Sash & Soul
Welcome to the "Fearlessly Authentic: Sash & Soul Podcast," the show that goes beyond the stage to prioritize mindset, wellbeing, and triumphs in the pageant journey. Each episode explores the power of embracing authenticity, sharing mindset tips, self-care strategies, and inspiring success stories to help you navigate the pageant world with confidence and resilience.
Sash & Soul
#46 Crowned & Candid: Raechel Warren, Miss Nebraska 2024
What happens when you've aged out twice, moved to a new state, and decide to give your pageant dream one last shot? For Raechel Warren, Miss Nebraska 2024, that final attempt led to the crown and a transformative year of service that's coming to a close with only 45 days remaining.
In this candid conversation, Raechel reveals the powerful mindset shift that finally unlocked her success after years of top-five finishes. "I am her and I just have to go get the crown," she realized, embracing a sense of detachment from the outcome while still pouring everything into her preparation. This balance—caring deeply without being defined by results—created her most relaxing and enjoyable state competition experience ever.
The business side of being Miss Nebraska required entrepreneurial spirit and strategic thinking. Rachel approached organizations with a service-first mentality, asking "How can I help?" rather than focusing immediately on compensation. This approach opened doors across Nebraska, allowing her to expand the title's reach to new communities. She also tackled the uncomfortable conversations around appearance fees, working to establish the value of Miss Nebraska's time while ensuring her services remained accessible to schools and nonprofits.
As Rachel prepares to pass her crown, she reflects on a year filled with meaningful connections and personal growth. Her message to competitors and future titleholders centers on authenticity: "Whoever she is is exactly what Miss Nebraska needs that year... She doesn't need to be like me."
Ready to transform your own pageant journey? Listen now and discover how to embrace both the business and human sides of wearing the crown. Whether you're competing or supporting someone who is, Raechel's insights will forever change how you view the path to the crown and beyond.
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Hello Sash and Soul community, Welcome back to the show. I am here with another episode from our Crowned and Candid series with another amazing guest who I'm just so thrilled to have on, excited to talk with her and excited to create a space for her to share her heart with all of you and her perspective on her experiences throughout her year. So, if you're just tuning in for the first time, Crowned and Candid is a brand new special Sash and Soul series. It's all about pulling back the curtain on the state title holder experience so that you have something that we rarely get when we're competing in pageantry. Is this real insight, real talk from real women in the role right now? So I want to present these really candid conversations from our current title holders so that we can give you an honest and really unfiltered look at what it really means to wear the crown. So this is beyond the stage photos. It's beyond the social media highlights. This is a behind the scenes look at the work behind everything that goes into the heart of the crown. So we're going to talk about the emotional growth, the leadership challenges, the unexpected lessons, who our guests are today versus who they were when they were crowned. It's going to be. It's a fun ride, so let's dive in.
Raeanna Johnson:Today, I have the honor of introducing Miss Nebraska 2024, Rachel Morin. I'm going to let her speak for herself, but I just want to share with you that I've asked every single guest what they want all of you to hear from them, and so she said she wants you to remember to just keep going, to see every fail as a step closer to achieving your dreams, to make the absolute most of each opportunity it's all about perspective and to build up a great circle of mentors and supporters, which I love, Rachel welcome. Thank you so much for joining me.
Raechel Warren:Hi, thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here and to elaborate on that whole sentence.
Raeanna Johnson:Yeah, absolutely. I'm so excited to dive in, so why don't we get started? Tell us a little bit about yourself, everything about you that really led up to who you are today, as much as you can. That's a lot.
Raechel Warren:Yeah, hi everyone. My name's Rachel. I'm Miss Nebraska 2024. I'm not counting, but I have 45 days left with this title. It's been the absolute best year. But I'm 29 years old just turned 29 a couple weeks ago and, to be honest, I wouldn't be sitting here with you today if it hadn't have been for the Miss America program, and so I can attribute so much of my success and just who I am in front of you from the Miss America program and to it. So I'm really excited to talk about all that today.
Raechel Warren:But I grew up actually all the way back in Southern Oregon, so born and raised there, and my tie to Nebraska that I love sharing is I used to come here every summer as a little girl for competitive roller skating nationals and fun fact, the Lincoln Nebraska is the home of roller skating. So I've always been close to Nebraska. So when I moved here five years ago for work and they raised the age one more time, it was a no brainer to me to try this one more time because it had just been a dream that was deep in my heart, and so I didn't start competing until I was 19. After a soccer injury I had a friend come up to me and just say you know, I think you should try this and we can probably dive into that more too, but I never thought I would be on a pageant stage. I'll leave it there. And one thing led to another and I kept going and I moved to Washington for school and I ran there a couple of years and up till now, up till last year, I was top five every single year and I've aged out twice and I thought, you know, maybe this just isn't the plan the Lord has for me, but I know that I've.
Raechel Warren:I got better each year. I loved, I loved everything about every single year and I always looked forward to the summer because it meant pageant week, right, it meant an opportunity. There were so many things. And then, like I said, when I moved here, I thought I really feel like this dream is still there and I felt so much like I could represent a place that had always been so near to my heart and just I just felt such a part of this community.
Raechel Warren:And so I did. And as we discussed through this conversation, you'll hear that like things throughout the year were just very affirming that this was the right path. And so, as I won that local and prepared for state. I just felt so at peace, knowing that I could have been a great title holder every other year. I had the opportunity in that top five, but I'm so grateful that this was the year that I was crowned Miss Nebraska, because I just know that I'm a better title holder this year than I ever would have been those other years, and it's been the best ride, the best year ever.
Raeanna Johnson:Did you have any indication of this being the right time for you before the competition last year?
Raechel Warren:After I will say after the local I was really excited. I felt really good. I was like, ok, we did it. Like this is good. And I will tell you, like, having competed for a couple of times in other states for school, when you compete in a state multiple years, right, everyone knows your talent, everyone knows who you are. Everyone's like, oh, she's coming back. Oh, she was first runner up last year. Like there's all of this and I didn't get to. I didn't have that this year and I kind of had this pressure off of me. I was the only one putting pressure on myself and so as I was prepping, I felt like I could prep without that pressure because I was like I have nothing to lose, it's my last year, I know what I'm doing, I'm just going to do, I'm going to pour everything I have into it. And there's a couple of things throughout the year that just really affirmed it. So, for instance, like I took the CliftonStrengths test for a work meeting and my service initiative is Passion to Purpose and I love CliftonStrengths, I'm all about that. But I retook this test again and my number one strength was belief. And I looked at that result and went okay, because I was already. I was just feeling really good about what I was preparing, and so that was really cool.
