Pageant pictures from the professional

Here are some pictures taken by the pageant photog. It took forever to get these up as the first disc wouldn't open for me. The second one I lost. Only recently it was found in the corner of a random desk drawer. How did it get there? So here are some pics.

1) Preliminary swimsuit competition.
2)I love this lady. Mrs. Iowa, Amanda Brink Hull. We stood next to each other for most of the rehearsals. She was a doll.
3)Our intros. I wore this dress (when it was a full length gown) YEARS ago. I found it at my parents and it fit. So I chopped it off for this. Back then I didn't know a thing about labels. So imagine my surprsie when I find it is a (vintage yet?)Sherri Hill.
4)Evening Gown. I adore this dress.

Some more from the pageant professional...

Here are some more candids from the week.
1) Rehearsals. It was so HOT out side, I had to concentrate on which arm was left and which was right.
2) My dear friend and roomate, Tracy Rodgers (Mrs. NV)
3) Swim shoot. I was one of the lucky ones to be able to keep my feet cooling in the water. At 8am, it was already pretty toasty.
4) Group shot before a night out on the town.

And the New Mrs. United States is!!!!!

Finals night was a whirlwind and here are pictures just in from my fabulous siter-in-law Lisa. Stephanie is GLOWING!!!!

It turns out July 12th marked an important day for a couple of reasons. Hawaiian Governor Lingle had vetoed a Safe Haven Law. But we across the country emailed and called and helped persuade Representatives and Senators who then came together in an overwhelming majority and voted to over ride her. So now we have our 48th state to have a Safe Haven law in place.

I also returned home to find an email asking me to appear on Larry King Live that finals day concerning a missing persons case. Pretty cool, but I missed the deadline. Vegas was worth missing Larry. Next time, right?

1)Top ten questions
2)Top ten Evening Gown. What a handsome Escort! Va va va Voom!
3)The new Mrs. United States is!!!!
4)Stunning Stephanie

This Just in!!!

More pictures thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law Lisa. She should be a professional photographer!DISCLAIMER-The fuzzy shots aren't hers!

1)I'm Amy Gregorio, Mrs. Illinois!
2)Prelim Eveing Gown
3)After Prelims
4)Some of the top ten

Mrs. International 2007 is....

Mrs. International came to Chicago this weekend and I went with some friends who know many of the ladies competing. Not only was it Mrs. International, it was also the meeting of the Mrs. queens. I had the chance to meet so many people I had only seen in pictures. I joked they probably thought I was stalking them. I met Mrs. CT US 2006 Phyllis Winters. I just saw her and asked, "Are you from CT?" I also met Holly Ernst. This was a big one for me as I loved, no ADORED, her blog as Mrs. MN America. She was so great at updating it while in AZ and it made me want that kind of an experience. To finally meet her in person was very cool. The evening was also a chance to hang out with Lisa Neiwolny (Who I am urging to compete again as she is the all around amazing package-What do you say Lisa?), Janice McQueen Ward (unbelievably good advice), and Diana Pizza (a new friend). Mrs. IL America 2006 Julie Rhinehart was there and is so graceful as is Mrs. IL Int'l 2007 Randa Allen (who made top ten!). Mrs. Int'l 2006 Suzy Bootz is a true lady and the New Mrs. International Rebekah Negrete (CA) was stunning on stage. Congrats to everyone.

1)Lisa,me,and Diana
2)Lisa and I with Randa Allen in the middle
3)leftThe new Mrs. International with Diana, Janice, me, and Lisa.
4)Pretty ladies including Holly Ernst on my right and Julie on my left

Thanks to my favorite people

I had some of the best supporters around while in Vegas. My husband John has been outstanding. He didn't know very much about what he was getting into when I became Mrs. Illinois,but he has been a willing participant. His friends joked he should have to wear white gloves and walk behind me carrying the crown in a glass box. I just told them he should wear a crown as well. That won't happen! But he has proven to be a quick study. He made sure energy bars and water were sent to my room along with fruit. I never loved water so much in my life! On prelimiary night and finals night, it was so wonderful to see family and friends in the audience while I tried to seem polished and cooridnated on stage. They say they couldn't see my knees knocking! Thank you to everyone who made the effort to fly out west. This includes my mother-in-law Bernice, neice Caroline, sister-in-law Lisa Kelly, Gayle Lingle, and Lisa Cannon. My best friends from Nashville, Rona and Michelle, also made it out. It was their first pageant and for Michelle, her first Vegas experience. And to Lisa Neiwolny-Mrs. Illinois US 2006-thank you for guiding me and John through this process. You have been a lifesaver and dear friend. OH! And thanks to my son John for not staying mad at me for being gone.

