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August 22, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – This year’s Mrs. Virginia is set to compete in the Mrs. America beauty pageant Saturday, while 6 months pregnant. Lisa Stover, the 2019 Mrs. Virginia, is a LifeSite team member who normally works behind the scenes as a Major Gifts Officer, but she is no stranger to the spotlight.   

In March, Lisa was crowned Mrs. Virginia, but Lisa had suffered her fair share of losses prior to this. A month before competing, Lisa suffered the loss of a child to miscarriage. Then a week before the pageant, she lost her mother to breast cancer. With every reason to walk away, Lisa persevered and prayed that God would help use her story as a witness to others. Prior to competing, Lisa prayed a rosary dedicating her competition weekend to God and the Blessed Mother.    

Even though she did not grow up Catholic, Lisa said she feels a very special connection to Our Blessed Mother, “Especially as a mother myself too, I have just found that connection, that deep connection.”   

Lisa is the mother of a 22-month-old and is expecting her second child in December. Her witness to motherhood and femininity in the barrenness of the pageant circle is like a light cast into the darkness.  

She shares, “I’m really honored to represent women and to show them that true women’s empowerment means understanding and living out our fertility as women.”  

In meeting Lisa, one can quickly see that her suffering has been redeemed by supernatural grace. Lisa’s life is truly a witness to the beauty of life, love, and faith. We wish Lisa all the best in her big day Saturday! 

The John-Henry Westen Show is available by video on the show’s YouTube channel, and right here on my LifeSite blog.

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John-Henry is the co-founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of LifeSiteNews.com. He and his wife Dianne have eight children and they live in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, Canada.

He has spoken at conferences and retreats, and appeared on radio and television throughout the world. John-Henry founded the Rome Life Forum, an annual strategy meeting for life, faith and family leaders worldwide. He is a board member of the John Paul II Academy for Human Life and the Family. He is a consultant to Canada’s largest pro-life organization Campaign Life Coalition, and serves on the executive of the Ontario branch of the organization. He has run three times for political office in the province of Ontario representing the Family Coalition Party.

John-Henry earned an MA from the University of Toronto in School and Child Clinical Psychology and an Honours BA from York University in Psychology.