Raechel Warren:And then there was a couple other things that happened and how my skating routine was coming along. And then I had a mindset meeting with another coach of mine where I just had this breakthrough about my skating and I kept I would always fall on this one piece of this one step sequence in my routine and it kind of became a joke. It's like, oh, I always fall at rehearsal and then it'll be fine. But it was like well, why are you so in your head? Well, it all boiled down to I love skating so much and I wanted to help so many people through my skating that I was caring so much about it that I was like making it harder than it needed to be. But it all stemmed from how much I loved the sport. And once I like broke that, oh my gosh best. I'd never skated better. And so I had a couple of mindset breakthroughs.
Raechel Warren:And then the same coach was like nothing to pretend, nothing to defend, you already are Miss America, if you are trying to become someone. And you're like, oh well, if I just do this, I will be her, or if I just act this way, I will be here. Then you're never going to be here. You need to be. You are her right now, and so it was flipping this.
Raechel Warren:It was literally like a switch flipped of like I'm her and I just have to go get the crown. It's just not. I have to wait till June 7th. I can't, I don't have it yet. I just have to wait, and not in a cocky way, but like if it's meant for me, it will not pass me by, and I just got to go be ready. And so that's a long-winded way to say. Like there's a few nuggets throughout the year where, like I didn't know what was going to happen, but I felt so secure in what I was bringing to the table that I was able to have the most fun state week. Like every state week is fun, but it was probably the most relaxing and most fun state week I've ever had in my life.
Raeanna Johnson:So I've heard I've heard it said before and I think I can kind of relate to this as well that when it's your last go around there, there is some level of like I that I've got nothing to lose. How do you get that when it's not your last shot, like because it's such a powerful feeling you know what I mean like how do? How do we help people get there, even when it's not their last go around?
Raechel Warren:Yeah, well, as you were saying that, I was thinking about the year, I thought it was my last go around and I had been first runner up the year before and so, and in at that time it had just happened where every girl that was the first runner up then was the winner the next year. So of course I go into this year like okay, here we go, and I put so much pressure on myself, I got second runner up. I was like I was devastated because I was like, oh my gosh, like what did I do? I went backwards, you know, and it was my last year. But being able to this actually be my last year, I realized like there was no reason to put that pressure on myself.
Raechel Warren:I say I have to say I think age and the experience played a role. I think when you're just older and you've gone through some of those experiences and those ups and downs, you're able to reason with it a little bit more, which I don't know how else to attribute that. Just, I was a little more at peace with okay, like I know my life's not over if I don't win, miss Nebraska, you know what I mean. Like I've seen the other side. I have a great career like that type of thing.
Raechel Warren:But I think you also have to be detached and that's the one thing I've really been encouraging my local title holders this year is be detached from this title. You can want Miss Nebraska, you can strive for this goal, but do not let that be your end-all all because it's so much like. Your life is so much more than this title. And I was able to go into my state year with that mindset of like, yeah, I want this job really bad and I know I'm ready to do this job, but if I don't get it, I get to get married in a year. I have a great job to go back to and I had the best experience of my life, no regrets. So if I could leave your listeners with that, it's just to be detached from this opportunity and don't like, don't hold onto it so much that if it doesn't happen, you don't know what to do.
Raeanna Johnson:It's an interesting balance, too, of letting go but also a wholehearted belief in yourself that you can do it.
Raechel Warren:Pouring everything into it. Yeah, but I saw it. But I felt like everything I was doing was for a bigger reason right, like even the way I prepped my health and fitness, the way I worked with my nutritionist, the way that I skated, everything I did I was, I could see like past the crown with it, cause I was like, okay, well, I go, I want to figure out my nutrition because I was a college athlete and what was I was doing five years ago isn't working for me as a 28-year-old, let's figure this out. And then I was in the best shape of my life and that helped me for state and so, like everything I did, I saw beyond just the effect it would have at state and that really helped me feel like again, regardless of what happens, nothing I did was for naught.
Raeanna Johnson:That is the epitome of what I'm talking about when I say focus on your big picture. We get so caught up in the details of preparing for a competition, for preparing for that interview yeah, you get the tunnel vision and you get, like you can see, to the crowning, but then we forget to look way beyond that Right, and even like beyond the 365 days of being the title holder, like you're talking about the things that you gained that will help you accelerate your career, accelerate your lifestyle, like all of the things that you want to do for the rest of your life. This is not the end all. There's so much more that comes next, regardless of whether or not you win. So let's rewind to crowning night last year. I want to know what was going on in your head.
Raechel Warren:Okay. So that whole weekend if I'm just going to back up a second that whole weekend was crazy because I hadn't won a talent prelim since my very first year competing. I'd kind of thought that was never going to happen again and that was like, if I didn't win, that was my next goal. I just it may be the last time I ever roller skated on a pageant stage. I wanted to win that for my mom and for my skating coach and just for myself. And I'm not oh, wow, that might make me cry.
Raechel Warren:And they called my name and I was like what, like I did, and my mom and I embraced and I like I couldn't believe it. I could, but I couldn't believe it. I was like mom, we did it, like that's what I said to her. And then they called my name for Evening Gown Prelim. I've never won an Evening Gown Prelim in my life and I was like, wait, I did that. Oh my gosh, okay, and that was really fun.
Raechel Warren:And so I went into finals night just feeling so proud of myself for the work and there was a funny little like technical issue that happened on stage and I was dancing and so I was just so joyful and so in that moment, when I'm standing there with Elena, who I love so dearly, I was so excited, my heart was pounding and I remember being like I think I did it, but if not, wow, I just did the best I've ever done in my whole life. And then they called my name and honestly, I kind of like I have to watch that video a lot because I kind of blacked out. I was like, oh my gosh.
Raeanna Johnson:You're making me tear up. I'm literally like literally tearing up right now. Wow, that's so beautiful. Sorry.
Raechel Warren:That's okay and I get to. I've gotten to share this video recently cause I've been on a little retirement home tour and they love watching my crowning video and, um, I kind of walk through all the women behind me, cause it was all the former miss Nebraska's, including a couple of gals. I'm really close to your former miss Nebraska and her sister and I. The first thing I do was like turned around and looked at them and then the guy that sponsors our car, the Wolf Auto Group, dangles the keys in front of me and you can tell I completely forgot that was coming, Cause I just like lost my mind and um, so it was just a beautiful night and just more of like. Thank you, Lord, for trusting me with this opportunity this year and being able to share that with so many people in the audience that came from Oregon, from Washington, from Nebraska, that had like followed me through this whole year and we got to celebrate that together. So it was, it was the best night ever, to be honest, and I can't believe it's a year ago almost.
