♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST KELSEY STARKS AND THIS WEEK WE SIT DOWN WITH KENTUCKY'S MISS AMERICA, HEATHER FRENCH HENRY.

SHE IS THE FIRST AND LAST MISS KENTUCKY TO BE CROWNED MISS AMERICA BACK IN 1999.

BORN AND RAISED IN AUGUSTA SHE COMPETED IN PAGEANTS IN OHIO AND KENTUCKY THROUGHOUT HER YOUTH.

AFTER WINNING THE CROWN AND BECOMING MISS AMERICA 2000, SHE FAMOUSLY WED THEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR STEVE HENRY.

THEY REMAINED MARRY AND HAVE TWO GROWN DAUGHTERS.

IN 2014, SHE WAS APPOINTED AS THE COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BY THEN GOVERNOR STEVE BESHEAR.

THEN SHE PUT HER OWN CROWN IN THE RING IN 2019, RUNNING ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

SHE CONCEDED THE RACE TO MICHAEL ADAMS BUT REMAINS INVOLVED.

HER PLATFORM AS MISS AMERICA WAS ADVOCATING FOR VETERANS, AND NOW, MORE THAN 20 YEARS LATER, IT REMAINS THE SAME.

>> ALL RIGHT, LADIES, HERE IT IS, THE FIRST RUNNER UP AND WINNER OF A $30,000 SCHOLARSHIP IS... MISS ILLINOIS... HEATHER RENEE FRENCH IS MISS AMERICA 2000!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> HEADSER FRENCH HENRY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

WE JUST SAW THAT CROWNING MOMENT.

WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU LOOKING BACK AT THAT TIME, NOW 24 YEARS AGO?

>> IT'S AMAZING WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ONE MOMENT IN TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHERE ALL THE STARS ALIGNED.

IT WASN'T AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS BUT YOU SAW THE CULMINATION OF ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK FINALLY PAY OFF.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THAT EVERY TIME I SEE THAT CROWNING MOMENT, THAT WAS REALLY THE BEGINNING OF MY LIFE'S MISSION.

AND IT WASN'T A DESTINATION POINT, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK YOU FINALLY WON.

IT JUST ALLOWED ME TO CLIMB TO THAT PARTICULAR PLATFORM TO SEE WHAT ELSE I HAD LEFT TO DO, WHICH WAS ENORMOUS.

SO I GET ASKED A LOT, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU WERE WALKING DOWN THE RUNWAY?

AND OF COURSE THERE IS A SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED.

AND IT WAS THAT FEELING OF WOW, I'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS.

NOW WHAT?

AND, OF COURSE, I HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, NO DOUBT, AND IT WAS THE PERFECT STORM FOR MISS AMERICA WHO WASN'T A VETERAN, BUT THE DAUGHTER OF A VETERAN, TO TAKE ON VETERANS ISSUES, TO REALLY EXPAND THE CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT INTUBS AND PTSD AND AGENT ORANGE EXPOSURE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HOW DOES THAT IMPACT A LARGER POPULATION AND THE FAMILY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE GO WHY IS A FASHION DESIGNING MISS AMERICA TALKING ABOUT VETERANS ISSUES?

BUT YOU HAD STEVEN SPIELBERG WITH SAVING PRIVATE RYAN AND TOM HANKS AND THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, RAISING MONEY FOR THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL.

SO IT WAS REALLY A PERFECT STORM.

SO WHEN I SEE THAT, I SEE THAT SNAP SNAPSHOT IN TIME WHERE I GO WOW, THAT WAS A PARTICULAR MOMENT THAT HAS LED TO THE REST OF MY LIFE.

>> IF YOU COULD TALK TO YOURSELF THEN, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THAT YOUNG WOMAN ABOUT WHAT DOES STILL LIE AHEAD?

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT, I WAS OLDER SO AT THAT TIME THE ABLE LIMIT WAS 24.

SO I WAS 24 WHEN I WON.

AND I DO THINK THAT HAVING GONE THROUGH MY UNDERGRADUATE, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY MASTERS.

I WAS AN ART DIRECTOR AT THE E.P.A.

