Mrs. Nevada pageant looking for a few good married women

Husband of the Year category will be added to annual contest

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The Miss America Pageant has swept out of town, and the Mrs. Nevada contest is coming right up.

Lori Lawlor, president of the state pageant, is working with Mrs. Nevada United States 2005 Sandie Boyadjian to encourage married women to take part in the annual event and see whether they can achieve the final crown of Mrs. United States.

Contestants must be at least 21 and living with their husbands. As well, husbands of all contestants will have the opportunity to escort their wives for the evening gown category. A "Husband of the Year" will be honored during the pageant.

The other two categories are an interview and a swimsuit competition.

The pageant is scheduled for March 18 at the Paradise Church of Las Vegas, at 2525 Emerson Ave. Chet Buchanon, host of the Morning Zoo on KLUC-FM radio will be the pageant moderator.

"We believe married women should be recognized for their ability to integrate intellect and beauty," said Isabella Illaqua, national director of the Mrs. United State Pageant.

Boyadjian exemplifies the pageant's ideals. The blonde mother was honored as Mrs. Congeniality in last year's national competition held here in Las Vegas. For the last 16 years she has worked at Insight Mountain Diagnostics, where she is now chief technologist. She and her husband, Ed, have a 13-year-old daughter Gabrielle, already a performer, and Boyadjian has a stepson Armand, who is 23.

Boyadjian is active with Child Haven, the Lied Animal Shelter, Las Vegas Rescue Mission and the social services agency Seville Terrace.

"I believe that a woman of any age has a lot to offer the community," Boyadjian said. "There are lots of different community service events you can take part in. We have experience we can use from everyday life."

She also operates Rising Stars, an agency that teaches young people how to prepare for a modeling career, and learning to maintain one's poise is an important facet of her teaching. "I'll tell you," she said, "getting up there in front of 3,000 people in a bathing suit -- now that's a different experience."

"I had a great time this year as Mrs. Nevada," Boyadjian said, adding that she plans to remain active in the pageant. "It's been the best time of my life. The experience in making new friends is irreplaceable, and once a pageant sister, always a pageant sister."

Tickets for the pageant may be purchased for $20 each at Tom Saitta's Integrity Imports, 2100 S. Decatur Blvd., and at Allure Salon, 2790 Flamingo Road, or at the door the evening of the event.

Those interested in competing for the Mrs. Nevada title may call Lawlor at 208-7227 or Boyadjian at Rising Stars, 598-5353. More information about the pageant is available at www.mrsunitedstates.com.