1st Runner up - Mrs. International Pageant!

Congratulations to all the beautiful and accomplished ladies this year at the 2008 Mrs. International pageant! I am HONORED to be awarded First Runner-up! Thank you to my loving husband Matt for being so incredibly wonderful throughout this entire journey, I love you so much, you are an amazing Mr. Georgia! I am also so very grateful for my family and friends who supported me through this experience and I cannot thank you all enough for the countless prayers, phone calls, emails, beautiful gifts and cards during pageant week. Being able to champion Arthritis Awareness as my cause is such an honor and thank you to my friends at the Arthritis Foundation for all your support! I walk away from this entire experience a richer and more humbled woman from knowing each and every contestant in the pageant, having met you all, I am richer in friendships and that in itself is so invaluable to me!

Mrs. International 2008 Top 10 from left to right: Tennessee, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma (4th ru), South Carolina (2nd ru), Southeast (winner), Georgia (1st ru), District of Columbia (3rd ru), Virginia and Massachusetts

The sweetest sister queen I could ever ask for, Mrs. Alabama - Janet you are in MY top ten! I love you girl! My throat is so sore from doing my Chewbacca impression all week! LOL...that was so funny, I am so glad we bonded the way we did and I am so lucky to call you my friend. Group #3 RULES! We rocked it out ladies, I am so honored to share the week with you! From left to right in our opening number outfits: (Nevada, Texas, Utah, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, Massachusetts)With my dear friend, Tiffany Love - Mrs. Tennessee...we had a blast together dancing, singing and cutting up all week! You had me in stitches...don't forget, "the world is mine!" I am so glad we got to know each other so well, you are a true delight and have a heart of gold. Melvin was amazing helping all the girls out of the rain too - what a gentleman! Six Flags here we come!Group shot before interviews. These beautiful gals are both my suite mates: Brenda Baecker, Mrs. Colorado - You are a GEM! Thank you for always looking out for me "momma cat," you are the best dancer, all those years of cheerleading paid off...I can't wait to see you and Rick in October! Mrs. Michigan, Keisha Guy - my partner in the opening number, walking down those stairs with you in the opening number was so much fun and now you know my little secret for keeping everything in place!
Receiving the generous $1,500 1st runner-up award from Tammy and David McDonald of Reliant Hospice. Tammy was Mrs. International 2004, and she is stunning!
With Tim Kretschmann of the Pageant Cast! Thanks Tim for a great interview and it was fantastic to meet you in person - finally! Talk with you soon!
With Matt - a.k.a. "Mr. Georgia International" at rehearsals - I love you!

More photos will be added ...so check back soon!