IN CINCINNATI AND TEACHING FASHION ILLUSTRATION AT THE SAME TIME.

SO I KNOW BEING BUSY IS NOTHING NEW TO ME, BUT I DO THINK ALL OF THOSE LIFE EXPERIENCES HELPED ME SO MUCH WHEN I BECAME MISS AMERICA, THAT WHEN I GO BACK AND WATCH INTERVIEWS, I LOOK AT THE TYPES OF APPEARANCES THAT I WAS DOING, WORKING WITH LEGISLATIVE POLICY, WORKING WITH THE WHITE HOUSE, WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I STILL DO TODAY.

SO I WOULD TELL MYSELF, HEY, JUST STAY THE COURSE.

THAT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS RIGHT IT'S NEEDED.

AND EVERY STEP THAT YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS YEAR WILL LEAD TO SOMETHING GREATER, BECAUSE THERE ARE MOMENTS DURING THAT YEAR WHERE YOU ARE TIRED.

IT'S HARD.

I WAS GIVEN LIKE EVERY 18 TO 24 HOURS I WAS IN A DIFFERENT CITY, A DIFFERENT STATE.

I MEAN IT IS-- PEOPLE HAVE A MISPERCEPTION ABOUT WHAT MISS AMERICA IS LIKE.

OF COURSE, WE SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF THE GLAMOROUS SIDE, BUT IT IS A NON-STOP ONSLAUGHT OF JUST WORK AND APPEARANCES.

BUT VERY SUBSTANTIVE THINGS.

OUR CURRENT MISS AMERICA HAS JUST BEEN NAMED THE FACE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.

AND YOU JUST GO WHAT?

SO IT CAN BE A SUBSTANTIVE YEAR THAT LEADS TO EVEN GREATER THINGS.

I THINK I WOULD JUST TELL MYSELF , STAY THE COURSE, STAY STRONG; THAT EVEN IN THE MOMENTS THAT YOU ARE TIRED, ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO PAY OFF.

>> LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THOSE MISS CONCEPTIONS BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE THINK THAT.

MISS AMERICA HAS CHANGED FAIRLY DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST 20 OR SO YEARS.

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH THE DYNAMICS FROM REALLY THE LAST 100 OR SO YEARS, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED AS A BATHING SUIT COMPETITION IN 1921, TO GARNER MORE BUSINESS THERE ON THE BOARDWALK AND THEN TRANSITIONING INTO ADDING EVENING GOWN AND TALENT AND SCHOLARSHIP AND THEN GOING INTO THE PLATFORM ISSUE IN THE EARLY 90s, AND THAT WAS A REAL PIVOTAL MOMENT BECAUSE WHILE MISS AMERICAS EVEN BEFORE ME, JUDY FORD AND JANE, THEY DID USO SHOWS IN VIETNAM, PHYLLIS GEORGE DID A THREE-WEEK USO TOUR IN VIETNAM.

THEY WERE DOING SUBSTANTIVE THINGS, THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE A NAME FOR THAT.

AND THEN WHEN THE 90s CAME ALONG, WE SAW THAT YOUNGER WOMEN REALLY WANTED TO HAVE MUCH MORE OF A COMMUNITY IMPACT.

AND THAT MISS AMERICA, THROUGHOUT ITS DURATION, HAS TRIED TO BE A REFLECTION OF WHAT WOMEN ARE IN SOCIETY.

SO TRYING TO FOLLOW, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE DON'T EVEN KNOW, RIGHT, IN SOCIETY, WHAT AND WHO WE WANT TO BE, MISS AMERICA HAS TRIED TO BE A REFLECTION OF, AND SO THE LEADERSHIP SAW THAT THAT PLATFORM WAS NEEDED AND THEN YOU HAD PEOPLE LIKE KAYLANI WHO WAS A NURSE WHEN SHE WON AND HOSPICE NURSE AND SHE PAVED THE WAY TO SAY WHAT IS A PLATFORM AND NOW, OF COURSE, WE'VE GONE TO SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE AND SO WE'VE CHANGED THE NAME OF IT.

