New Mrs. International 2014 crowned at a new home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Women from all over the world were given a chance to become the next Mrs. International Saturday night.
 
The winner, 33-year-old Maggi Thorne, hails from Lincoln, Nebraska.
 
Her platform was Soles4Souls, for which she is an international spokesperson raising awareness for the nearly 300 million children around the world without shoes and distrusting shoes in 127 countries.
 
She has three children and works as an integrated branding expert.
 
International Pageants has also found a new home, as Visit Jacksonville brings International Pageant's Mrs. International, Miss International and Miss Teen International pageants to Jacksonville for the next three years. 
 
This year's edition of the International Pageants is from July 24 through Aug. 2 at the Moran Theatre at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.  
 
"This is great news for Jacksonville. Not only will we get to show off our impressive destination to hundreds of competitors from around the globe, but the economic impact of this event relocating to our city for the next three years will be felt throughout our entire community," said Paul Astleford, president and CEO of Visit Jacksonville.
 
This year 153 contestants representing destinations from all over the world are participating in the pageants; many of them are visiting Jacksonville for the first time. 
 
Visit Jacksonville estimates the International Pageants will bring $585,806 in direct economic impact in 2014, with 1,265 room nights booked in Downtown Jacksonville throughout the two-week period.

WJAX