What an absolute honor to receive this Proclamation from the Office of the Mayor & the City of Fort Lauderdale at last night’s meeting, proclaiming January 7, 2020 as “Heather Lee O’Keefe Day!”
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the City of Fort Lauderdale, Commissioner Ben Sorensen, and Mayor Dean Trantalis for recognizing my dedication and commitment to our community. This Proclamation, along with your support, truly means the world to me. I hope to make you all proud as I represent our great city of Fort Lauderdale at the Miss Florida USA competition here in Broward County next weekend. I hope to bring home the crown to represent the Sunshine State nationally at Miss USA and spread my love for serving others and giving back!
We may be living during uncertain times, but there is still one thing that has always remained certain in life—none of us are going to live forever. However, of course, no one wants to admit their eventual mortality. It is something that we dread to think about, but we must all prepare for it. Having an estate plan is one of the most important things that you can do for your loved ones (and for yourself), so why is it that two-thirds of Americans do not have any type of estate planning document? The reason may be that many are not familiar with the importance and advantages of having a proper estate plan… If that’s why you’re reading this article, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are five ways everyone—including you—can benefit from proper estate planning:
1. Peace of Mind
The single most important benefit of an estate plan is peace of mind, for both you and your loved ones. Once you have effectuated your estate plan, you will have peace in knowing exactly how your family is going to be taken care of, how your business will be handled, and how your assets will be transferred. Whereas, dying intestate (without a will) inflicts a massive burden on your loved ones. Not only will they be grieving your death, but they will also be faced with handling the probate of your estate.
2. Simplify or Avoid Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering a decedent’s assets. This process can become extremely difficult, time-consuming, and quite expensive if one dies intestate. Without proper planning, it could take months, or even years, for your assets to be transferred to your beneficiaries. Depending on your state’s intestacy laws, if you die without executing a will or trust, your assets may not pass to your intended beneficiaries in the way that you desire. Moreover, probate court costs and attorney’s fees can total tens of thousands of dollars for the simplest estates, and even more for larger estates. Probate can be simplified by creating a will, or probate can be avoided by creating a living trust, amongst other estate planning strategies.
3. Appoint Guardians for Your Children
Have you ever thought about who would take care of your children if you were in a major accident or suddenly passed away? If you have not planned for this scenario, you may not realize that you are ultimately leaving it up to the courts to decide who will raise your children. This is one of the most important aspects of an estate plan for someone who has minor children. Would you rather predetermine who will take care of your kids, or would you rather have a judge decide? You should be the judge of that decision.
4. Minimize Tax Liability
One certainty in life is death; another certainty is paying taxes. However, depending on your situation and assets, there are many different estate planning techniques that can be used to minimize taxes paid by your estate. For example, with an appropriate plan, you may be able to reduce or even eliminate your death tax bill.
5. Protect Your Hard-Earned Wealth
Anyone with any assets needs protection, and asset protection goes hand-in-hand with estate planning. Trusts and certain business entities (e.g., LLCs) are common estate planning tools that can help shield and protect your assets from frivolous lawsuits, bankruptcy, divorce, and more. Think of it not as “whether” these things could happen, but “when” a serious problem could arise.
It is never too soon to create an estate plan, but there comes a time when it could be too late.
Contact Heather Lee O’Keefe of WFP Law at 954-944-2855, ext. 3 to learn more about estate planning and find out what kind of plan would work best in your situation.
Jonathan Babicka of The Little Lighthouse Foundation Presents Story Hour #VolunteersWithAVoice—Children’s Book Reading and Chat with Heather Lee O’Keefe.
Today, a few of my fellow Miss Florida USA contestants and I hosted a beach cleanup at Hollywood Beach. I came equipped with my pink gloves (yes, I had pink gloves 😄) and a few trash bags, but thankfully we only needed about one trash bag each! I was truly impressed and inspired to see that this beach didn’t have too much trash—this means that people are taking pride in where we live by keeping it clean!
What an incredible night! Congratulations to Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa, who was crowned Miss Universe at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on December 8, 2019!
I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to meet some of my greatest role models at the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday—two of my favorite Miss USAs, Sarah Rose Summers and Nia Sanchez, and Miss Universe 2017 (who is also engaged to Tim Tebow), Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters! They were all so genuine as they wished me the best of luck as I compete for the title of Miss Florida USA next month, which was so inspiring and motivating!
