Mrs. International 2010, Saturday, July 17 at the 23rd Annual Mrs.
International Pageant in Skokie, Ill. The two-hour event, held at the
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, featured 51 contestants
competing in three categories, including interview, fitness-wear and
evening gown. Devine, who also won the Most Photogenic award, was
crowned Mrs. International by her husband, Jason, before a packed
audience, which included her 2 ½-year-old daughter Halle-Grace.
In keeping with International Pageants' platform-focus and dedication
to highlighting women's accomplishments through community support,
Devine will spend her year as Mrs. International 2010 supporting the
National Council for Adoption (NCFA). Devine's only child was adopted
by her and her husband in Vietnam on September 1, 2008. They
recognize this date each year with their own "Family Day"
celebration. As part of Devine's work with NCFA, she will head a task
force to re-open adoptions of Vietnamese children to U.S. families,
and hopes to spend time with her daughter in her native country
promoting adoption.
"This was the first time I've competed in a pageant as a mother, and
my daughter really put things in perspective for me," said Devine. "I
realized that the most important part of the International Pageant
system is their devotion to family values. Strong values are what
this crown is all about. It's not about winning a crown, but what
you're going to do with it."
Devine is a 1997 graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone,
N.C. and currently works as a sales manager for Genzyme corporation, a
world leader in biotechnology. Devine also volunteers for many other
local organizations, including LifeShare of the Carolinas and Susan G.
Komen for the Cure. Devine is part of the Angela's Army team that will
participate in the 2010 Susan G. Komen race in Charlotte, N.C. in
memory of her cousin Angela Wike and her grandmother, whom both lost
their battles with breast cancer this past spring. Additionally,
through her role as Mrs. International 2010, she will support the
American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement, for which
International Pageants, Inc. has a national alliance.
The Mrs. International Pageant is the only platform- based system and
is owned and operated by International Pageants, Inc., which also
operates the Miss and Miss Teen International competitions. Mrs.
International showcases married women 21 to 56-years-old and includes
their husbands as an integral part of the event. For more information
visit www.mrsinternational.com.
FINAL RESULTS:
First runner up: Mrs. Oklahoma International, Heidi Ducato,
of Jenks, Okla. Her platform is the American Heart Association's Go
Red for Women campaign.
Second runner up: Mrs. Florida International, Donna Brown, of
Parkland Fla. Her platform is the National Kidney Foundation.
Third runner up: Mrs. Utah International, Janine Marquardson,
of Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Her platform is organ donation through
the Donate Life organization.
Fourth runner up: Mrs. Southeast Asia, Zereana Jess-Huff of San
Antonio, Texas. Her platform is the World Federation on Mental Health
(WFMH).
