Former Mrs. Missouri winner remembers pageants in Springfield
BRANSON MO NEWS: Buy PhotoReporter Alissa Zhu talks with Sally Breck during the Springfield News-Leader’s “More to the Story” news clippings event at the Library Center on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017.(Photo: Andrew Jansen/News-Leader)Buy PhotoStory HighlightsThis article is part of our “More to the Story” series.Last month, we invited readers to share with us your family’s treasured news clips.Dozens of you came to the Library Center to talk to our reporters.A former Mrs. Missouri winner has fond memories of visiting Springfield, where she won the pageant crown.From there, Sally Breck went on to compete in the 1985 Mrs. America pageant, held in Reno, Nevada.The pageant included swimsuit, evening gown and costume contests, as well as an interview portion.”They made you cook back in the ’50s,” Breck said with a laugh, explaining that was no longer a requirement by the time she was a contestant.Breck said she loved meeting people from all over the country, making appearances in parades and going on nursing home visits.Clipping from The Springfield Leader and Press, Feb. 25, 1985. (Photo: .)She met then-Missouri Gov. John Ashcroft, as well as musician Willie Nelson.Getting to that point required some hard work, Breck said, and years of preparation.She observed and took notes on pageant contestants. She enrolled in voice lessons, practiced public speaking, brushed up on history and shopped around for the perfect evening gown.Buy PhotoReporter Alissa Zhu talks with Sally Breck during the Springfield News-Leader’s “More to the Story” news clippings event at the Library Center on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. (Photo: Andrew Jansen/News-Leader)Breck remembers that at one speaking event, someone commented, “Oh, you can speak intelligently. I wasn’t expecting that.”Breck remembers thinking, “Thank you, I guess.””In that sense, we’ve come a long way,” Breck said. “People realize you can …
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