1)John and I after prelims
2)Rona and Michelle with me after prelims
3)Gayle, Lisa K., Caroline, John, and Bernice
4)Michelle,Rona, John, and Lisa Neiwolny

Pictures from Vegas!

What a whirlwind of a time in Las Vegas. We all pretty much arrived Sunday at the Silverton Casino. I was so excited to meet some of the ladies I had gotten to know before hand, but only via email. Mrs. Nevada, Tracey Rodgers, was my roommate. I already knew through Mrs. Il US 2006, that Mrs. NV had a heart of gold. And she does! Mrs. NY, Lori Donaudy, and I bonded well before Vegas. Her director Sheila Strassburg is a ture gem as well. At one point I remember trying to figure out what day of the week it was because there was so much to do and still get done. The ladies are so amazing. Seriously!!! And I met a long lost twin...Mrs. Colorado! Apparently people think we are related-don't I wish!

It was hot as expected. Thanks to Mrs. NV, Mrs. ND, and Mrs. HI, we had on site medical help as needed. It came in handy when the heat proved too much for a couple of ladies.

Five days flew by and before we knew it, Finals night came. I was lucky enough to make the top ten and at the end of the night the results were:
Mrs. United States 2007-Stephanie Hunt (MI)
1ST Runner-up April Britt (NC)
2nd Runner-up Wendy Knapp (WY)
3rd Runner-up Janet McCulloh (FL)
4th Runner-up Me

It was a once in a lifetime experience for all of us I am sure. Although the time went in a blink of the eye and I never had enought time to get to know each person there, it felt like I had not seen my son in years. So getting home the first thing Friday was wonderful.

More Pictures from Vegas!

Here are some pictures from Vegas!

A Year and a Half for 30 seconds on stage...

Strange how fast the last year and a half have gone. In March 2006 I decided it was time to get motivated to get in gear. Here I was with young son...two months post pardum I was given the go to try to get in shape again. Then my body broke down. Literally, it broke down. For five weeks my knees and ankles were so swollen that I could barely walk without an amazing amount of pain. I was tested for Arthritis and lupus. Nothing was found except pain. So when it finally lessened, I got out there. It took forever, but I did it. I have lost 60 pounds. People warned me not to tell others HOW much I lost because they would think I had been fat. I never thought of myself that way. I am 5'8 and after my son was a 14/12. I throw that out there so you ladies know specifics and not hypotheticals. I have run through three pairs of shoes and worn out every song on my IPOD. I started out with a trainer (Tracey O'Donnell) and was only able to run 2 or 3 minutes at a time without stopping. Now I can go out there and run for an 1 hour 20 minutes and feel great after. Granted dropping 60 pounds makes it a bit easier. It is so odd to go shop for clothing and I find I shop my old sizes. I have the same style of jeans from a 14 down to a 4.Yes, a 4. No, there are skinnier ladies out there, but yes, it can be done.

WHY I waste your time on this?? Because it was last March I set my sights on a Mrs. pageant to get motivated. I am a wife and mom. I am a successful career gal and community person. So why not? I knew a swimsuit would be the clincher. So this past week I made my way to Las Vegas as Mrs. Illinois. To do that I not only needed to run my butt off(literally) but I also needed the guidance of several amazing people. So....drum roll please...thank you to:

My Husband John. He has been a great sport and a wonderfull support system all in one
My family and Friends
Training with Tracy O'Donnell
Mira Couture
Juliana at DermaPhysique
Robin Elliot
Gigi's Closette
Alla,Maria, and Cary at Teddy Kossoff Salon

1)Mira with a black and white number she created
2)Mira with the gown she designed