BUT THAT WAS, TO ME, THE MOST PIVOTAL POINT, BECAUSE THAT MEANT FOR THESE YOUNG WOMEN, THAT LIKE LET'S SAY YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED IN GIRL SCOUTS AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT COMMUNITY SERVICE WAS.

SAY YOUR SCHOOL DIDN'T MANDATE COMMUNITY SERVICE IN YOUR SCHOOL OR YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED IN AN EXTRA DRINK LAR ACTIVITY-- EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY THAT GOT YOU INVOLVED AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL AT HOME, NOW THE MISS AMERICA OPPORTUNITY HELPS TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITY SERVICE AS A REQUIREMENT AND A PART WHAT HAVE THAT TITLE IS.

SO IT IS NOT ABOUT THE GLITTER OF THE CROWN.

BUT IT'S ABOUT WHAT THE TITLE CAN DO TO EFFECTUATE CHANGE AROUND YOU.

AND THAT'S A LASTING IMPACT BECAUSE ONLY ONE YOUNG LADY IS GOING TO WIN MISS AMERICA EACH YEAR AND ONLY ONE LADY WINS MISS KENTUCKY EACH YEAR.

SO YOU HAVE THOUSANDS THAT WILL BE COMPETING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT ARE GETTING THIS SORT OF TRAINING THAT NO ONE ELSE IS REALLY DOING ANYMORE.

LET'S FACE IT.

OUR SOCIETY, WE ARE JUST NOT THERE ANYMORE.

AND SO MISS AMERICA OPPORTUNITY IS REALLY THAT LAST FOOT HOLD WHERE WE ARE TAKING YOUNG WOMEN AND WE ARE SAYING, LET'S CHOOSE SOMETHING THAT'S GREATER THAN OURSELVES TO SERVE.

>> ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOUR STORY, TOO, THERE WERE A LOT OF FAILURES BEFORE.

>> OH YEAH, THANKS.

>> I MEAN I KNOW YOU TALK ABOUT THAT WITH YOUNG WOMEN BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT STORY OF PERSEVERANCE, AND THAT IS THAT GRIT I FEEL LIKE THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, THAT.

>> IT TOOK ME AFTER A DECADE-- LET'S PUT THAT ON THE TABLE-- TO WIN.

EVEN GROWING UP, DOING THE SMALL COUNTY FAIR PANEL ENTS, YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T WIN, BUT FOR SOME REASON, IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME SO MUCH BECAUSE I ENJOYED IT AND THE VERY FIRST CONVERSATION MY MOM AND I HAD WITH THAT, SHE SAID THE FIRST TIME IT STOPS BEING FUN, AND THAT YOU LOSE IN A GRACELESS WAY, WE ARE DONE.

AND THAT'S TRUE.

ANYBODY CAN BE A GRACIOUS WINNER NO MATTER.

NOT EVERYBODY CAN BE A GRACIOUS LOSER.

AND IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, WE HATE TALKING ABOUT WINNING AND LOSING AND IT IS GREAT THAT PEOPLE PARTICIPATE.

BUT IN LIFE, THERE WILL BE MOMENTS THAT YOU WON'T GET THE TOP.

YOU WON'T WIN THAT THING.

YOU WON'T GET THAT JOB.

AND SO HOW DO WE TEACH AND BUILD THE GRIT IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE BEYOND THAT AND TAKE AWAY THE GOOD PARTS ABOUT NOT WINNING OR NOT GETTING, RIGHT?

WE LEARN-- I ALWAYS SAID I LEARN MORE FROM LOSING THAN I DO FOR WINNING.

YOU LEARN MOB OBJECTIVE AND LOOK AT THE WHOLE SITUATION AND SAY OKAY, WHAT COULD I HAVE DONE BETTER.

NOT BERATING YOURSELF BUT BEING SELF AWARE AND OBJECTIVE CERTAINLY.

AND SO, YEAH, I MEAN THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF MOMENTS THAT I DIDN'T WIN AND I WALKED AWAY JUST, YOU KNOW-- I STILL WENT HOME AND I ATE MY MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM.

