Meet Mrs. Cd'A
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 14 years, 3 months AGO
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | September 28, 2011 9:00 PM
COEUR d'ALENE - Meet Leslie Duncan, also known as Mrs. Coeur d'Alene.
Wife to Douglas, mom of two, a former criminal investigator, owner of a production company and resident of Rathdrum.
Wait. Mrs. Coeur d'Alene lives in Rathdrum?
"Just because I don't live in the city center doesn't mean I don't do business here and visit here," she said.
Hence, the "broader" delegate title, which she'll take with her to the Mrs. Idaho America pageant in Nov. 5 in Kuna.
The 42-year-old looks at this as a challenge - physically, mentally, spiritually.
"It's important to me because I enjoy being the best me and I enjoy competition," she said.
She plans to spend the next five weeks preparing for the event, where the judges will decide the winner based on an interview, physical fitness and evening gown.
Duncan says it's not "if" she wins. She will, and claim a prize package valued at more than $10,000 and advance to the Mrs. America Pageant in 2012.
"When I win, I'll continue doing the same thing I'm doing, getting the word out there, there is hope and healing," she said.
The hope and healing refers to her platform as Mrs. Coeur d'Alene - post-abortion recovery.
It's a subject, she says, that's "pretty sensitive, pretty intense," for most people.
Yet, it's what she will talk about before, during and after the pageant as she makes public appearances.
According to Duncan, 43 percent of women will have an abortion before they are 45. The results, she said, are addictions, eating disorders, abusive relationships, low self-esteem and depression. They could be immediate or years down the road.
She is entering the Mrs. Idaho pageant as a personal goal as well as "to bring attention to the mental and emotional trauma many women experience after an abortion."
"It's not widely known you can get help for this," she said. 'There's hope and there's healing in education and counseling."
Meantime, Duncan wants to be in the best shape of her life. She already does pilates with her kids and practices karate twice a week. Her children, by the way, are having fun, too.
"They like to see mommy in a pretty dress," said Duncan, who homeschools her 6 and 8-year-olds.
Duncan, chosen Mrs. Coeur d'Alene through a written application, is still seeking sponsors. She estimates it will cost about $2,500 to cover airfare, clothing, makeup and fees.
She is anxious to represent Idaho in the national Mrs. America pageant
"It's a competition so I want to put my best foot forward," she said.
Information: [email protected]
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