Gina Cerilli Interview
Miss Pennsylvania USA 2010 + top 15 @ Miss USA 2010
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Pennsylvania USA pageant?
Being Miss Pennsylvania was always a dream of mine since I was 3 years old. My entire life I worked towards that dream with dance lessons, cheerleading, beauty pageants, theater, fashion shows, etc. I did anything that would require me to be up on stage. I placed 2nd runner up the past two years in the Miss PA USA pageant. After last year’s pageant, I thought that being Miss PA USA was not in God’s plan for me and I had no plans of competing again. The Christmas before I won the title, my sister and I were in a horrible car accident which left me life flighted to the hospital and in intensive care for a week. After 6 weeks of rehab, I realized that I was lucky to just be alive, let alone not paralyzed or with any scars. (My injuries were all internal, which was life-threatening, but not visible today.) I knew that life was too short and I didn’t want to have any regrets in my life. I did not want to be 80 years old one day and think what if? 9 months after my rehab and healing, I won the Miss PA USA title!
What was going through your head when you realized that you were the next Miss Pennsylvania USA?
I was so thankful that God gave me this opportunity. I remember just looking out into the audience to see all of my family and friends in shock. I didn’t just win this for myself, but for all of them. They have all been with me on this journey and supporting me for years. Especially my mom, dad, sister, Maria, and two Grandmothers that were present that day. I had over 30 family and friends in the audience which was probably the most out of all the contestants. However, little did I know that most of those people including more would follow me on my journey to Miss USA. 100 people flew out to Las Vegas to watch me compete in Miss USA, it meant the world to me to have everyone I care about so much be there for me.
What would be your most memorable moment in Las Vegas during Miss USA?
All of it will be memorable. Miss. USA was everything I expected it to be plus more. I can honestly say it was AMAZING. The most memorable moment would have to be all the publicity we got for the Fadil Berisha photo shoot. I couldn’t believe how controversial it became. It was the sexiest photo shoot I have personally ever done, but it was classy and I loved it! I have to laugh at how much the news outlets talked about our photos because to be honest we show more in the swimsuit competition on stage or at any beach! I loved the publicity though, when else will my photo be on Larry King Live, Fox News, Perez Hilton, TMZ, MSNBC, Good Morning America, and every other major news networks? I also LOVED meeting Mr. Trump!
What would be your first thoughts as your state was called into the top 15 at Miss USA?
Well, first of all the last week of Miss USA was extremely tough for me because my Grandmother passed away the week before the pageant while I was in Vegas. Both of my grandmothers lived for the Miss USA pageant and a week after I won Miss PA USA their suitcases were both already packed for Vegas. One of my grandmothers had to get heart surgery done unexpectedly in February. She made the doctors assure her that she will be well and able to travel to Vegas in May because her grand-daughter was Miss Pennsylvania. (She made sure she told anybody and everyone that would listen to her about me, the whole hospital staff knew who I was before I even got to visit her for the first time.) Unfortunately, she had complications from the surgery and wouldn’t be able to make it to Vegas. However, she had a Miss USA pageant party planned at the nursing home to watch on TV. My grandmother was the one that bought me my first pageant gown when I was a little girl and she would watch every Miss USA & Miss Universe pageant with me on TV while growing up. We would always cheer and hope Pennsylvania would make the cut, but Pennsylvania would rarely make the cut every year. Needless to say, she started me on this dream! I was heartbroken when I found out she passed away on Mother’s Day, just a week before the pageant and I could not go home for the funeral. However, I knew she would want me to stay and not leave the pageant. When I was announced into the Top 15 on finals night. She was the first thought I had. I knew she was watching from heaven and I was so proud that she got to see Pennsylvania make the cut this year!
What are some countries that you have visited, and which one would be your favorite out of all the countries you have visited and why?
Traveling is a passion of mine and I hope to travel to all seven continents in my lifetime. I have been to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. My absolute favorite is Italy. I lived there for 4 months while studying abroad and it was an amazing experience. I still have family living there, so I love going back to visit every few years.
You listed scrapbooking as one of your activities on your biography. What would be the best scrapbook you’ve made?
I love scrapbooking. My favorite would either be my scrapbook from studying abroad in Europe or my scrapbook poster from being an NFL Cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles. I have so many great memories, and scrapbooking is a great way to remember them. I can’t wait to get started on my Miss USA scrapbook.
What will you be up to after your reign as Miss Pennsylvania USA ends?
Last year I graduated with my Masters Degree. After I give up my title of Miss Pennsylvania USA, I hope to start teaching courses at the college level and begin my classes towards a PhD. I would love to be a college professor someday as well as continue working in Public Relations for my current employer.
