THIS WEEK'S "REAL LIFE TODAY."
>> I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE OUR SPECIAL GUEST. ARE YOU AS EXCITED AS I AM?
>> MY GOODNESS, I AM.
>> THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
PAGEANTS AND BEAUTIFUL GIRLS AND
GIRLS THAT LOVE GOD THAT JUST IS
EXCITING.
YOU ARE VALERIE GATTO.
MISS PENNSYLVANIA.
>> WHOO-HOO!
>> MISS U.S.A. 2014.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SERIOUSLY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WHAT AN AMAZING TITLE.
WHEN DID YOUR PASSION START FOR
PAGEANTS?
>> I ACTUALLY SIGNED MYSELF UP
FOR MY FIRST PAGEANT WHEN I WAS
4 BECAUS TIFFANY THESEN DID ONE.
AND I SIGNED MYSELF UP FOR ONE
WHEN I WAS 4.
I LOVED IT.
I LOVED BEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
IT WASN'T UNTIL I GRADUATED FROM
COLLEGE IN DECEMBER OF 2012 THAT
I KNEW I WANTED TO COMPETE
AGAIN.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE MISS
U.S.A. BUT I DEDICATED MY TIME
TO EDUCATION AND GETTING MY
DEGREE.
AND THEN I WENT BACK AND I
CAPTURED THE TITLE OF MISS
PENNSYLVANIA U.S.A. 2014,
DECEMBER 8th, 2013.
>> AND SO YOUR NEXT STEP IS?
>> MISS U.S.A.
I LEAVE FOR MISS U.S.A. IN A
LITTLE UNDER TWO WEEKS, MAY
26th AND COMPETE FOR THE TITLE
LIVE ON NBC ON JUNE 8th AT
8:00 P.M.
>> HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU AS
GIRLS THAT ARE --
YOU HAVE COME THIS FAR.
LET'S GO ALL THE WAY, BABY.
>> YES.
ALL THE WAY.
BECAUSE LOSING IS NOT AN OPTION.
ONCE YOU WIN MISS U.S.A., YOU GO
TO MISS UNIVERSE.
AND I'M NOT NERVOUS.
I'M VERY EXCITED.
BUT PRAYERS, JUST THAT I'M GIVEN
THE RIGHT QUESTIONS FROM THE
JUDGES SO THEY GET TO SEE MY
PURPOSE AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHY
I WOULD BE A GREAT ROLE MODEL
AND SPOKESWOMAN AS MISS U.S.A.
SO I JUST HOPE I'M GIVEN THE
RIGHT MATERIAL THAT I CAN
SHOWCASE THAT AND EVERYTHING
ELSE JUST TO STAY POSITIVE AND
NOT LET ANY NEGATIV NEG AFFECT E
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IN THE
SPOTLIGHT THERE'S NEGATIVE
ENERG THROWN YOUR WAY.
I CAN'T FOCUS ON THAT.
SO IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR PRAYERS
FOR POSITIVITY AND JUST THAT I'M
GIVEN THE RIGHT, YOU KNOW,
QUESTIONS.
>> FAVOR, YES.
FAVOR ALL THE WAY.
>> YES.
>> I KNOW IT'S ALL GLAMOROUS
FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN.
BUT CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD?
GROWING UP.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN YOU ALWAYS HEAR THE
PHRASE ASHES TO BEAUTY.
AND I MEAN DEFINITELY I BELIEVE
MY STORY SHOWS THAT IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM.
IT'S TOO SHORT NOT TO FIND YOUR
LIFE.
I FOUND OUT AT A YOUNG AGE WHEN
MY MOTHER WAS 19, SHE WAS A
COLLEGE STUDENT AT DUQUESNE
UNIVERSITY AND SHE WAS RAPED BY
A MAN AT KNIFE POINT DISGOSSED.
DOESN'T KNOW WHO HE IS.
STILL TO THIS DAY DOESN'T KNOW
WHO HE IS.
AND HE ATTACKED HER.
AND HE WAS GOING TO KILL HER AND
SHE MANAGED TO GET AWAY.
