Columbia Basin women compete at pageant

Event is Saturday night

MOSES LAKE - Four Columbia Basin women are competing for the 2008 Mrs. Washington title Saturday night in Moses Lake.

Mrs. Grant County 2008 Tina Hobson, Mrs. Ephrata 2008 Gena Lewis, Mrs. Moses Lake 2008 Natalie Lybbert and Mrs. Columbia Basin 2008 Tamara Qualls are competing with 20 other women across the state for the title.

Hobson lives in Quincy and works at the Spa at SageCliffe in Cave B Inn. If she wins, she plans to educate children about the environment.

Lewis lives in Ephrata and is a preschool teacher. If she wins she hopes to be a motivational speaker about drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, teen pregnancy and suicide.

Lybbert lives in Moses Lake. She is earning a bachelor's degree in interior design. If Lybbert wins the competition she plans to raise awareness about pediatric food allergies and anaphylaxis.

Qualls lives in Moses Lake and is a Mary Kay Cosmetics director. She enjoys helping women and youth with self-esteem issues. Qualls hopes to help others lead enriching lives and realize their talents.

The event is held at the Moses Lake High School theater at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $10 for senior citizens and students. Tickets can be purchased at the event.

The pageant winner competes at the 2008 Mrs. America pageant in Tucson, Ariz., in September.

Kelli Ritter, 11, will be crowed Princess Kelli at the event. She was diagnosed with leukemia and underwent a bone marrow transplant last year.

Ritter said she is excited about the title and plans to spread awareness about the illness through her recognition.

Ritter's title came about while she was treated at a hospital in Seattle. A young boy at the hospital who was going through chemotherapy treatments always called Ritter "Princess."

Guests can vote for the People's Choice Award at the event. During the intermission, people can donate money to each contestant as she passes a donation container around. The woman with the most money wins the award. All donations go toward the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation.

The pageant is in its 32nd year. The Central Washington University Choir and the Spokane Honor Guard will perform at the event.

For more information, visit mrswashingtonpageant.org.