Shawnee woman takes third runner-up in Miss International

Unlike many beauty pageant contestants, Anna Marie Costello, the current Miss Oklahoma International, got her start competing at an older age.   At 24, Costello was crowned Miss Oklahoma International 2010 on March 6 at the Stillwater Community Center.  

Costello first entered the pageant world four years ago.  Since then she has competed in the Miss USA, Miss America and Miss International systems and taken home a number of pageant awards.

"Getting involved at an older age, I had a little catching up to do," Costello said.  "I had to learn the game."

In 2006, she competed in her first pageant, the Miss Oklahoma USA competition and won second runner up, best evening gown and Miss Congeniality. Other pageant contestants award Miss Congeniality based on who is the most friendly and outgoing participant.

"The pageant bug bit her and she loved it," Costello's mom, Cathy said.

Though Costello has competed in Miss USA and Miss America pageants, it wasn't until she competed in Miss Oklahoma International that she found her match.  

"I got into it casually and something just clicked," Costello said.  "I fell in love."

The International Pageant system began 23 years ago as a way to recognize married women dedicated to family values, their community and their country, according to the organization's website, www.miss-international.us.  In recent years, a miss and teen division were also added.  

Miss International is the third largest pageant system, after Miss USA and Miss America, Costello said.  Unlike the Miss USA competition, which places a large emphasis on modeling, and the Miss America system, which bases 35 percent of its judging on talent, 40 percent of the Miss International system is about platform and community service, she said.

The rest of the scoring is broken down into 20 percent evening gown, 20 percent aerobic fitness and 20 percent fun fashion, which Costello described as an expression of each girl's personality.

Costello and her mom were both very impressed with the system and loved that it put so much emphasis on platform and interviewing skills, Cathy said.

Costello, who has been volunteering since age 6, compared the difference between the pageant systems to competing in various sports.

"A person may love all sports but has a knack for basketball," Costello said.  "That's how it is for me with the international system."

After being crowned Miss Oklahoma International by her predecessor, Caitlin Taylor, Costello went on to compete in the Miss International competition in Chicago in July, where she won third runner-up, best prelim evening gown and most photogenic.

"Miss International was definitely more intense," Costello said.  "I was up by 5:30 every morning, but I was extremely honored to represent my state."

The competition ran from July 18 to July 24.  

The contestants came from a wide array of backgrounds but were all the same caliber of women, Costello said.  

There were two lawyers, a medical student, a dental hygienist and a number of other students and professionals, all of whom inspiring, she said.

"They were go-getters," Costello said.  "All these women were trying to better their cities, states and countries."

Since Costello first started competing, Cathy, who was wary of letting her daughter compete at a young age, said she has watched her daughter grow up and become stronger.  

"I didn't let her do pageants until she was 20," Cathy said.  "I wanted her to have personal security and maturity."

Costello is currently a full-time public relations and psychology student at St. Gregory's University in Shawnee. She participates in various student organizations and was also named to the Dean's Honor Roll.  She volunteers three to five hours a week as a part of her personal platform with Therapy Dogs, Inc., where she and her half poodle, half yorkie, Beamer, visit children's homes and retirement centers.  

Costello also volunteers with numerous other organizations, including the American Heart Association, Miss International's affiliate.

"The reality is that this is a job," Cathy said.  "It is a tremendous amount of work but it is a great example to our family and to others in the community about giving back."

Costello said she agrees with her mom about the amount of hard work that comes with winning a title, but that it has had a great impact on her life.

"Competing in the Miss International system has allowed me to be involved with many charities and has shown me how many hidden heroes there are in Oklahoma."