By ::special Nicole Sheinfeature by nicole shein
She glides across the stage, half-dazzled by the spotlights and half-deafened by the crowd’s cheers, to accept an armful of flowers and the sparkling tiara. She’s crying, but still beautiful; she embraces the other women and waves graciously. She’s a pageant winner, glamorous and gorgeous. When we were little girls, many of us played the starring role in this daydream -- and then we grew up, got married, and settled down to “real life.” Now, instead of sashes and evening gowns, we spend our time in suits or yoga pants. The time for glamour is over -- or is it? Leah Bartos, who currently holds the title of Mrs. New York America 2012, is proof that married life and pageant life do not need to be mutually exclusive. Her husband Tim, she explains, accompanies her to appearances and has even helped with day-to-day pageant preparation. “There is so much prep that I have to do, and he supports me 100%,” says Bartos. She adds with a laugh, “He even videotaped me walking so I could see what I looked like!”
“The week before Mrs. New York, we celebrated our three-year wedding anniversary,” says Bartos. “It was so special for him to see me win the crown.” Being Mrs. New York creates its own whirlwind of appearances and events, but Bartos seems to thrive on the fast-paced, and tightly packed, schedule. “Recently I was in Orlando, making an appearance at Macy’s,” she recalls. “I was supposed to be there from 1-3, but I could not leave until after 4, because so many people came to talk to me and get photos. The children were so mesmerized, it was so inspiring to them -- that part was very special to me. I barely had time to take a sip of water, but I loved every second of it.” Diane DeNigris, Executive Director of the Mrs. New York America Pageant and herself a former Mrs. World, adds, “Leah is extremely organized. She always has her planner and her phone with her schedule on it, and she’s very rigorous and responsible. I am learning from her, and a lot of women look up to her.” Yet Mrs. New York does more than just look pretty and pose for pictures. Every contestant champions her own charitable platform. “These women have a passion for their platform,” explains DeNigris. “They are all giving back, they have a voice, they all volunteer and recruit volunteers for whatever cause they feel passionate about -- whether it’s fighting breast cancer, working with the American Heart Association, or mentoring children. These women are intelligent, they are beautiful, and they give back.”
M rs New York America, The couple met in 2007, when they were both working for a medical device company, and had a whirlwind romance which culminated with Tim proposing to Leah in a Long Island vineyard. They were married in the fall of 2008.
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march 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com