Growing up in the 1950’s we had one television set in the house, and most of the time Dad and I had it tuned to westerns. But once a year Mom made us watch the Miss America pageant, and that was OK with Dad because he got to see women in swimsuits. Mostly though we all watched to see if Miss North Carolina would win the title. Later this month Triad viewers can watch as one of our own competes in the sister pageant to Mrs. America.
Though it didn’t receive national attention until much later, the “Mrs.” America system of pageants has been around in one form or another since 1938, and it was created to celebrate married women and their families. One of its spin-off programs is the “Mrs. American” pageant in which our state’s representative for 2024 hopes to win the national title and go on to compete in the Mrs. World pageant. This year’s Mrs. North Carolina American is High Point native Madeline Stewart, an interior designer and dance instructor who now lives in Blowing Rock with her husband Ian. I caught up with Madeline recently to talk about her background, her legacy connection to pageants, and her support for a special organization.
Jim: Where were you born?
Madeline: I was born in Chicago in 1993, but we moved to High Point when I was really young so this is where I grew up and spent most of my life.
Jim: What do your parents do for a living?
Madeline: My mom is a doctor but most importantly, she’s one of my best friends. My dad is an independent sales rep for the Sherrill Furniture brands. I actually started my career in the furniture industry traveling with him during the summer months while I was in college. It was a great opportunity for me to learn sales and marketing firsthand.
Jim: Did you watch the Miss America pageant on TV when you were a little girl, and, if so, what was your impression?
Madeline: Absolutely! I remember seeing the women on stage and thinking what an honor it would be to represent my state at a national level. I remember thinking those women were so beautiful and elegant, and as a young girl, those are the women that I looked up to. But most importantly, I remember looking at my mom’s headshot on my nightstand from when she was first runner-up for the Mrs. Illinois America title in 1991 and realizing how incredible it was that she could have been walking on a state-level stage.
Jim: You are a very accomplished dancer, so when did you first show an interest in competitive dancing?
Madeline: I started when I was young, but didn’t really appreciate dance until I grew into my teenage years. When I was younger, it was more about just having a fun atmosphere to learn and grow. But as I got older, I started to make friendships that were critical for me during that stage of my life. Dance became a way for me to express myself emotionally and just get lost in the music. It also was an opportunity for me to spend some time with my mom. She was in medical school while I was growing up, so for me to have one-on-one time with her doing something that involved hair, makeup, rhinestones, long car rides, and costumes was really special as a young girl. I also think the competitive aspect of dance really helped me with my self-esteem. I developed confidence every time I walked out on a stage to perform in front of hundreds of people. That’s the mindset that I’ll be taking with me to Las Vegas this month. I truly feel I am a storyteller and performer at heart, and I have a strong mission and purpose for competing in pageantry just like I did when I competed in dance. I’m hoping that fun and genuine side of me continues to come through on stage to the judges.
Jim: You are an ambassador for Project HEAL. Tell me about that organization and why it has a special place in your heart in terms of your personal experience.
Madeline: I struggled with an eating disorder for years during my time in college. For some reason, I never felt good enough or accepted, and started to lose weight to combat those feelings. Once I saw my body with less weight, I couldn’t stop the mental battle of continuing to lose weight. I disguised this struggle as a health journey and became obsessed with size and numbers. My body started shutting down and I developed terrible anxiety and isolation. One of the main things I struggled with was accepting that I needed help and how to start the healing journey. Project HEAL is an eating disorder nonprofit that gives individuals hope and healing options when struggling with an eating disorder. It was founded in 2008 and offers treatment placement, cash assistance, meal support, and insurance navigation. It’s a safe environment and opportunity for people who are struggling with an eating disorder to find hope and healing.
Jim: Many girls and young women are obsessed with being skinny. Does that concern you?
