MISS MISSOURI -- BACK TO WORK

Cameras flashed Sunday after Patryce "Patches" King completed her performance at the Southeast Music Academy concert held at the Old St. Vincent's Church.

"It feels like I'm back in Atlantic City again," she said. "There were always cameras everywhere."

King recently represented Missouri in the Miss America pageant. It was a hectic 3 1/2 weeks that helped her grow personally and professionally.

"I feel like I matured 10 years while I was there," she said.

Sunday she was back home with "the people that love me no matter what." She credits her friends and professors at school with helping her get where she is today.

"I never could have done it without them," she said.

In addition to making lots of new friends, the experience of participating in the Miss America pageant opened new doors for King.

"I'll be applying to graduate school soon," she said. "I was able to meet people that will help me in furthering my education." King recently graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a major in piano performance and a minor in public speaking. She hopes to someday teach piano at the university level.

She also feels competing in the pageant has better prepared her for the future.

The pageant "gave me the confidence I, and everyone else, need to be successful in life." She has learned that everything is relative, whether it's walking down a runway on national television or performing in front of family and friends.

King is considered a newcomer to the pageant circuit, having competed in only seven pageants in her life.

"I was able to figure out the game early and apply what I learned," she said.

She and other competitors felt the face of beauty pageants is changing. The public wants Miss America to be real, not someone who appears untouchable.

"The system is changing. They're looking for girls with big hearts," said King.

She felt there was also greater emphasis being placed on contestants' platforms. Being Miss Missouri and competing in the Miss America pageant allows King to speak at schools about her platform, Empowering Today's Youth.

"I get to pump the kids up and let them know they can make it too," she said.

There were a few adjustments to be made during the time in Atlantic City. King is a very independent person and it took a little while to get used to the fact that "someone was with you all the time."

Even for the Miss America pageant, not everything goes as planned. Hotel workers in Atlantic City went on strike, but luckily the workers at King's hotel didn't participate.

The group's trip to Florida had some added surprises as well.

"Disneyland was a blast," said King. "Donnie and Marie are hilarious and yes, Donnie's pants were down, but that wasn't planned."

Hurricane Floyd also decided to make an appearance while the girls were in the Sunshine state.

King's memories of the pageant have to take a back seat right now as she continues her job as Miss Missouri. Every weekend is planned from now until June 10, when she crowns the new Miss Missouri.

"I even have to ask for time off if I want it," she said.

After Sunday's performance and interview, she was free for the remainder of the day and was heading to Applebee's to enjoy an evening with her friends.