Cottage Grove woman has her sights on Mrs. Minnesota pageant
By Colby Johnson, Staff Writer 

Article published February 5, 2003 in the Washington County Bulletin

On March 15-16, Shelley Pieper-Reynolds of Cottage Grove will represent Washington County in the 2003 Mrs. Minnesota International Pageant in St. Cloud.

The pageant’s mission is to promote married women, their accomplishments and their commitment to family, marriage and community.

To participate, contestants must be between 21 and 56 and have been married for at least six months. Pieper-Reynolds went through an application process, and in October, learned she had been selected to represent Washington County.

The competition is broken into three categories: an interview, evening gown and physical fitness. Each contestant also selects a platform that she spends the year promoting.

Promoting the platform she calls R.O.S.E., “Raising Our Self Esteem,” is Pieper-Reynolds’ main goal of participating in the pageant.

With high rates of suicide, depression, chemical dependency and domestic abuse today, raising self-esteem is vital to the future Pieper-Reynolds said.

“Both my personal experience and my kids compelled me to enter the pageant” Pieper-Reynolds said. “I hope to use the pageant as a vehicle for my platform.”

Pieper-Reynolds certainly has dealt with adversity in her life. Having struggled with weight issues since childhood and then the complexities of societies response to an inter-racial marriage and family, she knows the scars low self-esteem can leave.

These became primary motivations in her quest to spread her message.

“I think there are huge misconceptions about the definitions of self esteem,” Pieper-Reynolds said. “It’s not just how you feel about yourself, it encompasses so much more than that. It is taking ownership of you own self-image and not allowing what other people say and do affect that.”

Pieper-Reynolds has partnered with the National Association of Self Esteem (NASE) and the YMCA to promote and integrate her platform on a more massive level. She hopes to work in conjunction with local schools and community education programs to encourage making self-esteem a priority in all facets of life, whether it is home, work, or school.

Her commitment to R.O.S.E. is something she hopes to continue working on beyond the pageant.

“The pageant is a starting block for me,” Pieper-Reynolds said. “It move me to wanting to make a career out of promoting R.O.S.E. Also, my family has been incredibly supportive.”

Pieper-Reynolds has also relied heavily on the emotional support and monetary sponsorship of various organizations and individuals.

Though she was initially hesitant about getting involved with a pageant, Pieper-Reynolds was completely impressed with the Mrs. Minnesota Pageant and her competition.

“I have met many of the other women and they are all geared towards making a difference in some way,” Pieper Reynolds said. “Everyone is supportive of each other. Not catty or too hard-core.”

The Mrs. Minnesota Pageant will showcase 30 contestants on March 15, and will be narrowed down to 10 finalists to compete for the crown on March 16.

The state’s winner will be invited to compete at the Mrs. International Pageant on September 5-6 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

To learn more about R.O.S.E. or becoming a sponsor, contact Shelley Pieper-Reynolds at (612) 740-7273 or by email at mrswashingtoncty@aol.com.

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