Lauren Lanning Interview
Miss Texas USA 2006 + top 10 @ Miss USA 2006
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Texas USA pageant?
Honestly, I wanted to grow as an individual and as a woman. I thought this opportunity would allow me to expand on my philanthropic background and propel my fut ure career ambition in television.
You competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant twice before winning the pageant the third time, what motivated you to come back and compete year after year?
I actually won Miss Texas USA 2006 on my fourth attempt. The first year (2003) I placed thirteenth out of the Top twelve finalists. That experience gave me knowledge I needed to return and be a serious competitor. That is when I was named third runner-up. I was so excited! To go from not being na med a semi-finalist to being named third runner-up, it felt like winning to me. I think the hardest year for me was being named second runner-up. I really left no stone unturned as far as my preparation went. I answered my final question with a home run and felt that it was my title to loose. It was hard to understand why I lost when I gave such a strong performance, but I think loosing that year made me a better winner the next year. The only person that I know who could even possibly understand that is my dear friend, Crystle Stewart. The reason I came back in 2006 was to prove to myself that I could to do this. I put it in God’s hands and I knew if it was in his plans for me I walk down that path with grace.
What was going through your head when you were announced as Miss Texas USA?
I don’t think you can even think at that moment. I do remember what I was thinking before and a few seconds after my name was called. Crystle and I were such great friends; we promised ourselves that no matter who was crowned that year one of us would crown the other. It really made my win very special to be holding her hand in the top two. I know she knows that. So that it was I was thinking along with my prayer to God right before my name was called. I was in a state of shock when I heard my name. I think that is why I love my winning photo so much. I think you can see how genuinely excited I felt to be bestowed such an honor. The next thing I can remember is thanking God and at that moment promising him I would give this opportunity everything I had. I wanted to make sure that I thanked everyone of my supporters in the audience. I wanted them to know it was a win for them too. You can see me going down the runway pointing people out and thanking them. It was such a great moment. I could not wait to get the keys to my new Ford Mustang. It was my dream car! That was my driving force in the gym when I was working out, no pun intended. LOL! I could not wait to hug my family; it truly was a win for us all that night!
What was going through your head when you were called into the top 15 and then in the top 10 at Miss USA?
Miss USA is like no other pageant I have ever known. You can be at your very best and not make the Top 15. I felt so blessed every time I heard Texas called and I got to continue into the next stage of competition. I knew I could have been completely left out. I wish I could have known what it was like to be in the top 5 though. I always loved answering the “final” question.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA?
I will never forget walking into to rehearsals all the contestants got to practice on the stage for the first time. I remember looking up at the huge screen on the stage and it said The 2006 Miss USA Pageant. I think that is when it hit me for the first time. I have a theatrical background so connecting to the stage is very important to me. It was at that time I thought, wow, I am really doing this! I really enjoyed my roommate Miss P.A., Tonya Lehman, too. She really made that whole experience fun for me. I was able to stay calm and relaxed the whole month we were there because of her. I am here to tell you, you get a bad roommate it will kill the experience at Miss USA. I have heard the horror stories.
How would a typical day go during your reign as Miss Texas USA?
I was very blessed to be one of the busiest Miss Texas USA’s in history. I have to thank my dad, P-Diddy (his nick name), for that. Along with appearances that my fabulous directors would give me my P-Diddy would triple the load. He and I wanted to make sure that I made the most of my year. I would get up in the morning and go for my 3 mile power walk and then get ready for my appearance. On average an appearance can take 2-3 hours and that is not including about an hour drive time for me at the time. After my appearance I would usually come home, put on a tee shirt and some shorts and head to the gym. I would have dinner with my family and attempt to spend time with my friends if I wasn’t too tired. It was a long year but I loved every minute and would do it again in a heart beat.
What would be your most memorable moment during your reign as Miss Texas USA?
Most definitely visiting the Shriner’s Burn Center in Galveston, TX. I was the first Miss Texas USA invited to go. I had to beg the Shriners to allow me to visit. I visited their other hospitals in TX but knew the patients at the Burn Center really didn’t see many visitors due to the severity of the burns with most of the children who were patients there. I knew it would not bother me to see them since my mom has a nursing background and I had been exposed to all kinds of things while visiting her at the hospital as a young girl. Seeing those children was so inspiring to me. There is no way you can feel sorry for yourself after you visit there. The kids were so excited to see me on my first visit. I was able to participate in many activities with the kids. It was a blast! I think the best part was being taken to the third floor where the most of the more severe patients were. These were children who were confined to their beds and most of them were burned from head to toe. I would sit with them and their families and ask them what they wanted to be when they grew up, talk to them about their goals, and I wasn’t afraid to touch them if I could. I really think they appreciated me just being there, most of them didn’t understand what/who Miss Texas USA was. The children that I saw that day still inspire me to live my life to the fullest and even more so now that I am a mother.
Lastly, do you think you’ve made a difference during your reign as Miss Texas USA?
You know, I hope so. I don’t think that is a question I can answer. I tried to make time for every person who wanted an autograph or to ask me questions. I visited as many hospitals as I could and participated in as many charity functions that were available to me. Only the children and adults whose lives I touched know that. My goal as Miss Texas USA 2006 was to leave a legacy behind for people to remember me by. I wanted to touch the lives of as many people as I could; in my heart I achieved just that.
