LR: And you don’t have to be ashamed of it.
RC: That’s right.
LR: Can I tell the first words you said when you won?
RC: You sure can.
LR: Was, “thank God,” wasn’t it? That was the first thing that came out of your mouth, “praise God for that.”
RC: Sure did. (Applause) I looked up to the lights and during the pageant my prayer was, “Not my will, Lord, but Yours.” And that was so important to me. And when I was crowned Miss National Teenager, I looked up in the lights and the lights coming off the balcony just reminded me of His throne and how beautiful it’s going to be, yes, and I said, “Thank You, Lord.” And I knew that He had opened up this door. In high school I had always kind of been laughed at and called Miss Straight and really made fun of. But I didn’t really have any clout. I mean, they saw my life and they saw the way I lived, but, O.K., she lives a life that way, that’s fine. When I won Miss National Teenager, they had to take a second look, what is she talking about, how did she do that, you know. And it’s been so exciting. And kids that called me and said, “We just really respect you that you said no to drinking and drugs.” And I could say then, “It wasn’t me that said no, it was Jesus in me.” And, you know, they’d ask, “Why are you so happy and so at peace.”
LR: What’s the difference?
RC: It’s the Lord, right.
LR: That’s right. Praise God. You can see the Lord shining through Rhonda. I want you to know that. Rhonda is beautiful on the outside, (Applause) but she’s got something that’s flowing up within the inside and it’s Jesus Christ and that just adds an extra glow. It’s a radiance that maybe Miss America has as Miss America, but I tell you, when you have Jesus Christ, that’s your crowning glory. It really is. And, you know, Rhonda has a story much like Cheryl’s. You weren’t always a winner, were you, Rhonda?
