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Bekah Pence, right, was crowned Ms. Virginia on April 12, 2015. Provided by Elaine Pence
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Bekah Pence, second from right, didn't enter the Ms. Virginia United States pageant because of the title or glam it could provide. The newly returned LDS missionary simply chose to enter the competition because of the opportunity it could give her to infl Provided by Bekah Pence
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Elaine and Bekah Pence. Provided by Bekah Pence
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Bekah Pence relaxes after the first day of competition. Provided by Bekah Pence
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Bekah Pence, 29, didn't enter the Ms. Virginia United States pageant because of the title or glam it could provide. The newly returned LDS missionary simply chose to enter the competition because of the opportunity it could give her to influence others. Provided by Elaine Pence
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Bekah Pence, left, was crowned Ms. Virginia United States on April 12, 2015. Provided by Elaine Pence
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Bekah Pence, right, was crowned Ms. Virginia United States on April 12, 2015. Provided by Elaine Pence
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Bekah Pence was crowned Ms. Virginia on April 12, 2015. Provided by Elaine Pence
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Bekah Pence, right, was crowned Ms. Virginia United States on April 12, 2015. Provided by Elaine Pence
Aaron Shill
By Aaron Shill
Aaron Shill is the managing editor of the Deseret News.

One year ago this week, Deseret News readers were introduced to Bekah Pence.

As a 29-year-old, the LDS Church member and returned missionary was named Ms. Virginia. Her story was one of the most read by Deseret News readers when it was published April 14, 2015.

Pence had recently returned from the Nevada Las Vegas Mission and had never entered a pageant prior to competing in Ms. Virginia United States. She saw the pageant as an opportunity to champion her faith and the principle of modesty.

She went on to compete in the Ms. United States pageant and had additional opportunities to put her standards into practice.

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Read the complete article about Pence's experience at Ms. Virginia United States.

Read the complete article about Pence's experience at Ms. United States.

Email: ashill@deseretnews.com

Twitter: @aaronshill

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