Miss Indiana’s journey for national title ends

Terrin Thomas wasn’t nervous.

In a matter of minutes, she would walk on stage to represent Indiana in the 2014 Miss America Competition.

She had 52 opponents and all but 15 would be cut from the competition.

She had prepared for this moment, working 14 to 15 hour days during the competition. She was ready.

The host called Thomas’ dressing room partner Miss New York forward. Miss Minnesota, Miss New Jersey, Miss California, all passed the preliminary round into semifinals.

Miss Indiana was not called.

Thomas, an IU junior, returned to Bloomington Monday after competing for the Miss America title. Though she was not chosen to win, Thomas said she is ready to come home to all her friends and family who supported her on her journey.

“They went above and beyond what I ever expected friends to do,” Thomas said. “It’s insane to know that you’re loved that much and that people believe in you.”

Thomas said people really don’t get to see all the hard work and years of service the contestants put into the competition.

“We basically have no contact with our family except for about three minutes,” she said. “I mean, I would see my mom a distance away and not be able to hug her.”

Aren Straiger, co-director of Miss Indiana, called Thomas “exceptional.”

“She puts her mind to doing something, and she does it well,” Straiger said.

Thomas said she plans on becoming a television broadcast journalist. One of her favorite memories of the competition was meeting Lara Spencer, anchor for Good Morning America and co-host of this year’s Miss America competition. The anchor told her Terrin Thomas was a good name for a broadcaster.

Straiger and Thomas’ mother Joy Thomas said they think Terrin is well on her way to meeting her goals.

“Everything that has happened thus far, from her scholarship to her past pageant experience, really led her to this point in her life,” Thomas’ mother said. “As a state titleholder, she’s already getting opportunities she might not have had. ”

Thomas was selected Miss IU in February and Miss Indiana in June.

Thomas competed in three rounds of preliminary competition for Miss America consisting of evening gown, talent and onstage questions.

She said her strength in the competition was her talent portion, where she showed off her musical talents with a vocal performance.

One portion of the competition not shown to the public was an interview between the contestants and a panel of seven judges.

Thomassaid she  liked the interview with the judges because she said she felt confident about her answers.

“That’s always the part that can be a little daunting to some girls because you have to stand at a podium while seven judges rapid-fire questions at you,” Thomas said.

Thomas’s parents are proud of their daughter’s accomplishments and performance during the competition, Joy Thomas said.

“Just being able to get to the Miss America stage is an opportunity that so many girls try to achieve and, unfortunately, aren’t successful,” Joy Thomas said. “Just to get to be amongst all the title holders and be able to compete at that level is special.”

Thomas will be taking a week or two off after her exhausting journey, but will be returning to classes at IU for the second eight weeks of the semester.

“This is a test of your stamina and your mental strength,” Thomas said. “Before, I left very at peace and very calm about the whole thing. It’s not super crazy, catty and competitive like everyone thinks. These are friends I’m going to have for the rest of my life.”