>> BUT THAT'S WHEN YOU GROW.

>> AND WHEN I TRANSITIONED INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI AND WENT TO THE DESIGN COLLEGE TO DAP, A PRETTY WORLD RENOWNED PROGRAM AND EVERY QUARTER YOU HAVE A SET OF JUDGES THAT CRITIQUE YOUR PROJECT AND HAVE YOU TO STAND BEFORE THEM AND PRESENT AND MAN, THEY CAN BE RUTHLESS, BUT ALL OF IT TOGETHER HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND TAKING CRI CRITIQUE AND UNDERSTANDING FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, NOT IN AN INAUTHENTIC WAY BUT IN AN AUTHENTIC WAY FOR MYSELF, WHICH I FEEL LIKE TODAY I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE AUTHENTIC.

I WAS ALWAYS VERY MUCH MYSELF, THE SAME PERSON BEHIND THE CAMERA, IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, THAT EVEN AS YOU GROW OLDER, YOU BUILD SORT OF A SELF CONFIDENCE THAT ONLY TIME AND EXPERIENCE CAN GIVE YOU.

BUT ALL THOSE LOSSES PAID OFF, YOU KNOW, FOUR OUT OF FIVE YEARS OF NOT WINNING AND IT'S NOT A SMALL SYSTEM TO BE IN.

I MEAN IT TAKES A LOT OF GETTING THOSE DETAILS TOGETHER, CERTAINLY AND JUST LEARNING HOW TO DO IT IN A MORE PRODUCTIVE MANNER AND FINALLY WHEN YOU WIN, YOU WILL LOOK BACK AND YOU GO, WOW, MAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE I REALLY THOUGHT I HAD IT TOGETHER ALL THOSE OTHER YEARS.

BECAUSE NOW KNOWING WHAT IT REALLY TAKES TO DO THE JOB, THE HEATHER THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THIRD RUNNER UP TWICE IN A ROW OR TOP 10 TWICE IN A ROW, WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE THE HEATHER THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THAT MISS AMERICA YEAR.

>> IT HAPPENS WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO.

>> IT HAPPENS WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AND FOR SOME YOUNG LADIES, I THINK THE HARDEST DISCUSSION I HAVE WITH OTHER YOUNG LADIES, IT MAY NEVER HAPPEN.

THIS MAY NOT BE YOUR PATH.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT YOU ARE COMPETING OR THAT YOU ARE IN THE SYSTEM OR DOING THE THING.

RIGHT?

THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WINNING THE CROWN.

OF COURSE, PEOPLE SAY WELL IT'S EASY FOR YOU TO SAY BECAUSE YOU WON THE BIG DANCE, BUT FOR FOUR OUT OF FIVE YEARS, I DIDN'T.

AND I WAS IN THE LAST YEAR OF ELIGIBILITY WHEN I DID WIN.

AND REALLY THE ONLY REASON I COMPETED THAT FINAL YEAR, I HAD TOLD MY MOM THAT I WASN'T GOING TO COMPETE ANYMORE.

I DIDN'T THINK I HAD WHAT IT TOOK.

I HAD TO HAVE A VERY REAL MOMENT WITH MYSELF WHEN MY DAD WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

THEY INDUCED A COMA AND THE DAY BEFORE HE WENT UNDER, HE SAID I WANT YOU TO TRY ONE MORE TIME.

OUR VETERANS NEED A MISS AMERICA.

AND TRUTHFULLY, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I FELT LIKE I HAD THE AUTHORITY TO TELL MY FAMILY STORY BECAUSE BEFORE THAT, I HAD SOME GREAT PLATFORMS, AND GREAT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS THAT I NEVER REALLY TALKED ABOUT MY FATHER'S MILITARY SERVICE AND THE RIPPLE EFFECTS IT HAD ON THE FAMILY.

AND TO ME IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

SO I ACTUALLY CAME TO MISS LOUISVILLE.

I WAS SICK, I HAD A FEVER.

I CAME TO MISS LOUISVILLE.

I WON THE PRELIM AND AT THAT TIME I THINK THE PRELIM WAS IN A CAFETERIA STAGE.