*Note: Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Jim for setting this interview up - you're the best :)
Honestly, I wanted to grow as an individual and as a woman. I thought this opportunity would allow me to expand on my philanthropic background and propel my fut ure career ambition in television.
You competed in the Miss Texas USA pageant twice before winning the pageant the third time, what motivated you to come back and compete year after year?
I actually won Miss Texas USA 2006 on my fourth attempt. The first year (2003) I placed thirteenth out of the Top twelve finalists. That experience gave me knowledge I needed to return and be a serious competitor. That is when I was named third runner-up. I was so excited! To go from not being na med a semi-finalist to being named third runner-up, it felt like winning to me. I think the hardest year for me was being named second runner-up. I really left no stone unturned as far as my preparation went. I answered my final question with a home run and felt that it was my title to loose. It was hard to understand why I lost when I gave such a strong performance, but I think loosing that year made me a better winner the next year. The only person that I know who could even possibly understand that is my dear friend, Crystle Stewart. The reason I came back in 2006 was to prove to myself that I could to do this. I put it in God’s hands and I knew if it was in his plans for me I walk down that path with grace.
What was going through your head when you were announced as Miss Texas USA?
I don’t think you can even think at that moment. I do remember what I was thinking before and a few seconds after my name was called. Crystle and I were such great friends; we promised ourselves that no matter who was crowned that year one of us would crown the other. It really made my win very special to be holding her hand in the top two. I know she knows that. So that it was I was thinking along with my prayer to God right before my name was called. I was in a state of shock when I heard my name. I think that is why I love my winning photo so much. I think you can see how genuinely excited I felt to be bestowed such an honor. The next thing I can remember is thanking God and at that moment promising him I would give this opportunity everything I had. I wanted to make sure that I thanked everyone of my supporters in the audience. I wanted them to know it was a win for them too. You can see me going down the runway pointing people out and thanking them. It was such a great moment. I could not wait to get the keys to my new Ford Mustang. It was my dream car! That was my driving force in the gym when I was working out, no pun intended. LOL! I could not wait to hug my family; it truly was a win for us all that night!
What was going through your head when you were called into the top 15 and then in the top 10 at Miss USA?
Miss USA is like no other pageant I have ever known. You can be at your very best and not make the Top 15. I felt so blessed every time I heard Texas called and I got to continue into the next stage of competition. I knew I could have been completely left out. I wish I could have known what it was like to be in the top 5 though. I always loved answering the “final” question.
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss USA?
I will never forget walking into to rehearsals all the contestants got to practice on the stage for the first time. I remember looking up at the huge screen on the stage and it said The 2006 Miss USA Pageant. I think that is when it hit me for the first time. I have a theatrical background so connecting to the stage is very important to me. It was at that time I thought, wow, I am really doing this! I really enjoyed my roommate Miss P.A., Tonya Lehman, too. She really made that whole experience fun for me. I was able to stay calm and relaxed the whole month we were there because of her. I am here to tell you, you get a bad roommate it will kill the experience at Miss USA. I have heard the horror stories.
How would a typical day go during your reign as Miss Texas USA?
I was very blessed to be one of the busiest Miss Texas USA’s in history. I have to thank my dad, P-Diddy (his nick name), for that. Along with appearances that my fabulous directors would give me my P-Diddy would triple the load. He and I wanted to make sure that I made the most of my year. I would get up in the morning and go for my 3 mile power walk and then get ready for my appearance. On average an appearance can take 2-3 hours and that is not including about an hour drive time for me at the time. After my appearance I would usually come home, put on a tee shirt and some shorts and head to the gym. I would have dinner with my family and attempt to spend time with my friends if I wasn’t too tired. It was a long year but I loved every minute and would do it again in a heart beat.
What would be your most memorable moment during your reign as Miss Texas USA?
Most definitely visiting the Shriner’s Burn Center in Galveston, TX. I was the first Miss Texas USA invited to go. I had to beg the Shriners to allow me to visit. I visited their other hospitals in TX but knew the patients at the Burn Center really didn’t see many visitors due to the severity of the burns with most of the children who were patients there. I knew it would not bother me to see them since my mom has a nursing background and I had been exposed to all kinds of things while visiting her at the hospital as a young girl. Seeing those children was so inspiring to me. There is no way you can feel sorry for yourself after you visit there. The kids were so excited to see me on my first visit. I was able to participate in many activities with the kids. It was a blast! I think the best part was being taken to the third floor where the most of the more severe patients were. These were children who were confined to their beds and most of them were burned from head to toe. I would sit with them and their families and ask them what they wanted to be when they grew up, talk to them about their goals, and I wasn’t afraid to touch them if I could. I really think they appreciated me just being there, most of them didn’t understand what/who Miss Texas USA was. The children that I saw that day still inspire me to live my life to the fullest and even more so now that I am a mother.
Lastly, do you think you’ve made a difference during your reign as Miss Texas USA?
You know, I hope so. I don’t think that is a question I can answer. I tried to make time for every person who wanted an autograph or to ask me questions. I visited as many hospitals as I could and participated in as many charity functions that were available to me. Only the children and adults whose lives I touched know that. My goal as Miss Texas USA 2006 was to leave a legacy behind for people to remember me by. I wanted to touch the lives of as many people as I could; in my heart I achieved just that.
*Note: Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Jim for setting this interview up - you're the best :)