Global Arthritis Video Production

This evening I had the great opportunity to be a part of a worldwide video production for Belgium-based, Union Chimique Belge (UCB). UCB is truly passionate about enabling families with severe diseases to enjoy normal, everyday lives through connecting patients, people and science to make radical breakthroughs with biologics. UCB has partnered with the Arthritis Foundation bringing hope to those of us with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with new a treatment to rapidly reduce the rate of progression of joint damage and to improve measurements of patients' physical function.

As a spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation, I shared my personal story with RA in great detail so that those who view the video worldwide such as patients, scientists and rheumatologists will get a first hand account of the day to day triumphs and struggles living with this disease. This opportunity is very humbling as it will reach millions who have arthritis and countless professionals who are working on a cure.

It was a great experience, with two hours of free flowing conversational questions and discussion about my life with arthritis and tips and advice on how to manage the disease for those who are newly diagnosed. Thanks to the Barrington Media crew for doing an excellent job today and making the interview process fun. I am very grateful to all the professionals with UCB who dedicate their lives to finding a cure for arthritis, THANK YOU for all you do. I'll keep ya'll posted on when the video is up and live for all to see!

Northside Woman Magazine Cover Story

Check out Northside Woman Magazine - Cover Story "The Beauty Queen Next Door"

Also check out "Pageant Secrets from a Beauty Queen" here!


All photos by Matt Boyd Photography www.mattboyd.tv

Atlanta Social Season Magazine

Featured in the Summer issue of Atlanta Social Season Magazine, this publication highlights the social and charitable fundraisers across Atlanta.

Judging Little Miss Atlanta Pageant

Saturday was a fun morning at the Little Miss Atlanta Pageant at the Doubletree Hotel in Roswell. I served as a judge for the event, congrats to my friend Amy Mixon for winning the community service award from the Miss Atlanta board, she deserves it for all the hard work she puts into this fundraiser, all proceeds go toward the Miss Atlanta Scholarship Program, a preliminary for Miss Georgia America.

Meredith Boyd of Matt Boyd Photography

Bone Bash!

What an incredible honor to be the emcee for the Arthritis Foundation's Bone Bash in Atlanta at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia Hotel. It was a costumed affair of spooky creatures, ghosts and goblins, dreadfully silent auctions, witches brew, bone shaking tunes, games and themed contests! The affair was generously sponsored by UCB - the next generation biopharma leader that is making radical breakthroughs with severe diseases like arthritis. This event was a wonderful demonstration on how chapters across the nation of the Arthritis Foundation can take a fun event to be a successful fundraiser for arthritis education, research and outreach programs.


Matt and I are blessed to have been asked to become board members of the Arthritis Foundation Young Professionals group! Thank you to all my friends at the Arthritis Foundation who support my passion and continue to bestow such amazing opportunities to help continue the fight against arthritis.

With a new friend, Aimee Busquet - she is the chairwoman of the Arthritis Foundation's Young Professionals Board. I truly admire her tenacity to keep "dancing through life!" Thank you for inviting us to join your board - we are HONORED and look forward to helping make a difference in the lives of others with arthritis!
Meeting Ms. Wheelchair America 2005, Juliette Rizzo! What an amazing and beautiful young woman. She believes that community participation is more than having a physical presence but is also about finding your identity through your involvement in and personal contribution to community life, she's very involved as a member of the Arthritis Foundation.

With my co-emcee for the evening - David Schneider of UCB (aka Mr. UCB!)

With the New Jersey Arthritis Foundation chapter - they represented the New Jersey Turnpike! I have gotten so lost and turnaround on that turnpike - but now I have a GPS :0)

"Let's Move Together" a nationwide movement to help the millions of people who suffer from the pain of arthritis: http://www.arthritis.org/lets-move-together-main.php

With the anti-inflammatories!

With Michael Jackson and his "thriller" friends...

Arthritis Foundation Commercial

Today I was honored to be a part of the Arthritis Foundation's annual television commercial campaign that will help spread awareness of the walks and educational programs available through AF organized nationwide. I hope that by sharing my story with rheumatoid arthritis it will help inspire others to be a part of our program and foster education across the world to those who suffer from the pain of rheumatic diseases.

Let's Move Together!

I am so honored to be featured as this month's "Mover of the Month" by the Arthritis Foundation Click here for the article!

One in five people or 46 million Americans suffer from the pain of arthritis, Let's Move Together is a nationwide movement led by the Arthritis Foundation that encourages people to move to prevent or treat arthritis and rheumatic diseases. Join the movement today!