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT SCHOOL IT WAS IN, BUT IT WAS-- THEY'RE NOT WELL ATTENDED BECAUSE IT'S-- YOU WATCH AMERICAN IDOL, THEY'RE SMALL BEGINNINGS, AND I WON.

BY THAT TIME I CUT MY HAIR OFF REALLY SHORT WHICH WAS A BIG PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR ME HAVING LONG HAIR.

I WANTED TO BE ONE HEATHER.

I DIDN'T WANT HEATHER THE PROFESSIONAL, HEATHER THE STUDENT.

HEATHER THE PANEL ENT GIRL.

I JUST NEEDED ONE THING AND WALKING INTO THE REGIS HAIR STYLING SALON, CUT IT ALL OFF.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PIECES THAT CAME TOGETHER ALT THAT MOMENT AND WHAT WAS THE REASON TO COMPETE?

IT WASN'T AUTHENTIC TO COMPETE TO ONE.

SCHOLARSHIP MONEY WAS GREAT.

PAID FOR MY UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTERS WHICH WAS AWESOME BUT IT REALLY WAS ABOUT SOMETHING GREATER AND THAT IS THE VETERANS COMPONENT THAT CAME IN AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM HELPED ME DISCOVER WHAT MY LIFE'S MISSION WAS GOING TO BE.

SO WHEN I LOOK AT MY DAUGHTERS, I TRY TO IMPART TO THEM THAT LIFE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF JUST US.

LIKE WHAT IS THE IMPACT WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE ON THE WORLD?

AND WHILE YOU MAY NOT ALWAYS WIN THAT MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT EACH STEP WE'VE TAKEN HASN'T PAVED THE WAY TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GO.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS HERE IN LOUISVILLE, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE NEW V.A.

HOSPITAL BEING BUILT.

TELL US ABOUT THAT AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, SPEAKING OF BUILDING BLOCKS.

>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THAT HOSPITAL.

SO WHEN ANN NORTHRUP WAS CONGRESSWOMAN, I WORKED WITH HER DURING MY MISS AMERICA YEAR.

SHE, MYSELF AND GENERAL BEAVERS, THE COMMISSIONER WERE PUT ON THE FIRST CARES ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS FOR ANY NEW FACILITY AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO YOU ARE GIVEN A SET OF RESTRICTIONS, REGULATIONS, WHETHER THEY BE EVEN DOWN TO HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE A VETERAN TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE ONCE YOU ARE IN THE MANDELA ROOM TO GET TO A SURGICAL BED.

AND SO THERE WERE LOTS OF DICTATED PARAMETERS.

AND AT THAT TIME, THE SCOPE OF THE SITUATION WAS, IT NEEDED TO BE MOVED TO A MORE URBAN AREA.

YOU LOOKED AT THE TOPOGRAPHY MAP AND WE COULDN'T BUILD OUT.

THEY HAD DONE WHATEVER THEY COULD THERE.

AND IF YOU GO TO THE ZORAN AVENUE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE ENTRANCES AND YOU CAN SEE THE NEW WINGS WHICH ARE NICE BUT YOU CAN SEE THE OLD WINGS WHICH LOOK DATED CERTAINLY.

YOU COULDN'T SPREAD OUT.

THE VETERANS WERE VERY USED TO THAT FACILITY.

IT WAS EASIER TO GET TO OFF 71.

YOU COME IN.

AND SO BY THE END, WE HAD GIVEN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT LAYOUTS AND ONE THAT I THOUGHT REALLY RESONATED WELL WITH THE VETERANS POPULATION WAS TO HAVE THE SURGICAL WING DOWNTOWN NEAR U U OF L AND THEN PATIENT CARE AT ZORAN AVENUE BECAUSE OUTPATIENT IS GOING TO BE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF YOUR VISITS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE MY DAD COMES TO THE V.A.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, HE IS NOT COMING FOR SURGERY WHENS MAYBE ONCE EVERY SO MANY YEARS FOR A VETERAN BUT COMING FREQUENTLY FOR OUTPATIENT DOCTOR VISIT CARE.

