The End of a Reign of Blessings

I have officially passed the title of Mrs. Tennessee International.  I am happy to say that I crowned Mrs. Traci Pangonas, a fellow American Heart Association volunteer, as Mrs. Tennessee International 2012 at the Tennessee International Pageant on March 4, 2012.  I know Traci will make the married women of Tennessee, including myself, very proud. 

I have spent a lot of time reflecting upon my reign and the blessings the title has bestowed upon me.  The best part of this whole amazing experience is the people, and there are so many who made such an impact upon me.  David was the best Mr. Tennessee in history.  He and I did this whole thing our way down to the smallest detail, and I have no one regret about the way we did it.  I wish I had the words to properly describe how truly amazing my friends Bobbie Marie Gregg, Miss Tennessee International 2011, and Randi Strong, Miss Teen Tennessee International 2011 are.  I guarantee you they will achieve so many more great things in this life, and I am thrilled and honored to have spent my year with them.  I could not be more proud of them and the hearts they have which have truly benefited so many people across the State of Tennessee.

Cari Baker is simply a hair and makeup dynamo.  She was my one woman beauty team, and I could not be more thrilled with the results.  But the magic she performed on my hair and face is nothing compared to the lasting impression she made upon my heart.  I love that lady SO much, and she will be my friend forever.  Every morning in Chicago she was the first face I saw, and she brought me nothing but peace and happiness at Mrs. International.  When I say I could not have achieved the success I enjoyed at Mrs. International without her, it is a major understatement.  She was indispensable for me, and I will be eternally grateful for the woman she is.

Suzy Bootz, Clay Spann, Joey Rutheford, Dion Welling, and Bryan Wood were all so vital to my success.  They are all so incredibly gifted in their crafts, but they are so much more gifted as human beings.  These people were my team.  They are a winning team, and I will forever be grateful to each of them for who they are and what they did for me. 

I have an incredible family and wonderful friends who I love so much and for whom I am so grateful. My mom, Judy, and I grew up watching pageants on television, and when I finished in the Top 5 at Mrs. International, I think I can speak for her when I say that it was a dream come true for both of us.  My dad is probably my biggest fan and the kindest person I know, and my sister is the strongest, funniest, most resilent, and best mother there ever was.  I am so proud of her and her exceptional son, Ashton, who is the most amazing child in this world.  Brandy, Tina, Melody, and Ivy are the best friends I could ask for; their support is a gift I will never forget.

I am so appreciative of Mary Richardson, the owner and director of the International Pageant System.  I have so much respect for this system and what it stands for.  I only hope that it will contine to move in the right direction and continue to make us all proud.  To my fellow 2011 queens, especially Renee (Arkansas), Donna (Southern States), Tiffany (California), Autumn (Oklahoma), Kristi (West Virginia), Sheila (New York), Sandra (Maryland), Mary (Rhode Island), Dani (New Jersey), Dawn (Pennslyvania), Melisa (Southeast), Lynn (Alabama), and Jenny (Ohio), all I can say is WOW.  All of you are simply inspiring.  I want to be just like all of you when I grow up!  As I sat in the theater on or final day of rehearsals and listened to each of you talk about the platforms you are each so passionate about, I was so humbled and inspired.  Each of you are my role models.  Thank you for all that you do and for who you are.   

I had a great time.  I have grown.  I have been blessed.  And, I can say that I did everything I wanted to do, and more, with this amazing title.  Thank you again to everyone who touched me along the way.  I am eternally grateful for this experience, and I am excited about what comes next.

Here is the text of my Farewell Speech and a few photos from mine and David's last days as Mr. and Mrs. Tennessee.  Enjoy!

I wanted to be Mrs. Tennessee for two reasons.  The first was that I genuinely wanted to amplify my voice in order to bring about positive change and raise awareness about the issues I am passionate about.  I am lucky because I know that I have and that I do.  The second reason is because I had never truly let go of the dream of being a beauty queen.  And, let me tell you, when that dream came true, it lived up to all my little girl expectations.  When I was chosen as the 3^rd runner-up to Mrs. International last summer, I will say, with genuine conviction, that I was the happiest third runner-up in the history of pageantry.

But, the Mrs. Tennessee International adventure has been so much more than realizing a childhood dream.  This experience has opened my eyes to my own strength and opened doors I could have only dreamed to have walked through prior to winning this title.  I have found my intended path, and I have given myself permission to follow it and enjoy it.    

There are a lot of people who helped me along the way.  But, just one person actually made it possible.  My husband David is the reason I am Mrs. Tennessee.  Goodness knows he had no idea what he was getting into, but his willingness to stand behind this silly dream is a kindness I will never forget.  We did it our way, and I have not one regret about the way we did it. 

To David:  Thank you for honoring my dream.  Thank you for honoring me.  Thank you loving me and for never giving up on me.  I love you, I am proud of you, and I see in you a goodness that I am happy to know and that I believe in. 

Thank you also to my parents, Bernie and Judy, my sister, Gina, my nephew, Ashton, my dear friends, especially Brandy, Tina, and Melody, and my Jordan.  And, thank you to my pageant people:  my dear, sweet, kind Cari Baker; you have been instrumental in my journey and you will forever be my treasured friend, thank you also to the inspiring Suzy Bootz, the talented Clay Spann, the fashionable Joey Rutheford, and the motivational Dion Welling.  Thank you for helping a little small town girl realize her potential. 

To Team Tennessee 2011 Bobbie Marie and Randi, I am grateful to have spent my year with two extraordinary, but more importantly, incredibly real women.  I am your fans for life.

To Mrs. Tennessee International 2012, make yourself proud.  Use this title for good.  Don’t waste the opportunity, do it your way, and allow yourself to be inspired.

