With UTM’s own Valli Kugler being crowned Miss Tennessee 2002 and advancing to the Miss America pageant in September, I got a chance to ask her a few questions about her life as Miss Tennessee.

G: How does it feel to be crowned Miss Tennessee?

V: It feels amazing to be crowned Miss Tennessee. Never in a million years would I have seen myself in this role.

G: How has it changed your life so far?

V: I am constantly on the move. I may only have one thing on the books for the week but then as the week progresses my calendar starts to fill up.

G: How are you preparing yourself going into the Miss America pageant? Are you nervous?

V: I am basically doing all the same things I did to get ready for the Miss Tennessee pageant (work out, keep up on current events). Yes, I do get nervous if I think about what I am about to do, so I just try and take it a day at a time so I don’t overwhelm myself.

G: What’s the best piece of advice you have gotten so far about all of this?

V: This is going to sound like a cliché, but the best advice I’ve been given is to be myself.

G: What goals do you have for yourself right now?

V: As for Miss America, I want to go and do the best that I can. If it's good enough that’s great and if it's not good enough that will be OK too. After all, it’s just eight peoples’ opinions.

G: What was going through your mind when you found out that you had the title of Miss Tennessee?

V: So many people have asked me that and really I don't think that any one thing was going through my mind. I was really just in a state of shock.

G: What have you received for being Miss Tennessee?

V: For my year as Miss Tennessee I have received a cell phone, a car from Jim Miles Honda, free gas, free Miss America wardrobe, $10,000 wardrobe for the year, free make-up from Mary Kay, free dry cleaning, 30 to 40 thousand salary for being the state spokesperson for Drug Free Tennessee, and most importantly I won $20,000 in scholarship money.

G: How will your life be different if you are crowned Miss America?

V: I am sure that I will be extremely busy, but what a gratifying experience it would be.

G: What kind of support have you been getting from UTM, your family, your sorority, and the community?

V: Everyone has been very supportive what ever I’ve needed there has always been someone willing to help.

G: What is your platform and how are you working on that as Miss Tennessee?

V: My platform deals with learning disabilities. During my Drug-Free programs I plan to slide my platform in somewhere during the presentation.

Currently, Kugler is taking the year off from school to become a spokesperson for Miss Tennessee. As Miss Tennessee, Kugler will travel all across the state speaking to school for the DARE and Aspire programs.

The Miss America pageant will air on ABC at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 21.