Aleah Scheick Interview
Miss Alaska USA 2005
You competed once before winning the title of Miss Alaska USA, what motivated you to come back and compete again?
I grew up watching all the pageants that were aired on t.v. at the time and always thought of how nice it would be to be able to represent a large group of people and a state at such a prestigious event. Also the tuition waivers that the University I was attending would also help me in my finances in getting a college education which was extremely important to me.
I was so close the first time and that gave me even more of a motivation to come back for more even though I didn’t agree with how the director treated her people. It wasn’t about her year, it was about mine.
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss Alaska USA?
Well I did cry, because it was such a big sigh of relief from how bad I wanted it and all the hard work and money that was put into it. But the first thing I did was do the gesture of a phone to my hear and mouthed the words to my friends in the audience to “CALL MY MOM” (my parents live in Michigan where I was born and raised). They weren’t able to be at the state pageant so by the time I called them it was 2am Michigan time.
What would be your most memorable experience at Miss USA?
This is a hard one. I have so many great memories of the pageant!! There are two that really stood out to me. Of course the live telecast because that is what we worked so hard towards and the adrenaline and excitement that surrounds it is something not everyone will get to experience.
However I must say I was extremely grateful for Chelsea winning. Miss Alabama burning her leg is another one of my memorable moments simply because of her grace and poise in how she handled the situation and went right back out there, gave it her all. That was a true test of character and impacted me knowing if she just did what she did after what happened then I can easily go out and do whatever I want and be happy with the outcome either way.
You are a cancer survivor, how did you manage to overcome the obstacle mentally and physically?
Going through the cancer just a little over a year after competing at Miss USA was a true test to the kind of person I was or was going to become from the experience. I can say, as weird as this may sound….cancer is one of the best yet worst things that have happened to me.
Mentally it’s just draining! The fear of the unknown and just constantly thinking about it wears you down.. The key is to stay positive because then your body reacts positively. I kept reminding myself that there is always someone out there much worse off than I was.
Physically it just takes all your strength. I couldn’t walk from the car to the store entrance and I would just be SO TIRED. I tried to stay busy as much as possible to keep my mind off of everything but going through chemo your body can only handle so much. Not to mention being BALD!!!
You volunteered at the 2006 Turin Olympics, what would be your highlight there?
Actually I didn’t volunteer. I had been a nanny for a family there in the summer of 2004 and it was already planned that if I didn’t win Miss USA they would like me back from Dec 05-April 06 to help out again. I was fortunate enough to nanny for the Project Manager on Coca-cola’s Olympic crew allowing me the opportunity to attend all the events we possibly could.
You’re an avid hockey fan! What team(s) are you a fan of?
Oh I am WING NUT through and through. Detroit Red Wings defending Stanley Cup champs baby! I BELONG TO HOCKEYTOWN.
Lastly, what have you been up to?
Well after the recovering process of cancer and regaining my strength and getting BROWN hair I started the job search process that landed me in Baltimore, MD at Under Armour, Inc. Global headquarters. Kevin Plank the owner was a judge at Miss USA 2005 and being the networker that I am I kept in touch with those that I met and low and behold here I am. WATCH OUT NIKE!!!
I grew up watching all the pageants that were aired on t.v. at the time and always thought of how nice it would be to be able to represent a large group of people and a state at such a prestigious event. Also the tuition waivers that the University I was attending would also help me in my finances in getting a college education which was extremely important to me.
I was so close the first time and that gave me even more of a motivation to come back for more even though I didn’t agree with how the director treated her people. It wasn’t about her year, it was about mine.
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss Alaska USA?
Well I did cry, because it was such a big sigh of relief from how bad I wanted it and all the hard work and money that was put into it. But the first thing I did was do the gesture of a phone to my hear and mouthed the words to my friends in the audience to “CALL MY MOM” (my parents live in Michigan where I was born and raised). They weren’t able to be at the state pageant so by the time I called them it was 2am Michigan time.
What would be your most memorable experience at Miss USA?
This is a hard one. I have so many great memories of the pageant!! There are two that really stood out to me. Of course the live telecast because that is what we worked so hard towards and the adrenaline and excitement that surrounds it is something not everyone will get to experience.
However I must say I was extremely grateful for Chelsea winning. Miss Alabama burning her leg is another one of my memorable moments simply because of her grace and poise in how she handled the situation and went right back out there, gave it her all. That was a true test of character and impacted me knowing if she just did what she did after what happened then I can easily go out and do whatever I want and be happy with the outcome either way.
You are a cancer survivor, how did you manage to overcome the obstacle mentally and physically?
Going through the cancer just a little over a year after competing at Miss USA was a true test to the kind of person I was or was going to become from the experience. I can say, as weird as this may sound….cancer is one of the best yet worst things that have happened to me.
Mentally it’s just draining! The fear of the unknown and just constantly thinking about it wears you down.. The key is to stay positive because then your body reacts positively. I kept reminding myself that there is always someone out there much worse off than I was.
Physically it just takes all your strength. I couldn’t walk from the car to the store entrance and I would just be SO TIRED. I tried to stay busy as much as possible to keep my mind off of everything but going through chemo your body can only handle so much. Not to mention being BALD!!!
You volunteered at the 2006 Turin Olympics, what would be your highlight there?
Actually I didn’t volunteer. I had been a nanny for a family there in the summer of 2004 and it was already planned that if I didn’t win Miss USA they would like me back from Dec 05-April 06 to help out again. I was fortunate enough to nanny for the Project Manager on Coca-cola’s Olympic crew allowing me the opportunity to attend all the events we possibly could.
You’re an avid hockey fan! What team(s) are you a fan of?
Oh I am WING NUT through and through. Detroit Red Wings defending Stanley Cup champs baby! I BELONG TO HOCKEYTOWN.
Lastly, what have you been up to?
Well after the recovering process of cancer and regaining my strength and getting BROWN hair I started the job search process that landed me in Baltimore, MD at Under Armour, Inc. Global headquarters. Kevin Plank the owner was a judge at Miss USA 2005 and being the networker that I am I kept in touch with those that I met and low and behold here I am. WATCH OUT NIKE!!!