NAPLES FLORIDA WEEKLY WEEK OF JULY 26-AUGUST 1, 2018 A7 The nomadic year of being crowned Miss International 2017
BY EVAN WILLIAMS ewilliams@fl oridaweekly.com
For Kelsey Craft, a 26-year-old who YOUR STYLE. YOUR BUDGET. YOUR HOME. lives in Estero and is a physician assis- tant at Gulfstream Urology in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs, it has been the year of being crowned Miss Interna- tional. Since then her life was “flipped upside down.” It was the year of visiting all 50 states and six foreign countries as a Miss International spokesperson for her chosen platform: to decrease pre- ventable diseases, including obesity and heart disease, through healthy choices. It was a year of ups and downs in planes and sometimes on the ground: 30-70% the year her grandfather died, of getting Off Retail! stuck in London because of Hurricane Irma, of keeping her belongings in a Buy it off the floor storage locker in Bonita Springs and liv- or have it delivered ing out of a suitcase, and the year of the next day! graduating with a master’s of medical science degree from Nova Southeastern University. PAULA PRESTON / COURTESY PHOTO The Miss International organization Kelsey Craft is crowned Miss International sets itself apart from other beauty pag- 2017 on Aug. 5, 2017 in Charleston, W.Va. eants in that besides beauty, community a contestant must be age 19 to 30, single, service is emphasized, specifically the without children and “of good health winner’s reigning year of promoting and moral character.” Ms. Craft also had whatever message she chooses. to win the Miss Florida International “It isn’t all about the glitz and glam- statewide competition before moving Monday thru Friday (239) 390-5111 our,” she said, “It’s about, what do you on to compete for the highest crown. 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. MiromarDesignCenter.com want to do with this year?” Furniture The prize package is worth upward Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. I-75, Exit 123, in Estero Contestants are scored most heavily of $10,000, she said, including a travel One-Stop Shopping for across from on personal interviews with judges and allowance, wardrobe and makeup spon- Factory Direct Your Home on fitness, evening gown, and fun fash- sorships and other odds and ends such Miromar Outlets ion wear events (there’s no swimsuit as luggage. During her travels she rep- MIROMAR DESIGN CENTER competition). Miss International started resented American Heart Association’s 07252618-1610 30 years ago, according to the organiza- Go Red for Women, attending Heart tion’s website, and the rules include that SEE INTERNATIONAL, A26 X YOU’LL FIND IT HERE! Lifetime Eye Care A26 WEEK OF JULY 26-AUGUST 1, 2018 NAPLES FLORIDA WEEKLY She is also quite tall. Even in middle INTERNATIONAL school she wore pants that didn’t fit, as for the Entire Family if she’d rolled them up to walk through From page 7 a deep puddle. “I was nicknamed High Waters Girl at one point because I couldn’t afford Since 1971 Walk events, and teamed up with the pants that were long enough,” she said. Blue Zone Project, which advocates for This year she made appearances at health initiatives that increase longevity. her old high school, at Girl Scout meet Last year was the third time Ms. Craft and greets, at Florida Gulf Coast Uni- entered the Miss International pageant versity, at her old sorority. She served Clearly,CClearlylearly thethe rightright choice choice after moving to Florida following the meals at a homeless shelter, and let a completion of her bachelor’s degree in little girl try on her crown. Across the Idaho. U.S., she pointed out that heart disease Ms. Craft was born in Alaska. This could be prevented through healthy life- year she returned there, finally taking style choices such as diet, exercise and t$BUBSBDU4VSHFSZ a small plane into Tuluksak, where her mental health. She talked about “the dad lives. But she grew up in Longview, simple things we can take control over” t-"4*,7JTJPO Wash., with an older brother, raised by such as regularly checking your blood a single mom who worked as a phle- pressure, body mass index, blood sugar $PSSFDUJPOT botomist. She misses Washington state’s and cholesterol. beautiful landscapes. She doesn’t miss On the road, she found that the other t.BDVMBS%FHFOFSBUJPO the rain. pageant contestants, who had won vari- 5SFBUNFOUT t&ZF&YBNT t0QUJDBM4IPQ $POUBDUT t1FEJBUSJD 0QIUIBMNPMPHZ David C. Brown, MD, FACS Founder & Medical Director
Dial **EYE on your Mobile Phone for an Appointment Today! Call 239.939.3456 COURTESY PHOTO ecof.com Miss International appears with other contestants in the “Mrs.” International pageants (like We’re In Your Neighborhood the “Miss” contests but for married women).
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MENTION THIS AD TO GET COOLER! 10% OFF WITH 50 SQFT MINIMUM PURCHASE EXPIRES 8/31/2018 COURTESY PHOTO Miss International at a Heart Walk in Washington D.C. ous Miss International state contests, Arizona introduced her to her favorite were gracious. barbecue place in Phoenix, Bobby-Q. “The women I competed against, or And still, the year of her reign is not with, they were my biggest fans this quite over. Ms. Craft was awarded the year,” she said. crown on August 5, 2017 in Charleston, W.Va., and will soon leave to crown next year’s pageant winner. Then it will “It isn’t all about the glitz be time to resume “the simple life” — full-time work, repaying student loans, and glamour. It’s about, reconnecting with friends. But for a few more weeks she’s the Miss International what do you want to do of healthy choices, armed with informa- tion aimed at living longer as well as with this year?” better: stress relief, sleep, and a sense of purpose are among the Blue Zone Proj- ect’s Power 9 fundamentals. And, heart ENERGY EFFICIENT | CLEAR VIEW OUTSIDE | PRIVACY LOOKING IN! — Kelsey Craft, Miss International disease is the leading cause of death UP TO 80% TOTAL SOLAR ENERGY REJECTION AND REDUCES GLARE among women, but some 80 percent of (RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL FILM)
those deaths are preventable. PROUDLY USING She took a day trip through six Her nomadic 26th year wasn’t always Change the look of your entryway with our Northeastern states with Miss Vermont, easy, but it was also the year that she DECORATIVE WINDOW FILM attended the Southern New England chose, with her passion for travel. It was Heart Walk with Miss Rhode Island, a year that added to her thirst for visit- visited the 9-11 Museum with Miss New ing other places more than quenching it. CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE: 239-275-TINT (8468) York, and stayed with Miss Hawaii for “That will never stop, there’s not even #ELL s BESTCHOICEWINDOWTINTING AOLCOM s ! -ILDRED $RIVE &ORT -YERS &, a week on the island of Oahu. Miss enough time in a lifetime.” ■ LICENSED & INSURED www.BestChoiceWindowTinting.com
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