Monday, December 30, 2013

Mrs. West Virginia International 2013 - New Year's Resolutions

Julie Warden, Mrs. West Virginia International, took some time to talk about her resolutions as she heads into 2014:

1. I am determined to put money into savings this year. I'm so bad about spending my paychecks to the final drop (and I'm very thankful to have a husband who doesn't question me too often), but this year I am going to set money aside for savings.

2. I am going to write thank-you notes. I think that a hand-written thank-you note can go a long way and I am even going to order myself pretty stationary so I am sure to follow through.

3. I am going to follow a low-carb diet that I know is better for my arthritis. It's tough to cut things you love, but carbs make me hurt and it's time to take control and follow a healthy diet, even when I'm NOT training to compete in pageants. 

4. I am going to continue to work with the WV Arthritis Foundation to share my story and hopefully help others understand arthritis, the importance of research and that you truly can live a better life if you find the right treatments for you.

5. I am going to take time, every day, to remember how thankful I am for my Hubby. He puts our family of furbabies and our home and life first and I want to make sure I truly remember just how incredible he is. 





Miss WV International, Kalyn Bordman's New Year's Resolutions

Being crowned Miss West Virginia International most certainly changed her life and she has dedicated her year to promoting her platform. For 2014, though, Kalyn has a few resolutions in mind:

1. She hopes to travel more often

2. She wants to spend more time with family & friends

3. She wants to attend more WVU Mountaineer and Tennessee Volunteer football games

4. We can all take a lesson from Kalyn's fourth resolution for 2014.....Take more time to relax!



Friday, December 27, 2013

Mrs. West Virginia Serves as Honoree at Arthritis Foundation's largest fundraiser, The Jingle Bell Run

Mrs. West Virginia International, Julie Warden, has dedicated her platform to The Arthritis Foundation this year and has supported its efforts all year long. The biggest fundraiser in West Virginia is called the Jingle Bell Run and it was held in early December in Charleston!

"I am so unbelievably honored to be recognized this year as the 2014 Adult Honoree at the Jingle Bell Run," Julie said. "Since my diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 22 years old, life has certainly changed and I am proud to have spent my year as Mrs. West Virginia promoting The Arthritis Foundation and all of the incredibly resources it has for individuals living with arthritis. Not only that, they raise money for research, which is extremely important because we still do not know what causes arthritis or how to cure it."

"Thank you so much to the wonderful people who walked or ran with us and to those who sponsored or donated to the event. Your support is truly SO appreciated and we are thankful for each of you!"

"I would also like to give a special thank you to Shannon Holland, the West Virginia Branch Director, who has taken the Arthritis Foundation in our state to a new level. She has been such a wonderful asset to the foundation and she has been an absolute pleasure to work with this year. Also, to the entire Board and our other Honorees, thank you so much for all you have done to promote the Arthritis Foundation and to truly help others who live with pain every single day. It has been so wonderful working with you this year...I look forward to a future of bigger and brighter things!"



10 Resolutions for a Pageant Girl!

As pageant girls, sometimes we catch a bad reputation. The truth is, women who participate in pageant are strong, confident and truly hope to make a difference. Whether it's a community level, a state level, a national level or an international level, pageant competitors give time to serve, volunteer and they are role models every day of their lives. Here are a few resolutions that any pageant girl should follow as we head into 2014!

  1. I will act with class, professionalism and always remember that I am a role model
  2. I will continue to volunteer and stay involved in things that I am passionate about
  3. I will seek new opportunities to make a difference
  4. I will stay informed of events in my local area and my state and will attend as many as possible
  5. I will wear my crown and sash with pride and will meet as many people as I can
  6. I will write thank you letters to those who are kind enough to sponsor me or have me as a guest
  7. I will show that I have morals and values 
  8. I will always have a positive attitude and will encourage others to have one, too
  9. I will remember that diet and exercise are an important part of pageantry...and cheating is okay sometimes, too
  10. If I am lucky enough to win, I will win as a humble and thankful queen and will serve as the best representative possible for my title. If I lose, I will lose with grace and will try again!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

I Want To Start A Blog About My Platform...Where Do I Start?

Starting a blog can be difficult, but our Mrs. West Virginia International, Julie Warden, has a few tips to help you get started!


