Beautiful fun

Mrs. Washington pageant provides more than roses and tiaras

Behind the glitz and glamor of the Mrs. Washington pageant lies more than hard work. There are friends, lots of fun and something more.

For the last 12 years, it's been the friends, fun and sense of accomplishment energizing Pam Curnel to serve as the Mrs. Washington executive state director. In 2001, she received the Seymour Seitz National Director's Award for her accomplishments.

It's a job requiring full-time commitment 11 months out of the year from Curnel. She said she spends anywhere from 30 to 70 hours a week working out of her home office with a volunteer staff of about 20 former beauty queens around the state.

"I really enjoy it," said Curnel. "I like seeing the women grow."

Married women throughout the state compete in the Mrs. Washington pageant. The winner competes in the Mrs. USA pageant, according to Curnel. The only requirements are contestants be married, at least 18 years old and an American citizen living in Washington.

"There's no talent (competition)," said Curnel. "The only talent is being married."

Curnel discovered her love for pageants in 1970, when she was named runner-up for Miss Moses Lake. It provided a scholarship helping her attend Big Bend Community College.

She was dancing ballet and later taught dance. This year, she is helping the Moses Lake High School play with dance choreography for "Little Shop of Horrors."

Curnel married Dr. David Curnel and they were raising their daughter Melissa, when Pam found another opportunity to compete in a pageant.

"I'm very competitive," she said.

In 1993, Curnel became Mrs. Rochester, representing a town 20 miles south of Olympia. The title allowed her to compete and win the new title of Mrs. Washington. She later represented the state in the national competition in San Diego, Calif.

There, the national spotlight turned to Curnel as the oldest competitor in the pageant. She was 41 years old. The additional exposure allowed Curnel to meet many interesting people and provided her a great amount of fun, she said.

"That was my highlight, being on TV," Curnel said.

Now she has a new highlight each year. She said mentoring the contestants through the pageant process brings her many rewards and numerous friends. Guiding a new contestant from the application process to state competition is her favorite part of working with the Mrs. Washington pageant.

"Some of these women come in timid and later become more confident with themselves," said Curnel. "It's about self discovery. Some don't know who they are."

Contestants gaining confidence and a sense of value are her rewards, said Curnel. Women often enter as a method to meet goals, such as weight loss. She said she enjoys helping them achieve goals and discover their capabilities. The process built her many friendships over the years, as she mentored more than 200 women around the state.

Curnel does more than oversee the local Mrs. Moses Lake contestant, when there is one. She works at bringing the state competition to Moses Lake, and she has succeeded in doing so for the last 10 years, while conducting 11 workshops a year around the state. Women entering workshops learn what to expect at competitions, how best to present themselves and what is required of them.

"Every woman does this to make a difference in their life and in their community," said Curnel.

Pageants provided Curnel with unique experiences she treasures. Over the years, she has met celebrities, been on television and given the chance to produce a television program on PAX TV with Bob Schroder. She gives credit for the program's success to Schroder and a group of talented high school students working with them. Curnel added them to her list of people making pageants worthwhile.

Curnel continues working and enjoying the Mrs. Washington pageant. She said her goal is to see a Mrs. Washington become Mrs. USA. Last year, the Mrs. Washington queen was second runner-up. Curnel is also looking for contestants to enter the state competition representing Mrs. Moses Lake, Mrs. Grant County and even Mrs. Columbia Basin.

All of the work and time Curnel spends in the pageant process is compensated by the camaraderie she receives. It drives her to continue striving to work on the next Mrs. Washington pageant.

"This is about family. We all get together and have a ball," Curnel said. "I've been doing this so long and having so much fun, I don't see myself retiring."