Rodgers Wins Ms. America International Pageant

By MAGGIE MCMURRAY

Moapa Valley Progress

Former longtime Logandale resident and beauty queen Tracy Rodgers will now be known across the nation. The current reigning Ms. Nevada State was crowned Ms. America International 2017 on Saturday night at the Ms. America 2017 pageant held in Brea, CA.

The Ms. America pageant is for women aged 26 and up and includes the Ms. America title, the Ms. America International title for women over the age of 40, and the Ms. International title for the woman who was the judges’ and people’s choice.

Rodgers is understandably thrilled with her win. She was seriously injured in a car accident in 2011 shortly before she was to compete in the Ms. United States pageant that year and suffered 21 broken bones.
Four years and 29 surgeries later, Rodgers set out to complete her goal of competing in the pageant. “When they announced me as the winner, it was really a surreal moment,” she said. “I heard my name called and I just remember thinking that this better not be a dream. I was very emotional. When I started this path it was because I wanted to finish what I started. Instead it has turned into a whole new beginning.”

Rodgers reign has already been a whirlwind of activities. Immediately after winning, she was taken for a photo shoot and then to the Queen’s ball where all the pageant participants could celebrate together. After leaving there, she was able to meet with her family and friends.
“My family had prepared a basket of my very favorite things and they’d been waiting all night to give it to me,” Rodgers said. “We didn’t find time until after 2:30 am, but when I opened it I was so thrilled. They’d brought me all my favorite things that I’d had to give up in preparation for the pageant. It was full of red Starburst, Double-Stuf Oreos, Dr. Pepper, and Dots. I dug into it right then and there.”

The pageant itself was a grueling process. Rodgers said that the rehearsals started on Thursday so it made for really long days. All Saturday morning was spent in preliminary rounds that only gave contestants about an hour to prepare for the final contest.
The contest was judged on four categories, each worth 25% of the final score. Those included a judge’s interview, sportswear, evening gown, and on-stage question.

Rodgers said that the most nerve-wracking part was the judges interview and the on-stage question. Interviewers could ask contestants anything. So no matter how much you preparation was done, contestants never know what they are going to face.

Rodgers said her favorite part of the pageant experience was the camaraderie with the other women. Contestants spend many hours together learning about each other’s lives and families and make lasting friendships, she said.

Rodgers title will take her all over the United States throughout the next year. She has already been busy with photoshoots, meetings, and interviews. She will travel to parades and events and promote her platform, which is “Your tomorrow starts today!”

Rodgers wants to get the message out that people not let their past experiences define you. She uses her experiences from her accident to encourage other people and remind them that setbacks aren’t the end, but perhaps just a whole new start.

Rodgers is very excited for her upcoming year. She said it will bring lots of opportunities and she is ready to experience them all. Much of her reign will be spent in service. She is excited for her opportunity to do good around the country.