About Kaya

When I won the title of Miss Clatsop County 2006 my life changed for the better! I was instantly involved in local events, fundraisers and outreach events. I quickly realized I could influence others in a positive way and wanted to become a great leader! Wearing a crown and representing my county I had opportunities like never before in both public speaking and singing. Then I began training with an amazing woman in preparation for the Miss Oregon Pageant.

Through this process I learned about the importance of having a coach to mentor me to become GREAT! Without my pageant coach I don't believe I would have won anything! Interestingly, the question that took me the most time to figure out and conquer was, “Kaya, tell me about yourself.” I worked hard to overcome my fear and nervousness, and placed Top 10 for the state of Oregon!! After that experience, I began dreaming about what it would be like to become Miss America.

Mentoring others to succeed in their goals and dreams became my reason and platform in life. In University, I became a mentor for new freshman at Warner Pacific College and the Campus Worship Coordinator, a Big Sister in the Big Brother Big Sister program, a camp mentor for VOCA (Victory Over Child Abuse), a middle school youth helper at North Coast Family Fellowship and a middle school girls counselor at Camp Tadmor. I taught music theory and taught songs to orphans in Uganda. When I was an Assistant teacher for The Dale Carnegie Method for Public Speaking Mastery I was able to mentor adults about public speaking and communication skills.

While in University, I continued to compete and I won a second title as Miss Washington County in 2009 and placed top 10 again at the Miss Oregon Pageant. In May of 2010, my year as Miss Washington County came to a close... on that same day I graduated from Warner Pacific College with an Honours Music Bachelor of Arts degree.

I decided to stop competing for the title of Miss America after meeting Michael Palmer. Our love grew as our vision for our future Spiritually, Financially, Socially, Emotionally and Physically became unified quickly and after much prayer and having communicated with Michael for 10 months we were married and I moved to Canada! I’ve been on trips to Uganda, Africa, Haiti and Mexico but I had never dreamed I'd live in the prairies of Canada. Well, love can take people places they would have never guessed they would go!

Today, I truly am living my dreams! My husband and I own our own business Champions In Life... I sing, model and do public speaking professionally. I have become a consultant for women... teaching communication and interview skills, modeling techniques, makeup application, and pageant preparation! I have been blessed coaching some AMAZING ladies over the years and look forward to working with YOU in 2015!