This weekend Christy Weber will be representing the central Kenai Peninsula in the Mrs. Alaska-America Pageant.
The mother of five boys- ages 18 through 23- spent Thursday afternoon making the drive to Anchorage, for the 39th competition, with her husband of nine years, Tyler Weber. This year’s competition will take place Saturday at 7 p.m. at Bartlett High School.
“I thought it was something I could do to challenge myself,” Christy Weber said. “It is another platform to be involved in the community, not just in Kenai but all over Alaska.”
Weber, a realtor with Redoubt Realty, had been considering entering for some time, but with a full-time job, also her life’s passion, and a house full of children, she had not had the time. This year she became a grandmother and her youngest son graduated high school and moved out of the house.
It was finally time, and there was finally time, Weber said.
The Mrs. Alaska-America Pageant competition is for married women, said Executive Director Rita Corwin. She said it is the first of it’s kind.
Weber will be joined with 17 other women from around the state from as far as Bethel and Delta Junction, and as close as her neighbor from Kenai, Tesa Sturman, Corwin said. The women exemplify the values of the pageant, including volunteerism, community and family, she said.
This year, an Iditarod musher, scientist and pilot are finalists, Corwin said.
There are no restrictions on size or age for contestants, Corwin said. The competition is not winner take all, as there are separate awards for Most Spirited Congeniality, Friendship, Business Woman of the Year and others, she said.
Corwin has been helping women prepare for the Mrs. Alaska-America Pageant for nearly two decades. Despite not having met Weber, Corwin said based on her application, the Kenai local is a strong representative for her community.
Extraordinary women, educators, mothers, wives and daughters enter the Mrs. Alaska-America competition, Weber said. The competition consists of a couples banquet Thursday, one-on-one interviews Friday and the evening gown competition, sportswear competition, Top Model Fashion Show and awards are given Saturday, she said.
Almost inevitably, Weber said she will be asked why she thinks she is a good contestant.
“I am sure it will come up in the interview,” Weber said. “That’s a hard one.”
Tyler Weber said his wife is going to impress the judges with her personality.
“She is very open and outgoing,” Tyler said. “This is the type of thing that’s right up her alley.”
Christy Weber said she sees herself as well-rounded and genuine.
“I know how to laugh at myself, and am an all-around Alaskan girl,” Weber said. “I like fishing, hiking and I like to get dressed up.”
Weber said if crowned she is looking forward to being a role model for not only other woman, but also the community as a whole. The winner travels throughout the state visiting other communities, she said.
“My boys are ecstatic,” Weber said. “Every chance they get they tell someone ‘This is my mom, she is going to be Mrs. Alaska-America,’ but I haven’t won yet.”
Reach Kelly Sullivan at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com.
