I am so Thankful!!

I am truly thankful for so many blessings in my life! The good Lord had definitely shined on me and allowed so many wonderful people and opportunities to come into my life! As we enter into the holidays I plan on reflecting and looking at my successes as well as my failures. I hope to continue to do well at the things I am good at doing, and improve on my weaknesses to become a better, stronger, more effective person. Thank you all for your support as America's Teen and I hope to continue to represent my title as a role model for youth, an advocate for cancer, and thankful blessed person that will never forget when I was invisible!
Blessings to all!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Laurie Kimsey, America's Teen 2008

www.AcrosstheCanvas.com features America's Teen

Yes, I am on the road for the third day in a row with my BOA crown shining along with me! Today I had the great opportunity to film a clip of Jane-The World-The Music in Wilmington, NC with Blank Surfaces. I helped with a mini-intro/interview preluding her review of a new artist. It was a blast and I filmed a few other intros and ads while there. Again, the opportunities are incredible since being crowned Beauties of America's Teen and I hope to continue representing the BOA system in a positive fun way! Check out my clip at www.acrossthecanvas.com (it should be up soon!)
Laurie Kimsey, America's Teen 2008

Jackie Burch Workshop

Yes, Jackie Burch in moving to the Carolina's!! Jackie is a top casting director with years of experience and she is giving up the west coast for Hollywood East...Wilmington, NC! I had the opportunity to attend one of her workshops and of course get a few pics with her in Raleigh, NC today, Saturday November 22, 2008. She will be bringing projects along with her to the acting community and I hope to be right there ready to get my big break! She gave a very informative workshop and she really helped us interpret scripts.
Fun day!!

America's Teen, Laurie Kimsey

rlee collections.....photo shoot !

Robin Lee, owner creator designer, of rlee collections invited Beauties of America's Teen 2008 to come down to Charleston, SC on Friday November 21, 2008 for a photo shoot to use in future ads and other marketing materials! It was a ton on fun on such a cold 40-ish degree day with a wind chill of 30-ish!
rlee collections creates hand made custom feather purses. She also produces custom jewelry that is simply amazing. I represented the University of South Carolina in a shoot for team rivalry's "Clemson vs. USC", a bridesmaid, and cute little dress for spring all with a focus on Robin's incredible purse designs!
Check her out at www.rleecollections.com and look for her designs in magazines with top celebrities and bridal magazines. She was also one of my sponsors in the Beauties of America pageant that led to this incredible title and year that I am living!

Loving life!! Laurie Kimsey, America's Teen 2008

Conway Photography Club

On Saturday November 15, 2008 I had the pleasure of assisting one of my favorite photographers Mike Eaddy to the Conway photography club! He asked me to come along as his model so we could show fellow photographers and models a lot of the do's and don'ts that come along with professional photography! We had such an great time! I went early and did a few shots with Mike, and some others with Butch of Rebel Photo, Stan at Sparkling Shadows, and Gary of TK Productions, another one of my close photographer friends! We shot for several hours and of course they had the opportunity to shoot Beauties of America's Teen 2008 in her beautiful crown, sash, and winning Johnathan Kayne evening gown!

The Photography Club is headed up by Robbie at Graphic Blend Photography in downtown Conway SC on Main Street. I can vouch for any of these excellent professionals, and I look forward to working with them again in the future.

Thanks again guys for inviting America's Teen to make an appearance at your club!

Oh yeah, the tonsils are improving! Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, and kind words during my recovery from surgery last Tuesday! Can't keep a good teen down, RIGHT?!

Laurie Kimsey, America's Teen 2008

two days post tonsilectomy.....A PHOTO Shoot!!! :)

Hi and thank you to everyone for your wonderful thoughts and prayers and lovely notes, emails, and comments during my surgery Tuesday!
So here is a recap of my week:
Sunday 11-09-08: Attended orientation of my new job at Hollister Co!! Yeahhhhh!!!
Monday 11-10-08: Tons of homework, prep for surgery, Celebrate Marine Corp Birthday!!
Tuesday 11-11-08: 11:00 am surgery...tonsils/adenoid removed! Home at 3:30!
Wednesday 11-12-08: Sore, painful morning.....uggghhhh!! Then I get a phone call! Sheppards Boutique in Longs, SC asked me to model for them in a photo shoot on Thursday! I took a nap and of course took some meds, and at 5:00 pm, I was at a prom dress fitting!!
Thursday 11-13-08: 11:00 Amazing Fun Photo Shoot at the Grande Hotel in Myrtle Beach SC!

