Welcome!

Hello everyone!

It is so exciting to introduce myself for the first time as Miss Northern Suburbs 2011and to welcome you to the official blog! I was thrilled to be crowned the new titleholder last night on January 15, 2011, in Lake Forest, IL. I have so much anticipation for the year ahead--I will be making numerous appearances and preparing to compete for the job and title of Miss Illinois 2011 this summer, a goal that I have been looking forward to and preparing to pursue since childhood. Although my sister was sick, I'm glad that my parents and past director Rachel Johnson were there to root for me and share in the excitement of the crowning moment.

My new Miss NS family also includes the Teen titleholder Kalina O'Brien, the Pre-Teen titleholder Cassidy Raasch, and the Princesses Alyssa Cox and Sophia Thompson. I'm thankful to have two wonderful directors to work with--Kristen Hadap and Robin Ruchti--who run the Miss Northern Suburbs organization in a very professional and friendly manner. Please visit the website for more information: http://www.missnorthernsuburbs.com/

Also, a huge thank you goes to the former titleholders who said farewell last night. Corina Harwood, Miss Northern Suburbs 2010, was a truly inspiring titleholder who accomplished so much and was also very successful at Miss IL. Corina, I admire your care, courage and positive attitude, and the way that you poured into your Princesses. I can tell how much they look up to you. Thank you for your friendship and support. I'm glad that we'll continue to keep in touch and work together. It was an amazing moment to be crowned by Corina AGAIN last night--she also passed along the Miss Capital City crown to me when I won last year! What a great night! :)

It is so important to me that people understand the amount of great good that is achieved every year through the Miss America Organization--including personal growth and the provision of educational funds for contestants, money and awareness raised for Children's Miracle Network, mentoring relationships and good role models for our Princesses, the positive influence on audiences who hear titleholders speak about valuable messages related to the platforms they are passionate about, and the impact on others that a titleholder has the potential to have as an accomplished, intelligent, and approachable spokesperson, entertainer, advocate, and leader.

Having already held two titles in the Miss Illinois/America system (Miss Shawnee 2009; Miss Capital City 2010 [http://www.2010misscapitalcity.blogspot.com]), I have had amazingly rewarding and rich experiences, and I take this position very seriously. I'm honored to be Miss Northern Suburbs, and as a public figure, I desire to represent and exemplify this organization to the highest degree and to the best of my ability. This blog will be a place where I will share about my journey to Miss IL and appearances, about my platform "Redefining Success: Using Your Talents to Serve Others," and my personal thoughts and photos along the way. I think this will be a fun and successful year, and I'm ready to begin with determination and the motive of continually improving and creating a lasting legacy that will affect the people I come into contact with--even if for a single time--in a positive, inspiring, and memorable way.

Thank you to everyone who helped at the pageant, including the directors, board members, volunteers, performers, emcee Jerry Cebrzynski, guest speaker and Miss N.S. 2009 Sherrie Gearheart, auditors, and judges. Thank you to Matty Jacobsen of Magic Dreams Video Productions for taking the video (for more info or to order a DVD, please call 224-232-9870), and to our sponsor photographer Fedler Studio (800-872-8007), and the Hilton Garden Inn hotel, as well as our additional sponsors who generously provided cash prizes and in-kind scholarships: Lake Forest College, Waukegan Masonic Lodge #78, Gladstone Square Mall, Costco, Target, and Egg Harbor Cafe.

Please check back often for updates and feel free to comment with questions, feedback, or with a request for me to speak/perform/etc. at your event! For notifications, please become a "follower" of my blog. *More photos to come!*

Thank you for reading, and I'm looking forward to what I will post during my year of service.

God Bless,

Natalie Renee' Sherer
Miss Northern Suburbs 2011