Join us in this inspiring episode as we sit down with Miss Colorado, Gabby Gramont, and her executive director Kelly Kucera to explore their journeys in the Miss America organization. From initial challenges to transformative breakthroughs, listen as Gabby shares how her experiences have paved her path from pageantry to aspirations of becoming an NHL doctor for the Colorado Avalanche. Discover personal stories of determination and learn how the power of saying ‘yes’ can open up doors to incredible opportunities.
Welcome, everyone, to The Calling’s radio show, To All The Dreamers. I’m your radio host, Crisandra Brunson, founder and CEO of The Calling, and it is such an honor to be with all of you today. You know, at The Calling, we have realized that so many people are afraid to go after their God-given dreams, and that is just plain wrong, because if you’ve been given a dream and you’re not living it out, you are wasting it, and we do not want you to die with any regret. That’s why at The Calling, we love to inspire, empower, and equip people to go after God’s calling on their lives to reap the best kind of eternal legacy possible to have immediate impact on themselves and their families. We do this through custom tools and programs, conferences, workshops, seminars, but especially through this radio show where we bring on world-renowned guests. And today is no exception, my friends. First off, I’m so excited to share We have a VIP co-host with me, Zach Ferry. Zach, we’re so glad to have you in studio today.
ZAK FERRY :
Awesome to be here. What an honor.
CHRYSANDRA :
So fun. And are you so excited to help me announce who’s in studio with us?
ZAK FERRY :
Absolutely.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. We have you guys, the one and only Miss Colorado of Miss America. Gabby, welcome to the show. Thank you so much. We’re so honored to have you. And Gabby, will you just be able to help introduce us?
GABBY GRAMONT :
These other premier guests that we have in with us. Absolutely. We also have my executive director, Kelly Crucera, a former Miss Colorado. Yes. And she is wonderful. She is here. And she also brought her daughter, Rosalie, who is amazing as well. Yes. We’re thrilled to be here.
CHRYSANDRA :
Oh, we’re so honored to have all of you. Miss Colorado, Gabby, we just we cannot wait to be able to hear your story. And Kelly, yours as well. Myself, I was a contestant way back in the day with Miss Colorado, Miss America. And I cannot share enough of how incredibly powerful the organization is in transforming women’s lives and even women. Just all the whole family network of a life. Can you share how you got involved within Miss Colorado?
GABBY GRAMONT :
Absolutely. Well, I started back in last April. I want to say I was introduced to our former executive director and a former Miss Colorado salesperson. Sarah Swift. And she came to my sorority house and just introduced kind of what it was. And I was intrigued right off the bat. I had a wonderful conversation with them for about two hours, I have to say. And I was hooked right then and there. I signed up about an hour later and here I am. I competed last year and I had the opportunity of making finals and top 11 at Miss Colorado. And then here I am now sitting in the seat as Miss Colorado and have come off of competing at Miss America. So it’s been an amazing experience so far and so surreal.
CHRYSANDRA :
So surreal. And we’re so proud of you. Kelly, you’ve been able to see this from your perspective of what has it been like as an executive director?
KELLY KUCERA :
It’s amazing to see the growth that these young women have from the time they start the system to whether they win or not. Yeah. They grow and learn and just build up all these skills that they’re going to use throughout their lives. And so even just knowing Gabby now for the past two years, seeing her growth and seeing the amazing things that she’s accomplishing. And, you know, she’s she didn’t brag on herself, but she actually won an award at Miss America. She won a preliminary fitness award. So we haven’t won an award like that since 1991 here in Colorado.
CHRYSANDRA :
Wow.
KELLY KUCERA :
So we are crazy proud of her.
CHRYSANDRA :
We’re going to clap for you. And Rosalie has been… Tell us about her incredible role within Miss Colorado.
GABBY GRAMONT :
Yes. So, we have something called our Gemstones Program. And it’s between the ages of 4 and 12. And Rosalie, as being 12 years old, was actually a part of our Gemstones Program last year. And you could tell on the smile on her face every time she… Came with us to anything. It was just beaming through and through. And so our gemstones program is starting to open up again for this next season. And so Rosalie has had wonderful experiences with our gemstone program.
