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~ Women’s Clothing & Accessories ~ Home & Seasonal Décor ~ Furniture, Gifts and More
25 N. Lake Street, Suite 125, Forest Lake 651-464-7630 www.greendoorconsignment.com
leroux’s all season lawn & sports 21240 Olinda Tr. N., Scandia
651-433-4668
321 19th St. SW Forest Lake, MN
651-236-6377
232 South Lake Street Forest Lake
651-464-3333
A perfect fit Whether a dress or her cancer awareness platform, Abigale Bodene wears it well Clint Riese News Editor In a matter of two years, Abigale Bodene has won the titles of Forest Lake High School homecoming queen and Miss Morris International, has competed in the Miss Minnesota International pageant and attended modeling school on a full scholarship. On Saturday, she took part in her first fashion show, and in December she will ship off to an unknown location to be photographed for a cover shoot. Glamorous, to be sure, but the Forest Lake native would rather have her platform fit well than her dress. Bodene’s passion for community involvement has been the driving force behind her endeavors on the stage and runway. Just 20, she is quickly becoming a seasoned veteran when it comes to promoting breast cancer awareness. She has witnessed the destructive nature of the disease, as the mothers of several of her friends have been afflicted with it. Carna Brandt, the mother of one of Bodene’s best friends, has battled breast cancer three times. “Since we are so close, it was like my mother having breast cancer three times,” Bodene says. “It’s not only the patient that gets diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s also the family – everyone has to go through what they go through.” Since her first pageant last December, many doors have opened to Bodene, and she has car-
ried her cause through each one. Her platform, “The Power of Pink – Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention,” is more than lip service. Bodene is double-majoring in biochemistry and Spanish at the University of Minnesota–Morris while working towards earning a degree in bilingual pharmacy in four years. Her platform goes handin-hand with her schooling and career dreams, so she stays on top of the medical issues related to breast cancer. “We’re doing our best to raise as many funds as we can right now, but the issue is that we have these new technologies that are Photo submitted coming out and that are working fairly well, they’re Between pageants, schoolwork and community injust very expensive,” she volvement, Abigale Bodene is one busy lady. Learn says. “The most impor- more about her work at www.abigalebodene.com. tant part is everybody just says. to be really fun and someneeds to be aware and thing I’ll probably be doPassions Aligned know their risks.” After a summer of re- ing for a long time...Every No Toddler Tiara fining her platform and step of the way has really Bodene knows the pag- volunteering as much as opened more and more eantry stereotypes as well possible, it did not take doors for community inas anyone. That doesn’t long for Bodene to find volvement and I really apmean she has to subscribe success. The then-college preciate that.” to them. An event just this past freshman won the title of “I was definitely never Miss Morris International Saturday encapsulated a toddler in a tiara or any- at her first pageant, held so much of what Bodene thing like that,” she laughs. last December. is working so hard for. “I loved to play soccer, I That win qualified her Through a tip from a pagloved to play volleyball for the Miss Minnesota eantry friend, Bodene hit and run outside and hang International competi- the runway in Stillwater for out with my family.” tion held this March in St. a fashion show featuring It was her 2010 coro- Cloud. She did not place designer Ashley Ostrowsnation as homecoming there, but took home sev- ki’s 2013 spring/summer queen that led her to eral awards, including be- Dollia fashion line. Osconsider spending more ing named Ms. Amity by trowski, of St. Paul, named time on stage. But even her peers. She also earned her clothing line after the that choice had humble the full-ride to the model- favorite flower (dahlia) of roots. Admittedly not be- ing school in Maple Grove her mother, who died from ing much of an athlete, and was selected for the breast cancer in 2008. The her crowning stemmed upcoming photo shoot, show raised over $7,000 from her involvement with the results of which will for a local breast cancer clubs and good causes. be used to publicize the research facility. That continued as home- Miss International pageant For Bodene, the thrill coming queen, as Bodene system and build Bodene’s of her first fashion show took it upon herself to be- modeling portfolio. was matched only by the come involved with local Though at times “it feels chance to support her service clubs and use her like your smile is glued on platform. title to make a difference. “It was something else your face,” Bodene has “That kind of made taken to pageantry. that really combined that me think, ‘Hmm, maybe I “I’m just loving it, it pageant platform with the could keep raising aware- keeps me so busy, plus modeling piece of it and ness and keep up the school,” she says. “It’s that was just the perfect community involvement something that I’ve found fit,” she says. “That was so by trying a pageant,’” she much fun.”
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5 convenient locations in Forest Lake to serve you
651-464-2673
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Benjamin Wedell, CFP™, ChFC®, CLU® Financial Consultant 24708 Greenway Rd, Ste 1A Forest Lake, MN 55024
651-464-4849
201108488 25638LG R1-11
Marine 651-433-2424 Scandia 651-433-2265 Chisago Lakes 651-257-4141 Forest Lake 651-464-1033