Raeanna Johnson:No, it's crazy how fast the year goes. It's so crazy, so not joking about that at all.
Raechel Warren:Listen, it's not joking, it flies.
Raeanna Johnson:It's so fast, there's so much going on trying to keep up with it. So, speaking of the year kind of being so fast and coming to a close pretty soon, can you describe who you were at the start of your year and who you are today?
Raechel Warren:Yeah, I think. Well, one of the questions too that comes to mind when you ask this is like the legacy, and I think at the start of the year, I mean, I am proud to say that I feel like I'm just as ambitious as I was on day one sitting down with my directors as I am today. I'm a little more tired, for sure. I feel just as excited about today as I did almost 365 days ago and I'm really grateful for that. But I also think I've gained even more confidence in advocating for myself, because as a title holder, you really have to know who you are and you have to know your why. And I knew my why going into Miss Nebraska. I believe that's why I won. But I know my why even more now and I'm really grateful that this has just affirmed my skills and my talents and that I'm going in the right direction. And it excites me for the future, to be honest, and I'm really grateful that that's been the experience I've had.
Raeanna Johnson:What did you think this job was going to look like, versus what it actually is?
Raechel Warren:So this is interesting too, because, having watched so many state title holders for so many years, I definitely had a vision of, ooh, I liked that, oh, I didn't like that, I'd do that differently, or I thought I would do. You know, whatever you create your image or or I'm really excited to do this. And so actually I can say that there's quite a few things that kind of panned out the way I thought they would. I think the thing that makes it so different is every state is different, and I don't think I knew that, but I don't think I realized how true that was until I got to know some of my other state title holders and I say that in an encouraging way, because you cannot compare yourself to another state title holder. You can't compare what they have, what their sponsors give them, what they get to do you name it. You can't compare it.
Raechel Warren:And I think I went in expecting it to be different, because Nebraska is not a pageant state, but I realized there was also so much more I could do if I just put my mind to it. So I am kind of known as the question queen and I believe that the answers always know if you don't ask. And so, yes, do not compare yourself to other states, but also ask. If there's something you want to do, do it Ask. You never know, it could be no or it could be yes, and you just took the state, organization or your year to a different level. But I think that's the biggest thing I learned is you just can't compare yourself at all in that way, because every state is different and every girl's year is different, for sure.
Raeanna Johnson:I do think that that can become a mindset issue. Going into nationals, because we think about the big pageant states and Wisconsin is certainly not one of them and we see the sponsors that they have and we see that they have this big team and like they were born in heels right Is the stereotype, right? So we think that they have some leg up. But that's a mindset issue, because the only person then that is getting in your way, the only barrier to your success now, is you thinking that somehow you can't do it or aren't going to be as prepared as someone else. And I love your advice of ask, seek out the resources, seek out, like, be aware of what you need more of in order to best prepare you for reaching your goals.
Raechel Warren:And go into your year having a plan Like we talk about this for interview, right, like I have this business plan, here's what I want my CSI to look like, these are my goals, but also have a plan of like these are the things I want to do, these are the partnerships I want to expand on, these are the places I want to go. Or, like I didn't see this in the contract. Is this possible? Like, have those types of questions already ready to go? Because my director would probably laugh if she was hearing me say this. Like she, we both, we work together really well, which is a huge blessing. But I asked so many questions on that first day because there was. There was things. For instance, I'll tell you like I live on the East side of the state and a lot of my sponsors are on the West side of the state because of our wonderful tie with North Platte, where Miss Nebraska is held.
Raechel Warren:But one of my responsibilities with my sponsored car is to keep it clean all year. Well, my car wash sponsor is in North Platte and that's not going to work, and a $15 car wash every two weeks adds up, and so the car wash that I go to all the time I loved, and I asked my director. I said, hey, do you mind if I reach out to them? I'm going to reach out to them and see if I can get a sponsor, because I need to be. I can't do this by myself. And she was like, okay, go for it.
Raechel Warren:So I cold emailed the car wash in town and I said I'm Rachel Warren, miss Nebraska, here's what I need, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I kind of undersold myself. I thought they were just going to give me like a wash a month. They said, rachel, we'd love to sponsor Miss Nebraska. Oh, my gosh, they gave me free car washes for the whole year and now they're on for the next Miss Nebraska. But like, had I not have had that? Okay, I know I'm going to need a car wash sponsor and I did that within the first three weeks. So I say that too is like have those big goals and big dreams, because if you write five of them down, chances are two or three of them may come to fruition if you already kind of have a goal of how you're going to reach them.
Raeanna Johnson:Yeah, as I'm listening to you, I'm like but how do you know what to ask, how do you know what problems need to be solved, unless you, like, have been there or you're part of it? And so how did you like you're the question queen? How do you know what questions to right, just like if you research a?
Raechel Warren:job that you're interviewing for in the real world, not the pageant world, but when you research right, you kind of know what's their mission and vision, what are their values. You can ask the other title holders, right, just like you ask people that work at the company what's the culture like, what is the day-to-day? You can ask those same questions to a state title holder or formers, because we're serving in a job too, and so use your resources, ask all the questions. Some things you may not learn, like some things I'm sure I would forget to talk about or like couldn't talk about, I don't know. But, honestly, we're kind of an open book and I want to help the next girls. Like, I want you to be successful in this role, and if the board isn't allowed to answer the question, someone else may know the answer.
Raechel Warren:Read that contract, you know. Figure out who are the sponsors. Figure out, know what skills you bring to the table. Know where you need help.
Raechel Warren:That's my other big talking point, too is know the areas that you're weakest in. Like I have really enjoyed social media, but I'm not a quick editor, I'm very I'm not, and so I knew I was going to. I asked for that too. I was like is there anyone in our like circle, our board or anyone that can help me with some of all these social media activations if I need it? There wasn't at the time, but we were able to figure that out. But make it figure out the things that you need and the things that you're good at and ask who can help you with those things, because chances are there's someone that can help fill in those gaps. But yeah, just use the resources around you for your state and really dive into any paperwork that you have to kind of familiarize yourself with what the job is like now and that way when you sit down that next day with that director, you can have those questions ready to go when you sit down that next day with that director.
