Sharing My Mrs. Mississippi International Platform within the Pageant Industry

“I will be grateful for this day” -Anonymous

"When the devil keeps asking you to look at your past, there must be something good in the future he doesn't want you to see." – Anonymous

“Pretending to be happy when you are in PAIN is just an example of how STRONG a person you are.” - Anonymous

            One of the most enjoyable aspects of my involvement in the pageant industry over the past 20 years is being a Pageant Judge. When I accepted my title as Mrs. Mississippi International 2014, I knew that I would have to limit the number of pageants that I judge; still, I have been able to judge several special pageants during my year’s reign thus far, have met many wonderful local, state, and national directors and contestants throughout the southeast, and have had the privilege of sharing my platform focusing on Chronic Pain Awareness with so many people.

In late 2013, I was one of the Overall Judges for an up and coming pageant system—The National Southern Miss Scholarship Pageant in Panama City Beach, Florida. My husband was able to travel with me to this pageant, and when the pageant completely wrapped up, I met up with the newly crowned queens on the beach; afterwards, my husband and I shared some fun time on the beach before heading back to Mississippi.

 

           After traveling around my great state in February, making appearances to promote American Heart Month and the Mrs. International Pageant System’s American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women charity initiative, I had the honor of judging several pageants in early March. Mississippi is known as “The Hospitality State” and each year cities and counties around my state begin having preliminary Miss Hospitality Pageants to crown their ambassadors to send to our state’s Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant held each summer in Hattiesburg, MS. I was thrilled this year to be asked to judge The Meridian and Lauderdale County Miss Hospitality Pageant and to meet the lovely, well-spoken, intelligent young women vying for these 2 crowns.

 

I also had the honor of judging the 2014 Jimmie Rogers Pageant in early March, and as one of 3 panel judges, we chose 3 young girls of various age groups to represent the historic “Father of Country Music,”, Jimmie Rodgers at events & concerts in Meridian and Lauderdale County, MS, during the upcoming year.

 Last weekend (judging in another sister state), I was one of 5 Overall Judges at the 2014 Miss Alabama Plus America Pageant. To know that I helped choose the Miss, Ms, and Mrs. winners of this pageant, directed by the talented and very committed, Mr. Phillip Bailey, is one of the highlights of my "judging adventures" this year. I met the 2012 and 2013 National Miss Plus America Queens, along with the local and state queens from Alabama and Georgia. I was deeply inspired by the stories these women told, the platforms they chose, and the amazingly strong, talented, intelligent women who I met. Again, I was able to share my personal platform “Bringing a Voice to the Silent Pain of Chronic Illness” with so many people who I met this past weekend, and who I now count as true pageant industry friends.

Before I put my blinders on and began to focus on my preparation for the 2014 Mrs. International Pageant this July, I have the joy of judging the 2014 Miss Catfish Pageant in Belzoni, MS. This pageant is part of the 39^th World Catfish Festival, held in the MS Delta in the NW corner of MS, near my hometown of Greenwood, MS. This will be my last pageant to judge (not to attend) until August 2014, and while I will miss being on the judge’s side of the stage, I look forward to representing Mississippi at the Mrs. International Pageant and meeting all of my International Pageant sister queens!!!!

-Bringing My Voice to the Silent World of Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness within the Pageant Industry

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

            Be Brave,

            Angie Russell Irvin

            Mrs. Mississippi International 2014

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