I also caught our last Miss USA to win Miss Universe (and now international supermodel) Olivia Culpo for a quick hug and chat between commercial breaks, and then later I was right next to her while she was live on camera! We were sitting right behind Puerto Rico’s and Colombia’s cheering sections, so I was also on camera whenever they showed Miss Colombia’s grandmother who flew all the way to Atlanta to cheer on her granddaughter as she competes for Miss Universe! (If you go back to re-watch the pageant, I am the blonde girl two rows behind Miss Colombia’s grandmother).
Most importantly, this all would not have been possible if it weren’t for my new friends at CHI Haircare (official sponsors of the Miss Universe Organization). Thank you Joseph Saad and Patrick Kalle for giving me a quick hair touch up in the elevator on the way to the pageant and for getting me a ticket to this sold-out show! Also, thank you for my new CHI hair styling tools! 😉 And last but certainly not least, shout-out to my dear friend, Kisa Motiwala, for being my “partner in crime” for the weekend and for letting me borrow this gorgeous Sherri Hill dress of yours!
I will forever cherish the memories made this weekend!!! ❤️
Miss Universe and Miss USA contestants, Sports Illustrated swimsuit models, TV stars, and professional athletes… and then there’s just a small town country girl who never in a million years imagined she’d be here—that girl is me.
I am so thankful to be a part of this incredible event with these awesome people, all for a great cause—The Celebrity Soccer Match in support of the Best Buddies organization. This event “promotes a culture of sports inclusion, social responsibility, and employment integration of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities as a way to make a positive impact in the community.” I want to specifically thank the Founder of the Celebrity Soccer Match, North Bay Village Commissioner, and my friend, Julianna Strout, for personally inviting me to take part in your event. It was truly an honor!
Miami Beach, FL – NOVEMBER 23: Miss Fort Lauderdale USA Heather Lee O’Keefe attends the Celebrity Soccer Match Benefiting Best Buddies Charity at the North Beach Sand-Bowl. Heather Lee O’Keefe is a 22-year-old honors law student, television host, Miss Florida USA candidate, and passionate philanthropist on November 23, 2019 in Miami Beach, Florida. People: Heather Lee O’Keefe
The 2nd annual Celebrity Soccer Match was held on November 23rd at the North Beach Bandshell Sand-bowl in Miami Beach, Florida.
“Celebrities, soccer stars, models and Buddies will gather for the ultimate Celebrity Beach Soccer Match in a unique fun-filled day of curated events that will feature; 7-on-7 friendly matches, meet-and-greet, children’s clinics, soccer training fitness class, show-cases, brand activations and more. Industry professionals, sport enthusiasts, local government, influencers as well as residents alike can look forward to a family-friendly event with individuals from different cultures and all over the world.”
The Celebrity Soccer Match was presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, which is also the location where we filmed the promotional video and photos for the event. In the photos above and below, we are pictured in front of the famous new Guitar Hotel.
I had the opportunity to meet the current Miss Universe, Catriona Gray, at this event along with many other celebrities including Juan Pablo Galavis (former star of The Bachelor on ABC and professional soccer player), Mara Martin (Sports Illustrated swimsuit model), Kaleigh Garris (Miss Teen USA 2019), Adriana Paniagua (Miss Nicaragua 2018), Gabriela Clesca (Miss Universe Haiti 2019), Génesis Dávila (Miss Florida USA 2017-2018), Andrea Piecuch (Miss U.S. Virgin Islands 2019), Priscila Sales (Miss California Brasil USA 2018), Nicolette Jennings (Miss Florida USA 2019), Katia Gerry (Miss Florida Teen USA 2019), and more!
Jerry Libbin, President & CEO of Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, pulled me aside for a live interview before the soccer match. We chatted about the responsibilities that come with being Miss Fort Lauderdale USA, my passions, the Best Buddies organization, and the road to Miss Florida USA!
Watch my interview below!
I had so much fun at the 2nd Annual Celebrity Soccer Match. I can’t wait until next year!
The Miss Arc Broward pageant is a competition for children and teens with special needs. These young women get the chance to perform onstage for hundreds of audience members, fighting any stereotypes that people might have about disabilities.
Arc Broward’s mission is to transform the community by providing opportunities for people with disabilities and other life challenges to realize their full potential. Since 1956, Arc Broward has worked hand-in-hand with our community, changing how people with developmental disabilities and life challenges are embraced and included. This critical work ensures that people with disabilities, not only live, learn, work, and play in their communities, but more importantly, thrive.
I had the pleasure of being a “judge” for this year’s Miss Arc Broward Pageant. However, it was a tough job because all of the lovely ladies were truly incredible and inspiring. Congratulations to Layla and Nola for being crowned the new Miss Arc Broward and Little Miss Arc Broward 2019!
