CMN Fundraiser & Modeling

On Saturday, my best friend and I (who just happens to be Miss Simpsonville Teen) met at the Greenville Drive opening game as they played Augusta. We were stationed at the back gate giving out coupons and telling people about Children's Miracle Network donations and the sponsor, which was Great Clips. It was a bit frustrating, trying to get all those people to listen to what we were saying at the same time but we made it! We ran out of the little coupons even before the game completely started we are able to go watch it with some of our friends that we saw came as well! It was definitely a Miss America n CMN success night! 

Afterwords that next day, Sunday, we both went along with Miss Travelers Rest and my miss, Miss Blue Ridge Foothills, to a boutique downtown Travelers Rest to model some of their new fashion lines. It was SO much fun! I had so much fun with my sister queens as well as meeting new people that came in the store and the store owners/photographers who were so nice to work with and eager to have us model!

xoxo, 
Miss Blue Ridge Foothills Teen 2015, Aleina

Princess Photoshoot

My Palmetto Princess Brooke and I had so much fun at our photoshoot in Taylors Mill.! I'm so glad the Miss SC program allows for princesses because it is such a great bonding opportunity for the queen and this little girl! I have gotten to help encourage her be everything a young 'lady' should be as a Miss South Carolina contestant. That's really what makes being a queen such a hard job, is everywhere you go you have people looking up to you and you'd better ready to take that immediate job as a role model! The faces we made were priceless and the memories never fading. She has big 'heels' to fill! I love this little girl to death and so proud of what she's accomplished so far in this journey! 

Yours truly, 

Miss BRFT 2015 Aleina

Day with Healing Species

Finally! After so many hours and hours of preparation, communication and meetings, Paws4Cause is in with Healing Species! I was so blessed to be able to speak and inform the kids today about their lessons! I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us. These kids at Grove Elementary school are so open and willing to learn and discover new things about compassion and having the proper respect towards animals as well as people in their future. I think this program is working miracles through the school system and I will keep advocating for the implementation of programs like Healing Species in every school! 

A huge thank you to everyone who is willing to work with me and Paws4Cause in this fantastic program! I'm overwhelmed at what we are able to accomplish. 

xoxo,

Miss BRFT 2015 Aleina 

Cool Mama's & Colors 4 Hope

This past weekend, my sister queens and I helped out at Colors 4 Hope 5K run/race in Travelers Rest to support the Mental Health of America and Children's Miracle Network. It was loads of fun! There were local bands, artists, venders, food providers and so much to do in the area we had designated for us. It was a huge success!

Right afterwords, Miss Travelers Rest and I, went to her car and got ready for our second appearance that day! (2/3) I love always having my Momma K and 'twin' around when having to be places. They make sure I'm always on point before I walk out the door!(or car...) It's such a fantastic bonding experience with other girls that I have the honor to meet and form relationships with. The Miss South Carolina program has made me grow so much and mature into watching my own role models, the Miss and also becoming one from the great examples the Miss America Organization gives me. I am so thankful for these experiences I get to have with them. Lots of love.! 

Once we were ready, Madison and I drove to Cool Mama's Ice Cream shop's grand opening in downtown TR! It smelled absolutely delicious, and it was PINK. I loved it before I even tasted the ice cream! I got to sample some very neat flavors and definitely left with a favorite. I was so glad to see that the shop was pet friendly. Dogs are welcome in with their Doggie Sundae . I got to speak to so many people about Paws4Cause and hand out my cards! Definitely so encouraging meeting so many people with a similar passion to mine! #paws4cause 

Post Workshop Weekend

Wow! I can't believe that workshop weekend is over(well, has been..sorry about the slack. Making it up I promise! ;) I have to say, it was an overwhelming, exciting yet stressful three days in Colombia! And that isn't even the competition week! I absolutely loved the Embassy, the food there was amazing and I really liked the entire setup. Good job, Miss SC! Perfect location for us girls, and a in hotel gym. I know I will be using that during the week of comp.! I really liked all the venders, getting to know a lot of other girls, Miss and Teen and just getting closer with my team. Those girls mean the world to me and I would never trade them for another! They are so supportive and kind with everything we do during this journey. My princess was such a great sport during all the meetings, long nights and lots of chatter. Very proud of her. I couldn't have asked for a better year to go Miss South Carolina Teen 2015. Miss American 2009, was such an inspirational speaker and I loved every minute of her! I was so glad to have her speak at the conferences on Saturday.

Miss Simpsonville / Pre Workshop Weekend

My baby girl finally got her title as a teen queen at the Fountain Inn/Simpsonville pageant last weekend. I am SO excited for her, this sweet girl TOTALLY deserves a title and I cannot wait to take on State with her this June. Such a precious girl and I love her to death! She totally deserves Miss Simpsonville Teen 2015.

In just a few days, I, as well as all the other 49(??)+ Teen queens and our Miss’ will be going down to Colombia for the one and only workshop weekend! I am so excited to get to watch the last preliminary, Miss River City, Miss Yellow Jasmine and Miss Midstate get crowned and then off we go! It’s hard to believe all the preliminaries are practically over, it seems like a Saturday night tradition almost. Our schedule is so booked from here on out, preparing for state. I am more excited than nervous, but I’ve almost got everything down; but knowing this something will pop up and throw us for a ride! I don’t really know what to expect but I’m super excited to finally begin the state bound journey with my great team!

