Jennifer Sedler
Miss Arizona 2011 (3rd runner up to Miss America 2012)
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Phoenix pageant?
As a teenager, I was a competitive dancer, very studious, and enjoyed public speaking and volunteering. Although the thought of competing in a pageant had never crossed my mind, I competed for the first time at age 18 at the suggestion of my dance teacher. I immediately realized that the Miss America Organization embodied everything I wanted to be; it was the perfect fit for my goals before I knew it was even a possibility.
Tell us about your platform, "Making a Difference in the Lives of Children with Life Threatening Illnesses: Support for HopeKids" (NOTE: it was shortened to Support for children with life-threatening illnesses when I competed for Miss America)
Before pageants, through involvement in my high school, I somewhat stumbled upon an organization called HopeKids (an organization that plans weekly events and activities for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families) when I met a little girl battling a life-threatening illness. I wanted to get more involved, so I began volunteering with HopeKids, and it became my platform when I competed in my first local. Through HopeKids and other experiences in my platform, I have grown and matured a great deal. I've planned fundraisers, worked events, visited children in hospitals, and traveled the country meeting with different branches of Hopekids and children's hospitals, to name a few. To be so involved in a child's life is a blessing, and I strive to be able to help them in any way possible during their journey. It puts everything into perspective: the things that go wrong in life seem so insignificant when I think about how strong those kids are. Many of them have become good friends of mine, and I have had the chance to really learn from them.
How long have you been dancing for and how did it begin?
I have been dancing my entire life! I took my first dance class at age 2 and have called the stage my second home ever since.
What was going through your head when you were announced as the 3rd runner up at Miss America?
Honestly by the time I made it to the top five, I was so exhilarated and excited that I was thankful beyond measure to be there, experiencing that moment. Of course I wanted to leave as Miss America, but any momentary twinge of disappointment was overcome by a feeling of blessedness.
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss Arizona?
That's the hardest question, I don't think I could ever pick one. But my favorite memories all stem from experienced I had working on my platform. I always tell titleholders that: the competition is great and the cool opportunities you get out of it are fun, but those moments you will always remember because you truly touched another life or had your views and perspective changed because of an experience, that's what being a titleholder is all about, those are the best memories.
Lastly, what have you been up to after your reign as Miss Arizona ended?
Being Miss Arizona was a piece of my life, and it changed my life, but it was a launching point for the rest of my life as "Jennifer Sedler". Using many of the skills I learned during my year, I have returned to the honors college at UA where I am studying physiology in pursuit of becoming a pediatric oncologist, I am performing through being a member of the UA Pomline, I'm speaking at schools, business and churches, and I continue to work with HopeKids. It's an important lesson to learn that you don't need a crown to act like Miss America. Anyone, anywhere can fulfill those duties as long as you're willing to work hard and wear heels every now and then ; )
As a teenager, I was a competitive dancer, very studious, and enjoyed public speaking and volunteering. Although the thought of competing in a pageant had never crossed my mind, I competed for the first time at age 18 at the suggestion of my dance teacher. I immediately realized that the Miss America Organization embodied everything I wanted to be; it was the perfect fit for my goals before I knew it was even a possibility.
Tell us about your platform, "Making a Difference in the Lives of Children with Life Threatening Illnesses: Support for HopeKids" (NOTE: it was shortened to Support for children with life-threatening illnesses when I competed for Miss America)
Before pageants, through involvement in my high school, I somewhat stumbled upon an organization called HopeKids (an organization that plans weekly events and activities for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families) when I met a little girl battling a life-threatening illness. I wanted to get more involved, so I began volunteering with HopeKids, and it became my platform when I competed in my first local. Through HopeKids and other experiences in my platform, I have grown and matured a great deal. I've planned fundraisers, worked events, visited children in hospitals, and traveled the country meeting with different branches of Hopekids and children's hospitals, to name a few. To be so involved in a child's life is a blessing, and I strive to be able to help them in any way possible during their journey. It puts everything into perspective: the things that go wrong in life seem so insignificant when I think about how strong those kids are. Many of them have become good friends of mine, and I have had the chance to really learn from them.
How long have you been dancing for and how did it begin?
I have been dancing my entire life! I took my first dance class at age 2 and have called the stage my second home ever since.
What was going through your head when you were announced as the 3rd runner up at Miss America?
Honestly by the time I made it to the top five, I was so exhilarated and excited that I was thankful beyond measure to be there, experiencing that moment. Of course I wanted to leave as Miss America, but any momentary twinge of disappointment was overcome by a feeling of blessedness.
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss Arizona?
That's the hardest question, I don't think I could ever pick one. But my favorite memories all stem from experienced I had working on my platform. I always tell titleholders that: the competition is great and the cool opportunities you get out of it are fun, but those moments you will always remember because you truly touched another life or had your views and perspective changed because of an experience, that's what being a titleholder is all about, those are the best memories.
Lastly, what have you been up to after your reign as Miss Arizona ended?
Being Miss Arizona was a piece of my life, and it changed my life, but it was a launching point for the rest of my life as "Jennifer Sedler". Using many of the skills I learned during my year, I have returned to the honors college at UA where I am studying physiology in pursuit of becoming a pediatric oncologist, I am performing through being a member of the UA Pomline, I'm speaking at schools, business and churches, and I continue to work with HopeKids. It's an important lesson to learn that you don't need a crown to act like Miss America. Anyone, anywhere can fulfill those duties as long as you're willing to work hard and wear heels every now and then ; )