MRS. SOUTHEAST INTERNATIONAL OF ARKANSAS, LAINE BERRY, CROWNED MRS. INTERNATIONAL 2008

    /24-7PressRelease/ - SKOKIE, IL, July 24, 2008 - Mrs. Southeast International of Arkansas, Laine Berry, 35, was crowned Mrs. International 2008, Saturday, July 19 at the 21st Annual Mrs. International Pageant in Skokie, Ill. The two-hour event, held at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, featured 47 contestants competing in three categories, including interview, evening gown and fitness wear. Berry's husband, Kevin, crowned her Mrs. International before a packed audience and on the eve of their 12-year wedding anniversary.

Berry, owner of AdWorks, will spend her year as Mrs. International promoting her platform, women' s heart health. In 2000, Berry founded Taking Wellness to Hearth (takingwellnesstoheart.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for women' s heart health education and cardiovascular research, as well as community programs providing free hearth health screenings.

"My journey began eight years ago when my mother and I were both diagnosed with heart disease," said Berry " Mrs. International gives me a great opportunity to speak internationally about the importance of women's heart health and to be an ambassador to the new alliance between International Pageants and the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement."

International Pageants created an alliance with the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement in 2008. Throughout the year, Berry and the state queens will provide volunteer support and help raise funds for Go Red for Women. In addition, a portion of the Mrs. International proceeds will be donated to the organization.

The Mrs. International Pageant is owned and operated by International Pageants, Inc. It is the only platform-based pageant system dedicated to highlighting women's accomplishments through community support. Mrs. International showcases married women 21 to 56 years old and includes their husbands as an integral part of the event.

FINAL RESULTS

First runner up: Mrs. Georgia, Meredith Boyd. Her platform is arthritis and the Arthritis Foundation.

Second runner up: Mrs. South Carolina, Patti Mercer. Her platform is autism and the South Carolina Autism Society.

Third runner up: Mrs. District of Columbia, Deanna Linz. Her platform is support of military families and service members through "America Supports You."

Fourth runner up: Mrs. Oklahoma, Sasha Townsend. Her platform is advocacy for children of divorce through the Banana Splits program.

CONTACT: Lauren Benck
[email protected]
Denise O' Handley
[email protected]
847-424-1200

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