Reagan Yamauchi returns to thank the County for its support

CARIBOU COUNTY – Reigning Miss Idaho and recent Miss America contestant Reagan Yamauchi spent Monday morning visiting with the Caribou County Commissioners.  She took the opportunity to thank them for their financial support of her Miss America campaign, and to report on the experience of the event and her time in the national spotlight.

Yamauchi had 175 appearances from the time she was crowned Miss Idaho until the Miss America contest began, and she has returned right back to her hectic schedule at the completion of Miss America.  She still has another five months to go as Miss Idaho, which is a role that she has come to love.  It has been “yes, a lot of work,” Yamauchi admits.  As the experience unfolded, she found people in the community and eventually the state and country, very willing to help.

“People started to open their doors to help me out,” she said.  People “donated places to practice my talents, help design my clothes, and so many other things.”  As she moved forward toward the national level competition, she approached the County Commissioners about fuding to represent Caribou County to the nation.  She threw out a number to the county for what she thought it might cost.  Piano combined with a basketball routine was something that had never been done before, so she did have to pay to recut the music.  After finding out that the process itself would cost $1000 for a 40 second clip, she realized that funding was going to be critical to put her in a position to compete effectively.  

“And so,” she said to the County Commissioners during open session, “your donation came in and changed my year, and I’m thankful for that.  Thank you,” she continued with clear emotion in her voice, “for trusting and believing in me.”  

As she heads into the latter half of her term as Miss Idaho, Yamauchi is on track to visit all 44 counties, and will have done so after a trip to Northern Idaho planned for the upcoming weeks.  She has enjoyed touring the state and seeing all the variety it has, but expressed her joy at returning home.  “Caribou County offered so many stories that I’d never heard that inspired me, and they’re all around us.  I will always be grateful to be from this county, and tell people I’m from this county. I love it.” 

In her capacity as reigning Miss Idaho, Yamauchi would like to make people aware that she is available for community event, including business meetings, parties, birthdays.

The board asked her a few questions about the experience.  Doug Wood asked her if she had made friends in the course of the event.

Yamauchi responded that,  “Yes!  I made so many.  In fact, I roomed with Miss Hawaii, and I had the opportunity to spend a religious mission there, so we got along really well.”

Commissioner Sorensen asked “How did Miss Colorado [ultimately named Miss America] do all that?”  Air force second lieutenant Madison Marsh had spent a busy season on active duty and camapaigning for the title. “we all had different strengths.  I was leading the pack at going out to the community.  She wasn’t able to do as much of that.”

Attorney Wood commented that “We’re super proud of you” and the commissioners agreed.

Commissioner Somsen also stated, “Thank you—nobody ever does that.  Comes back to tell us thanks.  We appreciate it.”

Chairman Mitchel asked her “What was your favorite competition?”

Yamauchi answered that “Talent was really different.  There were 102 of us that are competing.  When I told people what I was doing, they couldn’t figure it out.  All the state title holders came out because they wanted to see how I did it.  But I really liked the interview portion.  They asked me a lot of questions about the state of Idaho…The interview was only about eight minutes in front of four judges and a videographer.”  By luck of the draw, Yamauchi had ended up as the first interview.”

“So you won the lottery?” Attorney Wood asked.

“Actually, I got last,” Yamauchi laughed.  “They started picking numbers, leaving first for last.” 

That put Reagan in a position to set the bar for the interview portion, but she feels she did very well.  “It was hard to score hard in the first position,” she said.  “But there was nothing else that I wanted to share or say, so I felt good about it.”  

Having put about 13,000 miles on her vehicle to this point, Yamauchi plans to keep going.  “I’m supposed to be in Boise doing some things, and at the Simplot games.”   She is still surprised when people recognize her around.  “I don’t usually have my crown and sash on at the grocery store, and people will come up to me and say…’I assume you’re Miss Idaho, can I get a picture?”

In her capacity as reigning Miss Idaho, Yamauchi would like to make people aware that she is available for community events, including business meetings, parties, birthdays, assemblies, public speaking, and other activities.  She can be contacted at [email protected] for arrangements.