Madeline: Absolutely, I had one of the young girls in my dance class open up to me recently about struggling with her body weight and comparison, and she’s only nine years old. I believe young women are growing up in an age where social media places additional pressure on girls to have the perfect image and the perfect body. Because of this, we’re starting to see eating disorders show through at younger ages. It’s important for us as mature women to be confident in ourselves and watch what we say about our bodies around the younger generation. The best gift we can give them is to be comfortable and content in our own skin. That’s why it’s really important for me to share my story and show young women that I’m not competing in this pageant as a woman who’s obsessed with her weight and image, but instead, as a woman who can relate to that struggle and is an overcomer. I’ve spent so many years hating my body. It’s only when I finally dropped the stress of focusing on weight and body image and started to focus instead on health and wholeness, that I was able to stand tall as the woman God created me to be. My body isn’t bad, it never has been, I just had to have the strength to see it in a positive light and choose to give myself grace and be present. That’s why I wanted to compete in pageants, to share my story, stand with confidence, and show other women they can do the same.
Jim: Let’s circle back to your mom, Dr. Sherry Ryter-Brown who competed in the Mrs. Illinois America pageant. What life lessons have you learned from her?
Madeline: I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve been able to learn from my mom is empathy and authenticity. She is 100% her fun and upbeat self at all times, whether it’s as a mom, physician, or a friend. She has a goofy side and a fun personality that she’s not scared to show people, and I think this gives her an amazing sense of relatability to her patients and friends. For me, there are times where I have to balance being professional with my fun and upbeat personality, so finding that balance is something I’ve definitely learned from her! I also want women of all ages to feel comfortable talking to me, especially about body image and disordered eating. I think my vulnerability about sharing my struggles and my journey is something that will encourage and inspire women. I learned the importance of talking about my story and testimony from my mom.
Jim: Why is having pageants for married women important, and what would it mean to you to win the national title?
Madeline: I didn’t grow up competing in pageants, so for me to have the opportunity to compete later in life now that I’m married is incredible. The Mrs. America system is one of the longest-running pageants for married women, so it’s an honor to be able to represent North Carolina for the national Mrs. American title. Winning would mean the world to me, especially to have the chance to represent women who have struggled with their bodies. I think having someone who’s strong, healthy, outgoing, and comfortable in their own skin would have a huge impact. I’ve had such a positive experience with the Mrs. America system, I would love to travel to other states and encourage women who may be interested in pageantry to compete and start chasing their dreams regardless of their age.
Madeline will compete for the national Mrs. American title on August 27 in Las Vegas where she will be judged on her beauty, costume, evening gown, swimsuit, interview, and how well she photographs. Anyone who has ever met Madeline knows she will excel in all six categories, but if my dad was still alive, he would only care about the swimsuit.
Triad Native to Compete for National Title
Growing up in the 1950’s we had one television set in the house, and most of the time Dad and I had it tuned to westerns. But once a year Mom made us watch the Miss America pageant, and that was OK with Dad because he got to see women in swimsuits. Mostly though we all watched to see if Miss North Carolina would win the title. Later this month Triad viewers can watch as one of our own competes in the sister pageant to Mrs. America.
Though it didn’t receive national attention until much later, the “Mrs.” America system of pageants has been around in one form or another since 1938, and it was created to celebrate married women and their families. One of its spin-off programs is the “Mrs. American” pageant in which our state’s representative for 2024 hopes to win the national title and go on to compete in the Mrs. World pageant. This year’s Mrs. North Carolina American is High Point native Madeline Stewart, an interior designer and dance instructor who now lives in Blowing Rock with her husband Ian. I caught up with Madeline recently to talk about her background, her legacy connection to pageants, and her support for a special organization.
Madeline will compete for the national Mrs. American title on August 27 in Las Vegas where she will be judged on her beauty, costume, evening gown, swimsuit, interview, and how well she photographs. Anyone who has ever met Madeline knows she will excel in all six categories, but if my dad was still alive, he would only care about the swimsuit.