Curtis High Grad Elizabeth Beasley to Represent Tacoma in Ms Washington Plus Pageant

A University Place native and Curtis High grad will represent the Tacoma area in this year's Washington Plus America Pagaent.

Elizabeth Beasley, who graduated in 1995, will compete in the Ms Division for the pageant, which focuses on the beauty and gifts of "plus-size" women and allows them to raise money for charity.

Beasley’s platform is, "Caring for the Caregiver." Her goal is to encourage caregivers to take care of themselves; encourage them, especially younger ones, to seek help when things become frustrating; and to help them develop patience. In addition to supporting her title, Beasley will also raise monies for two charities, the American Heart Association and Cherish a Jewel, along with other contestants.

Her vision, she says, is for caregivers to stay positive and feel encouraged while caring for a loved one heart disease. The platform is important to Beasley because, along with her dad and siblings, she cared for her mother-who had this disease- up to her death in November. She knows firsthand how difficult it is to care for a loved one with this disease and watch them decline in health. If selected as Ms Plus America, Beasley hopes to share her experience and be a helping hand to families going through this challenge.

Beasley decided to participate in the Washington Plus America Pageant because she believes she would be a great ambassador for plus size women. She believes she would be a great representative for plus size women and girls because she is an example of how to move forward in life in a positive way.

Beasley is an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics. She holds a bachelor of arts in mass communication from Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, an associate of arts and sciences from Tacoma Community College, and a certificate in office management from Tacoma Community College.

Her career goal is to become an Independent Elite Executive National Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. She is the recipient of the 2009 National Court of Sales for Mary Kay Cosmetics and the 2009 Go Give Receptions award for her Mary Kay unit. She has devoted her time to service for the following organizations: Allen AME Church in Tacoma, and the Young Peoples Department at Allen AME Church. When she is not working or serving, she is social networking, traveling, shopping for shoes, riding her bike, walking or writing short stories.

The winner of the Washington Plus America Ms Division represents the state in the Miss Plus America Pagaent.

The local pageant - in which Beasly will be competing against five other women, is scheduled on President’s Day Weekend, Feb. 17-19, at the Holiday Inn Downtown Everett. The finale competition will be held Feb. 20 at the Everett Performing Arts Center.

For more information on the Washington Plus America Pageant, click here.