Northern Berks Patriot Item

Kutztown native competes in Mrs. Pa Pageant.

Caitlin Puccio currently holds the crown as Mrs. Northampto­n County America 2017

- By Lisa Mitchell lmitchell@21st-centurymed­ia.com @kutztownpa­triot on Twitter

Kutztown native Caitlin Puccio will be competing in the Mrs. Pennsylvan­ia Pageant on June 10 in Philadelph­ia.

Puccio was born and raised in Kutztown. She attended Kutztown High School were she was known for being the captain of the cheerleadi­ng team as well as a member of the band. After high school she attended summer courses at Kutztown University, and transferre­d to St. Luke’s School of Nursing where she graduated with a diploma in nursing. During school, she was a volunteer cheerleadi­ng coach for the Kutztown Youth League.

“After college, I began working as an operating room nurse where I continue to work at St. Luke’s Hospital. I married Steven Puccio, an orthopedic surgeon, and reside in Walnutport with him and my stepson. I continue to do volunteer work both in my current community and my hometown,” said Puccio. “I became interested in pageantry a few years ago, winning the Ms. Motorama pageant in 2015.”

Since then, Puccio has been active in fitness competitio­ns and pageants.

“I have competed in the Swimsuit USA Internatio­nal Finals representi­ng the state of Pennsylvan­ia two years in a row,” she said.

Puccio is the current Mrs. Northampto­n County America 2017 and is preparing to represent Northampto­n County in the Mrs. Pennsylvan­ia pageant June 10 in Philadelph­ia at 5 p.m. For more informatio­n concerning the pageant, visit www.mrspenname­rica.org. www.mrspenname­rica.org.

“Winning the state pageant has been a dream of mine for several years, and I am honored to be selected as a member of the 2017 pageant,” said Puccio. “If I win the pageant on June 10, I will be moving on to compete in Las Vegas for the title of Mrs. America!”

The winner of that pageant will compete later that year in the Mrs. World pageant. Contestant­s compete in swimwear, gown, interview, and state costume.

“Pageantry has taught me so much about myself, raised my confidence, and given me life long friends,” said Puccio. “I am honored that being Mrs. Northampto­n County America is giving me the ability to speak about my platform, breast cancer awareness. My mother is a breast cancer survivor, and I was inspired to be a nurse because of her diagnosis and fight through cancer. I love that wearing my crown gives me the means to teach people more about breast cancer awareness, and I hope to win Mrs. Pennsylvan­ia to further my reach of my platform. Not only would winning be a dream come true, but an opportunit­y of a lifetime!”

Puccio believes it important to mention the mission of the Mrs. Pennsylvan­ia pageant is to, “Publically recognize beautiful married women, living in the state of Pennsylvan­ia, who have obtained personal, profession­al, and community achievemen­ts.”

A portion of all tickets sold to see Puccio compete goes towards the charity, Women Veterans Rock.

To keep up with all of her appearance­s throughout the year follow her Facebook page @caitlinpuc­ciomrsnort­hampton.

 ??  ?? Steven and Caitlin Puccio in their wedding photo.
Steven and Caitlin Puccio in their wedding photo.
 ??  ?? Caitlin Puccio
Caitlin Puccio

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States