Air Force spouse to compete in Mrs. New Mexico pageant Published Nov. 18, 2011 By Penny Huston 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base -- A Santa Fe native, Air Force veteran and Air Force wife, Pranava Moody, is the new Mrs. North Central New Mexico and will compete in the Mrs. New Mexico pageant in February 2012. Moody said she had never thought about entering a competition until one day she read about the Mrs. America pageant and decided to enter the Mrs. New Mexico pageant. It is a steppingstone to the Mrs. America pageant and finally to the Mrs. World competition. She said she thought entering would be a good opportunity to test new waters and increase her self-esteem. Moody filled out the questionnaire and sent it in, along with family pictures and information about her community involvement. In June, she was notified that she had won the title of Mrs. North Central New Mexico. "We had just gotten back from a scout camping trip when the package arrived," said Moody. "I opened the box and there was the tiara and sash. My husband, Scott, and my boys were excited. I put on the tiara and sash even though we hadn't changed clothes or cleaned up." Moody served more than nine years in the Air Force in the Services career field. She said she enjoyed her military time, but marriage and family soon became her focus. She became active in her four sons' schools, Parent Teachers Associations, and scouting. She is the past PTA president for Sandia Base Elementary School and has spoken to many school groups on anti-bullying, which is her pageant platform. "It's the responsibility of the adult community to make life safer for kids and to raise their self esteem," said Moody. "It does take a community or village to raise a child, and everyone is a member of that community." She said military wives need the time and opportunity to be themselves and to raise their own self-esteem. She said she believes that participating in the Mrs. New Mexico pageant gives spouses the chance to discover new interests and hobbies, meet new people and discover new ways to help out the community and themselves. She highly encourages wives to check out the program and see if it could be right for them. No matter what the outcome, Moody said she will definitely remember the thrills, joys and support she experienced as Mrs. North Central New Mexico. "This is definitely an unexpected dream come true," said Moody.