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Hi there! I’m
Maureen MacDonald, Mrs. North Carolina America. I still can’t say (or
write) those words without breaking into a huge grin. Although I had
dreamed of wearing the Miss America crown when I was growing up, the
closest I ever got to pageants was entertaining at the Miss Asheville
competition. It wasn’t until after the birth of my first child that I
discovered married women’s pageants and decided to compete. Many times I
thought, “Can I really do this, now?” But the more I learned about the
Mrs. America organization and the beautiful, intelligent, successful
women involved the more passionate I became about pursuing the title of
Mrs. North Carolina America. Now, after a third runner-up finish 2
years ago and the birth of my second child, my dream has come true!
Sometimes I
can’t believe how far I’ve come in my life from the little girl with big
dreams growing up in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. I
became hooked on dance from the moment my mom put me in classes at the
age of five. I continued to dance all through high school, training in
the pre-professional program at the Asheville Academy of Ballet and
Contemporary Dance, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and the
American Dance Festival. I performed extensively with the Asheville
Civic Ballet, including dancing the lead role of “Sugar Plum Fairy” in
the Nutcracker. After graduation, I attended Florida State
University and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance, but not
before meeting and falling in love with Mark, the man of my dreams, who
three years later would become my husband. With Mark’s love and
encouragement strengthening me, I auditioned for my dream job: to be a
Radio City Rockette. I became a Rockette and went on to perform in the
Radio City Christmas Spectacular for three years as well as in
other Broadway shows. Along the way, I shared my experiences and passion
for dance by teaching classes.
Since Mark
and I decided to start a family, we have been blessed with two wonderful
daughters. I truly feel that being their mom is one of the greatest
roles I’ve ever played! Although they keep me very busy, I enjoy making
time to give back to my community. I am proud to volunteer for
SAFEchild and Prevent Child Abuse NC in support of my platform “Child
Abuse Prevention.” I believe that every child has the right to grow up
in a safe and loving home and we can all help that to happen by
supporting and strengthening families.
It is such
an honor to represent the married women of North Carolina and I look
forward to the year ahead!
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