Here she comes ... Mrs. Alaska: ABM freelancer takes state title, goes on to nationals.
Michelle Martin, crowned July 22 as Mrs. Alaska America 2006-2007, is more than just a pretty face. The occasional Alaska Business Monthly writer, and full-time clinical therapist with the Anchorage School District Child in Transition-Homeless Project, has viewed the pageant as a platform to discuss homelessness.As a friend of Devona Cain, an Anchorage resident and Mrs. Alaska 2005-2006, Martin noticed that Cain received opportunities to talk on important issues.
"I thought, what better way to get the word out about homeless families," she said.
Martin hopes that her appearances as Mrs. Alaska (pageant administrators set 50 as the goal) will offer her opportunities to break down stereotypes about homelessness and raise awareness of it as a problem.
In Anchorage school districts alone, about 3,500 school-aged children are homeless, not including children too young for school and in addition to other family members.
"That's a staggering number just for Anchorage School District," Martin said. "The number is increasing and the funding is decreasing."
She believes that many people do not understand that homelessness strikes families and often forces highly transient families to switch schools many times throughout the school year.
Constantly changing schools hurts students' academic performance and self-esteem, among other issues that Martin addresses as a clinical therapist and advocate for homeless children.
"People usually think about the guy on the corner with the cardboard sign," she said.
TOMBOY IN JEANS
To win the competition and its opportunities for public speaking, Martin had to prepare for her first pageant.
"I had some friends who had won national pageants before and they train people for it," she explained. "I worked on interviewing skills and walking in heels."
It represented no small feat for a self-described tomboy who lives in jeans and a T-shirt sans makeup.
"It takes self-confidence and poise to talk about your achievements without talking them down," Martin said.
Mrs. Alaska pageant participants performed a few dance numbers, interviewed with five judges for four minutes apiece, modeled fitness wear (Martin chose an aerobic workout ensemble and carried dumbbells), and strolled in evening gowns with their tuxedo-clad husbands.
When the emcee called her name as the winner, Martin was stunned.
"There's a picture of someone pushing me forward," she said. "I had thought, 'Oh, man, I didn't even place in the top five.' It took a minute to register (that I won). Then I thought, 'Oh, no, I have four weeks to get ready for nationals and I'll have to be away from my baby for three weeks!'"
Martin and her husband, Jason, are parents of Sebastian, 2. Jason works as the graphic designer for Alaska Business Monthly. During her spare time, Martin enjoys knitting, reading and running.
Martin was also recognized as businesswoman first runner-up, best at the evening gown competition, first runner-up for most photogenic, and best in the fitness competition.
The national competition was held the first week of September (press time) in Tucson, Ariz., and required participants to interview and model a state costume (an igloo for Martin), evening gown and swimsuit. The pageant aired on Womans Entertainment Network.
Martin hopes her red hair and zany sense of humor help her stand out from the crowd. But more importantly, she realizes that her position is really an opportunity.
"I'm hoping I can represent (Alaska) as it really is, as the strong state that we are," Martin said. "I hope I can have as many chances as I can to chat about homeless people."
Martin was sponsored by Alaska Business Monthly for the pageant.
Editor's Note: Michelle Martin, Mrs. Alaska America 2006-2007, was a finalist in the Mrs. America contest held in September in Tucson, Ariz. She placed in the Top 10. She also took First Place for her costume attire, an igloo designed by her mother-in-law Billie Grace Martin of Anchorage.
 Printer friendly
 Cite/link
 Email
 Feedback
| |
| Author: | Sergeant, Deborah Jeanne |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Alaska Business Monthly |
| Geographic Code: | 1USA |
| Date: | Oct 1, 2006 |
| Words: | 636 |
| Previous Article: | AOGA turns 40; the Alaska Oil and Gas Association celebrates four decades of being the voice of the industry! |
| Next Article: | The SBA 8(a) program: business development leads to success for Alaskan-owned business; the legal aspects of 8(a) and its benefits to Native... |
| Topics: | |