Jessica Hartman Interview
Miss Colorado USA 2010 (3rd runner up @ Miss USA 2010)
Miss Intercontinental 2011
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Colorado USA pageant?
I had always watched the Miss USA pageant on TV growing up and thought it would be an amazing experience, but I never actually thought I would do a pageant. It wasn’t until I received a recruitment letter in the mail for Miss Colorado Teen USA and my mom pushed me to do it that I decided to take part in a pageant.
You competed in the Miss Colorado Teen USA pageant and placed as the 1st runner up in 2009. What motivated you to come back and compete the following year?
I competed in the Miss Colorado Teen USA 2009 pageant with little to know idea what I was doing. My mom and I had no help in preparing for the pageant. We bought a prom dress online and made a quick swimsuit purchase a week before the pageant. I had no expectations going into the pageant and was so excited to make the top 15! When I made the top 5 it was just icing on the cake and I was stunned to be called as first runner up. However, I have always been very competitive and after coming so close, I felt I owed it to myself to try again. I aged out of teen and entered the 2010 Miss Colorado USA pageant. This time, my mom and I were a lot more serious about preparing and decided to get some help. I owe my Miss Colorado USA title to my coach-Christina Sacha, my hairstylist-DJ McDermott, and my makeup artist-Kari Kisch. Without their knowledge and expertise, I would not have reached my goal of winning the Colorado title.
What was going through your head when you were called as the 3rd runner up at Miss USA?
Throughout the night of the Miss USA finals, I was unbelievably calm. I wasn’t nervous at all. I knew what I had to do and I did it. The reason I was able to stay so calm on the biggest night of my life is because of the intense mental training I had had for competing in figure skating. I had spent years perfecting my mind set to be mental strong during a competition. That included not letting my emotions affect my ability to perform the task at hand. I didn’t start to feel nervous until we began to call the runner-ups; I knew then that it was out of my hands. Of course I was disappointed that I wasn’t named Miss USA 2010, but I also felt very proud of what I had accomplished and wouldn’t have changed a thing about the way I competed that night.
Why did you decide to crossover and compete in the Miss Intercontinental circuit?
When I gave up my Miss Colorado USA title, I had no plans of competing again. However that spring, I met Gaspar Cruz while judging a pageant. He convinced me to compete in his Miss United States Intercontinental pageant that summer. Since I had nothing else planned for the summer, I decided it would be fun. I was shocked when I actually won the title and even more stunned when I captured the international title.
What would be your most memorable moment so far as Miss Intercontinental?
I don’t think I could choose just one moment. However, the best part of this title has been working with Gaspar Cruz. He has been such an amazing director. We have become great friends and I have learned so much from him. This year I have traveled over 49,000 miles to places like Spain, Germany, Canada, New York, California, and Texas. I really owe my wonderful experience this year to Gaspar!
Lastly, what will you be up to after your reign as Miss Intercontinental is over?
After I give up my international title, I plan to continue school at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO as a Broadcast Journalism major. I also plan to continue to work with Gaspar and the United States pageant, helping to build the state and national levels.
I had always watched the Miss USA pageant on TV growing up and thought it would be an amazing experience, but I never actually thought I would do a pageant. It wasn’t until I received a recruitment letter in the mail for Miss Colorado Teen USA and my mom pushed me to do it that I decided to take part in a pageant.
You competed in the Miss Colorado Teen USA pageant and placed as the 1st runner up in 2009. What motivated you to come back and compete the following year?
I competed in the Miss Colorado Teen USA 2009 pageant with little to know idea what I was doing. My mom and I had no help in preparing for the pageant. We bought a prom dress online and made a quick swimsuit purchase a week before the pageant. I had no expectations going into the pageant and was so excited to make the top 15! When I made the top 5 it was just icing on the cake and I was stunned to be called as first runner up. However, I have always been very competitive and after coming so close, I felt I owed it to myself to try again. I aged out of teen and entered the 2010 Miss Colorado USA pageant. This time, my mom and I were a lot more serious about preparing and decided to get some help. I owe my Miss Colorado USA title to my coach-Christina Sacha, my hairstylist-DJ McDermott, and my makeup artist-Kari Kisch. Without their knowledge and expertise, I would not have reached my goal of winning the Colorado title.
What was going through your head when you were called as the 3rd runner up at Miss USA?
Throughout the night of the Miss USA finals, I was unbelievably calm. I wasn’t nervous at all. I knew what I had to do and I did it. The reason I was able to stay so calm on the biggest night of my life is because of the intense mental training I had had for competing in figure skating. I had spent years perfecting my mind set to be mental strong during a competition. That included not letting my emotions affect my ability to perform the task at hand. I didn’t start to feel nervous until we began to call the runner-ups; I knew then that it was out of my hands. Of course I was disappointed that I wasn’t named Miss USA 2010, but I also felt very proud of what I had accomplished and wouldn’t have changed a thing about the way I competed that night.
Why did you decide to crossover and compete in the Miss Intercontinental circuit?
When I gave up my Miss Colorado USA title, I had no plans of competing again. However that spring, I met Gaspar Cruz while judging a pageant. He convinced me to compete in his Miss United States Intercontinental pageant that summer. Since I had nothing else planned for the summer, I decided it would be fun. I was shocked when I actually won the title and even more stunned when I captured the international title.
What would be your most memorable moment so far as Miss Intercontinental?
I don’t think I could choose just one moment. However, the best part of this title has been working with Gaspar Cruz. He has been such an amazing director. We have become great friends and I have learned so much from him. This year I have traveled over 49,000 miles to places like Spain, Germany, Canada, New York, California, and Texas. I really owe my wonderful experience this year to Gaspar!
Lastly, what will you be up to after your reign as Miss Intercontinental is over?
After I give up my international title, I plan to continue school at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO as a Broadcast Journalism major. I also plan to continue to work with Gaspar and the United States pageant, helping to build the state and national levels.