SO THAT WENT AWAY, AND WHATEVER TRANSPIRED THROUGH, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT OFFICES BEING CHANGED AND JUST THE DYNAMICS, NOW IT'S GOING TO BE OUT IN THE EAST END AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MUCH LARGER FACILITY.

AND TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, I'M AT THE POINT NOW WHERE JUST FINISH IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL.

OUR VETERANS DESERVE A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY.

I'VE ALWAYS CHAMPIONED THE V.A.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, EVEN FOR ALL ITS UPS AND DOWNS.

MY HUSBAND IS A SURGEON AND WORKED THROUGH A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

AND IT'S INTERESTING.

CIVILIAN HEALTHCARE, WE ALWAYS THINK, YOU KNOW, THE V.A.

HEALTHCARE IS SECOND RATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

IT IS NOT.

THEY GET THE FIRST OF EVERYTHING.

THEY GET THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.

AND THEY GET PHYSICIANS THAT ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING VETERANS, WHICH IS REALLY ULTRAIMPORTANT.

AND WHILE THERE IS A LAYER OF COMPASSION FOR CIVILIANS AND CIVILIAN HEALTHCARE, YOU ACTUALLY SEE MUCH MORE OF A DYNAMIC OF WAIT TIMES AND ISSUES WITH TRYING TO MANAGE YOUR CARE AS A CIVILIAN, WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, IN THE V.A.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, IT'S A VERY CASE MANAGED SYSTEM FOR THESE VETERANS, WHICH I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE LIKE MY DAD'S DOCTOR KIND OF NAVIGATES HIM THROUGH, OKAY, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR EYES CHECKED, YOU NEED TO GET THIS OR YOU NEED TO GET THAT.

AS CIVILIANS, WE ARE LEFT TO GO OH I THINK I MIGHT NEED THIS...

I WANT SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE MORE CASE MANAGED THAT WAY.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE HOSPITAL TO BE BUILT.

I'M EXCITED FOR THE VETERANS TO HAVE STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT AND IT HAS JUST TAKEN A LONG TIME.

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE NO STRANGER TO POLITICS AND RAN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE IN 2019.

TELL US ABOUT THAT RUN AND LOSS.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS ANOTHER LOSS, RIGHT, WHERE YOU LEARN A LITTLES BIT.

IT WAS A BIG STEP FOR ME.

AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE, I HAD ALWAYS BEEN TOLD SINCE I WORKED IN LEGISLATIVE POLICY AS MISS AMERICA THAT I HAD A GREAT APTITUDE FOR THAT, WHICH I DO AND I STILL LOVE THAT WAS SOMETHING I FOUND OUT ABOUT MYSELF THAT I GO, WOW.

I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO REALLY LOVE THAT.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC.

I LOVE WORKING IN GOVERNMENT.

ESPECIALLY AS A CREATIVE BECAUSE I LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE DIFFICULT SYSTEMS, UNLIKE WHAT MAYBE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A CREATIVE CAN SEE, CERTAINLY; ESPECIALLY IN GOVERNMENT.

AND SO IT WAS A NATURAL PROGRESSION FOR ME TO STEP OUT AND ACTUALLY RUN.

AND I CHOSE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE BECAUSE I HAD A LOVE OF OUR HISTORY FOR OUR STATE, WHICH THOSE RECORDS ARE HOUSED THERE.

I ACTUALLY HAD A BUSINESS, SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.

A PASSION FOR ELECTION SYSTEMS.

AND IT WAS A MUCH SMALLER OFFICE THAN WHAT I WAS MANAGING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

LET'S JUST BE HONESTS, BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS, MY DEPARTMENT WAS LARGER.

SO REALLY JUST HELPING TO FUNNEL DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN A BETTER FASHION IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, STATEWIDE.

BUT I WILL SAY PEOPLE QUESTIONED WHY OR HOW COULD I GO FROM VETERANS ISSUES TO SECRETARY OF STATE BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW ALL THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE DOES.

I MEAN THERE ARE VETERANS AND MILITARY PROGRAMMING WITHIN OUR ELECTIONS THAT ONLY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE DOES.