Raeanna Johnson:you can have those questions ready to go. I love this concept of being really proactive and getting a really solid, realistic job preview. That is absolutely something that I preach. It's so important. It's something I did before going into the job. But I think the other piece of this oh shoot, rachel, I lost my train of thought There- was something really powerful that you said no, no, no, it's good.
Raeanna Johnson:Oh, don't play victim. Be proactive, don't play victim. I think I love this concept of you might get told no, but you might get told yes, and so not asking means that you're at fault, right Like you can't play victim just because something's not provided for you when those resources weren't there to begin with, you do have to be mindful and proactive and solution focused.
Raechel Warren:And there may be certain boundaries, right, there may be things that, no, we can't do that or no, we don't have access, like that may happen, but you don't know that unless you ask. You also have to recognize all these people, for the most part, are volunteering their time. My director has four kids and works full time as a pharmacist. She's busy, she's so busy, but, man, she pours her heart into this. But that means that I have to. There's a given, a take there, in our relationship at least, and so I have to recognize that sometimes she might be like this because that's all that she can handle at the moment.
Raechel Warren:So if we've worked and we've communicated enough over communicate ladies as well, if you've communicated enough and you kind of figure out, like I know she's told me I'm not good at social media, like I might need your help or whatever, like can you help me with this?
Raechel Warren:Can you answer this question? Like, if you communicate those strengths and weaknesses with your board too, then they right away know like how they can help you and one may be really good at this and one may be really good at this, and then you kind of know who you can talk to. And again, I recognize every board's different, and there may be some things that you don't get to learn until you get the job. That's the mystery, right, like that's kind of part of the fun, but for the most part, you can get a general sense of what things could look like, and that's all we're encouraging you to do. Right Is just, yeah, be proactive and ask those questions and get to know as much as you can before you go in, because, yeah, that just made me think of something else. Now I'm losing my train of thought. We'll get to it, but, yes, be proactive.
Raeanna Johnson:Yeah, graciously proactive. Yeah, good message, solid. Okay, keeping in the business side of things, how involved were you? I know, believe me, I love talking the business end of things as well, but how involved were you in the professional aspects of your role? A?
Raechel Warren:lot, a lot actually. So, miss Nebraska, before this year it had been a long time, but we didn't have a booking manager and we didn't have a marketing board, a marketing chair, and so one of my asks this year, when I knew I wanted to be a very busy and very tangible Miss Nebraska and so one of my asks this year was that I could have someone to help me with some bookings, because I'm used to being very proactive as a open title holder. Sometimes you don't have a director. You have maybe a liaison to the state board, but you are really in charge of getting your own appearances and filling your calendar. So I was really used to doing that already and thankfully, the way Nebraska worked is that was kind of the responsibility put on me, and so that was great because I already knew that I could, as long as we communicated, I could fill my calendar how I needed to. But I wanted to be extra busy and I wanted to expand my reach, and so thankfully, we were able to bring on a former Miss Nebraska who's excellent at marketing and social media and she was able to kind of tag team some bookings with me, which really helped, and so again, now the next girl has access to that opportunity, which I think is great.
Raechel Warren:But going back to your original question, we're very involved. Every girl is going to be different. Since I'm a little bit older and work full time as well, I just naturally tend to do a lot more myself and I like being really involved and that worked great for my director and I, because she functions a lot the same way and she could trust me with that responsibility. If you're nervous about some of the business side and you are in a state where you do a lot of that responsibility is put on you. That's where I really encourage you to ask like what are the best practices? How do you prefer to communicate? Can we have a standing meeting every week? Or how many really ask some of those basic questions? Because if that's a newer concept to you, that's totally okay. But go in prepared with those types of questions as well, so you can help them, help you.
Raeanna Johnson:Absolutely, and I think that's gonna be especially important for this next class, because they have three months-h to prepare for Miss America.
Raeanna Johnson:So staying organized, staying on top of that, communicating and learning the job is a curve, typically like six months of being in any position before you really start to feel like you're getting a hang of it. So it's going to be a bit of a learning curve when you're crowned and I think, expect that, expect that there's going to be some bumps along the way and go easy on yourself, Because I know like Rachel you've mentioned it like every state is run a little bit differently but every woman is experiencing very similar things and there's so much to relate on too.
Raechel Warren:And if you're crowned, know that you earned it. Like they they thought that you were the girl ready for this job and so be confident in that like, be so confident in that and lean in that because, yes, like I'm very thankful I had like three months, I had six months to enjoy the job and prep at the same time and I kind of did those like this and I was really grateful for that, because doing the service work is prep, is the preparation, in a way, for Miss America, because you're doing that job and so it will be hard to balance. But I do encourage the next class, like do a few of those appearances that really do a few appearances that make you feel like you're advocating for your cause. Do some what I call princess appearances, where you feel like you're Miss, whoever, and a little girl calls you Barbie or a princess and you just love you know you get to experience that and do some and do a lot of admin things. Do some of the nitty gritty. Like balance, try to do a little bit of everything so you have that experience to talk about in the interview room, but definitely don't overwhelm yourself.
Raechel Warren:I also recognize that I can't speak for an organization that has a true like really busy booking manager or someone where they like. I do a lot of the communication with organizations myself and I know that some of my sisters they are not allowed to communicate with the person who wants to book them has to go exactly through the booking manager. But, and if that's the case in your state, I still encourage you to be transparent and communicative with your board so that they kind of know what is she great at, what appearances would she like to do and if that's still limited, at least you know that you advocated for yourself and again, the answers always know if you don't ask. So still advocate to the extent that you're able to.
Raeanna Johnson:What did your research and outreach look like?
Raechel Warren:for booking appearances In terms of like, what email would look like, or how I went about choosing my appearances, both or both?
Raeanna Johnson:Start with how you went about, like researching what things you wanted to do, and go into how you connected with people and how you like actually you know took the steps to communicate that.
Raechel Warren:So one of the things I was most excited about this year, my service initiative is called Passion to Purpose, so it's all about youth mentorship and that's been my service initiative for 10 years. And I was very excited because the year before I had partnered with Mentor Nebraska, which is a large umbrella organization under the larger Mentor National Program, and so I'd been working with them for a year and had really gotten into a lot of these community groups. And then I learned that when Miss Nebraska was crowned we were going to be reigniting our partnership with Teammates, which is a mentoring program started here in Lincoln by Coach Tom Osborne. And that was awesome because I knew that my service initiative was going to fit really well with the teammates initiative. And so I instantly started, even before Miss Nebraska, way before I was like researching teammates and learning how my already like my mission and my vision tied in and correlated with theirs. And so as soon as that partnership was started, I instantly reached out to the CEO and said hi, like. And we already kind of knew, like he knew, what my skillset were when we met.
