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!