AND I REALLY-- WE HAD PARTNERED WITH THEM, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO BE MUCH MORE INVOLVED IN LEADING THOSE INITIATIVES.

BUT IN THE END, YOU KNOW, THE CAMPAIGN DID TEACH ME SOMETHING ABOUT MYSELF; THAT I REALLY DON'T LIKE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

[LAUGHTER] I MEAN I JUST WANT TO BE TRUTHFUL.

MY HUSBAND, YOU KNOW, LOVED ELECTIONS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY THRIVE.

I DON'T LIKE ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

I THINK IT'S A BIT DISINGENUOUS.

I DON'T-- I'M NOT A PERSON THAT'S GOING TO TELL LIES ABOUT SOMEONE.

I'M NOT A PERSON THAT IS EVEN GOING TO TALK NEGATIVELY, EVEN IF IT IS THE TRUTH.

IT'S JUST NOT MY BRAND.

SO I RAN A VERY POSITIVE CAMPAIGN.

YOU SAW MY FANCY FARM SPEECH.

THEY SAID IT WAS THE MOST UNFANCY FARM-LIKE SPEECH.

I WASN'T GOING TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

AND IT JUST JUST DOESN'T BEHOOVE MY BRAND TO BE PART OF THAT.

AND IN HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH MY DAUGHTERS, THEM WATCHING THEIR MOM RUN FOR OFFICE.

IT WAS POWERFUL.

HARPER GOT TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND GOT TO SEE HER MOM'S NAME ON THE BALLOT BUT THEY GOT TO SEE ME LOSE AND THAT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT LESSON FOR THEM; THAT THEY SAW ME, A PERSON WHO, THE PAST 24 YEARS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING I'VE PUT MY HAND TO, I'VE PUT IN THE WORK, I HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS.

MY PROJECTS, I MEAN I'M ALWAYS GOING TO WORK TO THE NTH DEGREE TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS BUT THIS TIME THE SUCCESS WAS LEFT UP TO PEOPLE.

AND WHEN THEY SAW THEIR MOTHER LOSE, IT WAS A QUESTIONABLE MOMENT.

LIKE WHAT!

I'VE NEVER SEEN HER LOSE.

HOW AM I GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT?

AND SO WHEN I GOT OUT THERE TO GIVE MY CONCESSION SPEECH, EVEN MY HUSBAND GOES, WOW, I MEAN THAT WAS A GREAT SPEECH!

I SAID WELL YOU JUST MOVE ON.

WE'VE GOT OTHER PROJECTS.

THIS ISN'T MY LIFE.

AND I CAN'T LET THIS RUIN MY LIFE.

AND I TOOK ONE DAY OFF, THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER THE ELECTION.

AND WE WERE RIGHT BACK INTO THE WHITE CHRISTMAS EXHIBIT, ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSEUM.

WE HAD OTHER PROJECTS THAT WERE JUST, YOU CAN'T IGNORE SO YOU JUST MOVE ON.

THAT'S A GREAT LESSON FOR CHILDREN.

YOU CAN'T WALLOW IN YOUR MISERY.

YOU HAVE TO PICK YOURSELF UP AND FACE THE MUSIC AND MOVE FORWARD.

>> YEAH, AND IT SOUND LIKE NO OTHER POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS FOR YOU.

>> NO OTHER POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS AT THIS TIME.

THE ANYWAY-- THE NATURE OF PEOPLE TODAY WHEN YOU SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD, THE DIVISIVENESS AND LACK OF CONVERSATIONS-- ONE OF MY CLIENTS IS A COMMUNICATION EXPERT.

SHE HAS ALWAYS SAID, THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE A POSITIVE RESOLUTION IS IF PEOPLE COME INTO THE EQUATION WANTING TO SEE A POSITIVE RESOLUTION.

AND THAT ALSO MEANS THAT YOU ARE COMING IN, NOT JUST WANTING YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD, BUT YOU ARE COMING IN TO HEAR THE OTHER VOICE.

