What a Night (to Shine)

Night to Shine Jax, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation!

To say I had an absolute blast at Night to Shine in Jacksonville this past Friday would be an understatement! I was able to sport my favorite sparkly red gown to make my first big appearance as Miss River City 2023.

Now you may be curious...what is Night to Shine?

The official site explains a Night to Shine as follows, "Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs, ages 14 and older." I have heard amazing things about this organization for years, especially from families who have children with special needs. I'm glad that I was finally able to witness the magic of it all firsthand.

The event was held at the beautiful Prime Osborn Convention Center in downtown Jacksonville and was hosted for our divine guests from 6-9 PM. Miss Jacksonville, Grace McCormick, has volunteered with her family at this event for several years and really helped navigate the day. We checked in around 4 PM, got our official buddy badges, and awaited our guests! We both signed up as buddies, which meant we had a one-on-one buddy for the entire night. On the left, you can see me sporting my VIP (well Volunteer) badge for the night. There are other volunteering options and I know another popular favorite is the Paparazzi option. In total, the event had close to 3,000 volunteers!

I finally met my buddy, Jennifer, a short hour and a half later and we immediately set off to have fun. I was also able to meet Jennifer's mom, who shared with me that they got a dress just for this special occasion. It was a beautiful dark blue dress that matched Jennifer's bling accessories and sparkly blue nails.

We started our night off by meeting the paparazzi on the red carpet. There were hundreds of volunteers taking pictures, holding up signs, shaking cowbells, and cheering us on. The entire walkway was lit up with bright lights and it was a rather emotional entrance.

Jennifer and I headed straight to the flower and touchup area, where there were people helping with hair, makeup, and everything in between. We grabbed a beautiful pink tulip and then went to grab a snack. There were so many food options, we didn't even know where to begin! Luckily this inclusive event offered a multitude of desserts and entrees to meet the specific needs of each individual there. While we finished snacking on pizza and cookies, I met Kevin! He asked for a picture with me and was incredibly sweet.

As we ate, we could hear all the happy voices singing at the karaoke station. However, we didn't end up going over. Jennifer was ready to hit the dance floor! The cover photo features the mega cool disco ball display set up in the middle of the revenue. There was so much room to dance around and meet other buddies. I quickly learned that my dance skills were no match for my new friends ;)

While on the dance floor, I was able to interact with a variety of people from all walks of life. There was, however, one interaction that stood out to me. Queen Morlyn, as her banner displayed, said she was looking to find me all night. She was dressed in a gorgeous pearl dress and had a sparkly crown of her own. I loved meeting her, and her brother, and got a picture with her. She looked absolutely stunning and held such poise and confidence in herself.

The night continued and we were able to crown our beautiful and handsome guests kings and queens. Jennifer's mom helped me put on her crown and she was so incredibly happy. Around 8:30, Jennifer and her friends headed back to their group home, so we had to part ways. I also was able to meet CJ alongside Miss Jacksonville, so we grabbed a quick photo with her! As we headed outside, I met another group home who was ready to sleep after a long night of partying.

Although it was a rainy day and my feet were ready to get out of my heels, I would absolutely not change of second of my day. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to attend this event, and I look forward to hopefully attending it again next year. That's the cool thing about Night to Shine...it is a worldwide event hosted at a variety of locations globally! They even held another Night to Shine prom in Gainesville, aka my college hometown.

Lessons learned...

1. I need to figure out how to properly pin my new crown! It was definitely not pinned enough to handle the dance floor all night and was a little crooked by the end of the night. However, I have no complaints.

2. I am so glad the Miss America Organization has already opened a new world of possibilities for me, and I'm only two weeks into my reign. I am also glad it introduced me to Team Jax and my sister queen, Miss Jacksonville.

3. Wearing a crown and banner is an easy way to connect and communicate with all sorts of individuals. It made it a lot easier to make new friends and meet other buddies at the event.

4. Night to Shine is worth all the hype and more!!!