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Melynda Flaggard represented Skye Canyon in the recent Mrs. Nevada-America Pageant on June 6 at the Aliante Hotel-Casino. And while she didn’t come away with the crown, she did earn the Ambassador of Good Will trophy at the event.
“This is my first pageant at the age of 59,” said Flaggard, who moved to Las Vegas and Skye Canyon four years ago from the Seattle area with her husband, Chet, a retired veteran.
She keeps active, however, raising her 15-year-old granddaughter who will be a sophomore at Northwest Career and Technical Academy in the upcoming school year.
“Entering the pageant provided an opportunity to share my passion of empowering women and making a difference through the SHERO Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting and uplifting survivors of human trafficking and exploitation.”
Flaggard said becoming Mrs. Skye Canyon involved a comprehensive application and interview process that was focused on community service, professional background and family.
“This journey has been about finding my voice, embracing my strength and advocating for those who need a champion,” she said. “I’ve discovered that true beauty lies in resilience, compassion and the courage to inspire change.”
She said the preparation for the Mrs. Nevada-America pageant was more involved than she had anticipated and involved staying physically fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
She also had to sharpen her public speaking skills and worked with a coach to help prepare her for the interview with the judges.
“I’ve been staying informed about current events,” she said. “Local, state and national. This is essential to demonstrate how much these issues matter to me.”