Shelley Carbone

Shelley Carbone boasts many impressive titles, but her most valued are "mother" and "wife." The blonde beauty lives in Wethersfield, Connecticut with her husband, John, and their four children: Clay, 14, Mia, 12, Madilyn (Maddy), 10, and Trey, 7. Shelley attended Baystate Medical Center, School of Nursing, and is a registered nurse, but taking care of her family is her full time job. Shelley fell into pageantry when her mother secretly registered her for the Mrs. Connecticut America pageant without her knowledge or consent. Shelley initially had no interest in competing, but she ultimately decided to enter to show her children they truly could be whatever they wanted to be -- and that she could do something other than cook and clean. The pageant natural won Mrs. Connecticut America 2010 and went on to win Mrs. America 2011. Shelley admits she knew nothing about preparing for pageants, so she traveled without a glam squad and wore the same gown from the state pageant at nationals -- both considered taboo by many in the pageant world! Shelley is passionate about health and wellness and utilizes her "voice" given to her through pageantry to encourage others to make healthy choices. She is involved in various charities and enjoys writing when she can find a spare moment. She is currently working on two books: a children's book and a non-fiction book called Please Stop Calling Me Ma'am...Tales of an Aging [Angry] Beauty Queen.