CHRYSANDRA :
That is so incredible. And Rosalie, you are. Tell us how old you are. I’m 12. And where do you go to school? I go to Parker Performing Arts. That is remarkable. Well, we’re excited to hear what your dream and calling is in this season as well. Will you guys just be able to share what leadership roles you’re playing right now? And I think, Rosalie, you can start us off at your school.
ROSALIE KUCERA :
And in the community. Well, I’m in an art society at school, and I’m really excited for that. We’re painting a mural at the recess doors. Wow. And I’m in a craft club. I’m like an art person, so that’s all fun. And I love art, so…
ZAK FERRY :
Any particular art you like?
ROSALIE KUCERA :
I like painting and I get paint on everything. You can even ask my mom. True statement.
CHRYSANDRA :
So Gabby, what kind of leadership opportunities have opened up for you in saying yes to being Miss Colorado?
GABBY GRAMONT :
Oh, so many doors. I mean, there’s new opportunities coming about every single day. Even while I was sitting in the lobby, I got an email from our alumni society at CSU to come participate in Homecoming Week, is already crazy enough to be a part of it. But not only that, that kind of has opened up doors to being a part of our national foundation for Chi Omega, for working with the Denver Nuggets, the Broncos, the Colorado Avalanche, especially with my community service initiative being all about motion and bringing emotion into your lives. So even just saying yes to this isn’t going to be like the biggest thing I do. I think it’s just saying yes opened up so many more doors that can be the next best thing. And it’s been a wonderful experience to say yes to a lot of things, even being here with you. And so it’s been so fun so far and I cannot wait to see where the rest of this year kind of brings me in all sorts of directions across Colorado.
CHRYSANDRA :
The best is yet to come, Gabby. And Kelly, for you, just tell us about what doors have opened up from you from saying, yes, we, you know, it’s a little bit removed, but you were Miss Colorado. And to look back on that journey, what did that look like?
KELLY KUCERA :
It was many, many years ago, of course. You were saying long, long time ago. Well, then you got to add another long to mine. So I was Miss Colorado in 2001 and I actually was able to pay for my entire college education up at the University of Colorado through the scholarships that are earned through the Miss America organization. And so now I’m at a point in my life where I want to give back. And this is my opportunity as the executive director to give back to an organization that gave so much to me. So we are a nonprofit. And we actually are all volunteer run. And so it’s just really fun to watch these girls grow and, again, give back to something that helped shape a lot of who I am as a woman today. Yes.
CHRYSANDRA :
I mean, I can’t express it more. It’s just, you know, what would you say why people should get involved within… Miss America as a whole.
KELLY KUCERA :
Well, I think a lot of girls get involved for the scholarships initially. And then they come to find out, wow, I get so much more out of this program. The friendships are probably the number one thing that you’re shocked to hear. Some people might think that pageant girls don’t get along at all. But I can tell you my maid of honor was somebody I met at my very first pageant. Yes. And so the friendships are a lot of fun. But even the fact that you’re practicing your interview skills, you take that into your professional life into the future. Those are skills that you learn in networking with people. And even our gemstones program that my daughter, Rosalie, participates in, that is a non-competitive program. So these girls… are getting to see the most fantastic women across Colorado and getting to learn from the most amazing young women and anybody that seems to get involved in our program stays involved because they are so impressed by the quality of these young women. They are not just beautiful, but they are smart and service oriented and giving and it’s an absolutely fantastic organization. I would recommend it to any young woman.
CHRYSANDRA :
I love sharing. It brings out the best version of yourself. And that’s what I found. It’s not necessarily a competition. It’s being the best version of you. And that’s the competition. Absolutely. And the different various seasons of life that we go through. So, Gabby, take us back to the beginning of your life. And when you were a little girl, how can you see all these seeds being dropped in your heart to go after these dreams and calling?
