I laced up my running shoes and headed into the Afghanistan desert to begin my morning run on the path around the military base. I had to stay alert on the rocky terrain, and the signs I passed every so often that read Mines were a clear reminder that I was running through a minefield. I realized I had run through other minefields in my life-only they were disguised as feelings of failure, my parents' divorce, a distorted body image, military training, and the pressures of college. However, I would yet pass through some of my toughest minefields as I entered the pageant world. This book was written to share what I've faced-and overcome. Whether I'm working as a nurse in an emergency room, running a marathon, or walking the runway at the Miss America Pageant, one thing is for certain-it's all good.