There She (AND HER RING) ARE........

Guess what........IT'S MRS. AMERICA WEEK!!!!!

It's that time of year when beautiful married women from around the country converge on Tuscon, Arizona - specifically the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort - to compete for the coveted title of Mrs. America!!!

In all the pageants I've ever competed in - this one was BY FAR my favorite.  The weather was beautiful, the resort was amazing, the other delegates were BEYOND fabulous, the choreographers were a hoot, the winner was deserving and it was extremely memorable.   One would think that 2.5 weeks with 51 other "catty pageant girls" would be hell, but I experienced quite the opposite.  We had more in common than you could ever imagine and I gained more than three dozen "sorority" sisters - there will ALWAYS only be ONE Class of 2009.

 

There are some BEAUTIFUL delegates competing this year, and I am sure they all have great backgrounds with tons of experience to share and platforms to promote.    Just a few that caught my attention...

Mrs. District of Columbia - Meredith Egwuatu

Mrs. Georgia - Eiesha M. Horsley

Mrs. Maryland - Zereana Jess-Huff

Mrs. Oregon - Shakelah Morgan

Mrs. Pennsylvania - Amira Hamid Joseph

Mrs. National First Runner-Up   Sioux Falls South Dakota - Shirlene Hagler

Thanks Beyoncé - ….. I think!

Pretty shouldn't hurt!

I don't even know how I came across this video today, but I saw crowns and trophies (****squirrel ****)

Why is it that when ever anyone wants to make a point about inner beauty, enhancing self confidence and self-esteem and being proud of yourself they always showcase the down side of pageantry?  I mean COME ON, can we get away from the bad raps already?

I love Beyonce' as much as the next person, but I was a little offended at the negativity associated with the backstage pageant inference.  {Okay, for argument's sake forget about all of the seasons of Toddlers & Tiaras -----PLEASE :-)!! } Pageant really are a good thing, I've met some of my best friends competing against them in pageants!

In any event, I know how much I love pageantry and what I have gained from it.  I have seen countless young women earn scholarships, make lifelong friends, travel the world and promote platforms that bring light to many social ills as well as raise much needed funds for for a variety of causes.

So while I didn't too much care for the video (like the song). I am gonna say THANKS Beyonce' for giving me another chance to speak about the BEAUTY of pageantry.  Pretty shouldn't hurt!

Operation Pretty and Polished…..The work of the Crown continues!

We, here at Pageants & Pearls, just LOVE to see queens give back and continue the work of their crown!  We especially love it when they give back and make young ladies more beautiful at the same time!  This past weekend, that's exactly what happened at Operation Pretty and Polished in Washington, DC - thanks to State Farm and Once Upon a Prom.

Local DC Area teens had the opportunity to pick out prom suits and dresses for the season.  Radio Station, WPGC 95.5, was a major promoter of the event!

One of my FAVORITE pageant queens - Mrs. Maryland International 2011 Sandra Bryan-Grier was on hand to help motivate, style and encourage young people.  Along with her daughter, their organization SanSan's Closet donated multiple pieces of jewelry, handbags, shoes, gowns and more.

Sandra put out a call to her pageant friends, network and family - through their contributions a donation of:
* 73 Gowns/Cocktail Dresses (15 new)
*15 Packets with Pastie Bras
* 15 Purses (3 new)
*30 Earrings (25 New)
* 12 Fashion Bracelets (New)
*25 Pairs of Shoes

Way to go Sandra, a GREAT job showcasing that the work of a TRUE beauty queen never stops. The power of the crown and sash can always be used for good!  

In Memory of Darrin K. James........We're Back!!!

My dear pageant friends, fans & supporters,

I know it's been a while.....I've been through a few life changes over the past nine months...most profoundly the sudden loss of my husband in November 2013.  He was my biggest supporter and quiet as kept, took great pride in being Mr. Maryland United States and Mrs. District of Columbia America respectively.

It's now time to get back in the saddle and return to what I love and enjoy......watching, researching, looking at and reviewing pageants, beauty trends, inspiring young people and female empowerment.  I hope you will rejoin me as we get back on this roller coaster of exploring the Pageants & Pearls of pageantry.

I love you Babe! Rest in peace. Thank you for always being there for me and being the life of the "husband" parties at Nationals. I am still going strong and thinking of you.

In the infamous (yet, modified) words of Jay-Z "You ready Dee?" BEST BELIEVE I AM!!!  Pageant season #2014 is here.

For more on our pageant and event planning services, please visit www.madisondonovangroup.com

Just because.......the girl from Kansas

Whewwwwwwwwwwwww, what a tizzy the last few weeks have been.  Pageant, after pageant, after pageant - I didn't mean to neglect you dear readers :-(   But, now that the pageant frenzy has slowed to a crawl I am back! 

Surfing the web this morning, I came across this awesome picture that I wanted to share, just because!

 

According to the Miss Kansas Organization, Theresa Vail - Miss Kansas 2013 was recently promoted to the rank of Sergeant and is officially a non-commissioned officer in the Kansas National Guard.  She's been a member of the Guard since she was 17.

Not only is she a soldier, this beauty, who has eight siblings, LOVES archery!!!

Reading up on her, I found out that her platform is to "empower women through male-dominated activities ... and that’s not just hunting and archery."    I will be excited to see this Kansas State University beauty in Atlantic City next month!