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The Mrs. experienceKim Foley is the current Mrs. U.S. Globe. She will represent the United States at the Mrs. Globe Pageant on the Greek island of Crete in September 1998. |
| PNB: What are the differences between the Mrs. pageants in which you have competed? FOLEY: Each one of the Mrs. pageants has its own strengths. The Mrs. Globe Pageant is the financial arm for a woman's outreach program titled WIN, which stands for Women In Need. There is no [rival] pageant system that is directly attached to a non-profit, charitable organization as Mrs. Globe is, so that differentiates it from the other Mrs. programs. Also, the Mrs. Globe Pageant has more of a glamorous slant to it, and the pageant is not ashamed to promote that as a part of the program. Those are the main differences between the Mrs. Globe Pageant and the others. PNB: What services does the WIN program provide? FOLEY: WIN provides crisis counseling and an outreach program to women who have been emotionally and physically abused. Our focus is on how a woman heals herself mentally. If she needs financial assistance, WIN provides help in that area as well. There is an 800 number, and there are chapters in various states across the country. The long-term goal is to have a chapter in every state in the U.S. PNB: In what other Mrs. systems have you participated? FOLEY: The Mrs. America system and the Mrs. International program. PNB: What type of woman would be best suited to enter the three systems that you have mentioned? FOLEY: To be successful in any of three systems, you need to be a well-rounded individual, a good communicator, flexible and easy to work with. In the Mrs. International program, you need to be community-service-oriented. That is their primary thrust. Your individual platform is very important to them. Interview is 50 percent of their program. There is no swimwear competition, so there is not as much attention given to the contestants' physical appearance. The Mrs. America Pageant is more of a glamorous pageant, where it is important to be a good communicator but it is not stressed as much. If a married woman wanted to participate in a pageant that would be like what she would experience in the Miss Universe atmosphere, I would definitely encourage her to go with the Mrs. U.S. Globe Pageant. In fact, Mrs. Globe, in little quotations, will say "the Miss Universe experience for married women." That's their slogan.
It's an opportunity for you to represent your community, your state, or your nation for a year, but you have to be willing to sacrifice, because [as a contestant] you are applying for a job. If you want the responsibility of the job, you have to be aware of the duties. PNB: What are the wrong reasons for entering a Mrs. pageant? FOLEY: If you are entering it to save your marriage, that probably wouldn't be the best reason. If you are entering because of peer pressure and because friends are trying to convince you to do it even though you are not comfortable with it, I don't think that would be a positive reason to enter. PNB: What role does a husband play in the life of a Mrs. contestant? FOLEY: In any good marriage, you have two people who are equal partners, and you have the ability and the confidence in each other to allow you to pursue different avenues in your individual lives. . . . I think there is nothing better from a contestant's point of view than for a husband to be a supporter -- not a coach, not a critic, but a supporter who is willing to take the back seat for a brief period of time while you're in the limelight, and for him not to feel intimidated. It takes a bigger man to do that than to jump out there with you and be a ham. Of course, that depends on the husband's personality, but I think that most husbands would probably prefer to be a little bit in the background and not so much in the foreground. If the husband can be a good supporter and manage the home while you are away, that's a big sacrifice to ask of him, but it helps out tremendously. PNB: Can a woman's participation in a Mrs. pageant be disruptive to her marriage? FOLEY: It can be disruptive if she lets it get out of perspective. First and foremost, as a married woman, you must be responsible for your family and managing your household. No matter what the title, no matter what the task, you can never let your priorities get out of order and take the title and the crown and put that first. If you do, you are losing sight of what got you there in the first place. It is a wonderful experience, but it is only for a year, and your family and your marriage are there for the rest of your life. It is a delicate balancing act, but you have to keep it in check and keep yourself well grounded, and not let the glamour, the spotlight, and the attention go to your head. PNB: Can participation in a Mrs. pageant strengthen a marriage? FOLEY: Yes, I think that it definitely can. You can learn a little more about each other from some of the roles that you switch around. Your husband might appreciate what you do with your work in the home as well as what you do professionally. If he has an opportunity to see you speak in front of people and lead a seminar, maybe that's something he's never seen you do before. [He will think], "Gosh, I didn't know she had that talent." It can lead him to a greater appreciation and adoration for you, as his wife and as an individual. I think he'll be really happy when it's over and you're back home doing some of the things that he was doing for you while you were out. |
More talk with Kim Foley ...
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