On this day 10 years ago ✨ 9/14/14 I wish I could hug this girl and tell her everything would be ok! That it all works out. The night that I gave up the title, a former Miss America came up to me (with completely good intentions!) and said “don’t worry, you’ll feel normal again in 10 years.” 10 years?! It’s going to take 10 years to feel normal again?! At the time I was so angry at her for saying that. It couldn’t possibly take ME 10 years to feel normal again. I was going to figure it out and be back to Kira in no time. But you know what, she was completely, 100% right. It has taken 10 years to fully feel whatever “normal” is again, to fully process the Miss America experience which is a magical adventure I can’t put into words, but also littered with deep emotional wounds. The experience does change you. It makes you a better human, gives you a bigger capacity to love, to deal with adversity, to dream. It put me into situations I could’ve never imagined and completely changed the course of my life. When I look back on this night, I feel so much joy. And pride, that I did it my way. That I was completely, unapologetically myself, and that the judges chose me anyway. And that has been my biggest lesson from this all- just Kira always was and always will be good enough. Thank you all for following the journey these last 10 years. We’re just getting started ❤️ #missamerica #mao #theresheis