Mrs. Arizona Competes for Crown While Fighting CLL

[Guest guest]

[A young patient indeed. Let's hope she wins!!!]

June 23, 2007

East Valley woman vies in pageant while battling leukemia

J. Boggan, Tribune

Elliott said she used to be all ponytails and little makeup, but

now the Queen Creek area resident is competing for the Mrs. America crown.

" I got in touch with my feminine side, " she said. " I can ride dirt

bikes with the best of them, but I can wear an evening gown, too. You

have to be able to pull off both. "

Elliott, who was raised in Gilbert, was named Mrs. Arizona last month

and will be one of 51 women making a bid for the Mrs. America title in

September in Tucson.

" She was never really into the beauty queen-type stuff, but she's

evolved, " said husband Brett.

" She's beautiful anyway, but she's definitely made a transformation. "

This is Elliot's third year competing in pageants. She said she

wasn't into pageants and used to feed into the stereotypical thoughts

about them.

But then she became involved in pageants after volunteering for a

charity fashion show where the emcee was a former Mrs. Arizona.

" I watched it every year but never thought I would do it, " she said.

Now Elliott, 30, has become an impromptu spokeswoman for the Mrs.

America organization, talking about the opportunities it brings for

friendship, philanthropy and self-confidence.

For her day job, Elliott works for Team in Training, a fundraising arm

of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The stepmom to three said the job helps her better balance family

life, work and charity — and it's also a cause near and dear to her heart.

She was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia last year. The

leukemia is a chronic form that hasn't changed much about her lifestyle.

" When you're diagnosed, everyone wants to know when you're going to

die, " Elliott said.

" It makes you check into your own mortality, but it also makes me want

to bring my voice forward and stand up for those who can't. "

Elliott and her family are discussing her options as she may begin a

first round of chemotherapy treatments before the Mrs. America Pageant.

" We'll look at her numbers to see if they're staying solid, and it's

not a threatening ordeal, " Brett Elliott said. " We don't want to risk

her life for a pageant. "

But Elliott said she's strong and will participate in the pageant.

The hometown girl can expect 100 to 200 people in her cheering section

of family, friends and co-workers, her husband said.

" We're going to have almost everybody there, it's looking like a

pretty big crowd, " Brett Elliott said.

" I'm very proud of her, she's helping to save lives. "

For more information

For links to Elliott's blog and information about her work with

the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society visit www.teamintraining.org or

www.mrsarizonaamerica2007.blogspot.com.