Lindsey Bolender's dreams about this weekend's Miss Florida USA pageant have been dominated by fear and glory.
Sometimes, the 18 year old wakes up with a start after dreaming that she's wearing her black two-piece bikini in front of a team of judges during an interview.
In others, she's being crowned Miss Florida USA.
Bolender, a Santa Fe College student, is representing Alachua County in this weekend's 2009 Miss Florida USA pageant at Broward Community College.
The winner of the pageant, who will be announced Saturday, will become the state's representative in the 2009 Miss USA pageant.
Contestants are judged on their performance in an interview and after rounds of wearing swimsuits and evening gowns. Bolender said her gown is black, beaded and flowy.
Bolender, who attended high school in Auburndale, Fla., hopes to attend UF in the spring and major in public relations.
She said she is the only Gainesville student in the competition. If she wins, Bolender hopes to work toward combatting childhood obesity and showing students how they can make low-cost and healthy meals at home.
"I want to have my own Food Network show for high school and college students," she said.
The former cheerleader said her confidence has fluctuated at times this week after being around the other contestants, but she became more positive about her chances of winning after practicing the dance routine all day.
"I really have gained a lot of confidence in my ability just in the last 10 hours," she said.
She said she doesn't know her chances of winning until she gets out of the interview room, but her goal for this year's pageant is to crack the top 15.
"If not, I'll definitely be coming back next year," she said.
