Miss America gets a lot of flak, but the reality is that it is uplifting and aspirational - 50% percent of my points were based on talent.

Forcing victims of sexual harassment into secret arbitration proceedings is wrong because it means that nobody ever finds out what really happened.

I'm a big believer in always challenging yourself and learning new skills.

Trust is the most important aspect of being a journalist. If people don't trust or find you relatable - you will not have success.

My hope is that when people read my story, it will inspire them to reach for their goals and not give up. The real story is this: if I can do it, you can too.

Self esteem is built from the inside out and that is my inspiring message to all people.

If you Google me, you'll find plenty of "dumb blonde" references - even though I graduated with honors from Stanford and studied at Oxford University. I don't let it bother me.

I'm not superwoman. It's impossible to do everything 100 percent all of the time. And suggesting that women should be able to do it only puts more pressure on them.

I felt vindicated that I decided to speak up for not only myself but women all across the nation who've been put down.

The discipline learned from putting in time and effort as a child is a skill and a talent you carry with you for the rest of your life in trying to achieve goals.

In the Miss America system talent is worth 50 percent of a contestant's points so my mom encouraged me to give it a try. And once I decided to do it, like anything else, I gave it 110 percent.

I wondered quickly if I'd give my life so that a dragon could live. If someone offered me that deal, your life for the existence of dragons.I thought maybe yes, maybe no.

He's half absolv'd Who has confess'd.

The more human beings proceed by plan the more effectively they may be hit by accident

I think the average American recognizes that it took years to create the crisis that erupted in 2008 and peaked in January of 2009. And it's going to take some time to work through it.

I never felt I would be part of the international scene for 50 caps in my wildest dreams.

I've always had a problem with the average macho man - they've always been a threat to me.

I'm very shy. I know it's weird for a person who models lingerie and swimsuits, but I don't like to be the center of attention!

Chatter about art is almost always useless.

Have a vision. Communicate it clearly. Pick the right people and put them in the right jobs.

[Zwarte Piet] is unfortunate, and just like the early American blackface films, if it offends a segment of the population, it shouldn't be shown again.