INTERVIEW: Miss America (Plus LookBooks' Joseph Ribkoff Party)

LookBooks introduced the New York City fashion blogging world to Joseph Ribkoff last night in unmatched style. An action-packed evening of notable names, charitable contributions and fashionable charm, it was undeniably New York City’s hottest ticket this week. And as a very important side, I got to interview Miss America, Caressa Cameron. (See below.)

Hosts Derek Warburton from Derek Loves Shopping, Miss America, and our own Fashion Director Samantha Lim gathered in the LookBooks Lounge, as party-goers met new friends and sipped tasty vodka concoctions poured from limited-edition crystal bottles, compliments of sponsor Absolut Vodka.

Special guests for the night included designer Richie Rich, Rocco Gaglioti of Fashion News Live, and number-one New York Times best-seller Tim Ferriss.  Also 30-plus of New York City’s foremost fashion bloggers joined to document the gathering. 

Eleven of our top blogger friends provided styling for women from Bottomless Closet, a charity benefitting financially-struggling women with clothing, jobs and career training. A runway show was hosted, showcasing fashion by Joseph Ribkoff, and Miss America "crowned" three runway winners. In a word, the night was incredible!

Without further ado, my sit-down with Miss America.

What gets you excited about fashion?

What gets me excited about fashion is seeing the new styles, turning through magazines because I travel so much. Every three days I’m on a plane, so I don’t get the opportunity to browse through stores as much as I would like. So to be able to see what’s on the hot list and say, ‘Oh! I have that’ and know that I’m in style, that’s always awesome.

How would you describe your own style? What kind of clothes and styles are you drawn to personally?

When I have on the Miss America hat, I’m very into classic lines, classic silhouettes, pieces that are trendy and current but can also go back and have a nostalgia about them.

When I take the Miss America hat off and I’m just Caressa Cameron, I’m very much a leggings, blazer and riding boots kind of girl. That’s my staple look. Throw on a scarf and some big sunglasses, and I’m out the door.

In showcasing all the different ensembles in the Miss America competition, how did you pick your pieces? The eveningwear, the dresses, the swimwear…

Picking your competition wardrobe at the Miss America level is one of the most tedious things you could do because every piece counts. The first piece is the most important piece. It’s the interview.

I actually picked a Karen Millen dress this year. It was a black, very fitted dress but it was somewhat trendy because it had little spokes similar to when you tie your shoes, those little silver holes; it was like that all throughout the dress with roping as if the dress was tied like a shoe. It was a very nice play on a black dress.

It was a trendy conversation piece, but it didn’t take away from me as a contestant. And that’s what’s important with picking your pieces. You’re wearing the clothes and they’re not wearing you.

Who are your top three favorite designers or stores to shop?

The top three stores for me are definitely Karen Millen, when it comes to my wardrobe for classier events where I have to dress up, cocktail dress or business wear. I love Guess by Marciano; they’re absolutely awesome. And Armani Exchange is one of my favorites.

When I’m being more frugal throw in American Apparel. Not to be underestimated at all.

What would you say is the best part and the worst part about your job?

The best part and worst part is the same. It’s the crown.

One of the best parts of my day is being able to put on the crown and knowing that I’m a part of 85 women who have ever held this position in front of little girls who dream about this all their life.

At the same time there are some days that you meet people and you have to break down the stereotypes they have about pageant winners all because you have a crown on your head. So sometimes it takes a little while for people to say ‘Oh wow, she really is smart; she has something to say; she cares about people.’ So sometimes it’s a help and a hurt.

For the millions of little girls who dream of wearing this crown on their head, what advice would you have for them?

The first piece of advice I would say is having self-confidence and wearing it daily. Not ever giving up on yourself.

The surprising thing that people find out is it took me four tries to actually win Miss Virgina. For many people they would have tried one or two times and said, ‘That’s it. I’m done.’ I wanted to try as many times as it took.

Never give up on yourself. Always have your self-confidence. You can take over the world. You never know what it is supposed to be for you. So life has wonderful things in store for you. You just have to try to reach for something. As cheesy as it sounds, if you do reach for the stars you’ll land on a cloud.

Last question. Who were some people you looked up to growing up? Who were your inspirations?

When I was growing up I looked up to everyday people. I know that’s a weird thing because most people say I looked up to this or that star. But I really didn’t.

I wanted to find success in little things. I think a lot of times people get caught up with success being money or status, but to me success is happiness.

To see my next door neighbor being a trash man and a janitor and he would sing everyday on his way to work, that’s a happiness that you can’t buy. Then I would have a neighbor next door to me who was a businessman, but he left looking angry every single day because he did not like what he was doing. So looking up to people who were happy and actually found fulfillment in their life doing whatever it was that they were doing.