Homeless Miss Colorado: ‘Anyone can fall victim to this’

[The Straight Story]

It was last November, just a month after her greatest triumph — winning the Miss Colorado USA pageant — when the knock came on the door of the townhouse 23-year-old Blair Griffith shared with her ailing mother.

She watched, stunned, as sheriff’s officers, armed with an eviction notice, tossed all of their worldly possessions into trash bags. And just like that, the young woman whose beauty and poise had put her on the path to the Miss USA crown was homeless.

Even so, Griffith is not bitter. Instead, she told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira Friday, she hopes her experience can inspire others. After all, she pointed out, many Americans are in the same dire straits.

“Anyone can fall victim to this with the situation that’s going on in today’s economy,” Griffith said. Still, she admitted, “It was terrible. When you go through the eviction process, they basically come in and throw all your belongings into trash bags and you have no idea where anything is, and you’re just trying to get your life together in two hours’ time. It’s very difficult.”


http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41778312/ns/today-today_fashion_and_beauty/

[rfranklin]

1. The light bulb in her head has burned out...

She's like a poster child for what's wrong in this country and hasn't a clue.

[Dragonfli]

4. I don't understand at all what you are talking about, could you explain?

[rfranklin]

5. She can't see that the lack of health care is what caused her problems...

“My message when I get there is just that I want to be an inspiration to everyone and show you that no matter the hardships you’re facing, if you stay focused on your dreams and your goals, you can achieve them.”

How is it an inspiration to be bankrupted by medical bills because the insurance company screwed you?

[Quantess]

7. She still wants to win Miss USA, so of course she's going to say something corny and uplifting.

Smile pretty!

[bobbolink]

9. Yeah, that's it exactly. And all the positive-thinkers will buy this hook, line and sinker.

It isn't that there is a shortfall of 3 million units of low-income housing.. its that you didn't smile through your troubles and THINK POSITIVE.

:puke:

[northernlights]

15. it's more likely that she will lose the competition

as per my earlier post. The elite won't want her to sully their world.

[bobbolink]

17. I haven't cared about beauty pageants since the 60s, so whether she wins or loses isn't the issue.

the problem is, she is sucking up to what the elites want to hear, and it is then used against the rest of us.

Fuck that shit!

[northernlights]

11. perserverence is a better message to go to the Miss USA pageant with

than roll over and die. And at this point is her best hope for winning...which could help them out of their financial troubles.

Unfortunately, the contest is run and judged by and for the elite, who are just as likely, if not moreso, to label her "loser" and dump her from the competition as early on as possible to avoid contamination. They may be afraid to soil their good names with a homeless person. They know that "that kind" exists somewhere out there. Just not in or any where near their insular, pretty-perfect world.

Time will tell. I'd like to see her win, and use that platform to speak out. I don't hold a lot of hope there, though....

[bobbolink]

12. Its not about just her, and her speaking out so far is only "positive thinking", NOT JUSTICE.

At this point, I don't see her helping the situation any, and she is NOT a spokesperson for the average homeless person.

[northernlights]

14. no one person qualifies as spokesperson for "the average homeless person"

Everybody has their own story. She simply happens to have a media platform and is using it to the best of her ability. Better that than that she lie about her situation and hope they don't find out, or lay down and die, neither of which would help anybody's situation any.

She is homeless due to lack of health insurance plus serious illness in the family. That is pretty common. She is also very young, so her hopefulness is not surprising. It takes more to knock a young person out cold. She is doing the best she can in her situation. Just like the rest of us, whether trying to hang on or having already slipped off...

[bobbolink]

16. So, there are only certainly groups of people who are allowed to be angry, and demand JUSTICE?

she is NOT helping.

[northernlights]

I never even suggested such a thing, and you know it

Exactly how is she stopping anybody else from being angry or demanding justice? She isn't, nor am I.

She may or may not be helping. That is too soon to call, imo.

Your responses at this point are totally irrational, so I'm going to sign off here...

[bobbolink]

19. You justified it all, and heard NOTHING I said.

She has to be cool and upbeat, so she can win.

