Meet Mrs. Colorado

The third time really is a charm… When I heard my name called as the new Mrs. Colorado, I felt excitement, unspeakable joy and most of all relief.  I was first runner-up in 2005, third runner-up in 2006 and now my dream of capturing the Colorado crown was a reality.

Hi, I’m Tiffany Sawyer and I was born and raised in a small town in Virginia.  I’ve always been involved in sports, hence my passion for competition.  I began playing softball just as soon as I was old enough to hold a glove and bat.  I was a real tomboy, essentially the son my father never had.  I played on a traveling Junior Olympic softball team all throughout high school, and ultimately played first string softball for Bridgewater College.

In 2000 I entered my first pageant upon the encouragement of a friend and my competitive spirit really kicked in.  I began competing in Miss America preliminaries winning awards like best in swimsuit and most ad page sales, but it wasn’t until 2001 that I won my first state title as Miss Virginia Association of Fairs.

In 2002 I graduated from Bridgewater College with a B.S. in Business Administration and upon graduation I landed a job in human resources for the prestigious pharmaceutical company, Merck & Co., Inc.

Now this is where my life takes a fast and furious turn.  One Saturday night in November of 2003 I attended a Lonestar country concert in Richmond.  During intermission I noticed a handsome dark-haired man standing in the crowd and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.  It’s very unlike me to approach a complete stranger, a good looking one at that, but with a little prompting from my Aunt Donna, I did.  Two months later, Nathan and I were engaged, and eight months later we were married.

My husband, Nathan, is a Captain in the U.S. Army and we were stationed at Ft. Carson in 2004.  Two short months after we were married he was deployed to the Middle East for a year, leaving me in a new state, on a new job, in a new house, with only our Shih Tzu puppy, Grizzly to keep me company.  I entered the Mrs. Colorado Pageant in 2005 for several reasons ~ I wanted to make new friends and to stay focused on a goal until his safe return.  My participation did just that and when I was named first runner-up that year, I was hooked.

Now three years later, I look forward to my reign as Mrs. Colorado promoting causes that mean so much to me like Veteran’s Hospital and Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, an organization that provides support and college funds to the children of families whose parent has paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

As I competed over the past three years, I had a lot of fun, I did make friends and I did find the focus that I needed while my husband served overseas.  The women that I’ve met are indeed incredible and it was an honor to represent each and every one of them at the national Mrs. America Pageant where I placed in the judge’s original choice for top ten.

I would love to share my experience as Mrs. Colorado with you this year as you consider entering this incredible pageant system.  I want to be that “person” who gives you the little push to try something new, the one who gives you the encouragement to reach deep down inside and say, “I can do it!