AND SHE GOT AWAY BECAUSE THIS
BRIGHT FLASH OF LIGHT FROM A
CAR'S HIGH BEAMS SHOWN OVER MY
MOTHER.
AND HER ATTACKER.
MY FATHER, HER RAPIST.
AND I ASSOCIATE THAT LIGHT WITH
THE GARDENNIAN ANGEL AND WITH
JUST ILLUMINATED THAT DARKNESS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT GOD REDEEMED
THAT ACT THAT THE DEVIL PUT HERE
ON EARTH.
AND HE VIPPED INDICATED IT AND
HE GAVE HER ME.
AND I HOPE TO BE THAT LIGHT
THAT ILLUMINATES THE DARKNESS IN
THIS WORLD.
AND MY MOTHER HAS ALWAYS TOLD ME
THAT SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.
AND I WANT TO SHINE JUST LIKE
THAT SAVED MY MOTHER.
AND I HOPE TO LET EVERYBODY HE
KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHERE YOU COME FROM.
MY CIRCUMSTANCES WERE NOT EASY.
IT WAS THROUGH SACRIFICE, HARD
WORK AND A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON
LIFE AND GOD THAT I WAS ABLE TO
GET WHERE I AM TODAY BECAUSE OF
THAT.
AND I'M SO THANKFUL.
>> IS THAT'S AMAZING.
CAN YOU TELL US YOUR FAITH
JOURNEY?
SORT OF LIKE DID YOU START AS A
YOUNG GIRL GROWING UP?
>> YEAH.
I STARTED AS A YOUNG GIRL
GROWING UP.
I WENT TO A NONDENOMINATION
CHURCH IN BRIGHTON HEIGHTS AND
EMMANUEL CHRISTIAN CHURCH I
STARTED WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GIRL,
VBS, VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AND I
EVEN BROUGHT THE MOST FRIENDS SO
I WON LIKE ALL THE STUFF, THE
PRIZES AND EVERYTHING.
I'M JUST A GO-GETTER.
>> THAT WOULD BE THE COMPETITOR
WINNER IN YOU.
>> THIS SYOU.
>> I AM VERY COMPETITIVE.
I PREPARED COMMUNION EVERY
SUNDAY WITH MY MOM AND WENT TO
THE YOUTH GROUPS AND WORKED IN
CHURCH OUTREACH PREPARING
DINNERS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED
FAMILIES VIA THE FOOD PANTRY SO
IT DID START AT A YOUNG AGE.
I WASN'T BAPTIZED UNTIL I WAS IN
10th GRADE BECAUSE IN A
NONDENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN
CHURCH, YOU MAKE THAT DECISION.
AND YOU'RE ACTUALLY FULLY
IMMERSED INTO THE WATER.
AND I WAS ABLE TO UNDERSTAND.
I WAS ACTUALLY LISTENING TO A
SONG AS THE DEER PANTS FOR THE
WATER.
AND I JUST HAD THIS FEELING THAT
OVERCAME ME.
AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD, YOU
KNOW, THE LORD BEING OUR SAVIOR
AND EVERYTHING.
AND JUST COMPREHENDING
EVERYTHING.
AND IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT I
WALKED UP TO THE FRONT OF, YOU
KNOW, THE CHURCH AND I ASKED TO
BE BAPTIZED THE NEXT WEEK.
SO I STARTED AT A YOUNG AGE, BUT
THEN AS I GOT OLDER I WAS ABLE
TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING.
>> DO YOU HAVE LIKE A THEME SONG
OR A QUOTE THAT SORT OF IS
CARRYING YOU THROUGH THIS?
>> THEME SONG.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PUMPUP
SONG.
>> I LOVE -- I LOVE MUSIC.
I DO LOVE WHITNEY HOUSTON.
AND I HAVE ON MY FAVORITE SONG
ON ACTUALLY MISSUSA.COM THE
GREATEST LOVE OF ALL.
I LOVE WHITNEY.
I ALWAYS BUSTED OUT.
