Cyndie Bowling never thought of herself as the pageant queen type.
But this summer, the University of Memphis graduate was named Ms. Shelby County 2003.
“I really never thought I’d be here,” she said, “not in a million years.”
But Bowling has had plenty of pageant experience to help her prepare for her new title.
She competed in pageants in college for scholarships. As an active member in Sigma Kappa Sorority she was nominated to compete in the Miss Memphis State University pageant. For two consecutive years she was a finalist in the Miss Tennessee USA pageant.
“It was a great way to be involved and it helped pay for school,” Bowling said. She was also elected to the homecoming court.
When she left school in 1991 she was a public relations major.
One of her greatest challenges was coming back in 1998 to complete her degree.
Bowling said she found herself in the world of computers – a world she said she knew nothing about.
“I would leave class in tears,” Bowling said, “but I made it.”
Bowling encourages everyone to pursue his or her goals.
“If I can do it, anyone can,” she said.
After graduation, she started her own business as a pageant consulting coach. She specializes in interviewing and also does hair and make-up, a skill she learned while working for Estee Lauder.
“A lot of people don’t have a clear idea of what pageants are about,” she said.
She said she would like to be a mentor for young women.
“It’s rewarding for me,” she said, “A young lady is more than a pretty face.
Pageants are just a stepping-stone. You have to have a heart to give to other people.”
“It’s about making other peoples lives better, as well as your own,” she added.
Bowling applied for the Ms. Shelby County pageant to gain a platform to promote children’s cancer research.
“I wanted to dedicate myself to a worthwhile cause,” she said.
Her 6-year-old nephew, Nicholas Carter, is her inspiration. He had brain cancer and was a patient at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
While visiting him there, she wanted to do something to help.
She hopes while she is Ms. Shelby County that she can bring awareness to her cause so that other children, like her nephew, can be cancer-free.
During her visits to St. Jude’s, she learned that one of the hardest things for children to deal with is losing their hair.
“It was heartbreaking,” she said. “You don’t realize how important hair is until you lose it.”
The realization prompted Bowling to cut off 12 inches of her hair and donate it to Locks of Love. The non-profit organization manufactures wigs for children who have lost their hair for medical reasons.
“Many families can’t afford wigs for their children,” she said. “The average cost is about $3,000.”
Bowling is very excited about her activities in the coming year.
“You get to meet a lot of people from many different walks of life,” she said.
She said she loves to talk to people, which is why she is a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines.
“I love to travel too,” she said.
She has been all over the United States and has visited Japan, Europe and South America.
“It’s the coolest job in the world,” Bowling said.
Bowling is preparing for her next competition, but said, “You can never take it too seriously. You almost have to kind of laugh about it.”
A busy woman, she said she does have goals she has yet to reach.
“I would like to eventually become a pilot,” she said. “You don’t want to live with any regrets.”
