Howell woman bidding for Mrs. America
Claire Pavlinec was recently crowned Mrs. New Jersey '07
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Kerry Walsh (l) and Mrs. New Jersey 2007 Claire Pavlinec, of Howell, unload donated items that will be given to mothers at the Ocean Health Initiative, Lakewood. Pavlinec runs a charitable organization called Maternal Wings.

HOWELL - In a community of more than 50,000 people you will find not one, but two beauty queens.

Township resident Claire Pavlinec was crowned Mrs. New Jersey 2007 on Aug. 3 in an event held at Rowan University, Glassboro.

This week Pavlinec, 37, is at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz., competing in the Mrs. America Pageant. Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will vie for the crown. The pageant will be nationally televised in September.

Earlier this summer Howell resident Amy Polumbo was crowned the 2007 Miss New Jersey. By virtue of holding that title, Polumbo will represent New Jersey at the next Miss America pageant.

The success enjoyed by Polumbo and Pavlinec may well give Howell the distinction of being "Beauty Town USA."

CHRIS KELLY staff Mrs. New Jersey 2007 Claire Pavlinec holds Guillermo Tepox, 6 months, as she talks with the baby's mother, Josefine Tepox, at the Ocean Health Initiative, Lakewood.

In winning the title of Mrs. New Jersey 2007, Pavlinec beat out 13 other contestants and advocated for her charity Maternal Wings, a nonprofit organization that provides impoverished mothers with the necessities they need to care for newborn babies.

Pavlinec is a native of Manchester Township, who has lived in Howell for four years. She has a bachelor's degree in humanities and is now pursuing her mas- ter's degree in education at Georgian Court University, Lakewood.

Pavlinec said she entered the Mrs. New Jersey pageant as a way to bring awareness to her charity.

She said the idea for Maternal Wings emerged three years ago when she was expecting her daughter. In the midst of receiving an abundance of gifts at her baby shower, Pavlinec thought about all the pregnant women who were not so lucky.

She said she began to gather unused baby items and during the 2006 Christmas season made a donation to the Ocean Health Initiative medical facility in Lakewood.

Pavlinec said she is hoping that her newly acquired title will bring more awareness to her cause and ultimately attract more sponsors.

According to a statement released by the Mrs. America Organization, Pavlinec said, "I entered the pageant in hopes that I would win and be able to bring more attention to my charity and the needs of expectant mothers who do not have the resources to provide for their child. As Mrs. New Jersey America, I will be able to help even more mothers and babies than before by bringing about a greater sense of awareness statewide."

Pavlinec also said she wanted to give expectant mothers who are economically challenged, "the wings to fly and take care of themselves and their babies."

Pavlinec, who is a full-time homemaker, and her husband, Ken, have two children, Alexis, 3, and Luc. 2.

Geralyn Watson, state director of the Mrs. New Jersey America and Mrs. Pennsylvania America pageants, said in a statement released by the Mrs. America Organization, "Claire's compassion for mothers and children in need is inspiring and she is truly a role model for all women in New Jersey."

Anyone wishing to make a donation to Maternal Wings may contact Claire Pavlinec at (732) 674-4975 or may send an e-mail to Claire@MaternalWings.com.