Miss Florida Jackie Raulerson treasures the memories, support

Miss Florida Jackie Raulerson failed to win the Miss America crown but friends and family agree she made her hometown proud.

Her many supporters enjoyed watching her compete on a national stage Jan. 15 in America's most prestigious beauty pageant.

"She's just such a genuine, caring person," said Plant City artist Jules Burt, who joined 30 others at a viewing party at Dr. Suzanne Alli's home. "I just think it's great how many people can sit in a living room, watch such a high-profile event and cheer for someone we all actually know."

Raulerson couldn't be reached for comment. Her father, Mayor Dan Raulerson, who was in the live pageant audience, said she was thrilled with her fans back home.

"We are so proud of Jackie and the support of our community; it's been overwhelming," he said. "She was concerned about letting the community down but she was one of 54 selected out of 1,300 applicants throughout the U.S.

"She told me, 'Looking back, there is nothing I could or would have done differently.' We know this experience will enable her to have other opportunities."

Raulerson said his 20-year-old daughter enjoyed the chance to compete and to advance her platform, a crusade against bullying. She told him, "This is not about me it's about the kids and the opportunity, as a result of the Miss America Pageant, that would have enabled me to bring my platform related to bullying to the forefront on a national level."

Raulerson, who is 5-foot-11, has said she was bullied because of her height in her "awkward growing-up years."

Miss Nebraska Teresa Scanlan was selected to wear the 2011 Miss America crown.

Raulerson, a former member of the Florida Strawberry Festival queen's court, competed as Miss Largo, a contest open to all eligible Florida women. The University of Central Florida broadcast journalism major won Miss Florida in July.

At the viewing party at the Alli home, her friends cheered as she introduced herself and her state.

"Jackie was a winner when she stepped out onto the stage," said Ruth Ann Foster, who was one of her high school teachers.

Friend Annie Carapezza said, "To do this takes a lot of guts."

The crowd at Alli's home included candidates for Florida Strawberry Festival queen and calendar girls from Durant and Plant City high schools. Raulerson was a calendar girl during her time at Durant.

Such support meant a lot, said Dan Raulerson, who attended the pageant with his wife, Shirley, and their 17-year-old son, Alek.

"Plant City has a lot of community spirit. No matter how difficult things may be someone will always step up to lend a helping hand, to do business," he said. "As much as the community has given to us, we can never repay it. It's been an honor for us to be able to be of service, each in our own capacities."

Raulerson was the third Miss Florida with Plant City roots. The first was Elizabeth Hull, who was chosen the first Miss Florida in 1930. The 1954 Miss Florida, Ann Daniel, was born in Plant City, although she competed as Miss Dade City.

Jaclyn Frances "Jackie" Raulerson

Birthday: Aug. 28, 1990

Background: Lifelong Plant City resident; ninth-generation Floridian

Family: Parents Dan and Shirley Raulerson; 17-year-old brother, Alek

Personal: 5 feet 11 inches tall; blonde hair and blue eyes

Titles: 2010 Miss Largo; 2005 Miss Largo Outstanding Teen; 2008 Florida Strawberry Festival queen's court; 2009 Miss Lakeland; 2009 Beautiful Eyes contest; other titles
Interests: Singing, Zumba, snow skiing, swimming, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends

Miscellaneous: She was featured along with 2008 strawberry festival queen Kristen Smith and other court members in New Yorker magazine in a nostalgic feature on the pageant; 2008 Durant High graduate, where she was a swimmer and member of student government; University of Central Florida broadcast journalism student; her father, Dan, is Plant City mayor and owns Raulerson & Co. CPAs and Consultants and her mother, Shirley, was a finalist for Miss Florida in 1980.