Working at the Wells

The past month I’ve been working with my sister queens, Miss Travelers Rest, Miss Travelers Rest teen, Miss Blue Ridge Foothills, Miss Wade Hampton, Miss Palmetto Teen and Miss Greenville West End teen raising money for Children’s Miracle Network at the “Well” aka the Bilo Center. Its great hours as well as lots of bonding time with them! I’m so glad I really have the best team to work with for my first year competing in Miss South Carolina. It has been such a great experience so far and I can’t wait to see what is in store for me next as Miss Blue Ridge Foothills Teen 2015!

The people are super helpful and we’ve made so much progress and I know I’ve definitely been developing more, not only as a role model and advocate for my platform, Paws4Cause, but to anyone I meet. There’s a lot to be learned working with so many people at one time in one booth but you have so much fun with everyone that time literally flies.

Princess Dreaming - Elsa !

On Saturday, I had been asked to fill in for one of my sister Queens at her Dance Studio to play ‘Elsa’ from Frozen at a little girl’s fourth birthday party. I was a little nervous, but found as I got my hair, makeup and wardrobe done, I was very excited! It’s every little girl’s dream to be a Disney Princess, isn’t it? I definitely lived that dream for the fantastic two hours! The little girl was so surprised and happy, and it really made it so much more enjoyable. It was such a sweet little group of kids and I’m so glad I got to entertain and play with them! I have such a supportive team that gave me advice and stood by and took pictures for me while I was having the fun! It was probably the best volunteering hours that I have done so far as my reign as Miss Blue Ridge Foothills Teen 2015. I hope to see SDC and the Elsa costume again sometime soon!

Miss Greater Greer & Miss Upstate in one weekend...

Miss Greater Greer & Miss Upstate

Last weekend I went and got to watch my friend, Emma Kate, compete in the Miss Greater Greer pageant at Greer High. She did a fantastic job, was such a great sport and definitely deserves the title of Miss Greater Greer Teen 2015! I simply cannot wait to start doing stuff and volunteering with her. I am so excited we get to go down to State this summer in Columbia (and swim team?!..) She is such a sweet girl and represents her hometown well. After I congratulated her, we rushed over to the Miss Upstate pageant where the list of visiting queens almost filled up two pages! It was so encouraging to see (most) of the Teen and Miss Contestants cheering on the girls as they competed together for the Miss Upstate title. It was a tough round, but all the girls did SO well. I’m so glad I went. A final huge congratulations to Armani, Miss Upstate Teen 2015 and Lauren Cabaniss Miss Upstate 2015! They all performed and walked so well.

Basketball Camp 1/2

Basketball Camp Fundraiser

We organized our first very own basketball camp, and a shoutout goes out to all my wonderful family and gym who put their time into helping it succeed! Thank you Pleasant Grove Church for letting us use your facilities. Grandpa for coaching and Mom for helping me figure out all the financial stuff and inviting her friends as well. It was a HUGE success and I learned a lot ..maybe even more than the kids on being a good leader and teaching new skills to them. Shiobhan and I had a great time with the kids, even though it was very exhausting! Very surprised at the good turnout for just our first time. I'm definitely taking up the offer of doing it in my Princess's town for her and her friends there to get an even bigger crowd! I can't wait. If you want to learn more about how you can support me in my fundraisers I'm organizing, please visit my Facebook Page!! 

@ Miss Blue Ridge Foothills Teen 2015 - Aleina Griffin

I will be hosting more and more and as I start to work with Greenville Humane Society and Greenville County Animal Care on my education program, R.E.S.P.E.C.T., learn more about how you can book my program to come visit YOUR school! 

Meeting Hope Harvard !!

Miss South Carolina Teen 2014, Hope Harvard

When my team and I were at the Miss Inman/Boiling Springs/Duncan pageant, we were so pleased to see that our very own Miss South Carolina teen 2014 Hope was there to join us in cheering on our fellow contestants. It was a great bonding time with my sister queen team (haha!) and for the moms! All the girls looked amazing and stunning up on stage. I encourage every girl to keep persevering even if the first time they don't succeed. I have never really watched a pageant before but it was definitely entertaining! I look forward to meeting all the girls soon at Workshop weekend this February and March! 

Until next time, 

xoxo Miss Blue Ridge Foothills Teen 2015,

Aleina Griffin

Advertising for Miss SC Teen 2015

Selling Advertisements for the Miss South Carolina Teen Program book 2015...

Wow! Hope everyone had a great new year! I know I definitely made some great new friends and a New Year's Resolution that I am (so far..) sticking too like glue. I am starting to get into athlete's shape for my fitness routine for State this summer! I've started working on my routines and new stuff for the pageant this summer! It has me SO SO SO excited. I can't wait until the competition to meet all my sister queens and make great friends and memories I will definitely never forget. The Miss America program definitely has changed my lifestyle and my views on a lot of other programs and opened my eyes to more fantastic opportunities as a young lady.  I'd have to say, selling these ad pages for the book is something you really have to work hard at. For the first two weeks my Miss and I went around nonstop (except for some lunch breaks;) going business to business. We got a lot of positive responses that I am super proud of. I watched Shiobhan for the first few times and when I got the hang of things I started to talk more as well. She is such a great mentor that I am super proud of. I absolutely love being her Teen; she has taught me so many things about being a respectful and responsible young lady and how to properly represent our titles as we are the future of Miss South Carolina and Miss America. She is always there and a great role model for my first time being in the Miss America Organization and she is doing a phenomenal job being my Miss. I am so excited to be working with the greatest team, LED, sister Queens and my mentors and coaches. So very appreciative for all their help. <3