Page 47 - WilmU Spring Summer 2013

In just one conversation with Rich, there is no question
why this eloquent speaker won Mrs. Delaware – she is as
smart as a whip. It seems unbelievable that Rich – juggling
roles as wife, mother, student, substitute teacher and
cheerleader – had time to earn the title of Mrs. Delaware
2013, but she made it look effortless.
“The goal for the pageant was to have fun and be 100
percent myself. I wanted the judges to see me. Sometimes
contestants get so absorbed with what judges want that they
forget to be real,” says Rich about winning her Mrs. Delaware
title.
A er seven years in the pageant world and three
consecutive years competing in the annual Mrs. Delaware
pageant, Rich decided to change up her game plan this time
around. She decided to go in with a more relaxed a itude
and “just be myself.”
“My favorite portion of the pageant is always the interview
because I get to show off my intelligence,” she says.
The win was less about the title and more about the
exposure to promote the education and early detection
of skin cancer. It is a topic that’s near and dear to her
heart. Rich lived with a basal cell carcinoma tumor
for more than 10 years before it was diagnosed. She
underwent reconstructive surgery only months before
her first pageant.
“If I can save one life from skin cancer or help
someone affected with the disease, I would be satisfied,”
says Rich. She will be able to promote her platform on
a national level in August, as she will compete for Mrs.
America 2013.
Until then, Rich is still studying at Wilmington
University for a master’s in Elementary Education. “I’ve
always had a passion for mentoring children,” says Rich,
who begins her student teaching next fall.
“Education was instilled in me from a very young age
and that’s what I want to instill in my son,” says Rich.
Crystal Rush earned the title of Miss Delaware
International on her first try. Her charisma and
down-to-earth personality translated to the judges in a
magnetic way only Rush can.
This self-proclaimed adventure-seeker never thought
she would be in the pageant world. “My mother
suggested I compete in pageantry because of my desire
to help others, but I wasn’t completely sold on the idea,”
says Rush. “I’m an adventurer who likes to explore. I had
just returned frommy visit to China where I climbed the
Great Wall. Pageants were the last thing on my mind.”
A er some contemplation, Rush finally decided her
next exploration would be the pageant world, but for
one special reason – her niece Skye. “I realized I had the
perfect platform in raising autism awareness because it
was something I deal with,” says Rush. “I see the looks
parents and children give [my niece]. These interactions
make me want to raise autism awareness throughout
our community.”
Now that she has been crowned Miss Delaware, she
feels like her work has just begun: “It’s a lot of work, but
when it’s your passion to make a change, it is all worth
it.”
Rush is busy making title appearances throughout
the state and has a ached her name to numerous
causes including Miracles for Molly, Autism Speaks,
The Alzheimer’s Association and OperationWelcome
Home. Rush also interns at Autism Delaware, works as a
nutrition coach and is finishing her master’s in Business
Administration at Wilmington University.
Rush credits her drive to her family. She is the middle
of five children in a close-knit family, having grown up
in the small town of Accident, Md. – population 325. “I
have been so blessed with my upbringing. My grandma
taught me to stay true to myself and my mother taught
me to always show compassion, which is why I am who I
am today,” she says.
“I started pageants at 10 [years old] because I was shy,
and used it as a way to build my confidence,” says Anna
Ornelas.
Ornelas won Miss Delaware Latina 2012 in the pageant’s
inaugural year. “This pageant shows the Hispanic com-
munity that it has a role model, and I’m honored to have
that title in Delaware,” says Ornelas.
Long before the pageant’s inception, Ornelas was
hard at work to be the voice and positive role model for
the Latino community of Delaware. From an early age,
Ornelas embraced her Mexican roots and learned a great
deal about her culture from her parents, participating in
various organizations and singing mariachi and bachata at
local festivals from her hometown of Georgetown, Del., to
Philadelphia.
Ornelas’ passion for the arts flourished through her
involvement in theater, dance and music. “I started gaining
interest in music at a very young age. I remember a er
watching the movie ‘Selena’ and singing in my living room all
of her hit songs, mimicking her every move and imagining
myself on stage performing in front of adoring fans.”
Her drive was undeniable, and her presence in her
community landed her a show on QBTV, called “Alerta
Maxima.”
You can still catch Ornelas on the stage, singing and
acting, but her goal is to also help others find their voice.
She wants to “give voice to the voiceless,” which is a major
reason why she’s pursuing a career in speech pathology.
She was inspired to research the field because her sister
has Down syndrome and she wants to help others with the
disorder. Ornelas is at Wilmington University studying for
her bachelor’s in Behavioral Science, expecting to graduate
in winter 2013.
“I love to express myself and I know that those with
enabling disorders want to as well. I want to help them use
their voice to speak out,” says the 23-year-old student.
About her pageant life, Ornelas explains, “This experi-
ence has been one of a lifetime. We had the national
pageant in Mexico, which was amazing because that’s my
heritage.”
Though she didn’t win the Miss Latina US, she was happy
to participate and remain a role model in her community.
ChristineRich .ST %FMBXBSF s The Survivor
AnnaOrnelas .JTT -BUJOB %FMBXBSF s The Role Model
CrystalRush .JTT %FMBXBSF *OUFSOBUJPOBM s The Adventurer
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