This has been fun.  This has been life altering.  God bless you, and go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

The End.

Mrs. Tennessee International 2011

Mary-Marsha Riley                  

David and I at the Contestants Banquet

                           

Me and my girls, Randi and Bobbie Marie

We Three Queens

David and me during my Farewell Speech

Our last photo together as titleholders

Our last photo as Mr. and Mrs. Tennessee International  

                                      
God Bless you all!  I will continue this blog as Mary-Marsha; even though I am no longer, technically, a queen :)

Mary-Marsha Riley
Mrs. Tennessee International 2011

Final Appearances as Mrs. Tennessee International

This week I was lucky to have the opportunity to make two very meaningful appearances as I wrap up my reign as Mrs. Tennessee International 2011.  My client and friend, Shields Thompson, Miss Scenic City Outstanding Teen, asked me to accompany her on a visit to the Le Bonheur Childrens' Hospital here in Memphis to spend some time with some incredibly brave children.  The kids were so strong; so resilient, and they inspired me.  I appreciate Shields for including me in this heartwarming experience.

The next day I was honored to speak at my husband David's alma mater, Lake County High School.  I spoke to almost 100 high school girls about the importance of dreams, believing in themselves, and about never giving up.  The girls were very receptive, respectful, and I had a lot of fun with them.  David introduced me before I spoke, and I was so honored and touched by his sweet words.  This week was a great way to end my reign as Mrs. Tennessee International. 

Two weeks from tomorrow I will be crowning my successor.  I wish for her a year as meaningful and as fulfilling as the year I have experienced.  As a titleholder, we make the experience what it is.  We can chose to do nothing, do a little, do just enough, or truly make a difference.  I like to believe I made a difference, and I am determined to continue to do so after this journey comes to an end.  I hope the next Mrs. Tennessee International decides to do the same.

Mary-Marsha Riley
Mrs. Tennessee International 2011

I must say that this little angel looks a lot better in my crown that I do! 

It was an honor to spend the afternoon with some extremely brave young people.

It was very special to be able to speak at David's high school.

These girls are great.  Lake County High School is doing it right.   

Every girl loves a crown!

 

All Good Things Must Come to an End

In five and a half more weeks, I will be crowning the next Mrs. Tennessee International.  I am lucky to have had the opportunity the hold the title for almost one and a half years instead of the usual one year.  As it all winds down, I am starting to reflect upon this experience.  It is overwhelming, and I am so thankful.  Everything happened just as it was supposed to, and I just could not be more pleased about the journey I have taken.  I did it my way from the beginning until the end, and I have no regrets. 

Talk to you soon!
Mary-Marsha Riley
Mrs. Tennessee International 2011

Happy Holidays from the Riley Family in Tennessee!

I hope everyone is enjoying preparing for the holiday season!  David and I spent last weekend with my family in Arkansas, and we had such a wonderful time.  Sometimes we get so busy in our lives and with our obligations that we forget just how important our families are.  My family is small, but we are fiercely close and loyal to one another.  My love for them is as solid as rock.  My wish for each of you this holiday season is that you have someone in your life who you treasure, who you would fight for, and who you love unconditionally.  If you are lucky enough to have that, you are truly a fortunate person.

Merry Christmas, and God Bless you all,
Mary-Marsha Riley
Mrs. Tennessee International 2011

L to R:  My sister, Gina; my dad, Bernie; my mom, Judy; me; my husband, David

And in the front:  Ashton, our joy :)        

Christmas Challenge

I want to challenge each of you to spend time this holiday season giving something of yourself and your talents to help another person.  You will never regret a second you spending helping someone else.  Share your gratitude for the blessings you have been given.  I always keep in mind that if not for a simple twist of fate, I could have been born without the opportunities I was lucky enough to be blessed with.  This fact rings true to me every week when I tutor my ten year old friend, Devon.  He and I have been working together weekly since he was seven.  Devon faces huges challenges; none of them of his choosing.  Making him believe he can and will succeed is a big part of my life.  I feel it is my responsiblity.  And, you know what?  Spending time with such a determined, kind-hearted little guy lifts my spirits every week.  I leave my time with him feeling revived, energized, happy, and grateful. I challenge you to do the same thing in your own life.  Pay your gratitude and your blessings forward this holiday season.  You will be changed as you change the life of someone (or a dog or cat :) that needs you!  Get out there and make a difference this month! 

God Bless,
Mary-Marsha Riley
Mrs. Tennessee International 2011      

Me and my husband, David, with Devon

My First Commercial!

This has been such an amazing year! My first job as a working model was a holiday commercial for Laurelwood Shopping Center.  It was a bit surreal to live the experience. I think it turned out great!  Click on the link below to see what you think!  And, to all my Memphis friends...consider coming to Laurelwood for your holiday shopping!    

http://vimeo.com/32328733

Happy Birthday Devon!

 If you know me, you know that I have been tutoring my little buddy Devon Leonard for four years now.  We started together when he was a 6 year old first grader, and yesterday my awesome fourth grader turned 10.  I am so proud of Devon.  In the last four years he has evolved from a shy and quiet little boy with no confidence into a happy, capable, confident, and fun loving little man.  He received his highest marks ever on a report card this past quarter, and he is no longer behind in his reading.  Devon is terrific.  I am determined to see him make it; despite some challenges that most of us will never have to face.  I will continue to be his biggest cheerleader.

Here are some photos of my sweet little buddy as he opened up his brand new Nintendo DS on Friday morning.  He was so incredibly happy, and his happiness touched and uplifted my heart.  If any of you are looking for a way to enrich your life, take a few hours a month and devote them to changing the life of an at risk young person.  You will be glad you did.  If you are in Memphis, contact Sarah Quintal at Streets Ministies and get started today!