Pageants a podium for Marysville woman’s campaign against violence

Published 11:03 pm Thursday, January 22, 2009

MARYSVILLE — More than five years ago, when DeAnna Emborski was being beaten and abused by her then-husband, the furthest thing from her mind was that some day she’d win a pageant.

It turned out that those difficult years actually helped her earn that first contest title, and another later on.

Emborski, 38, of Marysville, is the reigning Mrs. Washington International, under the umbrella of the Mrs. International Pageant. In 2007, she won the Mrs. Florida International title.

She’ll compete on July 17 and 18 in Chicago against 43 other women from around the world for the chance to be Mrs. International.

The pageant emphasizes community service, in addition to evening gown and fitness wear competitions. The pageant touts itself as “showcasing the accomplishments of today’s married women.”

While living in Florida, after Emborski left her first husband, she did volunteer work at domestic violence shelters.

When she heard about the Mrs. Florida International contest, she thought it would be a good platform from which to promote domestic violence awareness.

“I didn’t want to just do volunteer work, I wanted to stomp my feet and make a sound,” she said.

She won the contest based partly on her work at the shelters, for Habitat for Humanity and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Afterward, When Emborski looked at the purple ribbon used as the symbol of support for domestic violence victims, she turned it upside down and saw that it resembled a “V.” So she started her own nonprofit organization, Victory over Violence. She raised money for the cause through T-shirt sales and made public appearances.

Emborski’s second husband serves in the Navy, and last year the couple, with their blended family of six children, moved to Marysville.

She entered the Mrs. Washington contest last year and won. Since then, she’s appeared at numerous events, including the Marysville holiday parade, and spoken to groups.

“I like doing community involvement where I’m able speak to groups, young people, women in shelters,” she said.

Emborski has a regular job, as area manager for Local Edge, a Web search engine marketing company.

“I don’t aspire to be a local celebrity, I don’t need a tiara,” she said of pursuing the pageant titles. “It was for something that meant a lot more to me.”

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.

Victory over Violence

For more information on DeAnna Emborski and Victory over Violence, go to www.mrswashington2009.com. For more information on the Mrs. International Pageant, go to www.mrsinternational.com.