Kirsten Haglund Interview
Miss America 2008
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Oakland County pageant?
I simply needed some scholarship for school. I had just graduated high school and was heading off to the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and needed the financial assistance. I wore my senior prom dress as my evening gown, and my talent costume was $5.00 from Salvation Army. I promise you, I never expected in a million years to actually win!
How did you overcome anorexia?
As an eating disorder is a serious physical and mental illness, one does not just ‘overcome’ the disease. It takes time, commitment, and professional help, especially to recover from this illness. Although initially in denial of even being sick at all, with the support of my family and friends, and MOST importantly, my primary care physician, nutritionist, and psychologist, I was able to recover from Anorexia nervosa. It wasn’t easy though, there were times when I didn’t want to get healthy, and the disease seriously impacted not only myself, but my mom and dad, my brother, and my friends. It kept me from pursuing my dream, which was to be a professional ballet dancer; it ruined a whole period of my adolescence. For all of these reasons, and perhaps most strongly, because I wanted to LIVE… I decided that I had to get better. I needed to find a way. So with my treatment team of doctors, I did.
Tell us about your platform you used during Miss America.
Because of my struggle with an eating disorder, I chose to raise awareness of the illness as my platform when competing in the Miss America program. I saw what an incredible opportunity it was to seek to create open dialogue about Eating Disorders in Entertainment media, the fashion and beauty industry, as well as have the access to many young women who look to Miss America as a role model. It has been an amazing year helping to encourage young women and be outspoken about the fact that these are serious, deadly illnesses, not glamorous, and we as women have to right and the responsibility to define beauty on our own terms, love and respect ourselves and our bodies first and foremost.
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss Michigan?
Quite honestly, I thought I was dreaming. Not because it WAS my dream; I never though I would win. Not for one moment. So when they announced my name I was shocked. I never expected, at 18 years old, to inherit such a responsibility. I didn’t know if I was ready to represent my state; I had just finished my freshman year of college! I didn’t know if I was ready to speak in public, or move away from home, and Lord know, I wasn’t prepared to go to Miss America. It was an exciting moment, to be sure, but scary.
What was going through your head when you made the top 16?
When I made the top 16 at Miss America, I was thrilled, simply because now I could perform at least one portion of the competition for my family that had traveled to Las Vegas to see me. I didn’t want them to have wasted their money and time and travel! Of course, they would never say or feel that, but as a contestant, that is the pressure you feel. Being called into that first semi-final is a huge relief!
What was going through your head when your name was not announced as the 1st runner up at Miss America?
Nothing. Your mind is totally blank at that moment, because there has never been a time in your life where things are any LESS under your control. You can just be. You have no idea what is going to happen next. So you wait.
What would be your most memorable moment during your reign as Miss America?
There really is not ONE moment. The whole year is full of amazing opportunities an adventures. Some highlights? Addressing congress in Washington D.C., lobbying for Mental Health Parity and eating disorders legislation. Meeting the President of the United States; meeting the Secretary General of the UN, Ban-Ki Moon. Ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ. Speaking at Harvard University. Walking the red carpet, any and every time. Every moment is thrilling if you make it so.
What emotions were you going through when you gave away your title as Miss America?
I was SO happy! I worked a long, hard, and rewarding year, traveling 20,000 miles a month, and going home twice to see my family. I was an incredible experience, and it gives you all the tools you need to build your life from there. I was just excited to give the next young woman the same dream; the same opportunity.
Do you think you’ve made a difference during your reign as Miss America?
I think so. Mental Health Parity passed this year due to the efforts of the Eating Disorders Coalition and our lobby day. People across the nation are more outspoken about eating disorders, more open to dialogue about the issue, and the media is much more receptive and willing to run stories about the growing seriousness of ‘diet culture’ and its impact on young girls. I still receive emails, facebook and myspace messages, letters from around the world from people of all ages thanking me for speaking openly about eating disorders, body-image and self-esteem issues, and for being a positive role model. These words always warm my heart and help me to feel that I, in some small way, have made a difference as Miss America 2008. But it does not stop after one year. I plan to make a difference every day for the rest of my life.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss America ended?
I’ve really continued appearances around the country; mostly speaking engagements, related to eating disorders. I’ve also started my own Foundation, the KHF (Kirsten Haglund Foundation) to raise money to provide scholarships for eating disorders treatment (largely, NOT covered by health insurance companies). Los Angeles, California is now my home, I love it, and love being back to ‘creativity…’ I’m resuming my performing arts training and pursuing my career in acting. I’m slowing down, and ready to live, to the fullest, the rest of my life.
