Jessi Pierson Interview
Miss West Virginia USA 2009, top 10 @ Miss USA 2009 & Miss Photogenic @ Miss USA 2009
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss West Virginia USA pageant?
I have always watched the Miss USA pageant every year since I was a little girl and had always wanted to be there on that stage. I had always looked up to Miss West Virginia delegate and thought that it was the coolest job in the world. Once I got older and was involved in pageants, I always had the Miss WV USA pageant in mind because it seemed like the ultimate pageant to win. Then last April I won a pageant that paid my way to be in the Miss WV USA pageant and it was set in stone that I was competing for Miss WV USA!
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss WV USA ?
I couldn't believe it! I was totally shocked! It was my first time ever competing and I went with an open mind, trying to get the experience so that hopefully I'll win someday. I had set a goal to "walk away with something" whether it be making the top 15, Miss Photogenic or Miss Congeniality... then I won Miss Photogenic AND Miss Congenitality AND Miss WV USA so I was just overwhelmed with emotion and soooo excited and shocked all at the same time.
What would a typical day as Miss WV USA go?
Well normally during the week I wake up and go substitute teach. Then I come home, change, and workout (usually by walking with a friend). Then I come back home, eat dinner, and do things around the house. Then a few times a week I'll have an appearance as Miss WV USA where I get to be really dressed up and go appear somewhere as Miss WV USA. I get to go do all sorts of fun things like charity events and speaking to teens.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA ?
There are so many moments to choose from that stand out as memorable at the Miss USA pageant. Everything from the awesome contestants that I became very close with to the celebritites, to the pageant itself being on national television all stand out as being very memorable. But I'd say that if I had to pick one moment, it would have to be whenever Donald Trump came up to me after the pageant and said "Miss West Virginia, you are beautiful girl and did so well. Do me a favor and give my son your number." I thought that was pretty cool to have Donald Trump say that to me.
Who was going through your head when you made the top 15 and then the top 10?
When I made it to the top 15 I was so excited because I knew that I had really accomplished something huge. Miss WV rarely gets into the top 15 (before me it has happened once in 20 years) and that was my goal the entire time- (of course I wanted to win) but my main goal was to make it to top 15 and I was sooo happy that my hard work paid off and I had accomplished my goal. Then once I made it into the top 10 I was beyond excited and very emotional. I had worked so hard for my swimsuit body and to make it past the swimsuit cut and also make it further than any Miss WV USA in the past 25 years, that was an amazing moment for me.
What would be your first thought when you were announced as Miss Photogenic?
I was thinking "Oh my gosh!! I just won Miss Photogenic!" I couldn't believe it! I was the only Miss WV to ever win that and one of the few "small" states to ever win. I couldnt believe that I beat out all the big powerhouse states like New York, Texas and California! It made me feel very proud that I had so much support back home because pretty much everyone I know emailed everyone they knew to vote for me so I know that everyone back home and really pulled through to get the votes and it made me so proud!
Lastly, do you’ve made a difference since you were crowned Miss WV USA ?
I definitely think that I've made a difference since being crowned. I've made it a point to never turn down an appearance unless I absolutely had to because of scheduling conflicts. I've tried my best to go out of my way to make people's day and never turned anyone down for a picture and/or autograph. I've also tried to be the best role model that I possibly could be and strived to be beautiful on the inside. I really feel like I've been a good Miss West Virginia. :O
Thank you to Kristin Morrison for arranging this interview!
I have always watched the Miss USA pageant every year since I was a little girl and had always wanted to be there on that stage. I had always looked up to Miss West Virginia delegate and thought that it was the coolest job in the world. Once I got older and was involved in pageants, I always had the Miss WV USA pageant in mind because it seemed like the ultimate pageant to win. Then last April I won a pageant that paid my way to be in the Miss WV USA pageant and it was set in stone that I was competing for Miss WV USA!
What was going through your head when you realized you were the new Miss WV USA ?
I couldn't believe it! I was totally shocked! It was my first time ever competing and I went with an open mind, trying to get the experience so that hopefully I'll win someday. I had set a goal to "walk away with something" whether it be making the top 15, Miss Photogenic or Miss Congeniality... then I won Miss Photogenic AND Miss Congenitality AND Miss WV USA so I was just overwhelmed with emotion and soooo excited and shocked all at the same time.
What would a typical day as Miss WV USA go?
Well normally during the week I wake up and go substitute teach. Then I come home, change, and workout (usually by walking with a friend). Then I come back home, eat dinner, and do things around the house. Then a few times a week I'll have an appearance as Miss WV USA where I get to be really dressed up and go appear somewhere as Miss WV USA. I get to go do all sorts of fun things like charity events and speaking to teens.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA ?
There are so many moments to choose from that stand out as memorable at the Miss USA pageant. Everything from the awesome contestants that I became very close with to the celebritites, to the pageant itself being on national television all stand out as being very memorable. But I'd say that if I had to pick one moment, it would have to be whenever Donald Trump came up to me after the pageant and said "Miss West Virginia, you are beautiful girl and did so well. Do me a favor and give my son your number." I thought that was pretty cool to have Donald Trump say that to me.
Who was going through your head when you made the top 15 and then the top 10?
When I made it to the top 15 I was so excited because I knew that I had really accomplished something huge. Miss WV rarely gets into the top 15 (before me it has happened once in 20 years) and that was my goal the entire time- (of course I wanted to win) but my main goal was to make it to top 15 and I was sooo happy that my hard work paid off and I had accomplished my goal. Then once I made it into the top 10 I was beyond excited and very emotional. I had worked so hard for my swimsuit body and to make it past the swimsuit cut and also make it further than any Miss WV USA in the past 25 years, that was an amazing moment for me.
What would be your first thought when you were announced as Miss Photogenic?
I was thinking "Oh my gosh!! I just won Miss Photogenic!" I couldn't believe it! I was the only Miss WV to ever win that and one of the few "small" states to ever win. I couldnt believe that I beat out all the big powerhouse states like New York, Texas and California! It made me feel very proud that I had so much support back home because pretty much everyone I know emailed everyone they knew to vote for me so I know that everyone back home and really pulled through to get the votes and it made me so proud!
Lastly, do you’ve made a difference since you were crowned Miss WV USA ?
I definitely think that I've made a difference since being crowned. I've made it a point to never turn down an appearance unless I absolutely had to because of scheduling conflicts. I've tried my best to go out of my way to make people's day and never turned anyone down for a picture and/or autograph. I've also tried to be the best role model that I possibly could be and strived to be beautiful on the inside. I really feel like I've been a good Miss West Virginia. :O
Thank you to Kristin Morrison for arranging this interview!