MY FRIEND WAS ACTUALLY JUST
VIDEOTAPING ME SINGING "I WILL
ALWAYS LOVE YOU" IN THE CAR.
I HAD NO IDEA.
SO IT WAS KIND OF EMBARRASSING.
I LOVE WHITNEY AND I LOVE UPBEAT
POWERFUL MUSIC THAT GETS HE ME
READY.
AND I JUST FOCUS.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
>> I LOVE THAT.
SO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS DO COME AT
YOU?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN BUT I DON'T LET IT --
>> HOW DO YOU HAND IT WILL?
HOW DO YOU PROCESS IT?
FOR ANY YOUNG GIRL THAT MAY BE
WATCHING AND MAYBE THEY ARE
HEARING THOUGHTS YOU'RE NOT GOOD
ENOUGH, YOU'RE NOT PRETTY
ENOUGH, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE
IT.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THAT GIRL
TODAY THAT'S WATCHING?
>> YOU KNOW, BLOCK IT OUT.
GET OFF OF IT.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
SURROUND YOURSELF BY POSITIVE
PEOPLE.
BE STRONG IN YOUR FAITH.
REALIZE THAT WITH GOD IN FRONT
OF YOU, ALL OF THAT NEGATIVE
ENERGY WILL BOUNCE RIGHT OFF OF
YOU.
FOCUS ON THE POSITIVES AND
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE GOING FOR YOU.
AND IF YOU DO THAT, THEN, YOU
KNOW, WITH THE LORD, WITH THE
SUPPORT SYSTEM, A SMALL CIRCLE
AND JUST FOCUSING ON YOUR BEST
ATTRIBUTES, YOU'LL BE THE BEST
VERSION OF YOURSELF.
>> YEAH, AMEN.
>> WHAT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I WAS
READING ABOUT YOU, OF COURSE,
AND KNOWING YOU WERE COMING.
AND YOU TALK ABOUT POURING INTO
CHILDREN, YOU KNOW.
>> UH-HUH.
>> AND THE MESSAGE THAT YOU GIVE
TO THEM.
AND IT JUST MINISTERED TO ME
BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF THAT
OURSELVES.
AND SO WOULD YOU ELABORATE ON
WHAT YOU DO?
>> I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED WORKING
WITH KIDS.
AND HAVING THIS TITLE, I WAS
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE
IN THE COMMUNITY AND ACROSS
PENNSYLVANIA.
AND I GO TO ASSEMBLIES OR JUST
DIFFERENT GROUPS AND I TALK TO
KIDS ABOUT HOW TO PLAN.
HOW TO TURN A DREAM INTO A GOAL.
BECAUSE I BELIEVE A DREAM IS
SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ATTAINABLE
AND IT'S UP HERE.
YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.
BUT A GOAL IS SOMETHING YOU CAN
PUT INTO ACTION AND YOU CAN MOVE
FORWARD.
AND I TALK ABOUT HAVING
DIFFERENT PLANS, PLAN "A," PLAN
"B" AND ABOUT SACRIFICE, HARD
WORK AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
AND THOSE ARE THREE THINGS, YOU
KNOW, THAT I REALLY SHOW KIDS.
AND, YOU KNOW, BELIEVING IN
YOURSELF AND LETTING THEM KNOW
YOU HAVE A PURPOSE, JUST LIKE I
BELIEVE GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR
ME.
AND AS MISS PENNSYLVANIA U.S.A.,
I'M ABLE TO MINISTER TO A BUNCH
OF YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT GOING
AFTER WHAT THEY WANT AND NOT
LETTING THINGS STOP THEM.
HOW TO TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A
POSITIVE.
AND NEVER JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS
COVER.
PEOPLE LOOK AT ME AND I TELL
THEM I WASN'T BORN WITH THE
TIARA ON MY HEAD.
EVERYTHING WAS EARNED.
AND I HAVE MY FAITH AND
SACRIFICE, HARD WORK AND
POSITIVITY TO THANK, YOU KNOW,
FOR THAT.
>> YOU TOOK A TRIP LAST YEAR TO
ITALY?