GABBY GRAMONT :
I think the biggest thing for me was my parents. My mom and dad are super driven to being a part of anything. We always say nowadays, the yes era. They’ve been in their yes era since I could even remember. And my mom has done everything from the Minnesota Viking Shooters makeup artist for 15 years to being a housing loan officer to being the top in the makeup industry for hair shows across the world. Yeah. And now having my dad saying yes to all these opportunities, it’s just I think that’s where it starts is having that support system to promote you getting into something new. And I was constantly getting into something new. I was doing dance. I was doing track. I started hockey when I got to college and I’m a D1 collegiate hockey player of four years. A little bit of everything. She’s pretty incredible. I didn’t know that. Yeah. So a little bit of everything. And I think that’s why I said yes to Miss Colorado was because it kind of took all my facets and combined it together into one big heart of who I am. And so I think everything that I’ve done and said yes to has built me up into where I am now because it is my story. It can’t be told by anyone else. And that’s what I think makes it so special.
CHRYSANDRA :
Hmm. That is so powerful. I know. Well, I know Mr. Zach here. He has a fun question. He was asking something.
ZAK FERRY :
Well, I’ve got a couple of questions, but I’m super curious on where your passion came from for health, like fitness. It sounds like you’re very athletic, so that’s probably it. But I didn’t know if there was a moment or story or anything in that.
GABBY GRAMONT :
There definitely is a story behind it. I think I really found my love for it. I knew I was going to do it for a while, but I think I found my love my freshman year of college. In October of 2021, I broke my neck. And I did not go in until 36 hours after it happened. I really honestly thought I pulled a muscle. I was wrong. And I had to go through all these different things. I got to meet with radiologists, the best spine surgeons in the country. I was at Mayo Clinic. I flew home to Minnesota for that. I was at Big Sky Montana because that’s where I went to school originally. And I’ve been everywhere. And then I got to a point in my life where I wasn’t happy with myself anymore. So I got to speak with sports performance psychologists because they understood that I wanted to do more than just live. I wanted to not just survive, but to live my life and just live it in a way that felt loved. And to me, that was being able to skate. That was being able to dance. That was being able to do things outside of just walking every day. Wow. And so that’s what brought me into going to grad school now for sports performance psychology and athletic training, because I want to be able to talk to an athlete that goes through this injury in a way where they feel loved and supported and that they’re not just trying to survive an environment, but trying to live it the best way that they can. I always say you don’t want to add days to your life, the life to your days. And so that’s I feel like is my big turning point that has brought me into my Not just love, but just like passion behind health and clinical psychology and mind-body behavior, which is all decrees that I’m getting from Colorado State University. Go Rams! Yes, honestly.
CHRYSANDRA :
Gabby, I’m going to stop you right there because we want to hear all about this. We need to take a short break. But you guys, you’re listening to All The Dreamers radio show. We have… Miss Colorado and with us, the executive director of Miss Colorado and her amazing daughter and incredible co-host Zach Ferry. We’ll be right back. Hi guys, this is Crisandra Brunson, host of To All The Dreamers. I am so happy to introduce personal training, nutritional guidance, and behavioral change coaching. Healthy, happy, and heavenly for your wellness, spirit, soul, and body. Contact Mimi Kroger at healthyhappyandheavenly.com.
ADVERTISER :
Continue to grow in the calling God has for you through ORU Online. You can earn your degree without changing your busy schedule. 100% online and 100% on your time. Learn more today, oru.edu slash calling.
CHRYSANDRA :
We are back. Thank you for listening to all the dreamers radio show. I’m your host, Dr. Cassandra Brunson. Welcome to the show. We have the incredible opportunity of having a special co-host today, Zach Ferry. We’re so grateful to have you. And we have the incredible opportunity of having Miss Colorado in with us today. Gabby and her executive director of Miss Colorado and incredible daughters. And we just we have so much to talk about. Gabby, you were right in the middle of sharing about this part for fitness. And Zach asked a great question about that. And CSU. So dive back into those details. We’re saying go Rams. Yes. Go Rams.
GABBY GRAMONT :
Always go Rams. We’re just pretty much. Much at that point where it was just it kind of drove me to my community service initiative today, which is called the Power of Motion, which is all about how exercise induces positive psychology. And I was able to live it. I breathe it. It’s what I do every day as a personal trainer. That’s what I do for a job. And so it has just been able to push me in directions where I’ve gotten to reach community members I wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach. And now I get to work with our wonderful executive director, Kelly, on making sure my story is heard throughout Colorado. And get to spread the word to our gemstones, such as Rosalie here, getting to hear all the stories that they get to share and hopefully share one day on the Miss Colorado stage.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes, I can see it now, Rosalie. So we we love asking here on this show, you know, going after our dreams and calling. There’s always giants that come up in the way. And there’s we either have the opportunity to move forward or to step back. And each one of you have been able to say yes to that and stepping forward. Can you just tell us about those situations, one in particular that comes to mind and how you are able to press forward?