Raechel Warren:But I made it very clear up front I want to help speak at as many events as possible. I want to be in as many schools as possible. Please let me know how I can help you. And that was my, that was my phrase the whole year. I would love to be a part of your event. This is you know, my name is Rachel. This is what I do blah, blah, blah. I know you have this event coming up. I would love to serve. Please let me know how I can be a part of your event. And I have to tell you I knew there's opportunity to make money as a title holder right Oftentimes, which is amazing because we need that in our job, but that is also can sometimes be on you and.
Raechel Warren:But I also knew that I was trying to build the brand of Miss Nebraska. So I was already kind of very aware that some of my work was going to be pro bono. And just how can I help at your event, getting in the door and then eventually that would build into oh, can we book Miss Nebraska? Oh, this is my fee, I'm happy to be there, but, like, this is my fee, respectfully.
Raechel Warren:And that worked and it was really cool because I was able to get into some events and expand into organizations that I don't know if Miss Nebraska has ever been in front of. And it all was because I found an email. I knew what types of events I wanted to do Googled I was often on like event calendars for a community. Do that. You'll never know what you might find. And reaching out and just introducing myself and enthusiastically saying like I want to help, how can I, how can I help? And then showing up and being the best servant leader, I could be at that event and it was awesome and I got to go all over the state doing stuff like that.
Raeanna Johnson:Do you ever struggle with money mindset when it comes to like telling people what what the fees are?
Raechel Warren:Yeah, because I often think, especially as local title holders, right, we're doing it out of the goodness of our heart, we're doing it for volunteering, and so you're not used to asking for money. And so then, when it comes to the state role and you realize you can get paid, I think, especially in our state, I don't think it's valued that way. I've had to really, um, build, help build that culture of, oh, I pay Miss Nebraska to come to an appearance. I think some organizations that know of Miss Nebraska or have the funds readily available it's not, it's not that big of a deal, um, but for instance, I know some states where my sister queens told me they couldn't do an appearance unless it was paid, and that broke my heart because what if some of the schools here couldn't pay for that?
Raechel Warren:So that was really important to me, that that was never going to be a barrier. But if it was an option, I would go for it. But that took about six to seven months, to be quite honest with you, maybe five, but I would go for. But that took about six to seven months, to be quite honest with you, maybe five, but I would say five to seven for me to feel confident in asking for that fee and I really tried to focus more on the organizations I knew could pay that fee, because it was really hard for me to ask and I didn't want that to limit my year. But I hope that I've helped build that culture back, that like she's doing a job.
Raeanna Johnson:But I hope that I've helped build that culture back, that, like she's doing a job, she's traveling the state and it's hard work and she should be valued and her service should be valued Absolutely. And I think, when it comes to service, you can be of service to people in exchange for compensation, just like a job. It's a job A hundred percent. And just because we label it like a year of service doesn't mean that that service doesn't need to be, or can't be, compensated. Service of you know, being in service to people is very different than volunteering your time. Yes, and I think that's something that we all really need to start clicking into understanding.
Raechel Warren:And I think that's something that we all really need to start clicking into understanding and I don't think that's talked about as you're preparing for state Like it is. But it's not. And it's not unless you really ask those questions, because oftentimes girls ask, well, do you make money? I get asked that all the time Like, do you make money? And it surprises me that that seems to be, and maybe there's something there that I'm naive to over this decade, but like, why? And maybe there's something there that I'm naive to over this decade. But why aren't we sharing that with women? Why aren't we empowering them that, yeah, this is a job. You can make money in this job in a really positive way, that then you can give back. Right, miss Nebraska, miss Wisconsin, that opened so many opportunities that that money you made or the people you met that paid you for that appearance like that might lead you into more philanthropic service Like you never know, right, and that's okay.
Raeanna Johnson:Yes, we could go down a rabbit hole of talking about like why we don't talk about this more as women and why we fall into this Like we are just going to live with a servant's heart and expect nothing in return type of mentality. You totally do that, but I feel like that is a topic for a completely separate episode, and I think the main message here is it's going to take a little bit of growth and getting over some of the mindset struggles with charging what you're worth and accepting reimbursement for your service. But that can be, and oftentimes is, a very real part of the job of a state title holder. There are states that do not charge anything for their appearances and that's very difficult, like not even travel reimbursement. So, yeah, it's very interesting how each organization is run.
Raechel Warren:I mean, one of my sisters told me she gets paid to be in parades and I love parades. I was like you get paid to be in parades? Well, I would never not. I said I have to pay my way into a parade and I never again. I wanted to be accessible. So I would never like not do a parade Like those are some of the best appearances and experiences. But I thought that was really amazing and I'm like that's so great for you that you get paid to be an apprentice and maybe we'll be there one day. But again, that's setting that culture and you can be a part of that. Like every girl, like you can do something to make it leave it better than you found it. That's also part of your job, right? And if I know that I encourage the next girl to maybe feel like she can charge a little bit more or ask a few more people for that fee, then like cool, I helped, I helped encourage them in that way.
Raeanna Johnson:Yeah, all right, let's dive into more of the competing at Miss America, because obviously that is a huge part of your experience as a state title holder and one of the dreams that we all aspire to experience. So how did your prep for Miss America differ from your prep for Miss Nebraska?
Raechel Warren:So it was a lot of the same, to be quite honest, just a different priority set. So I was prepping with the intention of that preparation from state was going to pour right into Miss America, so that it wasn't going to feel like, oh my gosh. Now I'm prepping for Miss America because I didn't believe that's how it should be. It was more of a lifestyle thing, and so I kept a lot of my routines the same, but I also knew what areas I really wanted to focus on. Interview is really natural for me. I love being in the interview room.
Raechel Warren:So, yes, of course I prepped that, but I really wanted to. I wanted to perform my talent to like the peak of its ability, um, bearing all unforeseen circumstances. So I really prepped my talent. I really focused on nailing some things there, dialing in some things, um, I really wanted to make sure that my evening wear and my fitness phase highlighted the best of myself, focused on practicing my hair and makeup. I did have someone come with me, but I wanted to make sure I was prepared and that my wardrobe perfectly showcased who I was as Rachel in every piece of that week. So, whether Arrival, our AHA event that day, whatever, it was the tea party, I wanted each piece of wardrobe to represent me, so there was little details like that that, after having this dream finally be realized, I was like I'm pouring everything I have into these certain pieces so that I can know I left with no regrets so that I can know I didn't.
