Wauneen Rucker entered her first pageant when she was just 14 years old, at the urging of her family.
“They thought it would help get the ‘tomboy’ out of me. Little did they know it just taught me how to put on makeup and walk in heels. To this day I am still a tomboy to my core,” Rucker said.
But that didn’t stop her from taking to the stage to compete again, and last fall, she took home the title of “Mrs. Missouri America,” the first woman over 50 to wear the crown.
Gazelle caught up with Rucker this week as she prepares for the upcoming Mrs. America pageant at the Westgate Hotel in Las Vegas.
What do you think set you apart in the Mrs. Missouri pageant last fall? Honestly, I do not think it was one thing. I believe that my age and life experiences gave me a small edge when it came to handling situations under unforeseen pressures, due to COVID and the dedication to fitness and nutrition.
How did you prepare for the pageant, especially during the pandemic? Having competed in this very pageant in prior years with no success, I first hired a fitness trainer. I will be the first to say that at this mature stage of life, weight is always an issue. I am way past the years of fooling myself. It is my philosophy to work on the difficult things first, because then the rest will be gravy. My fitness and nutrition started eight months prior to the state competition.
I found a virtual fitness trainer – Tiffany Nguyen in Wichita, Kansas – who valued me as a person and met me where I was mentally and spiritually. My entire weight loss journey has been virtual. I’m so proud to say that I lost more than 20 pounds. No supplements, no meal replacement shake; only eating better and exercising. I LOVE MY TRAINER … where do you ever hear that? These results are phenomenal for a 57 year old battling menopause.
How are you feeling about the upcoming Mrs. America Pageant? Honestly, I am feeling resolved within myself that I have done everything humanly possible that I can do to prepare, especially navigating this pandemic. It is my belief that I am living out what is written in my “Book of Life,” that was published before I knew who I was in this world. God has one of those for every individual. So in simpler terms, whatever God has written in my story, I’m living it out page by page, anticipating the surprise ending … on that stage in Las Vegas.
You had a 1904 costume designed for the pageant? Every year at the Mrs. America pageant, each delegate is required to model a costume that reflects something of her home state. I am a certified pastry chef and the “waffle cone” debuted at the 1904 World’s Fair, so that was my jump off point. Then, being a huge fan of the movie “My Fair Lady,” I jumped at the opportunity to channel my inner Audrey Hepburn. At the pageant, we each will model our state costumes, though that segment is not “judged.” It just comes with bragging rights.
What would you tell other women who aspire to achieving such an honor? I would honestly tell anyone to not allow one’s chronological age stop nor hinder what your mind’s psychological age says you can do.
What is your platform charity and how did you become involved? The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank exists to help strengthen low- to no-income families by ensuring access to an adequate supply of diapers and by raising awareness about the causes and consequences of diaper needs in our communities. In addition to providing access to adequate diaper supplies, this organization launched the St. Louis Alliance for Period Supplies Initiative. This arm of the core mission is to raise awareness regarding the thousands of individuals living in impoverished areas who miss out on daily life because they lack access to period products. I was introduced to this wonderful organization through my youngest son, who chose to complete his required academic community service for graduation with this organization.
Rucker contacted Dianne Isbell, of HATS by DI-Anne, local hat maker extraordinaire, to design and make her hat for her “1904” state costume. The dress is by St. Louis designer Shan Keith Oliver. She was photographed by Craig Currie in Forest Park, the site of the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.
Originally scheduled for January, the pageant was postponed until the week of March 19-27, due to COVID. Rucker’s judges’ interview will be on March 24, with preliminaries and finals on March 27. A special aspect of the contest is the People’s Choice competition, entitled “Fabulous Faces,” which allows voters to go online through midnight, March 19, at mrsamerica.com/mrs-america-fabulous-face-2020/ to vote for their favorite contestant as often as they like. Votes will help place the contestant in the top 15.
Competing as Mrs. St. Louis, Rucker was crowned Mrs. Missouri America 2020 on Sept. 20, at The Bucknell Family Center For The Arts, in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Rucker graduated from the University of Missouri – St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and earned a master’s degree in management at Webster University. She also matriculated through St. Louis Community College – Forest Park campus, earning a degree in baking and pastry arts.
Rucker is a former St. Louis City police officer and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. She is currently a practicing licensed minister. She and her husband, LaVance Rucker, have two sons – Fred Fuller, 34, and Elisha Rucker, 16.
In addition to being the first Mrs. Missouri America winner over 50, Rucker is only the second African-American winner in the pageant’s 46 years of existence. The first was Brandi Palacios in 2018. The Mrs. Missouri America pageant is the official state preliminary pageant to the Mrs. America and the Mrs. World pageants.
