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Mrs. Kansas International Pageant seeking contestants
Time is running out for married women in the local area who want to enter the Mrs. Kansas International Pageant.
According to Mrs. International Pageant Executive Director Mary Richardson, the competition, which has operated since 1985, is not just a pageant, but also an opportunity for contestants to make a difference in the lives of others. Richardson said women who are involved in a non-profit organization and have a passion for that organization are good candidates for the competition
"We are looking for contestants who really are ambassadors for their non-profit organization," Richardson said.
According to the Mrs. International Pageant Web site, www.mrsinternational.com, the pageant showcases the accomplishments of married women and their commitment to marriage and family, and it offers women an opportunity to become positive role models.
Interested candidates who live in Kansas must have been married for at least six months and between 21 and 56 years of age. According to Richardson, women who are interested in competing for the title of Mrs. Kansas International should contact her by April 1. Candidates will be required to fill out applications and mail photographs of themselves to Richardson. In addition, each will undergo a 30-45 minute telephone interview.
"She can share who she is and why she is involved in the non-profit she is involved in," Richardson said.
After all of the phone interviews have been completed, contest officials will look at all of the applications and select the winner of the Mrs. Kansas International contest. Richardson said she anticipates the naming of Mrs. Kansas International to take place in mid-April.
On July 17 and 18, the contestant who wins the Mrs. Kansas International must travel to Chicago to compete for the title of Mrs. International 2009, according to the Web site.
The Mrs. International pageant will include three areas of competition. The personal interview will give the contestants an opportunity to tell the judges about the non-profit organizations they have chosen to support. In the evening gown category, each competitor will be escorted on stage by her husband in order to showcase the couple as a whole, Richardson said. The women will also participate in a fitness wear category.
The woman who is crowned Mrs. International will continue to work with her non-profit organization during her reign. However, she will also be the representative for the pageant's alliance with the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women. In this role, Mrs. International will have the opportunity to educate people about the risks of heart disease in women, according to Richardson.
"(Mrs. International will be the) voice for Go Red and her non-profit," Richardson said. "(If you won) we would want you to keep your non-profit and stay true to who you are and why you came to us in the first place."
The winner of Mrs. International will receive $10,000 in appearance clothing from The Competitive Image; $2,000 for travel allowance; $2,000 cash; jewelry; luggage; a crown; a sash and a return trip back to Chicago in addition to other gifts, Richardson said.
For more information or to enter the contest, contact Richardson at (540) 989-5992, or director@mrsinternational.com.