More Official Mrs. International Photos

Yay!  I was so excited to see my Mrs. International photo CD in the mail today.  Thank you to Paula Preston for working so hard during pageant week to capture our memories!

 Getting off the bus about to board the boat for the tour of Chicago!

 Me and David during the Evening Gown Competition 

 Us again...David was the perfect escort :)

 Fitness Competition

 This is my favorite Evening Gown Competition shot.

 My announcement as a Top 12 Finalist!  

 Third Runner-up!!  I was SO happy!!! :)

 Happy, happy, HAPPY! 

 Top 5 and Our Husbands

 Mrs. International 2011 Top 5

 David and me at the Cornonation Ball after the Finals of Mrs. International 

My favorite dress of the week...at the Meet and Greet with the Judges

SO MANY GREAT MEMORIES!!

A Bit of Self Reflection

I am a dreamer.  I have always had high expectations for myself, and I have worked hard to reach my goals.  But, as we all know, sometimes life happens.  "Stuff" gets in the way, and sometimes that "stuff" makes us doubt who we are and what we are capable of.  I certainly have doubted myself quite a bit along the way.  I have lost my way more than once, and I have almost given up on my dreams more than once.  But, for as long as I can remember, I have believed in myself, and I have always felt that I deserve to be treated well, especially by myself.  We all deserve to be treated well, and we all deserve the opportunity to reach our potential.

Throughout this past year, I have been blessed with so many meaningful opportunities; opportunities for self growth, self reflection, and most important, I have had opportunities to create positive change for causes close to my heart.  I am lucky, and I know that.  If the whole "genie with three wishes" was a reality, one of my wishes would be that all people (and all animals) would be blessed with the same opportunities in life.  It is easy to forget in the midst of our busy lives that we are significantly blessed, and if not for a simple twist of fate, we would have been born into a completely different situation which would have required us to travel a far more difficult road.  We owe it to this world to do good; to help; to improve our little portion of this world.  That is success in my book.

Be happy and do good,
Mary-Marsha Riley           

More Mrs. International Photos!

Today, I received two of my photos from the official Mrs. International Pageant photographer, Paula Preston.  These photos will be featured in an upcoming issue of "Memphis Health and Fitness Magazine."  I am still so happy about my experience at Mrs. International.  I have such great memories that I will always treasure.  Every time I think about it, I smile :)

Evening Gown Winner!

Fitness Winner!

    

White Hall, Arkansas Pageants

Last weekend I had the privilege of being invited to judge the White Hall Pageants in White Hall, Arkansas.  My friend Jennie Huyck is the Director, and she and her husband, Will, put on a fantastic event for the people of White Hall.  They are 100% volunteers, and they singlehandedly provide girls of all ages in White Hall with the opportunity to showcase their talents and poise.  We judges were treated to amazing meals, a beautiful hotel room for the weekend, a basket of goodies (including cupcakes:), and a massage!  Congratulations to all the beautiful and talented contestants.  I had a great time, and it was a treat to have a front row seat to a fantastic show!

Pageant Director, Jennie Huyck, me, and fellow judge, Amanda Patterson, Mrs. Arkansas America 2011 

The adorable and extremely talented Chloe Ward, 2011 Junior Miss White Hall and Junior Talent Winner, and me 

  

Still on Cloud Nine!

One week after the finale of the 2011 Mrs. International Pageant, I am still just giddy about my experience!  The more I reflect on pageant week, the more I am humbled, inspired, and energized.  I was so fortunate to be affored the opportunity to be included in the Mrs. International Class of 2011.  I am so very thankful for memories I will sincerely treasure for a lifetime.  Please enjoy several more photos from my week!  Once I receive the official photos from the pageant photographer, I will be posting those as well.

Just before my one on one interviews with the judges 

My interview group:  Tennessee, Arkansas, California, North Dakota, and Great Plains

Me and Mrs. Arkansas, Renee Stone, before boarding the boat to tour downtown Chicago! 

David and me immediately after finals

The Fabulous Top 12

Me with my gorgeous cheering section!

Me and Cari Baker, my friend and makeup maven  

Me and my interview secret weapon, Suzy Bootz

Just after being called as 3rd Runner-up!  So happy!!

WOW!!!!

I am still giddy about the Mrs. International Pageant last weekend!  I spent last week surrounded by 52 successful and stunning women who are truly changing this world for the better.  The week was both inspiring and humbling, and I left Chicago a better woman because of the people I encountered in this amazing pageant system.

The icing on my pageant cupcake was being selected as 3rd Runner-up to the title of Mrs. International 2011!  I was also blessed to win overall fitness and evening gown.  I feel so incredibly fortunate to have had so many amazing opportunities as Mrs. Tennessee International.  This system is life changing for the titleholders, and I will forever be honored to have held the title of Mrs. Tennessee International 2011.  Thank you to all the people who supported me and especially to those who came to Chicago to cheer me on!

I received the news today that the 2012 Mrs. Tennessee International Pageant will be held in early March of 2012 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  That means I will be Mrs. Tennessee International for six more months!!  I am so happy about that, and I am excited to help all the 2012 contestants prepare to compete for the 2012 title.  If you would like information on the 2012 pageant (which will change your life for the better:), you can e-mail me at mrstnint2011@hotmail.com.  I will be more than happy to help you in any way I can.  You can also reach our new Tennessee director, Tiffany Porter, at 423-773-4660.

If you are looking for an incredible pageant experience, the International system is for you.  Mary and Mel Richardson, the national directors of the Mrs. International Pageant, put on a first class show.  We had so much fun sightseeing in Chicago (the boat tour of the city was amazing!), the rehearsals were well organized, the show was flawless, the host hotel (Doubletree North Shore) was comfortable and very accomodating (the staff was beyond kind and helpful), and the other contestants were FIRST CLASS.  Can you tell I had a great experience?!  I encourage you to consider the International system if you ever thought entering a pageant might be fun!

I will be posting photos from the 2011 Mrs. International Pageant very soon!  Thank you again to everyone who supported me on this journey!

God Bless,
Mary-Marsha Riley
Mrs. Tennessee International 2011
3rd Runner-up to Mrs. International 2011

8 Days Until Mrs. International Week!

In just a bit more than a week, I will be packing up the Tahoe and heading to Chicago to represent Tennessee in the Mrs. International Pageant.  I am humbled by this opportunity that I have worked toward for so long.  I hope to make my husband, family, friends, and my state very proud.  This has been such an incredible year filled with opportunities and blessings I could never have imagined would have been possible.  I am truly grateful to be Mrs. Tennessee International 2011.  

Last night, my family and dear friends gathered together for my Mrs. International Send Off Party.  I am so thankful to have such an amazing support system.  The party was so much fun, and I am so happy to have been able to share the excitement of this time with the people I love who have supported me throughout this journey.  I want to especially thank my husband David and my dear friends Tina Winham, Melody Usdan, and Brandy Parrish-Wade. 

Me with Mr. Tennessee International 2011 

Me with my dear friends Melody Usdan and Tina Winham 

The yummy food table!