Next year Claire Buffie will make history at the 2011 Miss America pageant as the FIRST contestant with a Gay rights platform in the organization’s 90 year history. I had the pleasure of working with Claire when I first moved to New York last year, and a few months later she shot my gorgeous head shots in exchange for a promotional video I filmed and edited for her website. I hate to gush but I really can’t begin to express how proud I am of Claire.

Not only does she have her own business doing graphic design and photographing everyone from former Miss America contestants to actors like David Allen Greir, but she also works part time at the Apple store, manages to work out 5 days a week (she won swimsuit at Miss New York this year and last year), maintains a blog about her experiences with the Miss America organization, is on the board of directors for the New York branch of PFLAG and regularly mentors young girls in the Miss Teen USA program. All while maintaining an active social life and making Miss NY press appearances. Can you say AMAZING? This girl is practically a super hero!

I’m so proud to call Claire a friend and to have her representing my new home state. To this day it blows my mind that a year ago she told me she wanted to go to Miss America, and now she’s doing it! She is truly an inspiration and has everything it takes to be Miss America. I can’t wait to watch her on January 15th and root for her victory. I hope you’ll tune in as well and cheer her on with me! Go Claire!!