Raeanna Johnson:You know, I left with no regrets. And what were some of the biggest lessons, or even unexpected challenges, that you encountered on your way to the national stage?
Raechel Warren:So oftentimes you know, you hear that you need to be adaptable. That's a word that I feel like a lot of state title holders are told be adaptable, be adaptable, and it's super true. One director once told me be flexible and gracious, and I can tell you that that phraseology has been one of the most important phrases I could ever hold on to. But the other one that I would encourage your listeners in is perspective, because there are going to be things. Miss America is the best week of your life. I mean we all got sick, but it was the best week of my life. But there were still challenges that came up that I don't think you could have ever imagined. But if I hadn't have been so mentally strong in this is what I'm bringing to the table. You cannot take away this experience, and I also made sure that in that first comment I said make sure you have a circle of people around you. Know your people, Know your village of people, whether they're there or on a phone call away. Know what people you need for mental mindset. Your coach, Like my skating coach, is really important.
Raechel Warren:I knew my director was really important for certain things. I knew my mom and I. She used to be my skating coach. That doesn't work anymore. I can't talk to her about skating stuff.
Raechel Warren:I talked to my skating coach, but each one of those people on talent day specifically played a very big role in helping make sure that I was still able to perform what I was able to perform. And if I hadn't have had that and I hadn't been able to switch that perspective and go, okay, this may not be what I wanted it to be or what I prepped for it to be, but no one else knows that but me, and I'm going to go out there and give the best performance that I possibly can, because that's why not like no regrets. And so talking about it makes me emotional, because it was hard to know that you all didn't get to see exactly what I had prepared. But I also still know that man, I'm so proud of myself for, like, getting up and going out there and doing it. But I wouldn't have been able to do it without just that mindset, preparedness of perspective and the people around me. Like I just credit it all to the people that I had in my corner.
Raeanna Johnson:Can you dive a little bit deeper into some of the struggles that you faced with your talent that weekend?
Raechel Warren:So again, I had prepped my talent so hard Over the last few years I've skated on a lot of different surfaces and I carry three sets of wheels with me. I carry different stuff that can go on my wheels if the floor is really slick. I have tools in my bay, stuff that can go on my wheels if the floor is really slick. I have tools in my bay. Like, I've skated on so many surfaces that I felt very prepared for anything that this stage could be. And I went out on the stage for that rehearsal and I couldn't roll. I couldn't roll.
Raechel Warren:The stage was a different material than what I thought it was and I always touch the floor before. Like when I first get on that stage. I touch it and I kind of tell and I felt really good about it. But the stage was like a different material. It was a vinyl. It wasn't um, it wasn't um, marley or anything like. It wasn't wood anything.
Raechel Warren:And so I had met a coach in Florida. I was able to call the rink. They were able to get me a new pair of wheels. My mom had to run and get new wheels. Oh, my goodness it was.
Raechel Warren:It was a lot and there were tears. For sure my sisters can attest to that Like but I usually keep things pretty stoic, but it was like this whole you had built, built, built, built, built and it was like all crashing down. But I was like my skating coach was like Rachel, no one knows what your routine is except you. You can't even do take that routine, but you practice book, go like this, because what they're going to see it may be different, but no one knows that and that's the routine that they get today. And that's what I went out there and I took my entrance and I just skated as best as I could and I had, I had fun and that was my goal was to showcase skating with everybody and even though it's really hard to know that like there's things that you didn't get to see, and that whole day was really hard, um, I was, I was so prepared for any situation and I knew who I needed to ask if things came up, that I was able to get through it and I was able to still be really proud of what I performed.
Raechel Warren:Um, because I was just, I was just so prepared, and so that's, that's just my encouragement. Is you just? You don't know what you're going to be prepared for, but do all the things you need to do in case the worst case scenario happens, because even if it is worst case, you still know that, like you did all that you could do, you know, yeah, sorry, and I love it because that's real, yeah.
Raeanna Johnson:So solution focused, though and that is so much of what we talk about on Sash and Soul is having that perspective of, like, what matters here and turn your attention away from the things that are not serving you, that you can't control. Turning your attention away from those and focusing on the things that you can do something about, even if that's like five minutes of crying and focusing on yourself and I think that was my setback when I went to Miss America was not allowing myself and giving myself the grace to feel what I needed to feel. Just feeling like I was supposed to have it all together all the time, or somehow I was failing or not prepared for this job was the biggest mistake that I could have made, because it is an emotional journey, it is a roller coaster. When you're there, it's physically exhausting, it's mentally emotionally exhausting, there's so much going on, there can be so many hiccups and like feel what you're going to feel, allow yourself to feel that, give yourself that grace and that validation.
Raechel Warren:I had to do that even now, because it's still surreal to know that we were there. It went so fast and I tried to like be so present the entire time, which I feel like I was. I'm really grateful for that. But sometimes I still have moments where I'm like, man, that was really hard, like telling you that story. Like sometimes I'm like dang it. Like telling you that story, like sometimes I'm like dang it Like what if? Like what if I could have skated better, you know? Or like why did that happen, why was, and?
Raechel Warren:But you and it's okay, I think, to like work through those emotions because it does mean so much to you, right, we all work so hard for that one moment. But again, that's why it's so important to be detached and as detached as I was, it was still really hard, but like that is okay for us to feel that. And as someone who is very like hardcore, sometimes I allow myself like it's okay to cry every once in a while about it, or like it's okay to wonder what if? But that just shows again how much you care about it, you know. And now, when I put my skates on, when I put my skates on for the first time a couple months ago to practice that routine, and like I bawled because I was like man, why couldn't the floor have felt like that? That felt really good, you know, and like that was okay. I called my mom and she was like Rachel, it's okay that you're like having that moment, because this is your, like you love to skate, so, yeah, it's okay to have those emotions, to have those emotions.
Raeanna Johnson:You're grieving. There is Kaylee, and I talked about this like at length. There is a grieving process that comes with coming home from Miss America having not achieved your goals. Even if you did achieve your goals I mean, the first runner up my year still, like, also struggled with those things, like she, she did so very well and also had that grieving process of, oh my gosh, this experience is done. It's like everything we yeah, yeah, there's such a significant letdown that most people, unless they've been there and been through it, will not be able to understand. And I, as I'm listening to your story about your talent, I listened to Kaylee's story about her talent. We talked about these things and my interview was awful. I still struggle with my Miss America interview. I was just telling a client this morning I have the DVD of my interview. It has been a decade. I don't think I will ever watch it back.
