
After two weeks at the beautiful Greenbrier Inn (www.greenbrier.com) in White Sulphur Springs, WV, a new Mrs. America was crowned Thursday evening. This year the Mrs. America pageant will be nationally televised on Mother’s Day, May 8th. To find your station, go to http://www.mrsamerica.com/showtimes.html.
But for those of you who can’t wait, LOL, here are my notes from the evening. First of all, let me say if you have never been to the Greenbrier, you’re missing out. I can’t wait to take my family there next year.
It was so good to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Each year a new class of amazing married women competes for the title of Mrs. America. Being a detailed oriented person, I always want to know the statics of the group. Below are my notes about the top 15 from what the announcer said about each woman during the bathing suit portion of the competition.
This year, there was a separate panel of judges for preliminaries. Two of the judges carried over into the final competition and 7 more judges were added to make a total of 9 judges. After the top 10 were named (chosen by the preliminary judges), two more contestants were selected by the pageant staff (AR and NE), two came from online voting results (VA and WV), and one name was drawn from a bowl from the remaining 37 contestants (NY) to make the top 15.
All 15 competed in swimwear. Then they changed into eveningwear. Standing in their beautiful gowns, and the top 6 were called out. The 6 were asked to describe in one word what they were feeling. After the 6 modeled their evening wear, the top 3 were named.
The first to answer her final question was Mrs. Florida. Her question was “I want your vote because…”
Next was Mrs. Colorado’s question, “I want your vote because…”
Finally, Mrs. Hawaii answered “I deserve your vote because…”
You’ll have to watch the telecast to hear their answers; but here are the results from the evening.
Mrs. America 2011- FLORIDA
APRIL LUIFRIU is 41 years old, married 15 years and has three children. She is a business owner, model and dental hygienist.
First Runner Up-HAWAII
LARA LEIMANA FONOIMOANA is 29 years old, been married 4 ½ years and has two children. She is a flight attendant and professional Polynesian dancer.
Second Runner Up-COLORADO
JANELL AMES is 33 years old, married 10 ½ years and has three children.

Remaining top 6
- CALIFORNIA
JENNIFER GLAVA is 37 years old, married 6 years and has 2 children. - GEORGIA
TIFFANY L. MARSHALL is 33 years old, married 4 years and has 2 children. - MINNESOTA
YASMINE RYBACK is 34 years old, married 9 years and has 2 children.
Remaining top 10
- IDAHO
KRISTIE BEAR is 29 years old, married 3 years and has 2 children. - MICHIGAN
TERESA TAFOYA is 29 years old, married 1 ½ years and has 1 child. - OREGON
ASPEN DROESCH is 24 years old, married for 2 ½ years. - TEXAS
ABBY TRACY is 30 years old, married 5 years and has 2 children.

Remaining top 15
- ARKANSAS
AMANDA PATTERSON is 34 years old, married 7 years and has 5 children. - NEBRASKA
KARALYN HOEFER is 42 years old, married 20 years and has 2 children. - NEW YORK
KAREN O'HARA is 44 years old, married 16 years and has 2 children. - VIRGINIA
RACHEL TRAVIS is 24 years old and married 4 ½ years. - WEST VIRGINIA
KAYLA TILLEY is 21 years old, married 4 ½ years and has 1 child.


Most Original Costume Most Whimsical Costume
Mrs. Tennessee, Melody Usdan Mrs. Alaska, Sarah Dickson

Best Costume
Mrs. Iowa, Nidia Mann
Other awards given that evening were:
- Publication Award Winners Mrs. Colorado, Janell Ames and Mrs. Nevada, Amanda Kouretas
- Face book Fantastic Face Mrs. Illinois, Zara Johnson
- Mrs. Fitness Mrs. Kentucky, Kristi Riggs
- Mrs. Congeniality Mrs. Indiana, Angela Witte
- Mrs. Photogenic Mrs. Maine, Tina Hendricks
Here is the beautiful Mrs. America class of 2011. To see videos, pictures, and to read their bios, go to http://www.mrsamerica.com/index.html.




What are the requirements to compete in Mrs. America?
- Must be at least 18 years of age - no age limit.
- Must be legally married at the time of competition.
- Must be a resident of the state you are competing in and a U.S. Citizen.
Areas of Competition:
- 4 minute one-on-one personal interview
- Swimsuit
- Evening Gown
- No performing talent required
For more information about the national telecast or to compete in Mrs. America, visit http://www.mrsamerica.com/index.html.
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DEADLINE TO ENTER THE
WTP RELAY FOR LIFE PAGEANT IS MAY 5, 2011
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Do you need practice for your summer pageant?
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Are you looking for a pageant with no swimsuit or talent requirement?
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Do you like the idea that 20% of all the money raised from this pageant is going to the American
Here's your opportunity.

- Every contestant will go home with a crown and prizes valued beyond the registration fee.
Click here for full details about this opportunity and share it with your friends.


INTERVIEW CARD
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The Beginning 10 Questions are the staple interview questions everyone must know the answers in an interview situation. Then each month you will receive a new card in the mail with fresh questions.
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Rhonda Shappert is an expert pageant coach, an iPEC Certified Professional Coach, an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and a member of the International Coach Federation. She created Winning Through Pageantry® to partner with pageant contestants and their support people to provide complete pageant preparation, achieve winning results in life through pageantry, and to Succeed From The Inside Out®. She has over 30 years experience in the pageantry world as a contestant, judge, emcee, staff member, mother of daughters who compete, Mrs. Ohio America 2005, and has held multiple titles at the local, state and national levels.
Rhonda graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Musical Theater from The Ohio State University and has performed on stage in 15 countries on the Asian, European and American continents. This mother of three home educates their children and has been married 22 years to her husband Stephen, is the former mayor of her community, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Virtual Academy. She and her husband perform original contemporary Christian music. For more information on Rhonda, visit www.WinningThroughPageantry.com .



