At 44, Sandra Kickey still turns men’s heads, even though she isn’t aware of it. As an employee of the Inspections Department in Secaucus Town Hall, Kickey seems to make the halls glow when she passes, drawing glances from people coming to conduct business in other parts of the building. But with Kickey – who was named Mrs. Hudson County 2000 earlier this year – the old adage that beauty is only skin deep just doesn’t hold true. As a title holder and a contestant in the upcoming Mrs. New Jersey International Pageant to be held at the Somerset Marriott Hotel on July 9, Kickey has stepped up into the role of spokesperson for principles based on love, friendship and the commitment to promote marriage. “What got me interested in this program were those principles,” said Kickey, who has lived in North Bergen, Jersey City and Union City. “This is not just a show, it is something deeper.” This is the 13th year the international program for married women has been held. “The original show was held in Texas,” said Lynn Rasiewicz, the director of the pageant. It doesn’t matter if a woman is 23 or 56 – what is important is the way she feels after achieving her goal of self-awareness and self-confidence. “This is not a beauty contest,” Rasiewicz said. “Women who compete come in all different sizes and variety of ages.” The state pageant includes several special awards, such as an award for community service, physical fitness, outstanding personality and quality of life. Scholarship awards may also be presented to contestants who qualify by writing an essay. The state competition consists of a personal interview, aerobic wear and evening gown. “There is no bathing suit competition,” Rasiewicz said. “We’ve eliminated swim wear competitions and developed aerobic wear to help showcase the women in a more dignified manner.” The judges will personally meet each contestant and hold private interviews. No political or religious questions are asked. “It is just a time to get to know a little bit about each contestant,” said Rasiewicz. Aerobic wear and evening town competitions are held on stage. The interviewing process accounts for 50 percent of the overall score, with evening gown and aerobics accounting for the other half. Husbands help support the efforts of their wives and children try to encourage their mothers, making this a family event. The husband also crowns his wife the winner. “Husbands are very involved with this program,” Rasiewicz said. “They escort their wives during the evening gown competition. In fact, sometimes the whole family is on stage with the winner.” Rasiewicz said women who win titles at the various levels use that position to help promote some noble cause. “Each woman has her own,” Rasiewicz said. “The state winner speaks on these issues throughout the state. City and county holders speak in their city or their county. Even when they are competing in the statewide pageants, they are not just contestants. They make regular appearances, such as doing telethons, fashions shows or making appearances on television. Each woman promotes their charitable cause.” Kickey said that she has two or three issues that she is currently considering. “When I heard about this, I felt I had the qualifications to do that,” she said, saying that many of her ideas center around women and their roles in the 21st century. “I’ve met a number of strong women who influenced me.” A New Jersey resident currently holds the national title, and promotes efforts to help battle deficiency disorders. > Fast-growing pageant This pageant is one of the fastest-growing of its kind for married women, pageant organizers said. To qualify, a woman must be at least 23 years old, a U.S. Citizen, married for one or more years and living with her husband. She must also be a resident of New Jersey. Kickey was born in Jersey City and had lived in North Bergen and Union City before moving to Secaucus. She went through the Union City school system. She is currently employed in the Secaucus Department of Inspections and is a part-time college student, studying psychology at Montclair State University. She has been married to Police Lt. Joseph Kickey for 14 years and has a 12-year-old daughter named Danielle. Women qualify for the state competition by seeking a title of their town or county. This is done through an extensive telephone interview. The women who win the state competition then qualify to compete for the Mrs. U.S. International, the winner of which would represent the United States in the international pageant. Various sponsors, either individuals or businesses, support contestants in the state competition. Kickey said she first heard of the contest from a woman at work, Diane Kilroy, who served as Mrs. Hudson County in 1999. As the newly-named Mrs. Hudson County, Kickey said she hopes to enjoy her title for the next year and will compete for the title of Mrs. New Jersey in July. She also intends to speak at public functions on a local or county level, if requested. Last week, Kickey participated in the March of Dimes Walkathon, and said it is the kind of issue she likes to get behind. “I like promoting good health and being able to be a part of a community event that raises money for the less fortunate,” she said. For more information about becoming a sponsor, contact Kickey at PO Box 1215, Secaucus NJ, 07096-1215.
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