CLASSIC WOMAN NEWS

The night of the America Beauties Plus Pageant I felt that if I ever had the chance to win it would be tonight! I felt and looked my best! Beth Martin, America Beauties Plus Miss Georgia 2010, did my hair in an up do and I had a new gown that I loved. It was a red strapless gown and I look awesome in red. I purchased all new outfits that made me feel like a Queen when I put them. After practicing for weeks with Beth, Wilson Evans, and Carly Gill on walking, making eye contact with the judges, and interview questions I was very confident in myself going into the pageant.

My interview was great! On my Judges Information Sheet I wrote that I have one year, three months, and two days left till retirement and that I just missed my jobs early retirement buyout by ten days! The Judges asked me what I would do during my retirement. I said I would stay home and relax some days, continue my various volunteer activities, play with my two beautiful grand daughters, and maybe one day you might find me on the lido deck of a cruise ship waving bon voyage!

The part of the pageant that frightened me the most was the on stage question. Most of the questions asked before mine were political in nature and this only heightened my anxiety. When my turn came I said a prayer and picked my question. The question I had chosen asked “What is your favorite time of day?” At that point my heart spoke up for me. I told the judges that my three year old grand daughter lives with me and in the middle of the night, usually around 3:00 am, she whimpers and comes into my room. She says “Mimi!” and climbs in my bed. I look at her and she looks at me and says “Mimi I lub you!” I tell her that I love her too and we cuddle up together and fall off to sleep. What a great way to start your day! You sure couldn’t find a better way than that! As I walked off the stage six different people told me that I made them cry.

When it was time for crowning and I was walking on stage people were smiling at me and I thought that maybe I had a chance at winning that crown. My division was called forward and several names were called out before mine. Then it was just two of us left on stage and they called the other ladies name and I thought to myself “I think I won!” I can’t remember too much after that. I was in shock! I do remember thanking the Judges, looking at Beth and thanking her for doing my hair and makeup. I remember looking over at Wilson and saying to Beth that she was right, Wilson really does cry when she wins! Everyone was crying and Reggie Lewis, the MC, was handing out Kleenexes. Then I started crying and reached over and said to Reggie “Ok, let me have a Kleenex too and everyone laughed.

After the crowing and pictures I made my first appearance as American Beauties Plus Classic Woman 2010 when I joined my fellow ABP sister Queens for dinner a the Olive Garden where we wore our newly won crown and sashes.