GABBY GRAMONT :
I honestly, there’s so many that I think. just shaped my life to this day. But I think the biggest one for me was I transferred schools. So I didn’t always go to Colorado State University. I was originally at Montana State. And I came across a few situations where I just didn’t feel loved by the people around me. And it was nothing that I could change. I loved the people personally. I adored them. But It was kind of my turning point to say, is this what I want for where I graduate? Is this what I want for the next few years of my life? I mean, that was a really hard change. I ended up transferring that next fall to Baylor University, where I ended up having some housing situations happen that first week of class. And it was just the sign that this was not my place. So I had to call my mom again and tell her to drive down from Minnesota to Texas again. She loved that. And we I took a semester off. I moved out and I really found my place in my heart here in Colorado. And I’ve been here ever since. And I just adore it. I mean, I would not be Miss Colorado if it wasn’t for that. They were very hard situations, but it’s in my world. It was not needed, but it was what drove me to be the person I am today. That’s really powerful.
KELLY KUCERA :
It’s really powerful. You know, Rosalie has a pretty great story as well. We found out just a couple years ago, she was diagnosed with autism. So she’s high functioning and her brain just works a little bit different than other people’s. And I love that she has worked really hard with therapists and different tools that we’ve been able to give her in order to improve her life and make it as normal as possible. And she’s just thriving. So I’m, as a mom, I’m proud of her. I feel like that’s something she’s had to overcome.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yeah. Rosalie, we’re really proud of you. Thank you. What would you say has been, how did you press forward in the midst of that trial?
ROSALIE KUCERA :
I just tried my best, but it was really hard at first because I didn’t really know what to do because I was really confused and worried and about what this is and how I deal with it. But when I found out that there’s stuff called a therapist and I started going to therapy, I realized what it was and how I can fix it and how I can help it.
CHRYSANDRA :
That is so powerful. I think we need to take notes from her. Do you think so too, Zach?
ZAK FERRY :
Yeah, absolutely.
KELLY KUCERA :
You’re amazing. And you all talk about passion here, right? I think sometimes finding your passion is what can help you overcome those trials of time. So yeah, like my passion is art.
CHRYSANDRA :
Well, and we would love to hear that. I mean, we touched on a little bit of the heartbeat of your guys’s dreams, but what is your dream in this season and how are you living it out?
ROSALIE KUCERA :
Oh, okay. I’m going first? Okay. So, I really want to be like a coach for ice skating or a therapist to help others like me and or be an artist, but yeah. Oh, you can do all those things. Yes, you can. It does be a lot of work. Uh-huh. You can do it.
KELLY KUCERA :
Yeah, I know. Take notes from Gabby. She can be a hockey player and a dancer. I know. And a Miss Colorado and a student.
GABBY GRAMONT :
All the things. That’s right. There’s never a limit to your dreams ever. Yeah.
CHRYSANDRA :
Gabby, what are you thinking for this upcoming season?
GABBY GRAMONT :
Well, I am, sad to say enough, thinking past the crown. I love being Miss Colorado, but at some point it does come to an end. My ultimate dream and goal is to be the head sports doctor for the NHL, specifically our wonderful Colorado Avalanche. Let’s go. I love the Colorado Avalanche. I’ve been an Avs fan since I could remember. I bleed the maroon and blue. It’s in my soul. Every time. I mean, I was born in Minnesota. I love the wilds, but the Avs have a place in my heart. So, that’s the ultimate goal.
CHRYSANDRA :
We need… Well… Hopefully they’re tuning in right now. So you guys can call in studio. And Kelly, what does your dream look like in this season?
KELLY KUCERA :
Gosh, well, right now I have four kids. So just being a mom. Good for you. Let’s go. Yeah. Too, too many. I say some days when you’re outnumbered, but I’m, I’m an entrepreneur and obviously being the executive director of Miss Colorado, I have a lot of great outlets and just in a busy season of life.
