It's New Year's Eve and we're rocking in 1999 at Lajes Air Force Base in the Azore Islands! A little "Boogie Fever" with our 70's medley. Now nearing the end of our show and the beginning of a new year with our Supremes Medley!
The picture seen 'round the world! This was sent out over the AP newswire and used in newspapers around the world! It's me dancing with one of the soldiers on Christmas Eve in Kuwait.
We were just having a blast and had no idea this would end up everywhere. The next day, he said his family had seen the photo in his hometown paper - The Laredo Times! This was in our paper - The Hartford Courant.
That night, we performed at Camp Doha's main base for the troops. It was great fun! Here I am singing "Santa Baby" for the soldiers!
They have to stand at attention and the loser has to do push-ups!
At the end of our show, they still wanted more. So, we did an encore with "Old Time Rock 'N' Roll." As you can see, they joined right in. That's me and Stacy in the background.
We had just returned from performing out in the desert all day when we found out about a U.S.O. show on base.
The show featured Mary Chapin Carpenter, Carol King and Secretary of Defense, William Cohen. We cleaned up, made our way over and got to meet Mr. Cohen! What an honor! He thanked us for our service to the country! We were also coined by 5 star General Franks!
After meeting up with the Base Commanders, we were taken to town by MWR. We stopped in front of this sign for a great photo before we headed into town!
Saluting our military at the end of our country medley.
We also got to meet the Admiral Moore of the Fifth Fleet. We had something to talk about - he is friends with Cullen Johnson's father. Cullen and I competed atMiss Virginia America together. Cullen eventually did win Miss Virginia and was 1st Runner-Up to the most famous Miss America - Heather Whitestone.
L-R: Maria, Stacy, Admiral Moore, me (Kimberly), Kirstie and Erin.
Here are The Liberty Misses on base in Bahrain with some of our new friends.
Bowling in Bahrain! Oh yeah - we beat the guys!
Stacy and I had just returned from a snorkel adventure. We had a day off between shows in Bahrain and the MWR Rep. took us out to sea. We are standing here at the Bahrain Yacht Club.
The Liberty Misses - Christmas 1998 Tour - Bahrain, Kuwait & The Azore Islands.
(We were supposed to go to Saudi Arabia & U.A.E. but the bombing of Iraq occurred while we were in Bahrain and we weren't allowed to continue on. We were re-routed.)
Tammy and I had gone downstairs to grab a movie for us to watch. There were troops shipping out so we said goodbye! This is about an hour after I severely broke my toe! Life is good when you're full of "Whiteys."
Here I am standing in the ice luge from the OLYMPICS that were held in Sarajevo, Bosnia. As you can see, next to me are huge holes. Those holes were from shots fired during the war. The whole Olympic snow area has basically been destroyed. How sad so much history was destroyed by it's own countrymen...
Connecticut (still a Virginia gal at heart!), United States
I've been so blessed to have such a wonderful life! It's because of pageants that I even realized my full performance potential. After I became involved in the Miss Virginia America preliminaries, I was encouraged by many to sing. (My first talent was comedy!) I then became part of the Miss VA U.S.O. Troupe. I moved from my home in VA to Connecticut and became a member of the Miss CT U.S.O. Troupe and subsequently, a Liberty Miss. I was blessed to tour 6 times to over 15 countries performing for our Troops. In 2000, another Liberty Miss and I formed The Glory Girls and we've performed for our Veterans ever since. I also act, dance and serve my community and have logged over 7,000 volunteer hours!
Also in 2000, I met my wonderful husband, David; we were married in 2003; and had our first child, Delilah, in 2005. I still enjoy pageants to this day and thank my lucky stars for the doors that they opened! I am constantly updating my websites below, so feel free to keep checking back. (It takes a loooong time to scan all those photos in!)
(P.S.: Everyone says that I'll probably be the oldest pageant queen/U.S.O. performer in the world! I think I'm okay with that!)