Extraordinary Colorado Women Seek National Crowns in Vegas this August

By Becky Toma and Paul Kern

Mrs. Dani Holliday, Mrs. Natalie Oliver-Atherton, and Miss Sharisma Thomas, pageant title holders from Colorado, are set to compete in three separate pageants in Las Vegas, NV, from August 24-26.

Each woman has a unique story and purpose, making them ideal candidates to represent their state at the national pageants which honor women for their beauty and their contributions to society.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts recently hosted combined pageants for Mrs. Colorado and Miss Colorado for America Strong. 46 women competed and two African American women took home titles.

Mrs. Natalie Oliver-Atherton, first runner-up and “sister” queen in the Mrs. Colorado Pageant, was crowned Mrs. Colorado American. She sees her participation in the pageant as an opportunity for personal growth that extends to her work as a guest artist at the Denver School of the Arts. In addition, she is launching a non-profit this summer, The Namaste Works Arts Alliance, to provide growth opportunities for young adult performing artists. Natalie is proud to represent women of color in this arena and believes in empower- ing young people to pursue their dreams. In 1990, the first African American winner of the Mrs. Colorado Pageant was crowned, followed by the second in 2022. Mrs. Natalie Oliver-Atherton is the latest addition to the winning roster.

Miss Sharisma Thomas, crowned Miss Colorado for America Strong, is a Registered Dental Hygienist who wants to raise awareness on the importance of the Mouth to Body Connection and Oral Health

Care. She is using her nonprofit, It All Leads to Your Mouth, to provide support to the under-served. Sharisma is proud to represent women of color with this platform and is determined to make a difference in her community.

Mrs. Dani Holliday, winner of the Mrs. Colorado Pageant 2023, will be using her voice to advocate for the infertility community. After a 3-year infertility journey, she became a mother and is now partnering with Resolve, the National Infertility Association, and Colorado Fertility Advocates to push for infertility coverage for all. Her triumph over multiple challenges has led her to a fulfilling life centered on marriage, motherhood, career, and community activism..

Editor’s note: For more information on The Mrs. Colorado and the Miss Colorado for America Strong Pageants visit: https://mrscolorado.com/