Mrs. Maryland America

I became Mrs. Easton to promote my platform of healthy lifestyles and to educate the public on the power of prevention and its relationship to disease. Over the course of the past year and becoming Mrs. Eastern Shore America and finally Mrs. Maryland America, I learned how important it is to not only serve your family, community and career, but also to take time for yourself.

Competing in the Mrs. America pageant in Palm Springs over the course of 15 days was beyond description. Absolutely every single lady there was just that a lady. Everyone enjoyed getting to know each other and we all came home with 49 sisters. I made a point to sit with a different group of ladies at each meal and learn more about them. The power of being surrounded by them was so powerful and lifted each of us up to a new level. It will stay with me the rest of my life.

I share a platform that affects all of us. Chronic disease strikes 125 million Americans and over half of ALL disease is triggered by nutrient deficiency. Disease is not just the life threatening ones we think of like cancer, parkinsons, diabetes and heart disease. But also the life altering - such as arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma and the flu.  Because of what we consume and its lack of nutritional value, our bodies are malfunctioning. My mission is to voice what the modern health challenges are... why we are developing them and how, through prevention, you can "Take Back Your Health ." As Mrs. Maryland, I hope I have made a difference in the world, one person at a time.
 

I continued my mission by participating in the America's Fit Mrs. pageant.  We were asked to answer these questions, here are my answers....

How can winning the title inspire other people to become healthy and fit? 

Winning the title of America’s Fit Mrs. inspires other people to be healthy because they will see that anyone can be at their most physically fit at any stage in life.   I can be an inspiration because I am in the best shape of my life at the age of 40, after having two children than I was when I was a competitive ice skater. By having a personal story of success, I believe that will inspire other people and give them hope. 

With a title comes an opportunity to raise awareness on important topics.  One of the most crucial problems in our society today is our health.  People are heavier and have more disease than ever before.  As America’s Fit Mrs., I will share, as I have for over five years, what the modern health challenges are, why we are so unhealthy and out of shape and how, through simple changes you can take back your health. 

What has changed in the last 50 years is what goes into our bodies and the lack of exercise.  People should realize that even if they don’t yet have a disease, they still must take preventative action today.  We must keep our bodies moving, reduce stress, get better nutrition and eliminate toxins from what we consume. 

People look to titleholders as role models.  They are winners that have achieved success in their lives.  The woman who earns the honor gains the visibility and credibility to reach out and educate the public on how vital it is to be fit and healthy.  This title has the potential to truly help make a difference in the quality of life of so many.

How has exercise and being fit changed or affected your life?

My whole life I have been a very active person.  From the age of six, I was a dancer, then a gymnast and finally a competitive figure skater.  I became a nationally ranked ice dancer and continued to perform and coach for many years, which kept me in shape.  I have been blessed to never have had any serious issues with my weight but I realized how important it was to continue to exercise. 

I have seen many women struggle to stay thin.  They struggle both physically and emotionally.  I learned it was healthier to stay consistent with your weight and maintain your fitness level, rather than having to confront it later.  It’s the same way now with disease, far better to prevent poor health by eating right and exercising than having to combat the illness later. 

People often ask me, how at age 40, I am still so tiny and energetic.  I tell them it is all about everything in moderation and nothing in excess.  I have grown in my knowledge over the years by observing what is happening in our country and then researching why.  I feel an obligation to share that information with others.  If someone can look to me and feel inspired, then I have done something worthwhile. 

In the end, being fit and healthy has affected my life because it enables me to affect the lives of others.  There is no greater joy then to touch the life of another and see them become a healthier, happier person because of it.