TH UR SDA Y , A U G U S T 2 5, 20 16
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HER CROWNING MOMENT
Plano mom wins Mrs. Illinois title; will compete Saturday for Mrs. America By KATRINA J.E. MILTON kmilton@shawmedia.com
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LANO – Thirty-nine-yearold Crystal Cavey is like other Plano moms: she attends her children’s sporting events, she volunteers, is a PTA president, drinks coffee every morning with her husband of 15 years, Billy, and she loves eating hot wings. She also holds the title of Mrs. Illinois America 2016. Cavey beat 11 other women for the title during the Mrs. Illinois America Pageant on May 20 in Elgin. The pageant was based on interviews and swimsuit, evening gown and state costume competitions. Cavey chose her gowns with her family members and designed her state costume, a black hawk. “I entered the competition as Mrs. Plano, and I left as Mrs. Illinois,” Cavey said. “I was told that I was the first person from Plano and at least a 25-mile radius to compete in the pageant.” “I’m not a model, I’m 5-5,” she said, referring to her height. “Five years ago, I was 65 pounds heavier, 12 sizes bigger and had 15 percent more body fat. I got it off the hard way, by running and lifting weights every day. It’s not about who’s the prettiest, skinniest or richest. It’s about your heart and drive. Beauty starts on the inside. If you embrace and love yourself and give it your all, that’s real beauty, I think.” Cavey will compete against 50 other state winners and one voted-in runner up in the national Mrs. America Pageant on Aug. 27 in Las Vegas. “The entire competition is a new experience for me. I want to live in the moment, make new friends and represent the great Photo provided state of Illinois really, really Mrs. Illinois, Crystal Cavey of Plano, poses with her family on stage after winning her title during the Mrs. Illinois America Pageant on May 20 in Elgin. Cavey well,” she said.
See MRS. ILLINOIS, page 5
said that competing in pageants has brought her family closer together. “I wanted this to be a year of our family celebrating and having new experiences together, not a year of mom winning,” Cavey said.