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><IMG >SRC="http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n366/pageantque >en2008/nhamerica.jpg"> > >MILFORD — “Mrs. America is as American as the American >flag and apple pie,” enthuses a press release from the >Mrs. America pageant. > >How about as American as the American flag and baklava? > >Christine Hunt of Milford, a 32-year-old mother of >three who is half Turkish, was crowned Mrs. New >Hampshire-America on June 28 at the Nashua Country >Club and will be part of the Mrs. America pageant next >month. > >With her brown skin and dark eyes, Hunt first thought >she appeared “too ethnic” for a beauty pageant, but >then she realized that the contestants covered a broad >range of ethnic looks. > >The stay-at-home-mom of three children made her first >official appearance at the kid’s parade of the Milford >Fourth of July celebration. In August she will travel >to Arizona to compete with women from 49 states and >the District of Columbia. > >The contest, she said, is a way to try a different >path in her life. > >“During the preparation I had to do a lot of >soul-searching. I’m very passionate about women’s >issues,” she said. “I’m very active in different >organizations and I thought this would be a great >platform to be able to get out there on a larger scale >and speak to women. > >One of those issues is self-esteem and identity. She >started a group called Essence of a Woman that meets >at the Santos Dumont Coffeehouse where she and a few >women talk about setting goals, keeping their dreams >alive, as well as “accepting where they’re at in their >lives and making the best of it.” > >She and her husband Shawn have been married for 13 >years and they are involved in a community marriage >initiative that trains members to help with classes on >marriage enrichment, pre-marriage counseling, and a >class for singles called “No Jerks,” that she says >helps people “be a little more selective” when they’re >dating. > >Hunt said she had some self-esteem problems, probably >stemming from the fact that she grew up “everywhere.” >Her father was in the U.S. Air Force and her mother is >Turkish, and the family moved every few years. > >“I made friends, but I’d have to say goodbye. It was a >constant heartache, but I also definitely think it >really prepared me for change in life and embracing >different cultures and lifestyles. I don’t regret it >at all. I think, as a child, losing friends every few >years was hard and having to recreate that everywhere >you went, finding the right groups to click with … I >never regret that I grew up that way. > >• “Milford is the longest I’ve ever lived anywhere in >my life. It was hard because after a couple of years >of being here, I felt this urge to move … it was >instinct — you get used to that urge to move.” > >She and her husband moved to Milford from Nashua in >2002 because she had worked at The Cabinet for a year >in 1999 and fell in love with the Oval. > >“I used to go to lunch at Gabriella’s all the time. >Now we live on Union Street and I can walk to the >Oval. We have roots here. We’re staying. It’s a good >place to raise a family,” she said. > >Entering the contest was partly a way for her to set >goals and achieve them, she said. > >In physical fitness, for example. > >“I had to get into great shape, and I achieved it” by >working out at Gold’s Gym in Milford three or four >times a week and walking around town. > >She achieved it so well she was named Mrs. Fitness at >the pageant, and also won the Mrs. Photogenic and Best >Evening Gown awards. > >Her floor-length gown, purchased at Cache in Pheasant >Lane Mall, is simple and elegant, white with a gold >and rhinestone neckline. > >The national contest is in Tucson for about 10 days in >August, and it will be televised. The only thing >she’ll have to pay for is her wardrobe, and she will >be soliciting businesses to help with that expense. >She is also available for appearances as Mrs. New >Hampshire, to promote businesses or organizations. > >She is excited to represent New Hampshire at the >national pageant. > >“Whether I win Mrs. America or not, I’m still Mrs. New >Hampshire for a year and I want to make the best of >it,” she said. > >One of the big perks of being Mrs. New Hampshire has >been her children’s reaction. > >“My kids are thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” she said, >and every few days her 4-year-old son Tristen tells >her, “Mommy, I’m so proud you won!”

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