Kast to represent Moses Lake in Mrs. Wash. Pageant

MOSES LAKE - Stevi Kast, 25, of Moses Lake, has added another listing to her resume.

Not only is she a student teacher, waitress, wife and mother of two, she was recently named Mrs. Moses Lake 2013.

Kast said she was excited to be selected. Even though she's not been in a pageant before, she's looking forward to a new experience.

"I don't like to tell people that I've won, but that I've been selected," she said of her representation of the city.

It's true that, while there is no local-level pageants for Mrs. Washington, the state pageant director Pam Curnel, also of Moses Lake, chose her nonetheless.

"She just sparkles," Curnel said. "She's got a huge smile and is really confident and outgoing. We just fell in love with her."

The Mrs. Washington Pageant feeds into the Mrs. USA Pageant. Whoever is crowned goes on to compete for the Mrs. Universe title.

Curnel, who was named Mrs. Washington in 1993, said the statewide pageant is more about community service, married women, and celebrating their life accomplishments.

"Plus they can fulfill their dreams about being beauty queens, too, so they can have it all, basically," she said.

Kernal also said she's been working to get Kast into the system for more than three years.

"When I first saw her, she looked like Angelina Jolie," she said. "She just has that look. She's a beautiful girl. She's absolutely stunning."

Kast currently splits her time with family, waitressing at Michael's on the Lake in Moses Lake, and finishing her degree in education through Heritage University.

The Moses Lake native is currently student teaching fifth-grade at Lakeview Elementary School.

"I would love to teach in Moses Lake because I really enjoy working with kids. I feel like it would be a great way to give back to the community," she said.

"I love hearing what kids have to say and I like seeing the lightbulb come on when they get it, and I like seeing the effort they put in when they don't get it."

One of the requirements contestants come up with is a community service platform.

"It's something that I'll have to stand for and advocate," Kast said. "I don't have one as of yet, but it will revolve around education."

Kast's husband, Brian, said that he's proud of Stevi and her accomplishments, and she deserves the title.

"She's a busy woman right now, that's for sure, but all of her extra time goes back to the family," he said.

The couple have two children: Brayden, 5; and Graycie, 3.

"She has a really deep connection with our kids. She's a great mom and a great wife," he said.

Kast said her daughter is particularly excited for her, and that she's ready to show off for Graycie.

"She has princess dresses galore, and she's going to be excited to see me all dolled up," Kast said.

The Mrs. Washington Pageant has three categories: swimsuit, evening gown, and interview.

The event is scheduled for Nov. 2-3 at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia.

"I'm nervous because I've had two kids and I have to do a swimsuit competition," Kast said, laughing. "Other than the nervous part, I'm excited, though. I've talked to a lot of people who have done it before and they said it was a great experience."

Curnel, who's husband is a Moses Lake city councilman, has directed the pageant and held it in Moses Lake for the past few decades.

"But for my 20th anniversary, I'm looking for something bigger and more exciting," she said. "That pageant is really growing."

Contestant have ranged from 18-58 years in age, and she includes sarongs with the swimsuit competition.

"I do that to make women comfortable. I don't want them to feel embarrassed. Nobody wants to feel embarrassed," she said.

"It's not a true pageant system. It's whoever the most confident person is."

Whoever is named Mrs. Washington will receive a $2,000 cash prize and a seven-day Caribbean cruise.