Pageant queen pays it forward
Karen Peterson photo
Mrs. Montana Alyssa Schock helped judge the Little Mister and Miss Good Old Days pageant.
Karen Peterson photo
Contestants gather for the Little Mister and Miss Good Old Days pageant.
Karen Peterson photo
Mrs. Montana Alyssa Schock jumped into the muddy tug-of-war during Good Old Days Saturday in St. Ignatius.
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ST IGNATIUS – What do you get when you splash mud on a beauty queen?
Alyssa Schock, recently crowned Mrs. Montana 2013.
During Good Old Days, Alyssa jumped in a watery mud pit and grabbed onto the tug-of-war rope with both hands to help her team — although she did wrap plastic around her head to cover her hair.
Entering the pageant started “as a little joke.”
“My sister and I said we were old and there was nothing for us anymore,” but they soon discovered otherwise, Alyssa said. “We found a pageant for married women and we both entered it.”
Winning the title earlier this month in Billings came with “an extra bonus.”
“My sister, Jaci Agustin, won Mrs. Hawaii. She lives in Hawaii, and I live here. It’s the first time they’ve ever had sisters win at the same time. We will get to compete in the Mrs. America pageant together.”
The title comes with responsibility.
“We are supposed to do 50 public appearances during the year.”
She said this year is going to be really busy as she also works on her doctorate of physical therapy at the university.
Alyssa is the mother of two children, the founder of the Mission Parent Teacher Association and active in many other community activities.
“My husband asked me when I was going to have time to do all this but I can handle it,” she said. “This just gives me another avenue to relate to people. I was already really involved in the community. And now I have an avenue to promote things that I’m interested and passionate about like, healthy lifestyle choices.”
Alyssa recently helped judge the first ever Little Miss and Mister Good Old Days with Steve Allard, Kristie Nerby and Holly Lapka. She watched kids conquer stage fright in formal attire.
Destiny Hadley, 10, danced to her favorite song during the talent portion of the contest.
“I love dancing,” she said. “It’s my favorite thing to do. I worked hard to get it down pat. I practiced for two weeks. I have on my favorite dress, sparkle shoes and this crown with red, white and blue.”
Pam Thompson founded the pageant to “give kids the opportunity to shine.”
“I’d like to make this an annual event. We had 20 kids participate this year. That’s a pretty good turnout.”
She had to find sponsors, a location, awards and judges.
“I started putting this together six weeks ago. I was looking for judges, and when I saw Alyssa wearing her crown at an event in town, I thought she’d make a perfect judge. She is a great role model for the kids.”