Raechel Warren:I didn't buy the DVD of my talent. I have it on video, but I was like no, and I watch it sometimes, but I'm like no, I don't need to. But yeah, love that.
Raeanna Johnson:You share that, though, and I appreciate that, rihanna, because you're almost 10 years out from that experience and you still have those moments. I think that's encouraging to know that it's not just going to go away next year when I don't have the crown on my head, and that's okay because it's a part of your life. Yeah, there's going to be a lot of post experience processing. That's going to go on. It's it's what, and that's that's a huge reason why I wanted to do these, the series as well as like, let's talk about the reality here. Like, yeah, there's the business side, which is awesome, and yeah, there's the appearances, which are so fun, and there's the excitement and buildup of going to Miss America and being a part of this incredible class of women during your year, and all of those things are wonderful. And there's also this other side of it. This is the side that forces you to grow. This is the part of it that changes you throughout your year.
Raechel Warren:Like I remember when I was preparing, when I was still at school at Seattle U, and everyone was waiting for that spring forum where the director would leave and the Miss Washington would come in and you're like, okay, what can you tell us about the job? But I still felt like we never got to know about the job. But it was like you wanted to finally hear from her. Like, what are all these mysterious things? And and I don't want it to be that way Like, of course, again, there's going to be things that like maybe she can't talk about, like whatever, but like I want you to feel like you can ask me about the job, because I want you to feel so prepared, as prepared as you can be, to do the job. Because if you, if you are and if you go into it with wow, how can I like make this better? What can I do today?
Raechel Warren:Dale Thomas, she came and spoke at Miss America this year. I don't know if you're familiar with her, but her story is phenomenal and she told us on first day at orientations. She said you're not tired, you're energized, you're not, you're too blessed to be stressed and you're not overwhelmed, you're in demand. And while there's going to be days where, like, you feel really overwhelmed. Maybe you have three appearances and you're driving all over and you haven't eaten, maybe a Jimmy, but a Jimmy John's sandwich, and you've had five cups of coffee, like whatever.
Raechel Warren:If you can like remind yourself, like, okay, today's a little crazy, but, wow, I get to be Miss Nebraska today. This is awesome. And like, you can do that as much as possible. Like it you're going to have, you're going to have a great year. And then if you need to have a moment, that evening where you call your mom or your friend or your director or whoever your confidant is and go, wow, today was nuts, and you like let that out, that's okay. But remind yourself that this is a gift and every day with that crown is a blessing. And if you can do that every day, then you're going to have a great year, no matter what little things come up, because you'll just be able to go well, that was kind of weird, but okay. And you can like laugh it off and move on to the next thing.
Raeanna Johnson:There's so much power in gratitude and appreciation, even in, like, the littlest, tiniest things. It just you're, you're just so right. It's really odd, but okay. That wasn't how I thought was going to make for a really good memory someday.
Raechel Warren:Or a great story. That's what I say. It's going to make for a great story when I emcee my next event, like you know. So.
Raeanna Johnson:Yes, yeah, exactly. Isn't it funny, though, like your year kind of turns into this culmination of stories.
Raechel Warren:Oh, yes, for sure.
Raeanna Johnson:And then.
Raechel Warren:it's been fun with these retirement home visits because they ask great questions and I've gotten to really reflect and tell some of these stories about as the year especially starts to wind down. It's been really fun.
Raeanna Johnson:All right, let's talk about the human side of this a little bit more. I want to get deeper in this. We're past, miss America. We are well into your year. You know what you're doing. It's been amazing. We're also reaching the end. So, in reflection, were there moments that you felt lonely and misunderstood and burnt out, or the imposter syndrome that sometimes goes along with a title like this.
Raechel Warren:I've been thinking about this a lot because of your questions but also, as I like, work to write my farewell letter and I write my letter to the next girl. To be totally transparent with you, I have to say I'm very grateful. I do not feel like I had the lonely year that I've heard some girls have, and I can attribute that to just the community I've built around myself. I have a really amazing board of directors. I have a lovely community in North Platte with a host mom that whenever I travel, I've gotten to stay with some great families and I love to drive, and so that has made my year, I think, better than maybe for someone who does not like to travel alone or is maybe a lot younger and is not used to being by themselves that often, like that's so real. So surround yourself again with the community that can lift you up. But I think it can be hard to prioritize yourself and find that balance in your friendships. And that is what was really hard for me, because I am sometimes a people pleaser and I love to be involved in everything and, as many of you may or may not know, I am engaged and so my fiance as supportive. He's a great Mr Nebraska, but he, especially toward the end, as we get closer to the wedding too, he's like I, you've done such a great job, but you know, at the end of the day, he's like man, I'm really ready for you to be done in like the most positive way, because it's like I'm gone all the time, or if I'm with him, I might be on my phone, like doing social media, because that's my job, and like he's ready for us to be able to go on a date where, like, it's just us and not me and a phone. He called this our like other, our third wheel, and I'm like, yes, reprioritize, in full transparency, my fitness, because it was such a part of my lifestyle.
Raechel Warren:I love working out, but now that I've like gone back to my full-time job, a little bit more so, and now I'm getting ready for the year end and I've been traveling a little more, like I've had a really hard time finding my new normal, and it's May, and like Miss America was in January, and I've also had to allow myself grace to go. That's okay too, because fitness, for instance, can be a part of your lifestyle and be different than what it's like when you're prepping right, like I love being active, but that activity may look a little bit different than when I'm prepping for Miss America, and that's totally okay, and I've had to give myself grace for that too. And so just knowing that it's a season and that your relationships will look different, and again over-communicate and ask for help, and don't try to do it alone, because even if you're not lonely, you're not. Even if you are lonely, you're not alone, I guess is what I'm trying to say and don't be afraid to ask for help in any area that you need it during your year.
Raeanna Johnson:Kaylee and I were talking about this too, like how difficult it can be to know what you need help with sometimes too. Did you ever experience that?
Raechel Warren:Honestly, right now I feel like this is the this month, like April, ish, end of March, april. I've started to actually feel tired and I feel guilty about it because I am so grateful and, like we just talked about, like every day is such a gift and I've really been trying to do that. When I put that crown on go. I'm so excited to speak today, cause, like I am genuinely, but I have had a lot of days where I'm like I just want to like lay on the couch and do nothing and I don't want to go, go, go, go, go. Or I want to do something else and I felt kind of guilty about it and I really like I was talking to my director about it and I was like I feel bad, that I feel tired because I want to like finish out my year strong.
