We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ellen McGovern a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ellen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My mission in life is to help orphaned children, but let’s start at the beginning. My mission probably first began with my love for pageantry and musical theater. While in high school, I entered the Jr. Miss Pageant and won both the talent division and 2nd Runner-up. I studied music and theater in college and obtained both Bachelor’s and Master of Music Education Degrees from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Omaha. After college, I performed leads in summer stock theater, taught vocal music in public schools and directed many theatrical productions and music concerts.

A few years later I married my husband and we had two biological daughters. 
Our desire to have a son materialized when we flew to Jinan, China in 2012 and we adopted our son Jack, age 5, from an orphanage. This changed our lives forever but in the best way possible! As Fleur Conkling Heylinger wrote in her poem: Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone, but still miraculously my own.

Adopting our son was transformational for all of us! Today at 17, Jack sings, plays piano and guitar, takes honors classes, and is a member of the National Honor Society. The passion I had for adoption led me to compete in a pageant for married women, which was 50% platform-based. My personal platform is “A Child Waits for Their Forever Family, Give Them the Hope of Adoption.” 

It was sobering to realize that many of the children left behind in Jack’s orphanage would never be adopted or have a home to call their own. They also were in need of life-saving medical interventions. This definitely tugged at our heartstrings. Together, Jack and I came up with the idea to create a calendar using his artwork. The proceeds from our sales went to Love Without Boundaries Foundation, a 501C3 organization that cares for the needs of orphans and foster care children worldwide. 

Over the years I continued competing in “Mrs.” pageants and was honored to hold a total of 4 state titles and an international title. I loved sharing my platform on adoption, but I also had a deep desire to use my God-given talents to help inspire others to make this world a better place. This culminated in my decision to start my own business and in 2016 I became the founder and brand maker of Worldwide Pageants, LLC. By the year 2018, we had added the Mrs. USA Pageant. The opportunity for further partnership with LWB Foundation began and Love Without Boundaries soon became our cause for a crown!

The Mrs USA and Mrs/Miss Worldwide Pageants are now the official United Service Ambassadors® for the Love Without Boundaries Foundation. Our Contestants have helped to raise thousands of dollars to feed, clothe, and provide medical care, education, and refuge for needy and vulnerable children worldwide! In addition, the contestant who raises the most money for LWB through fundraising or online voting is instantly placed in the Top 10 Finals of the Pageant. 

After 40 years of teaching music, I retired in 2022, and my daughter Mary took over the Directorship, giving me a much-needed respite. Today we have become a family team with my husband and myself, all our children, and our son-in-law on board with Worldwide USA Pageants. We find that our Contestant numbers are increasing every year. These Contestants -beautiful both inside and out -have caught the vision to help transform the lives of orphaned children. 

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in Blair, Nebraska. My mom and her siblings were raised on a farm and my dad’s parents owned farmland. I spent many fun summers at my relatives and grandparents’ farms, helping with chores, taking in the sunshine and caring for the animals. Later in life, I inherited a farm in Iowa after my parents passed away. Ever since I was a little girl I loved music, singing, performing, and the arts in general. But I also grew up somewhat as a tomboy, running through cornfields barefoot, exploring nature. My other adventures included raising a raccoon, a wild rabbit, and a baby robin, all orphaned when predators killed the mother.

How’d you meet your business partner?

My cofounder and business partner is my husband Mark. We met one another through a mutual high school friend. My husband calls me “Boss Lady” and we always have a good laugh about that. Mark has a great sense of humor and he backs me in everything I do. When I am not sure of how or what decision to make, he always has sound advice. He is trustworthy beyond measure and enjoys being my partner in business, life, and marriage. He is worth more to me than any precious gem or queenly crown. And he is my Mr. Worldwide!

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Although I did start with a very small loan, I paid it back quickly and I have never had any kind of outstanding debt against my business. Business money earned goes right back into continuing to grow the business. Pageantry can be a fairly expensive hobby, and these are challenging times with our current economic situation. However, what is important to me is that women are being uplifted, and encouraged to be empowered and use their voices for the good of mankind. Orphaned and foster care children who were once destitute are now finding refuge and their lives are being changed. The money earned through fundraising efforts is paid directly by the Contestants to the LWB Foundation. 

We are continuing to grow every year and I know that we have a very bright future ahead of us. Integrity is very important, as it’s in our tagline for Worldwide USA Pageants and our organization stands by it. “Uniting Women Worldwide through Beauty, Inspiration, and Integrity.” 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mrsusa.com. www.mrsworldwidepageant.com
• Instagram: mrsusapageant. mrsworldwidepageant missworldwidepageant
• Facebook: Mrs USA Pageant. Mrs Worldwide Pageant. Miss Worldwide Pageant

Image Credits
Georgina Vaughan Photography, Nick Hawkins Photography, Love Without Boundaries Photo, Candid iPhone photo