'Mrs.' candidate promoting Southwest Nebraska

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Bille Cole

Mrs. Southwest Nebraska Daphne Tidyman recently hosted the Sweetheart Lunch at Hillcrest Nursing, where she posed with Frosty and Margaret Quick who have been married for 73 years. Tidyman will travel to Elkhorn in April to compete for the Mrs. Nebraska title. (Courtesy photo)

Creating awareness for Southwest Nebraska is important to Daphne Tidyman of Hayes Center, as she prepares for one of the most memorable experiences of her life. Tidyman will be competing in the 2009 Mrs. Nebraska contest in April and from there the opportunities are endless.

Daphne decided to run for Mrs. Nebraska after attending the Nebraska Health Care Convention in Lincoln, where a former Mrs. Nebraska was an escort in a fundraising administrative fashion show.

After two years of pondering the idea, Daphne decided to give it a try. She talked it over with her husband, James and visited the Mrs. Nebraska Web site. "I decided I could do it" said Tidyman "No regrets."

The first step was to send in an application with her entry fee. The criteria for Mrs. Nebraska is for the participant to be married and live in Nebraska. Contestants do not have to have children.

In October, Daphne sent in her application. Since Mrs. Nebraska participants can choose their own title, Daphne chose Mrs. Southwest Nebraska. Tidyman has many ties to the area as she lives in Hayes Center and works in McCook.

Some of Daphne's responsibilities of Mrs. Southwest Nebraska are to make appearances in area communities and discuss her platform, which is cancer and hospice.

She is a strong supporter of the American Cancer Society. One of her latest appearances was hosting the Sweetheart Lunch at Hillcrest and at the Chief Motel, where she was the guest speaker at the Girl Scout Tea. "I love going and meeting people," said Daphne. "Its fun to meet new people."

For her local title, Daphne did not have to compete, however she will be vying for Mrs. Nebraska on April 25.

The state competition will be at the high school in Elkhorn, which is where the current Mrs. Nebraska, Andrea Stine hails from.

The competition consists of an eight minute interview with each of the five judges and an evening gown division.

During the interview, judges can ask questions from Daphne's biography to her passions. She can also discuss her platform.

Daphne's family includes her husband, sons, Zach and Connor and her parents, who will attend the event along with a few of her extended family and friends at Hillcrest.

So what if the Mrs. Nebraska title is in Daphne's future? "I would be on cloud nine," laughed Daphne. Daphne even has a plan, if she were chosen to represent the state.

"My main purpose would be make people aware of the people and small towns in Southwest Nebraska and the important role the Relay for Life and American Cancer Society have in this part of the state."

The national pageant will be in Arizona, later this summer, where Mrs. Nebraska, who ever she may be, will compete for Mrs. America.