Miss Teen WV International, Katie

Katie attended the St. Albans Fall Festival Pageant to represent her title. Look how gorgeous! Here she is with Miss Teen WV United States!

Miss WV International, Kalyn Bordman Remembers a Favorite Appearance

Miss West Virginia International has been busy all year long promoting her platform, but she's also attended events throughout the state. She has been such an incredible role model all year long...WV has been lucky to have her as a state titleholder!

Here is Kalyn at one of her favorite appearances, the West Virginia 150th Birthday Celebration:

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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!

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!

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