84 Days from now

How crazy does is sound that in 84 days we will know who the new Miss Tennessee is? This year has been a wild and crazy journey but one that is so worth the ride! The amazing experience that I have had to not only represent Music City but Relay For Life and Children's Miracle Network has been a true blessing! As I watched Nicole Jordan enter the room at the Miss Tennessee workshop, I knew that her year as Miss TN was nothing less than remarkable, not because the crown that she wore on her head, but the place that each child and adult that met her along her journey had for her in their heart. When someone truly touches someone its not the outfit, hair, make up or environment they remember its the connection that they feel when they walk away from them that sticks out. Leaving the Miss TN Workshop I felt that this "family" had that connection and that I was truly touched and made better by the words that Nicole spoke. In life we hear so many negative comments about our world, our youth, and how everything is going down hill. When are we going to wise up and see that there are people making a difference? No matter what happens 84 days from now, it is my goal to make a difference in every life that I come in contact with! I want to thank so many people for helping me come this far, because with out steps in life we could go no where!

As you look at the pictures from workshop know that any of the contestants that are competing for the title of Miss TN would represent our state well, not because they are beautiful but because they all have a genuine passion for making a difference in the short amount of time we are given here on this Earth!

IHOP + CMN = One Tasty Combo

A Birthday Celebration combined with pancakes, raising money for Children's Miracle Network and being with beautiful ladies is the best way to describe my night tonight! As some of you may know today, March 1st is my birthday and I had the privilege of celebrating my special day with one of CMN's most important fundraising days and that is IHOP's National Pancake Day! The Nashville IHOP was packed from start to finish and filled with many people who were not only ready to eat pancakes but to donate to the wonderful cause as well. I was blessed to have four Belmont University students who also happen to be Miss TN contestants come and celebrate the wonderful day with me and help me thank all of the wonderful supporters that came out tonight for this amazing event. My talented Outstanding Teen was also there to encourage customers to donate to CMN! I can not wait to see how much money we were all able to raise tonight. Thank you again to the Nashville IHOP we as Miss America contestants can not thank you enough for all that you do for Children's Miracle Network and our community. I can honestly say from experience that Children's Miracle Network is making miracles happen one life at a time. Walking through the halls of any CMN hospital you are sure to find the love and care that you would want to be given in a time of need. If you were not able to go to an IHOP and would like to donate to CMN please visit my website and DONATE! My goal is to raise $1,000 by June and I know with your help I can make my dreams come true while making miracles happen for many kids.

Click this link to access my CMN fundraising page:

http://www.missamerica4kids.org/m.aspx?i=1701561B8CBCE64ED

If you would like to see more photo's from tonight's event please visit Miss Music City's Facebook Page!

Will you be my Valentine Del Webb?

What better way to spend Valentine's weekend than at one of the places I treasure the most from my year so far as Miss Music City, and that is Del Webb Lake Providence. Every time I come back to this place, the residents are so excited to talk and to hear me sing. With this being Valentines weekend, I made sure that LOVE songs were on my list to sing! I had such an amazing time again, and can't wait to go back and visit all my "Del Webbians" as I call them, again!

On both sides of the table!

Look who I found at the pageant, my favorite TN Princess Macy Moyer

Talking to Miss America Teen on the Red Carpet!

Us Judges in the "Green Room" and it is actually Green!

Mrs. TN and I on the first night of competition!

WOW! That is the best word that could describe this weekend for me, if you do not know this weekend I was asked to judge the Miss America Teen Pageant and what a honor that is in its self! Although I have had the opportunity to judge many pageants this one especially was so difficult! The quality of the young ladies from every state were just simply amazing. It was so difficult to find the right girl for the job of Miss Jr Teen America and Miss America Teen that the judges ourself were in question of who was going to win! I am so happy to announce that our new Miss Jr Teen America and Miss America Teen are already on the job and ready to promote their platforms which both happen to be bullying as well as the Miss America Teen Program. I feel blessed and honored to have met all of the young ladies this past weekend and host them here in Nashville, TN!

It is great to have so many beautiful, talented, and caring young woman in my city and of course as Miss Music City I was so excited to show everyone around! If you would like to know more about this wonderful program or watch the competition LIVE from last night please follow the link and it will take you right to it, you may also see me on the Red Carpet!

http://www.missteenamerica.com/

Music City Bowl

Over the Holidays it was great to be in Music City for the wonderful Music City Bowl! This year the University of North Carolina and University of Tennessee were chosen to face one another at LP Field right downtown Nashville! I am so glad that the Music City Bowl invited me, Miss Music City to be involved with some of the activities! My first appearance was at The Bluebird Cafe where I was able to meet all of the coaches wives from both UNC and UT. All of us ladies enjoyed a wonderful lunch provided by The Bluebird as well as special entertainment from three of Nashville's finest songwriters!

