FOLEY: A year ago,someone introduced me to the Mrs. U.S. Globe system. I said, "Oh no, no more pageants. I'm done." But they said this one was different, and that I needed to look at it. They said the pageant worked with a woman's organization. That was really the hook that reeled me in, not to mention the fact that the pageant was in Palm Springs, which I thought was pretty glamorous. I had never been there before. So I thought, "I am going to toss my hat in the ring one more time, and see what happens." The pageant itself was an incredible experience, because it was not the typical pageant forum. It breaks the rules and the traditions a little bit. The preliminary interview uses a press conference format, and there is actually a viewing audience. The public can purchase a ticket and go behind the scenes. Swimsuit and evening gown were done like a runway fashion show. You were always moving. In swimsuit, you carried a beautiful chiffon shawl. It was very flowy. It was very elegant. The music was European. Next year, the pageant will be even bigger. There are national sponsors coming on board. Every year, it's going to get bigger and better.

PNB: What appearances have you made or will you make as Mrs. U.S. Globe?

FOLEY: So far, I have spoken as a representative of our outreach program to teenage women. That is the age group that I really want to focus on. I have several other appearances coming up between now and September. I'll be traveling out to California, and I will be working on a documentary with the Learning Channel. I'm also going to meet with the Greek Consulate in California. I'll be traveling to New York in June for a promotional tour for a cruise line out of Manhattan. There is also the possibility of appearing on the "Today" show. Then, this summer, I'll be traveling to the various state pageants. When I visit the cities that host the state pageants, I will be working with local youth groups and the Girl Scouts of America. In September, I will be traveling to Greece and Crete to compete with the rest of the contestants in the Mrs. Globe Pageant. There will be over 40 countries represented. It will be telecast live in Greece and then on a one-day delay basis in Europe.

PNB: What has you so excited about the international Mrs. Globe Pageant?

FOLEY: First, I'm looking forward to learning about Greek dancing. Most importantly for me, I can't wait to meet the other 40 women and share the cultures that will be represented. Having an opportunity to sit down and learn how they live their lives in comparison to mine. I think we'll probably find that as married women we have a lot in common. That will be my top experience in Greece.

PNB: Which state or national pageant director has impressed you the most?

FOLEY: I have met many noteworthy state and national directors. I'm going to have to be honest and say that Tracy Kemble, who is the director of the Mrs. U.S. Globe Pageant [and a former Mrs. Globe], has been so impressive to me. She is not only a savvy businesswoman, . . . she is so driven and has such a passion in her heart because of the WIN Foundation. She has the proper perspective as to how the pageant promotes WIN. She is not going to let the pageant or WIN fail. Everything that she does is going to be a success. It's well thought out. It's very calculated. She runs it like a business, not only the pageant itself, but me as well. She has been a fantastic manager. She really communicates well. She lets you know where you need to be, what you're going to be doing, and what your responsibilities are. She demands the highest of quality, yet she will really work with you to achieve it. She's on the top of my list.

PNB: If you could have won one title that eluded you, which title would it be?

FOLEY: Going all the way back . . . Miss Georgia was the one that I would have loved to have won. The thrill of being able to walk down that runway in Atlantic City [as a Miss America contestant] and hear them sing the theme song "There She Is" . . . just to have had that one experience would have been incredible.

PNB: Your daughter Lauren is 6 years old. Do you think she will ever enter pageants?

FOLEY: I think there is a good possibility that Lauren will enter pageants, because she has been exposed to it. She has been around it a little bit [in person] and seen some of the big pageants like Miss USA and Miss America on television. Lauren is a very outgoing little girl. She leans more toward the acting and performing end. When she reaches an appropriate age and if she has an interest, and if I feel she has the mindset and maturity, I will consider letting her enter a preliminary for the Miss Teen USA Pageant. But not anything younger than that. I don't care for the little kids' pageants. We'll have to wait and see what she decides to do. I would promote either the Miss USA or the Miss America system.

PNB: What improvements would you like to see made in Mrs. pageants?

FOLEY: One big improvement that I'd like to see is not so many Mrs. pageants. I really think there are three dominant systems, and I think that's enough. It muddies the water, and it gets people confused because there are so many different titles. It can be confusing when you are promoting a state winner and there are, for example, three Mrs. New Yorks. People get really confused. They don't understand why there are three. So I think if we could just keep it to three systems, it would be a lot more effective. Those three Mrs. systems should definitely differentiate their niche so that women have a clear understanding of the parameters and the expectations and what they are looking for in their state and national winners.