Local Pageant WINNER & Mom Encourages
“Empowerment Through
Entrepreneurship” What do you like most about living in the D.C. area?
I LOVE everything about it! The international environment,
the politics, the family-friendly atmosphere…there is so much
to do with families!
Can you describe an average day in your life?
The average day in my life is busy. In the summer, I wake
up with the kids, have a healthy breakfast and head to [the
gym]. My kids love it there. I get to work out and then we
usually stay for lunch and hit the pool. Each day is somewhat
different with play dates or fun excursions. I love to be active
with the kids — parks, hikes, picnics, museums — you name
it, we’ve been there! I also have a business, so I spend time on
that each day as well. The best part about my business is that I
work it into my schedule and can take/receive calls, messages
and orders on my phone anytime.

What kind of preparation goes into competing in
beauty pageants? Did you take classes?
My focus on preparing for the Mrs. D.C. America Pageant
and now the Mrs. America pageant is being in the best
mental, emotional and physical shape I can be. If being in
your bathing suit on a stage in front of a lot of people doesn’t
motivate you, I don’t know what would! Joking aside, it feels
amazing to be 38, having had three children and being in the
best physical shape of my life. I didn’t take classes or get a
pageant coach; I really just focus on being my most authentic
self. I most definitely do not consider pageantry a competition
with other women. I consider it a celebration of women— all
different, all unique and all beautiful in many different ways.

My only goal is to present my very best self, not only during a
pageant, but at all times.

How did you choose your platform, “Empowerment
Through Entrepreneurship?”
I have always enjoyed working with, supporting, and
connecting women, and that is what I encourage and want
to promote to our community. Women are the backbone to
our society. We are intelligent, multi-tasking, creative and
compassionate beings capable of anything. One woman can
make a big difference in the lives of many. When women
support and lift each other up, well, that is powerful thing.

12 September 2015 washingtonFAMILY.com
Family photo: Jessica Funk Photography
Family Photo on the waterfront: Mark Kanawati



_________________ ❏ Needs Changes
(Mark changes on ad)
Date Sent:
Q & A:
________________ Elaine
Espinola Keltz
Kids 2 Teens Bedrooms
Company: Largest selection in the
DC metro area
12 Months FREE Financing
Larry Blum
1052 Rockville Pike,
Timonium, MD 21093 Rockville, MD 20850
443-895-4801 301-339-0500
Guaranteed to beat
any internet price!
Pleas e
Imme
Return Proof by Fax to 703-318-5509
or Email to Production@theFAMILYmagazine.com
Fax/Email: larryblum@comcast.net
TYSONS CORNER
2444 Solomons Island Rd (Rt 2)
703-506-0010 410-573-0088
Tysons Corner, VA 22182
How will you continue to promote your platform?
I continue 301-339-0500
to promote my platform by supporting women in
Section: locally. I network with women, I connect
small businesses
women, and
encourage Market
Place women every chance I get. It is
honest, it is real, and I hope it is uplifting.

What did Pauline
winning Ray the Mrs. D.C. America Pageant mean
to you?
It is such an honor and I don’t take it for granted. Winning
proof Check
is not honestly
returned One: a very big surprise to me, as
the Fitness If Award
was by this deadline
there wasn’t much emphasis placed on that award, so I didn’t
advertisement will
As Is It was a wonderful surprise.

even realize
option. ❏ an Okay
run it as was shown.

Although I didn’t work
hard to by: win that specific award, I did
Approved work very Washington
hard on my FAMILY
overall fitness as I prepared, so it was
_________________ Magazine
is not
a wonderful acknowledgment. The Sponsorship Award is
responsible for errors
one that I was really Needs
excited Changes
to win, because it allowed me to
❏ not CLEARLY
or changes
give 10 percent
of all
the advertisement
(Mark not changes on ad) sponsorship money I
marked or ads
brought returned
in to my charity
by this of choice. I was so glad to present a
charitable deadline.

contribution to the Touching Heart Foundation. It
Sent: founded by Helen Yi, with her
is a fantastic, local Date
non-profit If
changes are
submitted daughter, which encourages
young children to learn the joy
________________ more than three times,
of giving. a fee of Company:
$40 will be
ANNAPOLIS 8150 Leesburg Pike, Rt #7
Phone: AE:
ROCKVILLE TIMONIUM
2066 York Rd
To: www.kids2teenbedrooms.com
Quick Delivery!
Annapolis, MD 21401
20 % OFF
Any Mattress
With the purchase of any
Bed, Loft or Bunk Bed
Valid with this FAMILY Magazine Coupon only. Not to
be combined with any other offer.

Must Present this Coupon at time of Purchase.

Expires: September 30, 2015
Come see why we’re the global leader in classes for kids.

charged. Gymboree thing about competing in this
What was your favorite
pageant? To:
My favorite thing about
Wilma competing
Hazen in this pageant was how
proud my husband was of me, not when I won, but during
Email: the whole process. He was supportive, encouraging and
excited for me in hazengymboree@gmail.com
a whole new way, since this was a whole
new experience Phone:
for the both of us.

703-963-1388 How are you preparing for the Mrs. America pageant?
I will pursue the Section:
Mrs. America pageant in much of the same
way I entered into the
Mrs. D.C. & America
pageant — focusing
Enrichment Arts
on being my most authentic self and presenting myself with
AE: grace, poise and eloquence.

Advertising Dept.

Abby Short is a multimedia journalist from Reston, VA. Aside from writing and editing
articles, Abby loves finding new shows to watch on Netflix, exploring D.C. museums and
going to concerts. Check If out proof
her online is portfolio
https://abigailshort.wordpress.com/. not at returned
by this deadline
advertisement will
run as shown.

gymboreeclasses.com gymboreeclasses.com
49 $ day
Enroll Celebrate
of FREE Preview
Gymboree Play & Music Locations
Gymboree Play & Music
the ALEXANDRIA
318 S. Pickett St. • 703-836-2277
First Month *
Grand Take Opening of
BURKE And a free
BURKE/SPRINGFIELD $25 newest
our class
on OFF
us! * location
6045 Burke 6045
Center Pkwy Center
• 703-836-2277
Burke Pkwy, #204
** New Families
in Enrollment
Burke with TWO
Only CHANTILLY
VA 22015
great offers! 14155 Sully Burke,
Field, Cir. Suite I • 703-836-2277
(703) 836-2277
Gift Certificates
$ Available
49 Offer expires 9.30.15. New families only. Start classes anytime, space permitting
in class. Not redeemable for cash or credit. Cannot be combined with any other
discount. Gymboree Play& Music reserves the right to change or cancel this
promotion at any time.

First Month *
& No New
Member gymboreeclasses.com
*Offer valid for new families only at participating Gymboree Play &
Music locations only. Existing Play & Music customers are 2015 13
not eligible.

washingtonFAMILY.com September $49 first month plus no new member fee expires 4/30/2011. Offer is
not redeemable for cash or credit. Gymboree Play & Music may