As all of you know you can't have a great football game without a wonderful marching band and well we didn't just have one at the Battle of the Bands we had two! The crowd traveled downtown Nashville for some awesome music and fun plus some time in the rain. The country group Little Texas kicked off the show and guess who got to introduce them, yep you are right your very own Miss Music City! UNC and UT fans crowded around the stage and clearly took advantage of this wonderful opportunity to cheer on their football team, attend a great concert and listen to their favorite college marching band all right in the streets of downtown Music City! UNC and UT battled back and forth to see which band the crowd loved more and although the winner was not announced I think TN took home the win as far as the band goes. I had an awesome time hanging out with the fans and meeting all sorts of people, and I even was on Nashville's very own Channel 2!

It is such an honor to represent such an amazing community that no matter what stands behind one another! Thank you to all who attended the Music City Bowl, its hard to think that only 6 months ago where we all stood on that stage was completely under water! I can not wait to see what all 2011 brings to me good or bad each are opportunities that I am willing and able to take to become the best woman I can be.

Wishing you and your family the BEST year ever in 2011!

Much Love,

Victoria VanDyke

ONE WISH for Christmas Fundraiser

At Christmas time we always spend a lot of time thinking of what to get one another that will be truly special or meaningful well this Christmas Miss Music City is asking for ONE THING!!! Now I know what you may be thinking...a dress, shoes, make up, or even my two front teeth, wait I already have those! Anyways, Miss Music City wants you to donate $10 or more to Children's Miracle Network before December 25th. Since it is Christmas I think if you are giving gifts to others you too should have the chance to receive a gift and well how does a Brad Paisley autograph sound, or would you rather have a Vince Gill and Amy Grant CD and T-shirt both signed? I need 200 people to donate at least $10 to reach my $1,000 goal and after each of them have donated I will put there name into a drawing to win one of the many autographed memorabilia I have waiting for this event! The winner will be able to chose their item and the drawing will take place on December 25th via video that I will record and post to my Miss Music City Facebook page as well as TUMBLR and my website! Think about it what better Christmas gift could you give to Miss Music City and I could not think of anything better to give the lucky winner. If someone does make a donation of $1,000 I will let them pick a prize as well! So there you have it folks donate $10 or more and receive a chance to win an autographed CD, Shirt, Picture of the artist you choose. Donate $1,000 or more and you will automatically win a chance to choose your prize! I will be posting picture of all the things you could possibly win on this page so keep watching, and YES you will be entered in the contest one time for every $10 you donate.

The process is easy, here are the simple steps to make a difference in the lives to millions of kids who are helped by Children's Miracle Network each year!

1) Follow this link:https://www.missamerica4kids.org/m.aspx?i=1701561B8CBCE64ED

2) Make sure you see Miss Music City's picture on the page!

3) Click DONATE NOW

4) Enter your Personal Information along with your Credit Card or ECheck information.

5) Thats it YOU HAVE DONE IT! Sometimes it takes 24 hours to process but when the money has processed you will receive an email and will be able to go back and see how close I am to my goal!

American Red Cross Fashion Show

Love this dress from Social Butterfly!

Such a wonderful role model in my life....Miss Aryn Ward!

Kristina Sullivan the owner of EyeCandy Boutique! (Did I mention this Nashville girl can sing!)

The beautiful Pam Funderburg, the coordinator of the Fashion Show.

My wonderful Make Up artist from White House Salon

Awesome makeup, hair, clothes and a fabulous crowd to walk the runway for basically explains last night in a nut shell! I was privileged to walk the runway with 20 models, modeling many different designs, styles, and looks for the wonderful people who were at the show in support for The Red Cross Fashion Show! The event started at 7:30 with awesome food and fun festivities then straight on to fashion. I was able to model my awesome hair and make up done by White House Salon and of course amazing dresses by Social Butterfly, Jolie, and Eye Candy. I was also sporting some amazing jewelry from Facet Foundary! I am so excited to see all of the pictures that were taken at the event last night but until then here is a little back stage preview of the show! I can not wait to hear the money that we were able to raise last night, and can not wait until next years Fashion Show! Enjoy the pictures!

If you or anyone you know would like to make a donation to the Red Cross please visit this website:http://www.nashvilleredcross.org/general.asp?SN=8522&OP=8919&SUOP=9359&IDCapitulo=78T3Z2WSK0