MN INTERNATIONAL SEND-OFF PARTY (WAYZATA, MN)

Today was the Send-Off Party for the 2008 Minnesota International queens hosted at the Ugarte home in Wayzata, MN. It was great to see many familiar faces and good friends, and of course send off the 2008 queens in style.



Partygoers! L to R: me, my client Leisha Gust (Mrs. MN Int'l '08), my client Molly Nicholson (Mrs. Mpls 08), Angeline Gard (Mrs. Stillwater '08), and Donnell Rank (Mrs. Minnesota Int'l '07)










Former Mrs. MN Int'ls gather to send Leisha off to Nationals (L to R): Kelly Jahner-Byrne ('01), Trixie Overcashier ('98), Angela Haseman ('06), Leisha Gust ('08), Donnell Rank ('07), Allison Stavrakis ('88), and me ('03)











SO PROUD of my client and dear friend Leisha Gust! GOOD LUCK AT NATIONALS! FYI, this is on of my FAVORITE evening gowns ever...it has such a red-carpet feel and looks like it could be by Gucci (it is actually by Stephen Yearick). Gorgeous!














Watching the girls open their gifts...













Three happy queens!

2008 MRS. MN/IA/WI AMERICA PAGEANT - ST. PAUL, MN

With Iowa client Laura Diers before her interview

















With MN clients Wendi Russo (far L) and Denise Wood (far R) before their interviews













With WI client Penny Godbout before her interview














With the darling Delanie Neal just before the pageant. Delanie is one of my teen clients and is just a terrific young lady!









Former Mrs. MN Americas gather for a quick photo before the pageant (L to R): Melissa Young ('04), Jane O'Hearn ('84), me ('06), and Charity McClung ('02)















Artist Tom Nguyen presenting me with my portrait...THANK YOU TOM!!!
















With WI client Penny Godbout before the pageant.







Some of my clients came to show their support for Wendi (L to R): Natalie Hagemo (Mrs. Excelsior Int'l '08), Wendi Russo (Mrs. Eden Prairie America '08), Tamara Jett (Mrs. Ham Lake Int'l '08), and me. I love the seeing the sisterhood that forms between "my girls"...those friendships are more important than any crown!










The opening number with the contestants in white cocktail dresses.
















My client Laura Diers in her state costume for Iowa (she represented the RAGBRAI bike race).















My MN client Denise Wood in her state costume (MN Vikings)


















My WI client Penny Godbout in her Winter Queen state costume

















My WI client Coral Hildebrandt in her cute cow state costume














A group shot of the contestants














Group shot of the contestants in Swimsuit










With Sarah Sprayberry (Miss MN Teen USA 2008) and Kaylee Unverzagt (Miss MN USA 2008) backstage











Being introduced as a "former" Mrs. Minnesota America
















My IA client Laura Diers competes in Evening Gown

















My MN client Denise Wood competes in Evening Gown

















My WI client Penny Godbout competes in Evening Gown

















My WI client Coral Hildebrandt competes in Evening Gown
















All of the contestants in the evening gowns












My client Laura Diers is crowned Mrs. Iowa America 2008! She worked SOOOO hard for this, driving to Minnesota for mock interviews, wardrobe fittings, our coaching sessions, etc! Her hard work and determination paid off and I am extremely proud to call her my client and friend! YAY LAURA, YOU DID IT!









My client Wendi Russo is crowned Mrs. Minnesota America 2008! In addition to the title, Wendi also won the awards for Best in Interview, Best in Swimsuit, Best in Evening Gown, AND the Photogenic Award! If that wasn't enough, she won by UNANIMOUS vote, securing all six of the judges' 1st place votes! The last time that happened was 20 years ago in 1988 (when Jennifer Kline won Mrs. MN and also won Mrs. America!) WOW WOW WOW! I am SOOOOO proud of Wendi and the heart and soul that she has poured into her platform!













The Top 3 for Mrs. WI America (L to R): my client Coral Hildebrandt (1st RU), winner Jennifer Schluga, and my client Penny Godbout (2nd RU). I was very proud to have coached two of the top 3 contestants in the WI pageant!















With my client Denise Wood and her daughter after the pageant. Denise placed as 2nd RU and this was her very first pageant!

















My client Laura Diers - Mrs. Iowa America with her runners-up










I am so proud of my two new winners! Wendi Russo (Mrs. MN America 2008) and Laura Diers (Mrs. IA America 2008). Two hardworking & deserving winners!










Many former Mrs. MN America titleholders were on hand to celebrate at the Coronation Party.












My favorite photo of the night...Wendi and I celebrate at the Coronation Party!