| Mrs. Kentucky Dr. Denise Yates My Preparation for Mrs. America: Making appearances in this wonderful Commonwealth. Work-outs for a physically fit body for swimsuit! We had a "Bling Party" to decorate and stone 50 horseshoes that I will be giving to all the contestants for a gift "from Kentucky" as well as, a dental care package and personalized state crown badge. Pageantry is has been a very big part of my life for the past 24 years. This is when I became involved with the Miss America Organization---the largest scholarship source for young women in the world, awarding over $45 million annually on the state and local levels. I used scholarships I earned to partially fund my way through dental school at the Medical College of Georgia. After competing in the system, I became a volunteer and I am currently a director for 3 local Miss America preliminaries---Miss Jeffersontown, Miss Louisville, and Miss Jefferson County. I am proud to say that we have produced 7 Miss Kentucky's and 1 Miss America! |  |
| Mrs. West Virginia Gretchen Pingley The Mrs. West Virginia Pageant: Gretchen survived a grueling few hours of interviews and rehearsals before Saturday's pageant at the Metropolitan Theater in Morgantown. One of Mrs. West Virginia's main responsibilities is working with West Virginia University Hospitals to promote breast cancer awareness. Ten contestants from around the state -- including a 68-year-old grandmother -- competed for the title. In addition to other prizes, the winner gets an all-expense paid trip to Arizona to complete in the Mrs. America Pageant |  |
| Mrs. Texas Valerie Brooks Mrs. Texas is the Official Preliminary to the Mrs. America Pageant, the only Nationally Televised Mrs. Pageant in the country. broadcast on the Women�s Entertainment Network. The Mrs. Texas Program, in partnership with the Mrs. America Pageant and the Mrs. World Pageant, is the largest system of its kind in the world. Valerie competed with 33 delegates from across the Lone Star State in Interview, Swimwear and Eveningwear. Mrs. Texas won a custom evening gown from Crown Couture, an entire wardrobe for two weeks from Alberto Makali, and a gold and diamond �Mrs. Texas� necklace from Ballerina Jewelers in St. Thomas. Valerie will travel to Tucson, Arizona from August 22nd � September 6th, 2007 to represent Texas in the Mrs. America Pageant. Established in 1977, this National Competition is devoted to proving that America's 60 million married women are extraordinarily poised, articulate, hard-working and versatile. |  |
| Mrs. Kansas Erin Claycamp Mrs. Erin Claycamp, was crowned Mrs. Kansas America 2007 stood out from the rest. Erin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from the University of Missouri Kansas City. She has performed in local productions including A CHORUS LINE, GREASE!, INTO THE WOODS, and seen in New Theater Restaurant production of FUNNY GIRL! Erin also appeared locally as one of �Barker�s Beauties� on the PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE at Harrah�s casino and in 2002 she was an alternate for the Radio City Rockettes. Erin is no stranger to pageants; she holds the distinction of being named the 1st runner-up at Miss Kansas USA in 2004 and 2005. Erin has also worked as a choreographer for the Mrs. Missouri America Pageant and local Miss Kansas America Pageant. She has been a judge for the state level Miss USA Pageants as well as local Miss Kansas America Pageants. While competing in Miss Kansas America she met and married the man of her dreams, Marshall Claycamp. |  |
| Mrs. Oklahoma Melissa Soto Melissa is honored to represent Sand Springs and Oklahoma in the Mrs. America 2007 pageant, which will be held on August 24 � September 5 in Tucson, Arizona. She feels that this title will open doors of opportunity to positively touch lives and encourage women. She will be traveling the great state of Oklahoma making appearances, promoting the Mrs. Oklahoma America pageant and speaking out about sexual abuse. latform: Putting a Voice to the �Silent Crime� of Sexual Abuse: For 15 years Melissa kept a secret from her family that she had been sexually abused from the age 7 to 12. Unfortunately, by the time she had the courage to speak out and tell her family about the abuse her abuser was dead. Melissa now encourages others to not be afraid and to speak out if they are or know someone who is being abused. Melissa is a spokesperson for �Project Nightlight�. It is an organization that uses short films, music, and apparel to grab kid�s attention and inspire them to speak out against abuse. Fact: Of the 3 million cases reported each year, less than 300 are reported by the child being abused. Project Nightlight is working toward revolutionizing the way people view victims of abuse. We also encourage adults to join in the fight by openly talking about their past when it involves being abused. |  |