I simply needed some scholarship for school. I had just graduated high school and was heading off to the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and needed the financial assistance. I wore my senior prom dress as my evening gown, and my talent costume was $5.00 from Salvation Army. I promise you, I never expected in a million years to actually win!
How did you overcome anorexia?
As an eating disorder is a serious physical and mental illness, one does not just ‘overcome’ the disease. It takes time, commitment, and professional help, especially to recover from this illness. Although initially in denial of even being sick at all, with the support of my family and friends, and MOST importantly, my primary care physician, nutritionist, and psychologist, I was able to recover from Anorexia nervosa. It wasn’t easy though, there were times when I didn’t want to get healthy, and the disease seriously impacted not only myself, but my mom and dad, my brother, and my friends. It kept me from pursuing my dream, which was to be a professional ballet dancer; it ruined a whole period of my adolescence. For all of these reasons, and perhaps most strongly, because I wanted to LIVE… I decided that I had to get better. I needed to find a way. So with my treatment team of doctors, I did.
Tell us about your platform you used during Miss America.
Because of my struggle with an eating disorder, I chose to raise awareness of the illness as my platform when competing in the Miss America program. I saw what an incredible opportunity it was to seek to create open dialogue about Eating Disorders in Entertainment media, the fashion and beauty industry, as well as have the access to many young women who look to Miss America as a role model. It has been an amazing year helping to encourage young women and be outspoken about the fact that these are serious, deadly illnesses, not glamorous, and we as women have to right and the responsibility to define beauty on our own terms, love and respect ourselves and our bodies first and foremost.
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss Michigan?
Quite honestly, I thought I was dreaming. Not because it WAS my dream; I never though I would win. Not for one moment. So when they announced my name I was shocked. I never expected, at 18 years old, to inherit such a responsibility. I didn’t know if I was ready to represent my state; I had just finished my freshman year of college! I didn’t know if I was ready to speak in public, or move away from home, and Lord know, I wasn’t prepared to go to Miss America. It was an exciting moment, to be sure, but scary.
What was going through your head when you made the top 16?
When I made the top 16 at Miss America, I was thrilled, simply because now I could perform at least one portion of the competition for my family that had traveled to Las Vegas to see me. I didn’t want them to have wasted their money and time and travel! Of course, they would never say or feel that, but as a contestant, that is the pressure you feel. Being called into that first semi-final is a huge relief!
What was going through your head when your name was not announced as the 1st runner up at Miss America?
Nothing. Your mind is totally blank at that moment, because there has never been a time in your life where things are any LESS under your control. You can just be. You have no idea what is going to happen next. So you wait.
What would be your most memorable moment during your reign as Miss America?
There really is not ONE moment. The whole year is full of amazing opportunities an adventures. Some highlights? Addressing congress in Washington D.C., lobbying for Mental Health Parity and eating disorders legislation. Meeting the President of the United States; meeting the Secretary General of the UN, Ban-Ki Moon. Ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ. Speaking at Harvard University. Walking the red carpet, any and every time. Every moment is thrilling if you make it so.
What emotions were you going through when you gave away your title as Miss America?
I was SO happy! I worked a long, hard, and rewarding year, traveling 20,000 miles a month, and going home twice to see my family. I was an incredible experience, and it gives you all the tools you need to build your life from there. I was just excited to give the next young woman the same dream; the same opportunity.
Do you think you’ve made a difference during your reign as Miss America?
I think so. Mental Health Parity passed this year due to the efforts of the Eating Disorders Coalition and our lobby day. People across the nation are more outspoken about eating disorders, more open to dialogue about the issue, and the media is much more receptive and willing to run stories about the growing seriousness of ‘diet culture’ and its impact on young girls. I still receive emails, facebook and myspace messages, letters from around the world from people of all ages thanking me for speaking openly about eating disorders, body-image and self-esteem issues, and for being a positive role model. These words always warm my heart and help me to feel that I, in some small way, have made a difference as Miss America 2008. But it does not stop after one year. I plan to make a difference every day for the rest of my life.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss America ended?
I’ve really continued appearances around the country; mostly speaking engagements, related to eating disorders. I’ve also started my own Foundation, the KHF (Kirsten Haglund Foundation) to raise money to provide scholarships for eating disorders treatment (largely, NOT covered by health insurance companies). Los Angeles, California is now my home, I love it, and love being back to ‘creativity…’ I’m resuming my performing arts training and pursuing my career in acting. I’m slowing down, and ready to live, to the fullest, the rest of my life.