Phoenix Guide: Was there a funniest or most embarrassing episode that you experienced as Miss Arizona 2005?
Audrey Sibley, Miss Arizona 2005: There are so many, but one recent episode comes to mind. I was in my hometown of Sierra Vista helping out with the San Pedro Kiwanis Club's Annual Cake Auction. I was the auctioneer during the "collegiate competition" fundraising hour, representing the University of Arizona, and my co-auctioneer represented Arizona State University. The idea of the hour was for all of the cake buyers to pledge allegiance to one university or the other and whichever university raised more money was awarded ever-important bragging rights over the rival school. Needless to say, the Arizona State cake buyers pummeled the University of Arizona cake buyers, and as the UofA's rep, I felt personally responsible for our defeat! To make matters worse, the entire event was broadcasted throughout Sierra Vista on their local television station.
Phoenix Guide: Being Miss Arizona is a huge commitment. Were you prepared? What surprised you the most about your year as Miss Arizona?
Audrey Sibley, Miss Arizona 2005: I competed three times on the Miss Arizona stage, so I felt very prepared to take on the responsibility of being Miss Arizona, but one can never comprehend how demanding a job it is until one wins. I took a one-year leave of absence from the University of Arizona to fulfill my duties, and I moved to Phoenix for six months to be closer to the state organizations for which I was working. I was unaware about the amount of time I would spend driving in my car. It is not unusual for me to travel a few hours to Phoenix for one event, only to turn around and travel three more hours to get to another event in the same day. I feel that it is really important, however, for Miss Arizona to travel outside of the Phoenix area to meet people and be involved in different cites around the state, so I really do not mind the time I spend behind the wheel. By the time I crown Miss Arizona 2006, I will have visited every county in Arizona, as well as 6 other states during my reign. What surprised me most about my year as Miss Arizona was how easy it was for my platform work to be expanded to a national level. Two days after I won the title, the AMBER Alert Portal contacted me and our partnership began. From there, I embarked on a whirlwind of partnerships with national and state agencies and the platform appearances fell in my lap.
Phoenix Guide: Any words of wisdom for your successor?
Audrey Sibley, Miss Arizona 2005: First and foremost, this is a job; it is a time to serve others and make a difference in communities and people's lives across the state. Make the most of every day you are Miss Arizona 2006 because it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Thanks, Audrey, and congratulations on a successful year!
First Page >> Interview of Audrey Sibley, Miss Arizona 2005, continued
