If the military took Jill Stevens' advice, they might send soldiers to pageant workshops instead of boot camp.
Stevens, who served in Afghanistan as a combat medic with the Utah National Guard from April 2004 to April 2005, is also a Miss Utah 2006 second runner-up.
Stevens, Miss Utah 2005 Julia Bachison and Miss Wales 2004 Amy Guy will be star attractions in different races of the Deseret News Marathon on Monday.
It wasn't easy for Stevens to trade combat boots and military fatigues for high heels and an evening gown.
"Walking on high heels is brutal. I don't know who invented them," she said.
"But now heels have actually become a comfort zone," said the 22-year-old senior nursing major from Kaysville. A reigning Miss Southern Utah University, Stevens faced 55 other city, county and university queens at the Miss Utah pageant last week and finished in the top three.
Stevens has volunteered as a presidential ambassador for SUU, was SUU Nursing Class president, and worked as a medical representative in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Hope. She will run the 10k race Monday for the third time.
"I love taking on new challenges. I do unique things and have unique goals," she said. After graduation, Stevens hopes to work in pediatrics or an emergency room for a while, then take her experience to developing countries as part of a team to help people who lack access to medical care.
"My role model is a dream of a woman that I am trying to become," she said.
Like Stevens, Bachison is comfortable with multitasking. The North Ogden resident plans to balance modeling assignments with her career goal of working as a political broadcast journalist in Washington, D.C.
While interning for former state representative and House Speaker Marty Stephens, the 23-year-old Bachison dealt with the media and loved every bit of it.
A winner of the preliminary lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit segment of the Miss America pageant this year, Bachison also will run the 10K.
Bachison loves working with kids. Her platform, "Healthy Weight for Life," emphasizes the importance of physical fitness at the elementary level and making that a part of life.
She is involved with Gold Medal Schools, a program run by the Utah Department of Health that helps elementary students develop good exercise habits by charting walking distances in their schools.
"I have lived a healthy lifestyle. And I see its benefits. I've always been a sports and outdoors person," Bachison said. She was an active member of her high school water polo, track, and cross-country teams. She was a state finalist in the Utah cross country meet.
In addition to modeling and volunteering, she is a talented vocalist and an accomplished pianist. At 12, she started an all-girl band.
Bachison has performed in a variety of musicals, including a lead role in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." She has performed at troop homecomings from Iraq at Fort Douglas and Hill Air Force Base and has also entertained fans at the Raptors minor league baseball games and Real Salt Lake professional soccer games.
Like her Utah counterparts, Guy has varied interests. A keen sportswoman, she rides horses in the United Kingdom at an international level.
"It's (riding) been a passion of mine my whole life. I have competed in most disciplines like polo, showjumping, eventing, mounted games, jousting," Guy said.
At 14, Guy competed in the Welsh national hurdling and 100-meter sprints. She was also on the North Wales netball squad and cross-country team. However, this is her first attempt at a long-distance run.
One of her most memorable moments came when she won the Best Sports Woman award that propelled her into the Miss World 2004 final in Sanya, China.
"We had to compete against all the other Miss World contestants on the beach in the events long jump, 100-meter sprint and freestyle swimming," the 23-year-old said.
To prepare for Monday's marathon, she has been doing two 6k runs a week for the past two months. "I ride three times a week as well as competing at weekends so that tends to keep me fit," she said.
"I model as a hobby in weekends, etc. I would love to model as a career but it's so risky," said Guy, a trainee architect. "Architecture is a good reliable profession, and I love the combination of the two."
The women want to serve as positive role models for youngsters.
"To be a role model for children and women, living a healthy lifestyle is important," Bachison said. "Without a strong body and mind it is difficult to accomplish the things you want in life."
E-mail: schakraborty@desnews.com