Happy 4th of July!

The Mrs. Oklahoma International Pageant 

would like to wish you and yours 

a  very fun and safe 4th of July.

Let freedom ring!

Mrs. Oklahoma special guest at Hola Recovery

Mrs. Oklahoma will be a special celebrity guest speaker at the Mental Health Matters 8th Annual Fashion and Talent Showcase, Hola Recovery, this evening beginning 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1115 S. Boulder Ave.

May is Mental Health Month and the purpose of this event is to give those with mental illness an opportunity to enjoy the spotlight for a day, build self-esteem, commitment and confidence, and have the opportunity to socialize in a warm and accepting environment.

The event is free and open to the public. In addition to a welcome reception, there will also be door prizes which will be drawn by Mrs. Oklahoma.

For more, call the Mental Health Association, 918-585-1213.

Mrs. Oklahoma participates in "Giving Together" event

Mrs. Oklahoma helped the employees of J.C. Penney, Woodland Hills Mall, in their quest to raise $3,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

As part of the event to raise awareness, a fashion show was held. The models in the show were all children, between the ages of 5-19, who are Type I Diabetics.

In addition to raising much awareness of Juvenile Diabetes, the employee's of J.C. Penney were very close to reaching their fundraising goal.

JDRF Executive Director, Nikki De Flaco was present for the day and Mrs. Oklahoma is pictured here with J.C. Penney store manager, Gary Rowlett.

"Mr. Bartlesville" awarded Amazing Man of Courage Award

On Friday, March 4, just hours before the Mrs. Oklahoma International Pageant orientation began, "Mr. Bartlesville", David Marsheck, sustained a very bad burn on the job.

When Mrs. Bartlesville, Sara, called, she wasn't sure how bad it would be or if she would be able to get to the pageant.  She said they thought he might lose his arm. Scary news indeed!

When Orientation began, the other contestants were told where Sara was so that more prayers could be offered for David's injury. Plans were made to have someone else escort her in the evening gown portion of the pageant if her husband could not be there.

Sara arrived toward the end of Orientation. She said that David was there at the hotel and he planned to participate in the pageant. Really, the most amazing women compete in this pageant but it never ceases to amaze me that their husbands are also amazing people.

Mr. Bartlesville showed up to rehearsals on Saturday afternoon and escorted his wife in the Presentation Show that night. With a smile on his face.

According to Sara, Mrs. Bartlesville, he told her that there was no way he wasn't going to be there for her for the pageant after all she had done to prepare.

For this, we awarded Mr. Bartlesville the Amazing Man of Courage Award.

David has since gone through much pain during the cleaning and healing of his injury but his doctor released him from care early with a great prognosis. Such terrific news! Thank you, David Marsheck, for being such a great example of our Mrs. Oklahoma International husbands.

Mrs. Oklahoma helps form support group for OCD.

On Wednesday afternoon, a new support group will be held for those who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and interested family members and friends.

Co-sponsored by the Mental Health Association in Tulsa and Brook Haven Hospital, the formation of this group was spearheaded by Autumn Pohl, Mrs. Oklahoma International 2011.

Pohl has been bringing awareness of this disorder since last year.  As she watched her brother struggle with OCD, she learned that there was very little information available. She made it her mission to bring a voice to OCD and hope to those who suffer with it.

“I want people to know that OCD is not just a laughable hand washing perfection disorder,” said Pohl. “There is a depth that OCD can take an individual to where sometimes the elimination of life feels like the only answer.”

She set out to create a community support group that will be available for anyone who seeks information, help of support for OCD.

The first meeting of this group will take place on Wednesday afternoon, April 20, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Brookhaven Outpatient Services, 211 S. Garnett Road in Tulsa.

Guest speakers for this first meeting will be Pohl and Mark Davis, MSW, Director, Assistance Center and Recovery Services, Mental Health Association in Tulsa. The meeting will be a welcome meeting will discuss why and how the group was formed. The group will meet monthly on the third Wednesday.

People with OCD and interested family members and friend are encouraged to attend. Snacks will be served and there will never be a fee to attend.

For more information, please call Deborah Steen, LPC at 918-812-6685.

Pageant photos are posted!

bcreative|tulsa, the official photographer of the Mrs. Oklahoma International Pageant has posted photos of the pageant.  They  are truly wonderful so stop by and see them!  bcreative|tulsa website

Mrs. Oklahoma International 2011 is crowned
by Mrs. Oklahoma International 2010
photo by: bcreative|tulsa

Samuel Gordon Jewelers Platform Video Contest

Congratulations to Melissa Kohout, Mrs. Stephens County International, for winning the Samuel Gordon Jewelers Platform Video Contest.

The votes were comprised of judges votes (50%) and votes from the public (50%).

By having her video chosen as the winner, Melissa received a gorgeous pair of earrings and necklace.

Designed by Leslie Greene, the sterling silver & diamond three station adjustable "Montague" necklace and matching "Gabrielle" sterling silver and diamond stud earrings are valued at $1020.00 and provided by Samuel Gordon Jewelers in Oklahoma City.

Congratulations, Missy and thank you Samuel Gordon Jewelers!

Mrs. Oklahoma International 2011 crowned

Mrs. Oklahoma International 2011 - Autumn Pohl

The 2011 Mrs. Oklahoma International Pageant took place this weekend at the Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center in Tulsa.  At the end of Sunday’s Coronation Show, Autumn Pohl, Mrs. Bixby was crowned the new Mrs. Oklahoma International.  She will travel to Chicago in July to compete for the Mrs. International crown.

During her reign, Pohl will promote her platform of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Awareness.  After seeing the her brother struggle with this disorder, she felt compelled to try and raise awareness so that others could be spared the same experiences. Pohl and her husband, David, have two sons, Parker and Grayson.

Rounding out the Top Five were:

1st Runner Up – Kayla Wilson, Mrs. Washington County (Bartlesville)
2nd Runner Up – Melissa Kohout, Mrs. Stephens County (Duncan)
3rd Runner Up – Angela Rosecrans, Mrs. Green Country ( Tulsa)
4th Runner Up – Sherri Stewart, Mrs. El Reno

The remaining semifinalists were:
Courtney Eason – Mrs. Velma-Alma
Kristin Gillespie – Mrs. Northeast Oklahoma (Coweta)
Andrea Ford – Mrs. Tulsa County (Tulsa)
Sunie Stolhand – Mrs. Ponca City
Allison Haynes – Mrs. Edmond

Beginning 23 years ago, Mrs. International was developed to have higher standards than other pageant systems. The very first woman to wear the Mrs. International crown, was Rhonda Berglan of Oklahoma.  The focus behind Mrs. Oklahoma International is to showcase women 21 to 56 years old, married at least six months and a resident of the state. Each contestant competes in Interview Competition, which is valued for 50% of her overall score, Evening Gown, valued for 25% and Fitness Wear for 25%. Each contestant has the opportunity to select a platform of her choice that she spends the year promoting. Husbands are a direct part of the show, escorting their wives in the Evening Gown competition, and the husband crowns his wife titleholder.