again for choosing me; I am truly honored.
Next page |
On animal rights and future plans
OCTOBER 2005
PHOTO CREDITS: Sam Tang, The Miss Universe Organization