No, she doesn't... that is a rationalization, and a slam to all who are angry at this country's ignoring the homelessness crisis.

Here's what's "rational"... there is a 3million+ shortage of low-income housing. That is NOT a minor blimp in the road, as she claims, and it deserves ANGER.

Call me names again, and I will alert. I am posting facts and realities. Deal with it.

[northernlights]

20. feel free to alert right now. I did not call you names.

I said you were being irrational -- that's referring to actions -- what you were writing here and in response to my other posts, not your person. :shrug:

If she wants to win she has to be positive. That is not a rationalization. That is a fact. If she comes out angry then she will lose the competition. That is the nature of the beast. It is not a slam to people who are angry at anything. It has nothing to do with your anger. It has to do with *her* reality and why she is saying what she is saying.

I'm posting facts and realities. Deal with it yourself.

[bobbolink]

23. Yeah, calling someone irrational isn't hostile... it is "civil discourse".

That is what is wrong in this country now.. the standards have dropped to shameful levels.

The issues in this country continue BECAUSE people don't get fed up, and come together to fight the shhit... they stay with this "positive thinking" shit and get a pat on the back. She will be fine, because of the notoriety.

The issue is, which you don't want to recognize, is that shit like this gets shoved off on to those who are hurting... the whole Oprah Winfrey thing. "Look at her.... she's handling it better than you, so stop BEING IRRATIONAL and be like her, so we will like you." THAT is exactly the kind of crap that goes on in shelters and "help" agencies, and it is very damaging. It is destroying the spirit of people.

But I don't expect you to understand that or to care until YOU experience for youself, and find yourself kicked in the gut over and over and over. Many people here on DU *have* experienced it, and have been hurt as a result. So, call me names, and discount me all you wish.... just remember, others HAVE been through this shit..... people just like you, right here, and they are HURTING from it.

[northernlights]

18. I never even suggested such a thing, and you know it

Exactly how is she stopping anybody else from being angry or demanding justice? She isn't, nor am I.

She may or may not be helping. That is too soon to call, imo.

Your responses at this point are totally irrational, so I'm going to sign off here...

[gratuitous]

2. Anyone can indeed fall victim to this

And if it takes those words coming out of a beauty pageant contestant's mouth for some people to hear it, I'm all in favor of it. I hope Ms. Griffith continues to speak out, and I hope that those who have ears will hear it.

[Angry Dragon]

3. They seem to touch base with everything

"Soon, the stress of being a single mom to two children took its toll on Griffith’s mother, Bonita; she suffered a heart attack that required surgery, and was unable to work. Bonita Griffith lost her insurance when her insurer declared that the heart attack was the result of a pre-existing condition. That meant that she had to pay her medical expenses, including $800 a month for medications, out of her own pocket."

"And recently Griffith, who juggles a full-time job with the personal appearance demands of her position as Miss Colorado USA, got more bad news: The Saks Fifth Avenue store where she works is closing in March, another victim of the sagging economy."

Scammed by the insurance company, evicted, losing jobs, high medical costs. Living the American dream

[rfranklin]

6. Yes, a real inspiration!

As long as Americans don't get outraged this story will repeat itself ad infinitum.

At least she has good looks. She may be able to hook a rich husband.

[bobbolink]

13. You left out that there is no low-income housing to rely on when all the other stuff happens.

We nned to all push the fact that there is a 3 million+ unit shortfall of low-income housing in this country.

NO shelter solves that.

[RegieRocker]

8. Very sad

[bobbolink]

10. MOre like disgusting.

[Quantess]

21. This story is really disturbing, and disgusting.

What happens when the smarmy Miss USA contestant meets harsh reality? Sort of like a hooker, she continues to sell out and try to do her ideal-woman-Stepford-Wife-illusion, in the hopes of getting a cash prize and a stupid crown. I don't blame her for wanting to win cash and prizes, though.

I agree with both you and nothernlights on this thread...and I suspect you actually aren't in that much disagreement with eachother.

[upi402]

22. Try telling a conservative

It just takes one major illness or bad legal experience. Done.