Raechel Warren:And she kind of looked at me like are you kidding, rachel? Like you've done so much, like it's okay to take to like take a step back, like. Or our premarital counselors were like their daughters were Miss Nebraska and they were like Rachel, you have done the job, like you've done the job and it's okay to start like focusing on life after the job. It's okay, and I didn't necessarily know how to ask. It was just more like I just feel guilty about this. What, what do I? Is this okay that I feel this way? That's kind of what I've been struggling with, to be honest.
Raeanna Johnson:So, now that the year is almost over, what do you hope that people remember about your year?
Raechel Warren:what do you hope that people remember about your year? Um, that I was authentically myself every day and that they have learned something amazing about miss nebraska and that maybe they took away. Just their interaction was really positive. My goal was to leave every young person or every adult with the feeling that what they had to say really mattered and that they were uniquely made. That was my message to every assembly. Every classroom was you were uniquely, beautifully and wonderfully made. And if that is the only thing that stuck with them, or for the young boys, if all they remembered was Stella the Mustang that I drove around for my first six months as Miss Nebraska, but I got to sign their hat or their shoe or their autograph card, and that was a positive experience and I did my job and I can confidently tell you I was authentically Rachel every single day. Um, and I had a blast, and so I just hope that people remember the wonderful things that Miss Nebraska is from my year.
Raeanna Johnson:Are you experiencing any kind of struggle with like the bittersweetness that comes with moving on from this and into the next, really beautiful chapter of your life getting married and building your career and all the things that come with that?
Raechel Warren:Yeah, you know I am struggling with it because, as we've kind of already talked about right, when you prep for state, like it's all your thing, and when you do it for so many years, that's part of your routine, and so it's going to be very odd because the only year I didn't do that was COVID and that was kind of forced right I had a summer for because I had to kind of, I guess, and so it's going to be weird to like not be doing that and I'm going to miss it because I love it, I love the sisterhood, I love the people. Meeting the people is like my favorite part of being a title holder, and so I'm going to miss all that. But I'm trying to focus that on like okay, how can I keep doing? How can I build off the things that I did this year? How can I like I'm already working on an organization I might be involved with after the crown of like still philanthropically giving back to the community and like using my public speaking skills Maybe I'll be civically engaged one day.
Raechel Warren:But not letting again, not letting the crown be the end, all be all. But it's still bittersweet, because who doesn't love to like wear sparkly dresses all the time and a crown on their head, Like that's really fun. But I'm also 29 and like maybe we should put that, maybe we should put that away and like that's okay to have that balance. A former title holder also told me who's older. She's like late, early fifties and she said your next, your next goal, is to be a great wife and that's okay for that to be your goal. And so, knowing that, like I love that Madison Marsh was engaged during her year because she showed that like we have a life outside of the crown and I think that's really cool to show young ladies that, yes, this can be a goal and this can be a huge launching pad, but it's okay for that not to be your whole everything, because there's so much life after it we have a new Miss Nebraska that's going to be crowned soon.
Raeanna Johnson:You have given so much advice already, but what is something that you would tell Ms Nebraska on her very first day?
Raechel Warren:This is so hard because I have so many things that I've like written down in her letter. I want her to just be go confidently into her first day, knowing that she is Ms Nebraska and that whoever she is is exactly what Miss Nebraska needs that year. And it's exactly what Nebraska needs her to be that year. It's exactly what that next kid she's going to see in the classroom needs that year. She's the perfect girl for that year and she doesn't need to be like me. She doesn't need to be like Teresa Scanlon, who became Miss America. She doesn't need to be like the girl five years before her. She's her and she is what Nebraska needs that year. And be so confident in that and have the best year of your life.
Raeanna Johnson:What will you, or would you remind her after 300 days on the job?
Raechel Warren:To look back at that, firstly, and to remember that she was chosen for a reason and that, even on the days where it gets really hard, know that she is also beautifully and wonderfully made. And I would also just encourage her to take a day off, that it's okay to lounge in your sweatpants and watch TV and maybe not answer an email, but to not feel like she has anything. Remember that she has nothing to pretend, nothing to defend. She is perfect the way that she is.
Raeanna Johnson:And even on the days where maybe someone didn't appreciate her or she got told no, that that's okay and that doesn't disenfranchise her or make her any less than my last question on the list that I'm really excited to just like ask every one of you is when you look back on this season of your life, five, 10 years from now, what do you, what do you think you're going to remember the most about this?
Raechel Warren:The people.
Raechel Warren:I was just telling someone else that the people like I have loved every conversation I've gotten to have with, whether it be a teacher or a student, or the host people or the host families I get to stay with.
Raechel Warren:It's the people Like. It's if you can truly be engaged in every moment and ask questions and really not just be there to be pretty and do whatever you're asked to do that day, but like really engage with those around, do whatever you're asked to do that day, but like really engage with those around you, you're going to learn a ton, you're going to see a ton. You're just going to leave feeling like your world just got a little bit bigger. And I think that that's what I'll take away this year and there's so many connections that I will have now for the rest of my life because I chose to do that and I hope that I can look back in five to 10 years and share that with my future kids and share that with wherever I'm at in my career and be able to tell those stories and see the fruits of that intentionality still be fruitful.
Raeanna Johnson:Amazing. I love that. What a beautiful way to end this conversation. Rachel, thank you so much for your time today and for, just again, like your, your passion, your character, your insights are really, really beautiful and aspirational, and I'm excited to see what what comes next for you in your life or I'm excited to see your wedding gown and photos from that all over social media and the civic or, you know, service opportunities that you're going to be engaged in. You're going to do incredible things and you're a great example to what this organization is all about. So thank you.
Raechel Warren:I just encourage. One last thing is that this program changed your life, if you let it. Use this, use this program of the launching pad for yourself and take in every opportunity. I cannot wait to give back. I can't wait to volunteer in some other way, um, but just participating is a game changer, and so kudos to you for participating in a local or state, and if you never walk away with the crown like you won, like Maddie Marsh said, win the experience. Go give so much of yourself into it that you win the experience, regardless of what happens, because if you let it, it will totally change your life in the best way.
Raeanna Johnson:Absolutely, totally agree. Oh, thank you again, appreciate you. I will have all the links so that you can follow Rachel on her Miss Nebraska page and her personal page so that you can see all the cool things that she's going to be doing in the future, and I'm sure she'd be open to a DM or two if you had more questions for her as well. So, all right, you guys, I will be back with you again next week with another episode of Sash and Soul and the Crown and Candid series, with more amazing guests from across the country talking about their experiences as title holders this year. I will talk with you then. Bye.
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