I am simply blessed to have had such a great year filled with many blessings, much love, and great opportunities. I am excited for the upcoming new year because I know it will be filled with even more of those things, as I will be starting a new chapter in my life. In 2018, I will graduate from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in the spring, and then I will begin my pursuit to a Juris Doctor degree in the fall. This is a milestone I have been looking forward to and preparing for my whole life, so I am overjoyed to turn another page in this book called “Life.”
Today is the first page of a 365-page book, and you are the author. Make sure to write a good one, and make every page count. Happy New Year!
The West Virginia Governor’s School of Entrepreneurship (WVGSE) is a program for high school students in the state. Throughout this program, these young entrepreneurs will learn how to create a scalable business model based on market feedback, and then they will have the opportunity to pitch and start their business. This year, West Virginia University is hosting WVGSE July 5 – 25.
I am excited to announce that I have been selected to be a part of this program as the Creative Economies & Social Impact Intern. I am looking forward to spending these 20 days mentoring younger students in WVGSE. Throughout this three-week program, I will be blogging my experiences. Make sure to check back here for updates!
My journey through pageantry started when I was fifteen years old. I caught the “pageant fever” when I competed in my first pageant back in 2012. I often look back on that day when I won my first pageant, which was about five years ago now, and I see a completely different girl. Back then, I was shy teenager with very little self confidence. Now, I am a confident woman who can hold a conversation with just about anyone, land the toughest of job interviews, and I’m a devoted advocate of my platform. These are just a few qualities I have gained through pageantry. I have learned numerous, valuable life lessons that I don’t think I would have otherwise learned if it weren’t for competing.
A few of my closest friendships have evolved from pageantry, and I am so thankful for that. Pageantry is a sisterhood, and the women I’ve met through competing in pageants are some of the strongest, most accomplished people I know. The value of friendship and good sportsmanship is a key element I’ve seen when it comes to competing.
But perhaps the most important thing that pageants have taught me is how to conquer defeat. I strongly believe that I’ve grown more as a person from losing pageants rather than from winning them. I started competing in the West Virginia Fairs & Festivals pageant system when I was sixteen years old, and I competed in this system for three years straight without winning a title.
Those three years were tough, but they made me stronger, and they taught me to never lose sight of the end goal. One year ago today, I accomplished my goal and was crowned Miss Princeton AutumnFest. I went on to compete for the state title of Miss West Virginia Association of Fairs & Festivals where I placed in the Top-Five out of the state’s 80 best competitors.
I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I know that everything leading up to this moment was worth it and meant to be, and I am so appreciative of all the support I’ve received along the way. It’s true what they say—you have to learn how to lose before you can truly learn how to win. After many years of defeat, I never lost sight of my goal, and I ultimately learned the true meaning of success. It’s not all about the destination. It’s about the journey, and more importantly, staying humble throughout that journey.
My journey as Miss Princeton Autumnfest has now come full-circle, and although I wish I could have this title forever, I am more than excited for my successor because I know all of the opportunities this title will open up for her and I’m certain she will have the time of her life.
I want to end my reign by thanking everyone who has supported me throughout my journey. If you’re reading this right now, you’re probably someone who has supported me, some how or some way… so thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I want to personally thank my director Miss Pat Whittaker, her husband Bill, and the whole Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce for always supporting me and being the best board of directors I could have ever asked for.
Also, thank you to all of my friends and family, but especially my mom and grandma, for your unconditional love and support. No matter how many times I said I was going to quit, you both never let me give up on my dreams. And that sparked a fire in me to encourage others to never give up on their dreams, either.
This is the legacy I want to leave as Miss Princeton Autumnfest 2016. I want to be someone’s inspiration to never give up. Always remember: most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
Signing off, your Miss Princeton Autumnfest 2016, Heather Lee Naples.
I also caught our last Miss USA to win Miss Universe (and now international supermodel) Olivia Culpo for a quick hug and chat between commercial breaks, and then later I was right next to her while she was live on camera! We were sitting right behind Puerto Rico’s and Colombia’s cheering sections, so I was also on camera whenever they showed Miss Colombia’s grandmother who flew all the way to Atlanta to cheer on her granddaughter as she competes for Miss Universe! (If you go back to re-watch the pageant, I am the blonde girl two rows behind Miss Colombia’s grandmother).
I am simply blessed to have had such a great year filled with many blessings, much love, and great opportunities. I am excited for the upcoming new year because I know it will be filled with even more of those things, as I will be starting a new chapter in my life. In 2018, I will graduate from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in the spring, and then I will b
Heather Lee O'Keefe 