By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Her youngest son thinks she is “Miss America” and her older son bursts with pride when his mother dons her crown. She has perfected the beauty pageant stage pose and made official appearances as a pageant winner.

Though Jessica Radley is not Miss America, she was recently named Mrs. Maine United States. She now is gearing up for the national Mrs. United States pageant later this month.

Radley, 35, of Scarborough, runs Radley’s Market in Old Orchard Beach with her family. She will travel to Las Vegas to compete in the pageant at the Orleans Casino and Hotel on July 22 and 23. There, she will take the stage to be judged on a personal interview, swimsuit and evening gown.

Unlike her first pageant when she was crowned Mrs. Maine without her sons in the audience, Radley will travel to Las Vegas with her husband, Edward III, and sons Edward IV, 11, and Evan, 7. 

Radley was crowned Mrs. Maine Unites States following a two-day competition in early May. She said her first experience in the pageant world was very “low key” compared to contestants who brought along hair and makeup artists. She wore an evening gown she bought on sale for $5 and a bathing suit her son picked out at the mall.

Going into the pageant, Radley said a few friends offered advice but she did little else to prepare. Her focus was staying true to herself and not falling down, she said.

“I really just wanted to be me. I didn’t want to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars,” she said. “If I had too much in my head, I think I would have fallen off the stage or something.”

Radley, who won the swimsuit competition, said she couldn’t believe she had won when her name was announced. She said she barely remembers the first few moments on stage, except that the crown would not fit over her ponytail. She began to cry when she saw her husband in the audience. 

“I don’t really remember that much. It was kind of surreal,” she said, adding she has not yet watched a video of the pageant. “It was just so quick. Everything went by so fast.”

A question about problems facing youth Radley was asked on stage during the competition was random but fitting, she said. Her platform revolves around encouraging people “to make the right choices.” She said she chose that message because of her own history and work with young adults facing adversity at home.

Radley, who grew up on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, said she knew early on she wanted to live differently from her family.

Her parents struggled with and died from drug addiction and several of her siblings live similar lifestyles. Radley is the only member of her family to pursue education past ninth grade. 

Radley credits much of her success to Bruce Gendron, a high school teacher and coach who became a father figure during high school. She said he encouraged her to attend college and remembered her 16^th birthday when her parents did not.

“Without him I don’t know where I would have been,” she said. “He gave me expectations, which my parents didn’t. He’s a good man.”

With encouragement from Gendron, she attended Salem State College in Massachusetts and later graduated from the University of New England. She then worked as a nurse at Maine Medical Center for eight years before taking a position teaching at the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center for four years. 

Radley said her students at the vocational center encouraged her to enter the Mrs. Maine pageant after another title-holder visited the school. She also saw the pageant as an opportunity to spread her message and reach out to people who are struggling to improve their lives. She said youth face serious problems and she just wants to help, be it through fostering children in state custody or mentoring students.

“I think people are afraid to reach out. I don’t think kids realize the choices they make now as teens affect the rest of their lives. It’s easier to achieve goals if you’re making good choices now,” she said. “I want them to do well. It’s hard to see good people struggle and kids need all the help they can get.”

While spreading her message through the pageant, Radley said she is also learning a lot from the experience.

“I absolutely love meeting new people and hearing their stories,” she said. “I take away something from everyone else’s life stories. I hope I can make a difference.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.