NEW PALESTINE — Erin Garvey never considered herself the pageant queen type, but after undergoing a 60-pound weight loss over the past couple years, the New Palestine woman thought she’d give it a shot.
Garvey, 36, is currently the reigning Mrs. Hancock County and will be among the 12 candidates vying for the title of Mrs. Indiana on Saturday, June 5, at the Century Center in South Bend.
The winner will go on to compete in the Mrs. America pageant in November in Las Vegas.
While there are multiple pageant circuits with similar names, Garvey said this particular pageant is for married women of all ages. Both the county and state titles are a one-year commitment.
“This is just another way to have a platform, to stay involved in the community,” said Garvey, a local Realtor and mom of three.
Pageant participants can represent either a county or a city or town, as long as two represented areas don’t overlap.
Garvey found out no one held the Mrs. Hancock County title when she became interested in the position.
Acquiring the role of Mrs. Hancock County was simple enough. She simply applied with pageant organizers back in January.
Since then, she’s made a number of appearances at community events and took part in filming a promotional video made by the Hancock County Tourism and Visitor Center.
Garvey said she’s looking forward to spending more time with the other 11 contestants who will compete alongside her in this weekend’s Mrs. Indiana-America pageant.
Her experience with fellow contestants at orientation was nothing short of positive, she said.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was a little leery, because all I know (about pageants) is what we see on TV and movies,” said Garvey. “You kind of worry about cattiness, but it’s not like that at all. The group is very close-knit and cheer each other on.”
Garvey said her fellow contestants are from all walks of life, including doctors, stay-at-home moms, a former Colts cheerleader and a grandmother.
“The women are so empowering for one another and are so connected. It’s a sisterhood, and it’s really cool to see that,” she said.
This weekend’s pageant will consist of an interview with the judges and one-piece swimsuit and evening gown categories.
Garvey said her dad, her husband Josh and their three kids — ages 7, 11 and 13 — will be in the crowd cheering her on.
The pageant gives women the chance to shine a spotlight on the issues they’re most passionate about. In her case, that includes health and wellness; supporting first-responders; and shopping local at independent businesses.
The pageant raises money for Victoria’s Voice, an opioid awareness foundation created by a former Mrs. Florida, whose daughter, Victoria, died from a drug overdose.
Garvey’s personal journey has led her to use her platform as Mrs. Hancock County to support three different topics: independent business, health and fitness and the families of first-responders.
The blue-eyed blonde is transparent about her journey to lose 60 pounds, starting in 2019, and to take her health more seriously since gaining weight after having three children.
Diabetes and heart attacks run in her family, so it was time to get serious, she said.
She worked with a bariatric doctor and lost weight without surgery by paying strict attention to her diet. She now works out daily at the Hancock Wellness Center in New Palestine, where she has a personal trainer.
Losing the weight “is not an easy process,” said Garvey, who went from a size 18/20 to a size 12/14.
“I’ve learned to step back and say, ‘I’m important. I have my kids and I need to be healthy, and I need to take these steps now,’” she said.
Garvey is also committed to supporting the families of first-responders, since her father was shot in the line of duty as an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer in 2004, when another officer was killed
She’s an ambassador for the First Responders Children’s Foundation, which provides financial support to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.
The main passion she’ll discuss at the pageant, however, is community connectedness and the importance of shopping local.
In her pageant application, Garvey highlighted how the past year was hard hit for many small businesses.
“Many are hanging on for dear life, while some have succumbed to their struggles and had to close their doors. I think towns all over Indiana need an advocate, a community champion…. I want to be that person,” she said.
Garvey is a self-proclaimed community cheerleader, and is passionate about helping to support and host events in New Palestine since her family moved there four years ago.
Garvey and her husband, Josh, were looking for a new palace to call home with a “small town feel,” like the one Garvey enjoyed growing up in Franklin.
“We wanted to find that small-town, tight-knit community like Franklin and stay on the east side close to family,” said Garvey, who was thrilled to find an old Victorian home in New Palestine to restore.
She and her husband quickly fell in love with the town.
Garvey is active with the New Palestine Main Street organization,which puts on events like the New Pal Summer Fest and Christmas Walk; and block parties on First Fridays. She also helped develop the Light the Night event, a Christmas light decorating contest.
She hopes her public speaking as Mrs. Hancock County can help shine a light on the importance of supporting local independent merchants, which she said are an essential part of the local economy.
“I’m definitely honored to be able to do anything I can for the community while I hold the title of Mrs. Hancock County,” she said.