  •  Select a blog program that works best for you. Two very popular platforms for blogs are Wordpress and Blogger. I use Blogger because it is just more user-friendly for me.
  • Create a name that stands out and gets your message across. Don’t be afraid to be creative!
  • Make a schedule for posting. You don’t have to post every day, but you do want to make sure you post at least 3 times a week. A blog that isn’t maintained isn’t a good blog and if you are creating this to promote your message and platform, you want to make sure it always looks its best.
  • Proofread! Make sure you avoid spelling and grammar mistakes.
  • Add photos and videos whenever you can. People love graphics!
  • Speak from the heart. Show your true passion and share your message in as many ways as you possibly can!




Here are a few things you can think about posting:
  • Personal stories
  • Statistics
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Prevention, Awareness, Promotion, Fundraising Pieces
  • News articles
  • Pictures, Cartoons, Videos, Infographics, Videographics
  • Resources


You can check out MY blog promoting my platform at www.reigningoverarthritis.blogspot.com 

Thursday, September 5, 2013

One Of My Funniest Moments as Mrs. West Virginia International - Thoughts from Julie

When I was crowned Mrs. West Virginia International in May 2013, I vowed to make this year the most memorable and most busy of my life. I truly want to use my title as a voice and I want to take on as many opportunities as I can. I remember saying, "I want to be exhausted at the end of this year!"

So, needless to say, I've made a lot of appearances. But when I look back to think about one of the funniest things that has happened, I think the most vivid memory comes from an appearance at West Virginia Power Park in Charleston, WV.

I had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a WV Power Baseball Game and my platform, The Arthritis Foundation, set-up a table so I could sign autographs and raise awareness about arthritis.

My husband joined me at this particular appearance (2 points for hubby) and took photographs of the entire evening.

The night was jam-packed with people coming up for photos, autographs and to learn more about our organization. It was SO much fun! There were a few guys who kept coming up and trying to take more photos, etc. and it was clear that they were thoroughly enjoying a few 'adult beverages' throughout the night.

At one point, while I was taking a photo with some kids, one of the guy made a super inappropriate comment about me to my husband and goes, "Dude, you have the best job in the world!"

He totally thought my husband was my photographer!

I think this is a hilarious story because it shows a few things:
1. People seriously don't look at the fact that I am MRS. West Virginia
2. My husband is a saint...he just laughed at the guy 
3. The later in the game, the creepier the men get. LOL

Oh well. We raised a ton of awareness that night and I had a blast! :)


Wednesday, September 4, 2013

25 Things You Didn't Know About Miss West Virginia International, Kalyn Bordman

1. I'm a Broadcast Journalism Major at Marshall University
2. I'm a huge Tennessee Volunteer & West Virginia Mountaineer football fan
3. I have four dogs who are like my babies
4. I'm obsessed with buying things off eBay
5. I dream in chocolate
6. I own more shoes than clothes
7. I'm a volunteer for WV CORE which is the local chapter for organ donation
8. I've traveled through at least 30 different airports in the last 10 years
9. My goal is to travel to as many places as possible
10. My favorite color is yellow
11. I sing and perform at many different events
12. My dream is to become a sports reporter for ESPN
13. I'm currently a daycare teacher
14. My favorite mountaineer football player of all time never played a down
15. My favorite movie is Beauty and the Beast
16. I love reality TV
17. Everyone says my celebrity look alike is Kourtney Kardashian
18. I'm a young republican
19. I secretly aspire to be the next great baker
20. I'm extremely patriotic, and the 4th of July is my favorite holiday
21. I'm a former softball player/pitcher
22. My favorite restaurant is a taste of Asia
23. My sister is my best friend
24. My favorite decade is the 1950's
25. My favorite vacation spot is anywhere with blue skies, white sands, and turquoise waters


    Monday, September 2, 2013

    25 Things You Didn't Know About Miss Teen West Virginia International 2013, Katie Gault-Wilson

    1) I'm in collegium at Cabell Midland High School 2) I love to sing 3) I'm 16 4) I'm a junior at Midland 5) I love volleyball 6) I love to blare the radio when I'm driving 7) I'm a football coaches daughter so I love the sport 8 ) I have a horse 9) I go to Crossfit Thunder gym 10) I live on 100 acres 11) I listen to all different kinds of music 12) I used to play volleyball 13) Born & Raised Marshall Fan- Go Herd! 14) I love to go muddin' 15) I couldn't do anything without my collegium family or crossfit family 16) My friends & I can have fun doing anything 17) You can always see me at a Marshall home football games 18) I love heels even though I'm 5'8" 19) I have a large family 3 stepbrothers a stepsister & an adopted sister 20) I have 3 dogs 21) I love fishing ! 22) My favorite colors are yellow, baby blue & of course pink 23) I either want to be an RN or go into sports medicine when I graduate 24) My favorite drink is sweet tea 25) I always lose my voice after football games










