In front of a packed Cultural Arts Center in Atlanta, Ga., on June 27, LaLona Hughes Richards of the Glenridge Ward, Atlanta Georgia Stake, was crowned Mrs. Georgia-America.
Sister Richards and her family call Sandy Springs, Ga., home. Born and raised in the South, she graduated from the University of Virginia with a dual degree in Government and Philosophy, and completed her master's in Curriculum and Instruction at Arizona State University.
The 30-year-old literacy consultant competed for two days with other accomplished married women from around the state.
Sister Richards was first introduced to the Mrs. America system of pageantry by her friend, Diane Tucker who was crowned Mrs. Arizona, then Mrs. America, and finally Mrs. World in 2007. Her friend encouraged her to get involved as a way of serving her community and furthering her platform of "Equality in Education."
Sister Richards teamed up with local pageant advisers who helped her gain the training she needed to feel confident in competition.
"They dedicated their time, talents and hearts to me," said Sister Richards, "and I am very grateful for their help."
Sister Richards, a ward gospel doctrine teacher, is a fitness instructor and an education consultant who provides teacher training workshops. She is employed by the Rollins Center for Language & Learning, a division of the Atlanta Speech School.
She believes strongly in marriage and family and strives to do what she can to better the world, starting at home with her husband, Dan, and the training and teaching of her two boys, Brendan, 2, and Hadley, 1.
Even though she truly loves her work, she recently made the decision to sacrifice the income of being a full-time professional to that of being a full-time wife and mother.
Sister Richards said she's glad she made the change to work only 10 hours a week with speaking engagements because she has found there is no greater joy than loving and caring for her husband and children and having them close.
As for husband Dan, he said he couldn't be happier or more proud to have his wife compete, saying she is what Mrs. America emphasizes.
"America's 70 million married women are extraordinarily beautiful, poised, articulate and versatile," he said, adding that his wife is "a great mom and wife."
As for her role as Mrs. Georgia-America, Sister Richards said, "Weekly I learn from and teach individuals ranging in age from birth to 95 years old, thus developing relationships with women in all stages of life. As I make decisions about balancing my profession and my family and face the challenge of my husband often working 18-hour days, I routinely tackle some of the greatest challenges married women face.
"Yet, through all of it one thing reigns supreme – the immense joy that comes from marriage and family, and giving back to my community. Through these experiences I represent the versatility and strength of the contemporary American married woman, for whom I will proudly serve as ambassador and spokesperson."
Mrs. Georgia-America is the official preliminary pageant to compete for Mrs. America 2010, held in Tucson, Ariz., Aug. 31-Sept. 7. If Sister Richards is crowned Mrs. America, it would be a first for the state of Georgia. She would then go on to compete for the title of Mrs. World 2010 in Korea.
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