Scott Co. Woman Places at Mrs. Minnesota Competition

A local woman came close to winning the 2013 Mrs. Minnesota International title at the pageant on March 16.

Amy Lyon, of Prior Lake, was selected as second runner up to winner Andrea Bennett Xiong of St. Paul. This summer, Xiong will compete with 50 other state winners for the title of Mrs. International 2013 in Skokie, IL. 

Lyon happens to be a writer. She is the author of Only God Knows Why: A Mother's Memoir of Death and Rebirth and the editor of the Savage Pacer.

Here is an account of the pageant in her own words:

A platform, a pageant and a purpose

Phew! What a weekend. I had the incredible honor of competing in the Mrs. Minnesota International Pageant Saturday night and was named second runner-up! I also earned the Media Award for receiving the most news coverage related to my platform: Healing After Loss.

First, let me tell you that I was so far removed from my realm of reality when we arrived at our hotel Friday afternoon that I must have walked on air the full weekend. I can not picture in my mind’s eye one time when my feet hit the floor – unless you count my near wipe out on stage in high heels during introductions, but even that felt laced with magic.

I settled into our hotel room Friday afternoon, then my husband and I checked in with the pageant registration team, changed clothes, headed back over for dinner, changed clothes, then rushed over to rehearsal until 10 p.m. I returned to the hotel and, you guessed it, changed clothes.

Saturday morning I was up at 5 a.m. to walk the St. Cloud skyways to the hotel where most of the pre-pageant activities were taking place. Those skyways were my thinking place, where I checked in with myself and with God. I wanted all of my actions toward the other contestants, pageant staff and volunteers to be based solely in love. Inadequacy, jealousy and fear were not invited to this pageant party.

The one-on-one interviews with judges occurred Saturday morning and, looking back, it was my favorite part of the event. I had a chance to share individually with five judges my story and what I have done to offer hope and healing to other parents. I told them about my published memoir that shares the story of losing our precious daughter to SIDS at only four months of age, the blog where I offer creative memorial ideas and the articles of inspiration I share with infant loss newsletters across the country.

One judge began to cry as she relayed her own story of loss and another told me she has already referred two people to my website. I felt my mission was accomplished before I even stepped foot on stage for the evening competition.

We rehearsed all day for the pageant, husbands included, then it was back to hair and makeup to prepare for the real deal. I had a few deer-in-the-headlights moments during the pageant — music, clapping and all — which may have contributed to my near-slip or the fact that the announcers had to call my name twice during the fitness wear competition because I was so enthralled by it all.

Afterwards, the congratulations for being named second runner-up poured in by those who were there in person, by text message and email, and via Facebook. And, as expected, I was asked what it’s like when you’ve worked so hard for something, but lose. First, I had to clarify that I didn’t feel like I’d lost anything. Not being named Mrs. Minnesota was disappointing, for sure, but not like you might think. My heart and soul are wrapped up in something so much bigger than the dresses and the crown, and what makes this pageant system so spectacular is the great work the new Mrs. Minnesota will now be able to do with her title to spread awareness about her platform.

That’s what I wanted for me and my platform, and that’s where I felt disappointed. Yet, I can’t express in words how honored I was to stand among the new queen – Andrea Bennett Xiong – and runners-up. I was the new girl among them, and only realized later that night that I was the only one who had never competed in a pageant before and had no previous coaching experience. God has had a plan for me in all of this!

It was nearly midnight when we arrived back at the hotel after the pageant reception. A judge, who was also a former queen, rushed up to me in the hotel lobby and wrapped her arms around me — squishing out the last bit of energy I had left.

“You have to run again!” she gushed, tears pooling on her lower lids. “You have such a wonderful message of hope to share.”

“It’s too soon to even think about that,” I laughed, wearily hugging her back.

“But you have to,” she insisted. “People who’ve lost children need your help. You can do so much with your platform.”

We said our goodbyes and I thought about her and the other judge I’d met just that morning. I envisioned the audience of more than 1,000 people who were nearly silent as I shared my story, providing living proof that families can find a future after the loss of a child that can be filled with love, laughter, happiness and hope.

The pageant was one small piece of my role as Mrs. Scott County 2013. I’ve got so much more to do! If you see me at one of the community festivals this summer, during a fundraiser or at an event, please stop to say hello. After all, it’s in those exchanges and through our conversations that we really find an opportunity to give love and hope to one another.