AND WE ARE JUST, AS A SOCIETY, WE ARE JUST NOT THERE.

WE ARE NOT WILLING TO SAY MAYBE I SHOULD SHUT UP AND LET YOU TALK AND VICE VERSA.

AND MAYBE WE CAN MEET IN THE MIDDLE.

SO WE ARE JUST, UNFORTUNATELY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GO FROM HERE IN THAT.

AND THAT'S MY CONCERN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND WHY I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD WITH MISS AMERICA, WITH THE WORK I DO, TO BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL OF CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.

>> SO WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

>> THERE IS ANOTHER PARTICULAR PIECE THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR LOUISVILLE.

AND THAT IS REALLY THE VISION OF THE GROWTH OF METRO LOUISVILLE AND COUNTY LOUISVILLE.

AND SO WITH WHAT MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THROUGH THE FUTURE FUND, WITH SAVING OVER 6,000 ACRES ALONG FLOYD'S FORK, AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT GOING INTO THE FLOOD PLAIN, THERE WAS A VISION SET FORTH 30 YEARS AGO IN 1993 BY THREE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE WE HAD A BIG METRO COUNCIL, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT IN ORDER FOR FLOYD'S NEW YORK NOT TO TURN INTO BEAR GRASS CREEK CONCRETED UP AND POLLUTED, THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE REALLY STRICT PARAMETERS AROUND SAVING AND CREATING A DOWN ZONED AREA CALLED THE DRO AROUND FLOYD'S FORK.

SO I AM CONCERNED.

I DID NOT GROW UP A SUPER ENVIRONMENTALIST BECAUSE I GREW UP IN A RURAL AREA WHERE YOU HAVE HILLS, STREAMS AND LAND.

HERE IN LOUISVILLE, I SEE A REAL DANGER WHERE WE UNDERSTAND WE NEED HOUSING, BUT AT WHAT COST IS THIS AND HOW CAN WE DO THAT MUCH MORE RESPONSIBLY?

SO I HAVE BEEN HELPING STEPHEN AND SOME OF THE OTHER ENTITIES TO REALLY CREATE MORE TALKS AROUND RESPONSIBLE VISIONARY BUILDING WITHIN LOUISVILLE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE CAN HAVE ALL THAT WE NEED TORE PEOPLE COMING IN BUT NOT AT THE STAKES OF KILLING FLOYD'S FORK, SOMETHING OF WHICH WE HAVE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COLLECTIVELY THROUGH THE PARKLANDS, THROUGH GOVERNMENT AND ALL THESE ENTITIES TO SAVE AND THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT, THAT WAS A SURPRISE FOR ME.

OF COURSE, WHEN YOU MARRY, YOU INHERENT CERTAIN PROJECTS AND I HAVE BECOME VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THROUGH URBAN PLANNING, WHAT VISION LOOKS LIKE.

AND THAT YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL.

YOU CAN DESIGN A PROCESS AND A SCOPE WHERE YOU SAVE THIS PIECE, BUT YOU ALSO THEN HAVE TO CONCEDE THAT IN ORDER TO SAVE IT, I HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND I CAN'T FILL IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.

I CAN'T GO AND ASK THE CITY TO ALLOW ME TO DO THAT BUT WE CAN FIND A CREATIVE SOLUTION AROUND THAT SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF MY FUTURE AS WELL.

>> STILL STILL A LOT MORE TO SEE.

WE LINKED YOU UP TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ONLINE AT KET.ORG/INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

IF YOU WONDER HER FAVORITE PLACES IN TOWN, HER PLAY LIST THESE DAYS.

WE HAVE 20 RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS WITH HETH OTHER BRAM.

YOU CAN FIND US AT KET-IN-LOU.

AND SHE SHOWS US HER OFFICIAL MISS AMERICA CROWN AND SASH.

I DID GET TO TRY IT ON.

AND YOU WILL HEAR THE STORY BEHIND HER VERY FIRST CROWN.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THAT.

IT'S ALL ONLINE AT KET.ORG/INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME FOR "INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GASTROENTEROLOGY GASTROENTEROLOGIST JRK.