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