Being Miss Pennsylvania was always a dream of mine since I was 3 years old. My entire life I worked towards that dream with dance lessons, cheerleading, beauty pageants, theater, fashion shows, etc. I did anything that would require me to be up on stage. I placed 2nd runner up the past two years in the Miss PA USA pageant. After last year’s pageant, I thought that being Miss PA USA was not in God’s plan for me and I had no plans of competing again. The Christmas before I won the title, my sister and I were in a horrible car accident which left me life flighted to the hospital and in intensive care for a week. After 6 weeks of rehab, I realized that I was lucky to just be alive, let alone not paralyzed or with any scars. (My injuries were all internal, which was life-threatening, but not visible today.) I knew that life was too short and I didn’t want to have any regrets in my life. I did not want to be 80 years old one day and think what if? 9 months after my rehab and healing, I won the Miss PA USA title!
What was going through your head when you realized that you were the next Miss Pennsylvania USA?
I was so thankful that God gave me this opportunity. I remember just looking out into the audience to see all of my family and friends in shock. I didn’t just win this for myself, but for all of them. They have all been with me on this journey and supporting me for years. Especially my mom, dad, sister, Maria, and two Grandmothers that were present that day. I had over 30 family and friends in the audience which was probably the most out of all the contestants. However, little did I know that most of those people including more would follow me on my journey to Miss USA. 100 people flew out to Las Vegas to watch me compete in Miss USA, it meant the world to me to have everyone I care about so much be there for me.
What would be your most memorable moment in Las Vegas during Miss USA?
All of it will be memorable. Miss. USA was everything I expected it to be plus more. I can honestly say it was AMAZING. The most memorable moment would have to be all the publicity we got for the Fadil Berisha photo shoot. I couldn’t believe how controversial it became. It was the sexiest photo shoot I have personally ever done, but it was classy and I loved it! I have to laugh at how much the news outlets talked about our photos because to be honest we show more in the swimsuit competition on stage or at any beach! I loved the publicity though, when else will my photo be on Larry King Live, Fox News, Perez Hilton, TMZ, MSNBC, Good Morning America, and every other major news networks? I also LOVED meeting Mr. Trump!
What would be your first thoughts as your state was called into the top 15 at Miss USA?
Well, first of all the last week of Miss USA was extremely tough for me because my Grandmother passed away the week before the pageant while I was in Vegas. Both of my grandmothers lived for the Miss USA pageant and a week after I won Miss PA USA their suitcases were both already packed for Vegas. One of my grandmothers had to get heart surgery done unexpectedly in February. She made the doctors assure her that she will be well and able to travel to Vegas in May because her grand-daughter was Miss Pennsylvania. (She made sure she told anybody and everyone that would listen to her about me, the whole hospital staff knew who I was before I even got to visit her for the first time.) Unfortunately, she had complications from the surgery and wouldn’t be able to make it to Vegas. However, she had a Miss USA pageant party planned at the nursing home to watch on TV. My grandmother was the one that bought me my first pageant gown when I was a little girl and she would watch every Miss USA & Miss Universe pageant with me on TV while growing up. We would always cheer and hope Pennsylvania would make the cut, but Pennsylvania would rarely make the cut every year. Needless to say, she started me on this dream! I was heartbroken when I found out she passed away on Mother’s Day, just a week before the pageant and I could not go home for the funeral. However, I knew she would want me to stay and not leave the pageant. When I was announced into the Top 15 on finals night. She was the first thought I had. I knew she was watching from heaven and I was so proud that she got to see Pennsylvania make the cut this year!
What are some countries that you have visited, and which one would be your favorite out of all the countries you have visited and why?
Traveling is a passion of mine and I hope to travel to all seven continents in my lifetime. I have been to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. My absolute favorite is Italy. I lived there for 4 months while studying abroad and it was an amazing experience. I still have family living there, so I love going back to visit every few years.
You listed scrapbooking as one of your activities on your biography. What would be the best scrapbook you’ve made?
I love scrapbooking. My favorite would either be my scrapbook from studying abroad in Europe or my scrapbook poster from being an NFL Cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles. I have so many great memories, and scrapbooking is a great way to remember them. I can’t wait to get started on my Miss USA scrapbook.
What will you be up to after your reign as Miss Pennsylvania USA ends?
Last year I graduated with my Masters Degree. After I give up my title of Miss Pennsylvania USA, I hope to start teaching courses at the college level and begin my classes towards a PhD. I would love to be a college professor someday as well as continue working in Public Relations for my current employer.