I believe God opened the door to me becoming a beauty queen in my fifties

I was a stay-at-home mum in the suburbs outside of Washington DC before I realised my long-forgotten dream of becoming a beauty queen. I had a degree in speech communication and pursued a career as a flight attendant, before I finally met my prince charming. We got married when I was 40, and I had our two children when I was 41 and 43.

After years of devotion to my beloved children, at the age of 55, I told my husband I wanted to pursue my dream of modelling again before it was too late.

Instead of telling me I was too old, my husband believed in me

Instead of telling me I was too old, my husband believed in me, and said I should go for it. We found an amazing photographer in New York City who came highly recommended. Once I returned home from getting my photos, I submitted to a modelling opportunity on the Washington DC Fox 5 Network.

I was selected as a fashion model and went for the ‘Holiday Attire Segment’. This was a catwalk show with models wearing dresses, jumpsuits, skirts and tops in the newest trends and classic looks for Christmas parties and special events.

When I walked into the studio wearing my rose gold sequin mini dress and stilettos, I was greeted by a beautiful woman wearing a black princess dress. She looked at me and said, “You are going to be my next Mrs DC America 2020!”

She looked at me and said, “You are going to be my next Mrs. DC America 2020!”

At that moment all the heartache from losing the Junior Miss Pageant, 36 years before came flooding back. Time stood still, realizing God sees our buried dreams even when we have forgotten them.

We have hundreds of beauty pageants here in  America. These pageants showcase women’s beauty, brains and talent. The Miss America pageant system originated in the early 1900’s followed by Mrs America which was produced to highlight married women that are devoted to family, the community and their profession.

At high school I had won two coveted crowns - Miss Magnolia Fair and Miss Mingo County. Once winning the county division, I was going to compete at the state level. I thought securing a third crown would be easy but the competition at the state level was fierce and I was not prepared to win this title.

When I lost, not even placing, my heart was broken. What was more upsetting was my mum had always dreamt of becomg a beauty queen. She was as devastated as I was when I did not place. Mum had married when she was 24, giving up her dreams to raise me and my four siblings. She had hoped to live her dreams through me, but I failed.

But there was a second chance! In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I competed against five other women who were in the work force, extremely accomplished, some even 30 years younger, for Mrs DC America.

I was happy to compete at 55 (the cut off age was 58) to showcase women can be beautiful, accomplished and make a difference at all ages. As a Christian, winning a pageant gives you a voice to help others. My platform was mentoring young girls to become future leaders through the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

I knew it would be challenging to win this crown, but 36 years had taught me a lot about life, and this was do or die for me. I wanted to win this pageant for my mum, but more important was to win this title for myself realizing I was worthy of this crown, even at 55.

Before they announced me as the winner, I heard God speak. I felt him say, “you are anointed and appointed”. My message to everyone who has a buried dream in their heart, is that God has not forgotten and it is all in his timing. He will make it happen because, it’s never too late to find your crown!

I have a fifteen-year-old daughter now and I would encourage her to compete in pageants too. I think competition helps you become your best self and God, who is the bestower of crowns, wants us to use this title, platform and crown to be a light in the darkness.

Buy JeanAnne’s book It’s never too late to find your crown here