MARCH 31, 2007
JUDGE FOR THE MRS. WISCONSIN UNITED STATES 2007 PAGEANT (FOND DU LAC, WI)

My good friend (and successor as Mrs. MN Int'l 2004) Nancy Paradeise and I were judges for the Mrs. Wisconsin United States 2007 pageant held in Fond du Lac, WI. I had the honor of representing Minnesota at the Mrs. United States pageant in 2002. Nancy picked me up at 6:00 a.m. (she'd been in Duluth the night prior for a Special Olympics event, so she had to get up at 3:00 a.m.!) Coffee in hand, we hit the road and it was great to catch up! We almost ran out of gas TWICE--once on the way there, once on the way home--because we were so busy talking and not paying attention to the gas gauge! People who know me are well aware that I am a chatterbox...I joked to Nancy that she was lucky to get a word in edgewise! HA!

Our fellow judges were Chiann Gibson (Mrs. United States 2005), Jerry & Sally Zorko (who are very active in the Miss WI-MAO program...I knew them from my days competing in WI--FUN people!), and Katie Hanacick (National Beauties of America Teen titleholder). It was great getting to meet Chiann--not only is she gorgeous, but also HILARIOUS and has one of the most infectious laughs I've ever heard. It was easy to see how she was chosen as Mrs. United States, that's for sure. We judged the 20 contestants in interview on Saturday afternoon, which is always my favorite part of competition from a judging standpoint.

The pageant is directed my dear friend Susan Jackson, who was Mrs. WI United States 2003 as well as Mrs. Wisconsin America. Susan was my "backstage helper" when I won Mrs. Minnesota America, so I was more than happy to help her out as a judge. She ran a wonderful pageant and it was REALLY tough to chose a winner out of so many qualified ladies. However, in the end the winner was Nicole Peterson, who I think will do a great job. I thoroughly enjoyed judging this pageant and hope to see many of the ladies again...they really were an outstanding group! Congratulations to the Nicole and good luck at Nationals!

PHOTOS:
1) L to R: Newly crowned Nicole Peterson (Mrs. WI US 2007), me, and outgoing queen Cassie Pinter (Mrs. WI US 2006)
2) The judging panel goes to dinner
3) With Chiann Gibson (Mrs. United States 2005). Chiann was also Mrs. District of Columbia America 2003 and was a runner-up to Mrs. America that same year!
4) Catching up with Sally and Jerry Zorko
5) L to R: Katie Hanacik (Beauties of America Teen winner), me, and Nancy Paradeise (Mrs. MN Int'l 2004 and Nat'l Mrs. MN 2006)
6) The judging panel with the new Mrs. WI US 2007, Nicole Peterson

MARCH 10 & 11, 2007
MRS/MISS/TEEN MINNESOTA INTERNATIONAL 2007 PAGEANTS (ST. CLOUD, MN)

Before I begin this post, I want to say a HUGE congratulations to the beautiful Diane Tucker, Mrs. America 2007 and now the NEWLY CROWNED Mrs. World 2007! Diane and I were fellow contestants at Mrs. America 2006. What an accomplishment! Way to go Diane, we are all so proud of you!!! Check her out at www.mrsworld.com

OK, back to THIS blog entry...this weekend was the Mrs/Miss/Teen Minnesota International pageants. In 2003, I had the privilege of being crowned as that year's queen and have remained actively involved ever since. Two of my good friends from the "class of 2003" were competing in the Mrs division (Leisha Gust and Donnell Rank), and I'm proud to say that Donnell won and Leisha was 1st runner-up! It was Donnell's 4th try for the title and Leisha's 5th, which just goes to show the power of perseverance! In addition, I met some other incredible contestants competing for the various titles and have to say that any one of them would have made fantastic titleholders. This system is very heavily based on "platform" and it was great to see the passion these ladies had for so many wonderful causes.

In addition, I coached an INCREDIBLE teen contestant Arielle Peterson. This was her third pageant ever (and her first with an emphasis on platform), and I am very proud to say that she placed as 4th runner-up AND won the Photogenic Award and Supermodel With Style award! A very deserving Giselle Ugarte (also a good friend) won the Teen title, with the adorable Megan Herickhoff placing as 1st runner-up (Megan is one of my favorite people--we affectionately have nicknamed her "Haircut" because when you say her last name fast, that is what it sounds like). Danielle Epps won the Miss title and I believe all three of the new titleholders have a great shot at their respective national titles.

My successor Nancy Paradeise (Mrs. MN Int'l 2004) hosted the pageant luncheon on Sunday and the audience was riveted by the presentation of Nathan, an incredible Special Olympian. It was also great to catch up with pageant friends and former titleholders, but of course the highlight of the night was seeing my dear friend Donnell capture the crown. I know she will be one of the best queens this system has ever seen and I hope she knows just how proud I am of her (and of course the other ladies as well). Congrats to all!

PHOTOS:
1) L to R: Newly crowned Mrs. MN Int'l 2007 Donnell Rank, Arielle Peterson, and me
2) With Becky Ringen (Miss MN Int'l 2006) on Prelim Night
3) L to R: me, Trixie Overcashier (Mrs. MN Intl '94), and dear friend Cheri Kennedy
4) Future and former Mrs. MN Internationals gather at the Pageant Luncheon (L to R): Donnell Rank (2007), Leisha Gust (SOON!), me (2003), Angela Haseman (2006), Nancy Paradeise (2004), and Jennifer Sanneman (2005)
5) With my 63-years-young mom and #1 cheerleader Bonnie Henderson
6) L to R: Lauren Demming (Miss South Central MAO), Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop by Michael's), me, and Lacey Erickson (Miss MN Teen Int'l 2005)
7) I rented two of my "good luck" suits, one to Arielle Peterson and the other to Donnell Rank!
8) My current Mrs. MN America State Directors Faith and Carl Schway
9) Here she is...the new Mrs. MN Int'l 2007 Donnell Rank! yea!