2009 MRS. MN/IA/WI AMERICA PAGEANT - ST. PAUL, MN

The 2009 Mrs. Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin America pageants were once again held at the beautiful Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. This was my second year coaching for this pageant and I am thrilled to report that I coached two out of the three new winners, Heather Hall (Minnesota) and Coral Hildebrandt (Wisconsin). ALL of my clients were absolutely amazing and I am so proud of EACH of them!

Friday started out with interviews at the Embassy Suites in St. Paul, followed by the costume competition judging and preliminary swimsuit judging. The creativity in the costumes was terrific!

Saturday was filled with rehearsals prior to the pageant itself. It is always so fun to catch up with other former Mrs. Minnesota America queens and to see long time pageant friends. This was the first year that my daughter Ava (age 4) participated as a Junior Queen (they get to wear a crown and then "present" the contestants with a flower on stage). She was SOOOOO excited and kept talking about being a "rose princess." She has seen me practicing with my clients, so she asked me how to walk, and I told her to go slowly and walk like a princess. Well, she definitely took my words literally because she walked at a snail's pace and took FOREVER to get across the stage. The audience went crazy and I was laughing so hard that tears were coming down my face. She took it very seriously and then at the end, she blew the audience a kiss (which I did NOT tell her to do--that was of her own accord). I was very proud of my little girl! Time will tell if she wants to get into pageantry when she gets older (my rule is that she has to be a minimum of 13 yrs old). We shall see...







With my two awesome Iowa clients, Katie Peterson (far L) and Feryl York (far R). Love these girls!!!












With a few of my Minnesota girls (L to R): Tamara Jett, Breanna Ludeman, me, and Heather Hall











With my two Wisconsin clients, Jessi Mishler (far L) and Coral Hildebrandt (far R)















My WI clients in their state costumes. Coral is Wisconsin's "unofficial" state bird (the mosquito!) and Jessi is a golfer.















My Iowa girls in State Costume. Feryl is a "chick" representing Iowa's egg industry, and Katie is representing the many art fairs in Iowa.









Me with my clients from MN, WI, and IA. What an incredible, CLASSY group of women!













I did hair and makeup for a few clients, including the lovely Breanna Ludeman. Watch for great things from her!
















ALL of the contestants in the Mrs. Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin pageant.












Congratulations to my client (and dear friend) Wendi Russo, the outgoing Mrs. Minnesota America 2008. Wendi did an AMAZING job and I treasure her friendship!
















With MN contestant Heather Hall














My daughter Ava with Ella (my client Heather Hall's little girl) at the Junior Queens practice. Ella was such a good leader! SO CUTE (not that I'm biased or anything!)












The Junior Queens waiting to do their thing! They were so cute!











My daughter Ava with Chloe Russo (outgoing queen Wendi Russo's daughter) having fun before the pageant.

















In the lobby with good pageant friends (L to R): Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop), Donnell Rank (Mrs. MN Int'l 2007), me, Brie Anderson, and Ava









Wendi and I with our 4-year-olds...Ava and Chloe had so much fun sitting together at the pageant! Ava could have cared less about sitting with me...she just wanted to play with Chloe!















Wendi and I met as client and coach, but she has become one of my closest friends! I am so proud of her and all that she has accomplished!










With my mom Bonnie Henderson. OK, I know I am a bit biased, but DANG does my mom look good or what!?! Can you believe she is 65??? I hope I look like her when I am her age!










Waiting for the pageant to start with my clients and friends (L to R): Sue Jackson (Mrs. WI Int'l 2009), Jessica Scheu (Miss Teen MN Int'l 2009), and Tami Krause (Mrs. MN Int'l 2009 and former Mrs. MN America 2003)









Opening number















State costume











MN contestants in Swimsuit














WI contestants in Swimsuit














WI contestants in Evening Gown













Iowa contestants in Evening Gown














MN Top 5 contestants












Former queens take the stage












MN Top 5 in Swimsuit













My clients Jessi Mishler (in blue) and Coral Hildebrandt await the announcement of the winner...

















Sparkle! client Coral Hildebrandt is crowned as the new Mrs. Wisconsin America 2009! YAY CORAL!!! Way to go!
















My client Heather Hall realizes she has just won! WOW!!! Congratulations Heather, I am so proud of you!
















I am so proud of my client Heather Hall, the new Mrs. Minnesota America 2009!














Three new queens are crowned, and I am proud to announce that two of them are my clients (Coral and Heather)! L to R: Coral Hildebrandt (WI), Loni McNertney (IA), Heather Hall (MN)
















With my client Laura Diers (Mrs. Iowa America 2008) and Breanna Ludeman after the pageant










My best friend Sarah Moses (owner of The Pageant Shop) and I are so proud of our winners! L to R: Wendi Russo (Mrs. MN America 2008), Sarah, me, and our newest success story Heather Hall (Mrs. MN America 2009)

















Me with my two latest winners!














Congratulating my client Heather Hall on her big win! Heather is a CLASS ACT all the way and was such a deserving winner!













With Diane Tucker (Mrs. World 2007) after the pageant. Diane and I competed together at Mrs. America 2006...she won and then went on to win Mrs. World, and let me tell you that it couldn't have happened to a nicer person! She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in pageantry!













Some of the Mrs. America "Class of 2006" reunite for a photo! L to R: Victoria Broz (NV), Katie Scott (IA), Shannon Martin (WI), Diane Tucker (AZ), and me (MN)





Former Mrs. Minnesota Americas gather for a photo (L to R): Faith Schway ('85), Kathy Thompson ('01), Heather Hall ('09), Robin Duffney ('95), Wendi Russo ('08), Bessie Giannakakis ('07), Jane O'Hern ('84), and me ('06)









Celebrating Heather's win with her husband Joe, the nicest guy ever!













YAY!!! We did it! I am so proud of you Heather!!!