>> UH-HUH.
>> AND YOU TAUGHT CHILDREN.
>> YES, YES.
>> YOU TAUGHT THEM ENGLISH.
>> YES, I DID.
>> THAT HAD TO HAVE BEEN
LIFE-CHANGING.
>> IT WAS ENLIGHTENING.
IT WAS LIFE-CHANGING.
I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.
I ACTUALLY TRAVELED TO FRANCE
AND GERMANY PRIOR TO ITALY.
AND THEN I TRAVELED ALL UP AND
DOWN THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST.
I LIVED WITH HOST FAMILIES.
SO WORKED EVERY DAY 8:00 TO 5:00
IN HOT STICKY SCHOOLS.
KIDS JUMPING ALL OVER YOU.
I HAD A GREAT TIME.
THEY ALREADY THOUGHT I WAS MISS
U.S.A. BEFORE I EVEN WON MISS
PENNSYLVANIA U.S.A.
AND JUST LIVING WITH FAMILIES, I
LIVED WITH FOUR DIFFERENT
FAMILIES, IMMERSING MYSELF IN
THE CULTURE, EATING, LEARNING
NEW RECIPES, LEARNING A NEW
LANGUAGE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
ITALIAN AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW
ENGLISH.
AND JUST VISITING SOME OF THE
MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON EARTH,
I ACTUALLY LISTENED TO THE POPE
SPEAK ON SUNDAY MORNING.
YES, YES.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS
SAYING, BUT IT WAS SO COOL TO BE
THERE AND TO SEE ALL OF THESE
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
COME AND COME TOGETHER, YOU
KNOW, FOR THE SAME THING.
YOU MIGHT COME FROM DIFFERENT
WALKS OF LIFE, BUT YOU ALL HAVE
THE SAME FAITH WHICH IS AWESOME.
>> I HAVE ONE PRINCESS QUESTION
ABOUT THESE PAGEANTS.
WE HAVE ONE MINUTE.
BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, THEY ASK
YOU A QUESTION.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE PART WE
DON'T GET TO SEE.
WE GET TO SEE ALL THE GLITZ AND
GLAMOR AND THE LADIES COMING
OUT.
BUT I KNOW THERE'S A PART OF
THIS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
ABOUT.
>> YEAH.
THE INTERVIEW.
YOU GO IN AND IT'S VERY
PERSONAL.
YOU ARE GIVEN A BIOGRAPHY SHEET
AND YOU TELL THEM EVERYTHING
ABOUT YOUR LIFE THAT YOU WANT.
THEN TH THEY ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR
PURPOSES, THINGS MAYBE ABOUT
WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR
LIFE, WHAT YOU HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH.
THEY TALK ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION,
YOUR PLATFORM.
OBVIOUSLY MINE IS EDUCATING
WOMEN ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND
RAPE.
AND IT'S FUN.
IT COULD BE AS LIGHT AS WHAT'S
YOUR FAVORITE FOOD AND WHY DOWN
LIKE IT.
THEY WANT TO SEE YOUR
PERSONALITY.
OR IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ONE
TIME, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY.
AND THEY CAN REALLY TELL A LOT
ABOUT YOU.
THERE ARE SERIOUS QUESTIONS,
CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS, BUT FUN
AND LIGHT-HEARTED QUESTIONS AS
WELL.
>> WOW.
>> THAT'S AWESOME.
FOR ALL OF US WONDERING VIEWERS,
WE NOW KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND
THE SCENES.
>> YES, YES.
>> AND WE ARE SO GLAD THAT YOU
WERE ABLE TO BE HERE WITH US
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> YOU ARE REALLY A TREASURE
OUTSIDE AND INSIDE.
>> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT WAS GREAT TO MEET YOU.
THANK YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU.
>> CAN WE DO A HANDSHAKE FOR
GIRLS?
>> YEAH.
>> I HUG EVERYBODY.
BUT IT'S OKAY.
GROUP HUG.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> GROUP HUG.
THERE WE GO.
>> GOOD-BYE.
>> BYE-BYE.