CHRYSANDRA :
You guys will be, you know, we love talking about miracles and just situations that we don’t oftentimes want to be in a situation that we are needing a miracle. But just, you know, being in that situation and God comes through for you. Has there been different situations that come to mind that this impossible task came to be in the most unlikely of circumstances?
ROSALIE KUCERA :
So basically at school, I’m very, it’s very hard for me to make friends. And I had this one girl at the school who was actually really mean to me. I tried to make through and just be kind to her and all she would ever do is be mean. And then eventually she left the school because of other people, but then everyone blamed me. But then I found the right people for me. They’re funny. They’re nice. Their names are Cynthia and Ryland. They’re very kind. We’re always on call like 24-7 whenever we can get the chance because we love each other. We’re besties. Awesome.
CHRYSANDRA :
I love that, too. And you guys, we are getting up towards the end of our show. So I want to hear this. And then I have one more question for you.
GABBY GRAMONT :
I think my big miracle moment in my life has to be, honestly, when I won Miss Colorado because. I, at that time in my life, actually that week, my family dog of 12 years had passed away. I was going through a hard time. My parents weren’t able to come out for Miss Colorado Week. My sister had something of graduating high school was just a little more important, which… Honestly, I love Lily. She’s now at the University of Connecticut as a freshman. But I think that was a really hard week for me because I just didn’t have the support that I would have loved from the people around me. My sisters and the Miss America opportunity were that support for me. And I didn’t realize that until I was there and I was going through some motions and they were all just right there next to me. And I think winning that night, feeling all their love just pour right through me was that moment of being like, you know what, I am… OK, everything is going to be the way that it needs to. And my uncle and aunt were able to surprise me there on finals night. And so I think that was my big miracle moment. That’s just been kind of just continued through me throughout this time so far.
CHRYSANDRA :
That is very special. I think we’re all just like crying tears of joy.
KELLY KUCERA :
I actually have a really good one if we have time. Yes. So my son Jacoby a couple years ago actually got pushed over on the playground and got a concussion. And he actually died. Was you know super healthy kid and has everything has always been fine But when he got this concussion he had ended up having to get checked out a little bit more and it turns out he had to get an x-ray and I’m actually so grateful for the kid that pushed him and Had this God moment of he needed this x-ray Yeah so here we’re checking for broken bones and the reality is they found a growth in his lung that was taking over his entire lung and And so, yeah, a team of doctors here in Colorado at Children’s Hospital spent over a month researching and planning this surgery. And he had to get most of his lung removed. And I just have goosebumps. Yeah. It’s one of those things where you just you never know this horrible thing of him getting pushed and getting the concussion was actually a godsend that happened. we were able to get him checked out and he is now absolutely thriving and a super healthy. He is also super tall. He’s yeah. He grew like two feet after we got him out.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. You guys, I’m so sad to say that we’re towards the end of our show, but would love to have you back sooner than later. Really, really quick, a quote or saying, what would you tell listeners if they’re afraid to go after their dreams and calling? What would you tell them?
GABBY GRAMONT :
I feel like for me, it’s just the first step is taking a step out the front door. The minute you let yourself out, just be free. Love that.
CHRYSANDRA :
Yes. Can you just share the best way for social media as well as for Miss Colorado?
GABBY GRAMONT :
Mm-hmm. Well, you can follow my journey at MissAmericaCO on Instagram and Facebook. And then MissColorado.org on Instagram and Facebook as well. And then we have a MissColorado.org page on Safari, Google, wherever you decide to go. And that has all of our information, up and coming competitions. We have our Miss Denver competition for the first time in a long time celebrating their 100 years. It’s our 80th year. We want to come. Yes. Please, everyone is welcome. We love that. Follow us.
CHRYSANDRA :
Okay. You guys, we’re so honored to have you in studio with us and really would love to have you back sooner than later. You guys, go pull over. Follow each one of them. Follow Miss Colorado. You know someone in your life that can be part of this incredible organization that will truly change their lives forever. Till next time, dreamers. Keep dreaming big.