Yes I really did it! 48 hours after my surgery, I was back in front of a camera again! What a wonderful way to make myself get out of bed!!
Thank you to Ruth Cole Sheppard for allowing me to participate in the prom fashion shoot! We had a great time and I am so thankful America's Teen was there to join in on all the fun! The photographer, Scott Smallin, was incredible!! I can not wait to see the photos!
Friday....I promise I will get some rest and prepare for America's Teen to make an appearance at the Conway Photography Club on Saturday night!! Pics definitely to follow!
Having a wonderful year!! Laurie Kimsey, America's Teen 2008

Pageantry Magazine! New 2008 Queens

Congrats to all my sister queens! I am so proud and honored to be Beauties of America's Teen! What an amazing adventure! To be published as the Teen Queen in Pageantry is like a dream come true! It is so humbling to be in a magazine with some of the most wonderful influential girls and women in America! Thank you Jennifer for being such a great director and for allowing us to represent the BOA system!

We must all still remember to "be the change you wish to see in the world"...gandhi...This is so true girls! Don't ever forget...everyone is watching!!

Love to all! Laurie Kimsey, America's Teen 2008

Happy Veterans Day Everyone!

This is just a quick blog to let everyone know how much I appreciate and respect our Veterans!
We are so blessed in America, and it's because of our freedoms that have been fought for over the years by our incredible Veterans!!
I would have attended some festivities today to support our Veterans as well as our troops, but I had my tonsils and adenoid removed this morning at 11:00 am. I'm still a little lethargic, but I wanted to send a little love to our Veterans on their day!
We will have to make it up to you soon! Laurie Kimsey, America's Teen 2008

America's Beauties Christmas Pageant!!!

I had a wonderful time today judging the America's Beauties Christmas Pageant in Conway SC at the Academy for Technology and Academics. I had the honor of judging the most adorable little girls and young ladies, and the best part was that every contestant received a Rudolph crown! Patsy Lewis, the director of America's Beauties, crowns overall winners from the under 7 age groups, as well as the over 7 group, divisional crowns, and Christmas crown winners! It was awesome to see the smiles all over the auditorium! Then at the very end of the pageant, Mrs Lewis crowned me!!! It was so cute!! I have a Rudolph the Reindeer crown and I Love It!!

Thanks to all the participants, congrats to the new queens! Remember to take the crown and make a great year out of it!

Loving life!! Laurie Kimsey, Beauties of America's Teen 2008

Thanks to all the VOTERS out there!

As noted on the Beauties of America Blogspot, today is election day! Since I am not old enough to vote, I still went out to the polls to support the community by encouraging others to vote! We are priviledged to have the opportunity to vote! We are a free country with constitutional rights. It is great to live in the USA, and I am truly proud to not only be an American, but also to be America's Teen 2008!

Laurie Kimsey, Beauties of America's Teen 2008

It's The GREAT PUMPKIN Laurie K!

Laurie Kimsey, America's Teen 2008, had the distinct honor of meeting the one and only GREAT PUMPKIN at the Rutherfordton County Halloween Party last night! Sponsored by the Rutherfordton First Baptist Church, an alternative to Halloween was available in downtown Rutherfordton, NC. After 800 hot dogs, chips, drinks, and candy treat bags were given away free of charge to participants, the GREAT PUMPKIN had time to do a quick photo op with Halloween Barbie Beauties of America Teen!! (that would be ME!)
What an incredible way to promote a clean wholesome fun Halloween night with NO tricks, but tons of treats!! Laurie Kimsey, America's Teen 2008