Originally published on April 2, 2021 4:30 pm
Last week marked the end of Wauneen Rucker’s nearly 40-year-long journey in pageants. Crowned Mrs. Missouri last September, Rucker represented the state in the Mrs. America Pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada last month.
And while she didn’t win, Rucker has plenty to be proud of. After starting in pageants at age 14, the 57-year-old St. Louisan became the second-ever Black Mrs. Missouri. She is also the first to win the title over age 50. She competed one last time in honor of a childhood friend who died last year.
The community cause she highlighted in this year’s competition was the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, an organization she first learned about through her son. He was helping the diaper bank as part of the community service requirements for his high school curriculum.