Lauren Monahan
Plus America Elite

Lauren Monahan made history on Saturday, August 23rd and became Miss Plus America's first "Plus America Elite".  At the judges' exit interview, one judge said, "Lauren would not be denied."  Another judge said, "Lauren was the epitome of what MPA was looking for."  All of the judges are happy that Lauren was chosen as the overall winner.  Below is a little bit about the woman who will represent all full-figured women for the next year.

Biography

I’m an independent, do-what-I- want, try anything once kind of woman.  I always wanted to do what the boys were doing, and couldn’t understand why I couldn’t be on the football team, or be in the military, or fly a plane.  So, I did.  Having been an officer in the US Coast Guard, a private pilot, having played sports in college and still be able to dress up for a glamorous pageant – at 50 years old, I’m quite a lucky woman.

As director of the Knox County Senior Community Center in Tennessee , I am concerned with today’s seniors, and how they have lost the respect of the younger generation. How old are we when we are no longer considered valuable? 50?  60 , 70 years old?  Today’s society wants us to look younger, feel younger, and act younger. It seems that there isn’t much that is worthwhile about aging. TV and magazines don’t want us to age, and they sure don’t want us to consider being old an attractive thing.

Something that is dear to me are the people who are a part of my center.  They were young and beautiful once.  They went to war, raised children, sacrificed and labored for pennies an hour.  They were lucky to have cars and jobs.  They did everything for their children. Why has America lost respect for these people?. 

My motto is how I have learned to live my life.  I truly believe that no matter how bad life gets, and no matter how many problems you might have facing you – some day you will see the difficult time made you a better and stronger person.  I lost my husband in 1991.  After thinking I could never make it without him, there was a gift that awaited me.  In 1999 I met an old high school friend whom I fell in love with and married.  He is the joy of my life, and the gift that awaited me.

Lauren Monahan was the director of the Miami Orange Bowl Queen Pageant from 1974-1999.  She earned the Lifetime Orange Jacket Award for service in to the Orange Bowl Committee for her work with young women in pageantry and community service.  She was a model for John Robert Powers in Miami, and has worked for the Elite Modeling organization in Florida.  

Lauren is an approved EPIC judge and pageant emcee. She has spoken to many pageant, fraternal and social groups regarding the benefit of pageantry and competition, and works as a pageant advisor to newcomers and plus sized women.