Judging Sunburst International Pageants

Having a blast judging the Sunburst International pageant finals in Atlanta with my hubby Matt and beautiful pageant sister Tiffany Hudak, Mrs. Georgia United States! We judged over 300 contestants from all over the U.S. and surrounding countries! Whew it was a long day!

More Mrs. International Pictures!

Here are more pictures from the Mrs. International 2008 pageant in Chicago - enjoy!

MRS. INTERNATIONAL ORIENTATION
With Mrs. Alabama Janet Smith, Mrs. Virginia Joy Pfister and Mrs. Southeast Laine Berry - orientation was a memorable experience kicking off the "Go Red for Women" campaign.

DISCOVERING DOWNTOWN CHICAGO With Mrs. New York Lori Donaudy, Mrs. Oklahoma Sasha Townsend, Mrs. North Carolina Shannon Devine, Mrs. Connecticut Jennifer Balzarini, Mrs. New Jersey Kim Meehan, Mrs. South Carolina Patti Mercer, Mrs. Pennsylvania Susan Huntley, Mrs. Ohio Gerri Walczak, Mrs. Florida Ashley Maguire and Mrs. Southeast Laine Berry shopping till we dropped in Chicago!

With Brenda Mee, Mrs. Idaho having a blast in downtown Chicago. Brenda has an amazing voice, she is a very well known radio personality with her husband in Idaho! Listen to her show on KIZN radio. She is as beautiful on the outside as she sounds on the inside!

With my fashion inspiration Mrs. DC, Deanna Linz - girl you know how to dress! WOW! What a classy and beautiful woman, Deanna your work with your platform is amazing and thank you Andy for keeping us safe! You are a perfect couple!

Touring the city of Chicago with the sweet Mrs. North Dakota, Ang Smith, you are so crazy girl! Thank you for being a ray of pure sunshine! We have been email buddies for awhile and it was fantastic to make a beautiful new friend in person! Chewy says hi! :0) Hope to see you in a few weeks!

With Carol Johnson Mrs Arkansas, the sweetest girl in the entire pageant! Always a kind word of encouragement and smile, you made this experience a wonderful one - big hugs to you girl!

MRS. INTERNATIONAL FORMAL DINNER

All the contestants with Mrs. International 2007 Rebekah Negrete and Executive Director Mary Richardson before dinner at the Monaco Room in Chicago. Here's to the amazing class of 2008!

With my beautiful sisters of the South: Mrs. Alabama Janet Smith and Mrs South Carolina Patti Mercer. You both are amazing women and I am so glad we were able to share this amazing experience together!

With Mrs. Illinois Michelle Beckwith, Mrs. North Carolina Shannon Devine and Mrs. Arkansas Carol Johnson at the formal dinner in the Monaco Room - you all look amazing ladies! You are have done amazing work with your platforms, you are all such an inspiration! Thank you for making that evening a night to remember forever!

FRIDAY REHEARSALS
With Deanna Linz Mrs. DC, Ginny Meerman Mrs. Virgin Islands and Joy Pfister, Mrs. Virginia on our way to practice - aren't these women beautiful? I wish we had more time together, you are all amazing women with platforms that really make a difference!

With Jessica Plante Mrs. Massachusetts - we must have been separated at birth, she's so funny, down to earth and gorgeous! I am in awe of your platform work and personal story, you are a true testament of a role model, I am honored to be your new friend!

At rehearsals with my hubby Matt - lookin' good babe!

MRS. INTERNATIONAL FINALS

With Traycee Menifee, Mrs. Georgia Beauties of America 40's! Thank you for always being a constant source of support and wonderful friend, I love ya girl!

With my Florida gal pals - thank you for coming to Chicago to cheer me on!

With my BFF's...Barbra Christner and Angel Kirk - I love you both to pieces! Thank you for coming to Chicago - Barb, I am truly blessed to have you as a friend and cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me. Angel, thank you and Randy for coming all the way from ALASKA to cheer me on! I am humbled by our friendship and cannot wait for you to move to Tennessee so we can be within driving distance of each other. My life is forever changed with you in it, thank you both for being such a inspiration and beautiful women inside and out - I love you both!

The top five finalists with husbands. Laine - congrats on your new title! Who would have thought that we sat next to one another at orientation we'd be the last two standing. May God bless your travels this year with the Go Red movement to help change the stats for heart disease in women around the world, you will make a tremendous impact! Our prayers are with your Dad for a speedy recovery!