Mrs. California not your typical 'beauty queen'

For a 40-year-old mother of three, representing California in the Mrs. America pageant is a rare opportunity she's planning to savor."I would never have imagined doing this," said Stefani Norville, of Folsom, as she visited the Folsom Telegraph office for a sit-down interview. "I don't have a pageant background. It's kind of surreal and hard to believe."Norville claimed the Mrs. California title in July. It was her second attempt after a friend urged her to vie for the tiara and sash."A year ago, I did the same one and I was second runner up," she said. "Then I thought, 'Wow, that kind of hurts a little bit (to not win).'"She said she thought about what she tells her kids about never giving up."A few months before the (contest), I decided to do it again," Norville said. "So I went with a different attitude and I felt great."Norville isn't your typical beauty queen."I had impressions of pageantry of there being phoniness and (the queens were) off limits," she said. "I think it's something that should be shared."For Norville, she believes the crown gives her a chance to do something rather than just sit on the sidelines."You won't find me sitting in a car and waving in a parade," she said. "That's just not me. We're talking about a year of service where I can maybe do some good. Like, for example, collecting books for a library. That's something I could get behind."What's a typical day for Mrs. California?"I drop off the kids, work out, go to work, pick up the kids, take them to practices, have dinner and collapse," she laughed. "My day is pretty scheduled and I have a routine."She said when she was crowned Mrs. California, she was in shock."When I won, I remember pointing to family and friends in the audience like, 'We did it,'" she said. "When you win, you're supposed to do a walk and thank the judges. They started playing 'Celebrate' by Kool and the Gang and I just started dancing."She said someone told her a 4-year-old girl in the audience wanted to meet her."So I just scooped her up and it was wonderful," Norville said. "She reminded me of my own daughter."What are her chances in the national pageant?"It's always risky to say you want to win," she said. "I'd like to be in the top 10 but I'd really love to be in the top five because (the judges) ask you an on-stage question."She'll be up against 50 other women, representing all the states and the District of Columbia.Win or lose, Norville said she plans to have fun."I want to take in the whole experience and just enjoy it," she said. "I think if I went somewhere for a whole week and didn't enjoy it, I'd be off track."What does she do for fun?Norville said when someone asks her what her hobbies are, she thinks of playing board games or doing crafts."Actually, aside from running my business and teaching aquatic survival, my hobbies are physical activities. I play soccer weekly on a co-ed team (and) love going to the gym," she said. Norville is a producer for the Northern California Home and Garden Show.Her children range in age from 12 to 3."We all play sports," she said. "My husband also coaches."What do locals think?Folsom resident Enid Baldock said she was surprised someone from her town would be representing the entire state."That's amazing," she said. "I had no idea. … I can't believe we have one of our own in the contest for Mrs. America."Karen Campion, of Rancho Cordova, said she was proud that a local woman would be in the pageant."It's incredible that she's from our region," Campion said. "I hope she has fun and I wish her luck."Lola Purdy, of Folsom, said having someone from the town in a national competition is a good thing."Folsom is on the map," Purdy said. "How fortuitous with all the beautification work going on in Folsom. She's a symbol of the future beauty of our city." * * *FOLLOW THE SHOWMrs. America pageant can be followed online at mrsamerica.com.