Anedra Million, 38, will participate in the Mrs. United States pageant Aug. 3-4 in Las Vegas, Nev. She claimed the Mrs. Ohio title in May to qualify for the pageant, which is organized by the people behind the Miss USA and Teen USA pageants.
Million, a former assistant principal at Amanda Elementary School, will return to the classroom next year as a second-grade teacher at Wildwood Elementary.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Aunjanná will compete in the Miss Teen Galaxy International pageant Aug. 5-6 in Chicago. The 16 other contestants come from locations such as the Bahamas and Wales. She qualified for the pageant in April, after she took top honors in a regional contest.
This summer the two have been making appearances at numerous events — both in state and out of state — to promote their message of female empowerment. Anedra has doubled as her daughter’s sidekick and chaperone.
“People think we’re twins,” Aunjanná said. “They’re like, ‘That’s your mom? I thought that was your sister.’”
Anedra said she’s humbled by the adventure.
“The reason I even started this pageant business is because I was inspired by my daughter,” she said. “Instead of living vicariously through her and saying I have this dream but I’m going to let her have it, I wanted to step in and make it my own.”
The cause closest to their hearts is the Love You Like A Sister girls leadership academy. Twice a month, the Millions meet up with more than 50 Middletown girls in kindergarten through six grade, to focus on volunteerism, higher education and self esteem.
Husband Brandon has been busy planning flights to cover both events so he and children, Au’Lauren,1 1; Au’Braylen, 9; Au’Laila, 7; and Au’Brillen, 2; can attend. Hectic as their schedules may be, the Million pair say they hope another crown allows their message to reach a larger audience and they’re proud to represent Middletown.
If a judge asks them on stage to describe their hometown, what would they say?
“Coming from Middletown means something,” Anedra said. “When there is a tragedy we support each other, when we triumph over something we celebrate that ... Once you
bleed purple you always bleed purple.”
Aunjanná echoed her mother’s statement.
“A lot of girls ask me where I’m from,” she said. “Once we were this big, booming city. Now we’ve hit hard times. But we’re still running. We’re still pushing forward. We’re movers and shakers.
“When we walk into a stadium, they know who we are,” she said. “I could walk downtown in Cincinnati and they know I’m a Middie. They know who we are, and they respect us.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or asedlak@coxohio.com.
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