    Friday, August 30, 2013

    30 Things You Didn't Know About Mrs. West Virginia International - Julie Warden

    Here's a few fun facts about Julie Warden, Mrs. West Virginia International 2013! 

    1. I have 8 animals!  I LOVE furbabies!
    2. I have two older brothers and I LOVE that I grew up as the "Baby Girl"
    3. Daisies are my favorite flower
    4. Social Media is my weakness...I check my Facebook before I even get out of bed!
    5. I am on three different kids of medicine for my Rheumatoid Arthritis
    6. One of my major goals is to get a Pediatric Rheumatologist in West Virginia!
    7. I love statistics and infographics - I think if you know facts and stats, you can really make a point
    8. I high jumped at WVU
    9. I love running trails - we have property and I try to run or walk them as often as possible
    10. My husband and I are total opposites - and it makes us a perfect couple :)
    11. I met my husband at Jamboree in the Hills and I think it's SO embarrassing to tell that story
    12. I got married at The Clay Center in Charleston, WV and it was the most incredible day of my whole life...I married my best friend with my family and friends there and joined an amazing new family
    13. I recently WON a race with my husband - We raced a Polaris RZR in the WEXCR Race Series
    14. My favorite color is PINK
    15. I really do try to cook. I won't say I am good at it, but I enjoy trying...almost always
    16. My favorite actress is Isla Fisher - She is the redhead in Wedding Crashers and Confessions of a Shopaholic
    17. I believe in being a great friend and loving friends like family
    18. I hated my red hair when I was growing up...now I love it
    19. I have strong family values. My family is the MOST important thing in my life
    20. I am extremely passionate about education
    21. I think I am addicted to spray tans
    22. I love Diet Coke
    23. I write articles and do the podium for the WEXCR Race Series and LOVE recognizing the racers. I've learned so much!
    24. During the fall, I am obsessed with pumpkin flavors and smells
    25. I love to shop...for anything...clothing, shoes, bags, movies, house items...ANYTHING.
    26. A lot of my friends are having babies or getting pregnant...it's giving me baby fever
    27. I have broken a ton of iPhones. I seriously shouldn't be allowed to have one
    28. If have a major sweet tooth...After every meal, I crave something sweet
    29. If I could have a chocolate dipped cone every day, I totally would
    30. Being a state titleholder has been the most incredible experience of my life. I LOVE representing our beautiful state and using my title as a voice and serving as a role model in WV!



    Monday, August 19, 2013

    Strong Representation from West Virginia at International Pageants!

    In July, three of our titleholders traveled to Chicago to compete in the  Mrs, Miss and Miss Teen International pageants!

    The girls did an incredible job representing the state of West Virginia with their strong platforms. You'll learn more about each of these girls and their platforms from this blog, but here is a quick highlight:

    Mrs. West Virginia International - Julie Warden
    Official Platform: Reigning Over Arthritis - Raising Awareness, Education, Fundraising and Support for the Arthritis Foundation


    Visit her blog at www.reigningoverarthritis.blogspot.com






    Miss West Virginia International - Kalyn Bordman
    Official Platform: Organ Donation - Working with the CORE Foundation to educate others on organ donation









    Miss Teen West Virginia International - Katie Gault-Wilson
    Official Platform: Bullying - Encouraging youth to stand up against bullying




    Welcome!


    Welcome to the West Virginia International Pageant Official Blog!

    Our state titleholders are embracing an incredible journey and we can't wait to share it with you!


    Let's introduce you to our girls:

    Mrs West Virginia International
    Julie Warden

    Miss West Virginia International
    Kalyn Bordman

    Miss Teen West Virginia International
    Katie Gault-Wilson

    Jr Miss West Virginia International
    Brooklyn Buford


    Ms West Virginia International
    Lori Novak