wordplay & images: Lacy Morris
hair & makeup: Laura Slifer

When most think about the world of pageants, catty girls, overzealous mothers and world peace come to mind.  Sitting next to Mrs. U.S. Globe 2007, Janelle Spahn, was anything but a regular pageant girl experience.

For one, Spahn is no girl; she’s a 27-year-old mother of two young girls and a devoted wife to her husband Michael for the last seven years. 

Mrs. U.S. Globe is one of the few pageants where a contestant can be married with children and still compete.  It is also one of the few pageants that actually fulfill the women’s world peace wishes. 

Along with her crown, Spahn is now the official spokeswoman for the W.I.N. Foundation.  W.I.N. (Women in Need) is a counseling outreach program for women and children that are in an abusive situation.  This is a problem that affects twice as many women as breast cancer does.  The actual pageant is a fundraiser for W.I.N. with a portion of the ticket sales, contestants’ entry fees and silent auctions going towards one of the many W.I.N. programs.  
Spahn says she has always been a giving person and has a huge heart for women that have been abused.  She is excited about her crown and all the change she can make with it. 
Before being named Mrs. U.S. Globe 2007, Spahn was more than active in the charity world.  Spahn and her daughter are planning on cutting off their hair for the Locks of Love organization when her time with the Globe pageant has ended.  She was involved with an event called Prom for a Princess where they collect used prom dresses for girls that might not have a chance to have one on their own.     

Since being crowned, Spahn has said that it is “surprising to me how giving people are.  All you have to do is ask.”  She has also realized that her crown has given her a chance for some personal growth and character building of her own. 

A goal of hers in the next year is to build up her Right Living Program.  This is a program that is geared towards the recovery phase of abuse and developing self-esteem in women or children who have had it taken away. 

Spahn is not only a gorgeous woman with a bright, mood-enhancing smile; she’s a woman who wants to make a change in the world and is doing her part to make a difference.
 
“The most important thing to do in an abusive relationship is to tell someone and get out,” said Spahn, “It is called the ‘silent killer’ because people don’t talk about it.”  There are numerous shelters in Denver that have an open door policy and hotlines that offer 24-hour support.  Or you can contact Spahn directly and she will get you in touch with someone who can help. 

MrsGlobe.com