Kate Marie Grinold Interview
Miss District of Columbia 2008 & top 10 @ Miss America
Tell us about yourself and how you got into pageants.
I'm a very normal girl but I've made it a point throughout my life to set goals and self-expectations high. In 24 years I have grown from a small town girl with a big gap between my front teeth who didn't read until the 3rd grade to a world-traveler, humanitarian, scholar, professional, role-model and aspiring entreprenuer. My biggest virtues are ambition and humility, paradoxial but when balanced perfectly they are the key to all success. Miss DC was my very first pageant and I was convinced my a Miss DC volunteer to compete with the lure of winning a $5,000 scholarship. Not only did I win a scholarship, I won a year of opportunity, countless life lessons and 51 new sisters.
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss DC?
When they announced my name I was literally stunned. I had never been in a pageant so the first thing that went through my head was, "We haven't rehearsed past this point, what do I do now?" Needless to say I was overwhelmed and very shocked for about a week but then I found my groove as Miss DC.
When did you start ballet?
I started dancing when I was very young and immediately fell in love with the movement, music and passion of ballet. Right after my 13th birthday my mom and I moved from a small mining town in Southern New Mexico to Washington, DC so I could attend a world class ballet academy. I owe a lot to my mom.
Tell us about your platform “Raising Awareness of Human Trafficking”.
Human Trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world. The primary targets are women and youth making it the women's rights and children's rights issue of our time. As Miss DC I've focused on spreading awareness of human trafficking within my community and although I did not become Miss America I'm currently working on how to expand my work to a national level.
What was going through your head when you made the top 15 and then the top 10?
There. Are. No. Words. My dad told me I had the most priceless and un-beauty queen like reaction when my name was called into the 15. I just remember being so shocked that the girls next to me had to push me forward. Of course being called into the 12 and then the 10 was incredible but nothing will ever compare to that top 15 moment.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss America?
I have so many incredible memorable moments from Miss America but I think my absolute favorite moment was when they announced my name as I walked out onto the stage in my evening gown. I have never felt more like a princess in my life.
What would a typical day as Miss DC be like?
Wake up at 6am, gym at 7am, work (as a Media Consultant for a PR firm) from 9-5, appearance or two starting at 6pm, life maintanence from around 11-1am. My days are really, really long.
What would be your most memorable moment so far as Miss DC?
Being in the Nation's Capital I have so many incredible and unique opportunities it's difficult to find one that stands out above the rest. One of my favorite appearances, however, was with Miss VA at the Marine Corps Marathon. We stood at the finish line for 3 hours screaming and cheering the runners on. Every time someone finished the race I felt a surge of inspiration and thought, this is what life is all about. I love being inspired!
I'm a very normal girl but I've made it a point throughout my life to set goals and self-expectations high. In 24 years I have grown from a small town girl with a big gap between my front teeth who didn't read until the 3rd grade to a world-traveler, humanitarian, scholar, professional, role-model and aspiring entreprenuer. My biggest virtues are ambition and humility, paradoxial but when balanced perfectly they are the key to all success. Miss DC was my very first pageant and I was convinced my a Miss DC volunteer to compete with the lure of winning a $5,000 scholarship. Not only did I win a scholarship, I won a year of opportunity, countless life lessons and 51 new sisters.
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss DC?
When they announced my name I was literally stunned. I had never been in a pageant so the first thing that went through my head was, "We haven't rehearsed past this point, what do I do now?" Needless to say I was overwhelmed and very shocked for about a week but then I found my groove as Miss DC.
When did you start ballet?
I started dancing when I was very young and immediately fell in love with the movement, music and passion of ballet. Right after my 13th birthday my mom and I moved from a small mining town in Southern New Mexico to Washington, DC so I could attend a world class ballet academy. I owe a lot to my mom.
Tell us about your platform “Raising Awareness of Human Trafficking”.
Human Trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world. The primary targets are women and youth making it the women's rights and children's rights issue of our time. As Miss DC I've focused on spreading awareness of human trafficking within my community and although I did not become Miss America I'm currently working on how to expand my work to a national level.
What was going through your head when you made the top 15 and then the top 10?
There. Are. No. Words. My dad told me I had the most priceless and un-beauty queen like reaction when my name was called into the 15. I just remember being so shocked that the girls next to me had to push me forward. Of course being called into the 12 and then the 10 was incredible but nothing will ever compare to that top 15 moment.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss America?
I have so many incredible memorable moments from Miss America but I think my absolute favorite moment was when they announced my name as I walked out onto the stage in my evening gown. I have never felt more like a princess in my life.
What would a typical day as Miss DC be like?
Wake up at 6am, gym at 7am, work (as a Media Consultant for a PR firm) from 9-5, appearance or two starting at 6pm, life maintanence from around 11-1am. My days are really, really long.
What would be your most memorable moment so far as Miss DC?
Being in the Nation's Capital I have so many incredible and unique opportunities it's difficult to find one that stands out above the rest. One of my favorite appearances, however, was with Miss VA at the Marine Corps Marathon. We stood at the finish line for 3 hours screaming and cheering the runners on. Every time someone finished the race I felt a surge of inspiration and thought, this is what life is all about. I love being inspired!