Mrs. International Pageant Contestants

Mrs. Ohio International®

Jeri Ward

People's Choice Award

What's the most sensible thing you've ever heard someone say?
“You are planted, not buried.” During my fourth brain surgery in three weeks, my neurosurgeon looked down at me as I laid on the operating table unable to speak or move and said, “just remember, you are planted, not buried”. At 30, everything in my life had changed in the blink of an eye, and I felt buried. I have learned that perspective is everything, and now I am so grateful that I was planted.

What gets you excited about life?
Learning! I could not read until the age of 17 due to a visual processing disorder, so since the second I learned how to read, I have been obsessed with learning. I love taking on the challenge of not knowing how to do something but learning to become successful. Most recently I’ve learned how to make my own podcast to continue educating people all over the world. That is the most exciting feeling there is!

If you had to teach something what would you teach?
Gratitude is the highest form of self-care, and I am so lucky to teach this practice every day to people all over the world. Learning to be grateful is life-changing, and the best part: it’s free! Upon creating The Lemonade Project and the first youth and adult Self-Care Committees in Ohio, I’ve been able to watch firsthand my teachings of gratitude being interweaved into, and save, the lives of thousands of people.

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?
I may look 31, but in my heart, I am at least 80! I am an old, old soul. I rejoice when I am in bed by 8:30 p.m., I love spoiling my best friends children by giving them candy and sending them home for their parents to handle, and being only a minute away from death last year, I was forced to find out what is important in life at a young age.

What is your idea of a fun date night?
My hubs and I have absolutely loved starting a new date night tradition during isolation: Murder Mystery Box. This is a box that is mailed to our house monthly, were we play detectives, and solve a crime at our dining room table. We spend hours going through the clues together and making suspect charts. I am a huge Dateline fan, so this activity brings all my favorite things together in our own Saturday Night Mystery!