Crowned with Love

by Stephanie Struyck Elgin

It was after an interview with Janice McQueen Ward, former Mrs. United States, where Julie Winkle was awarded the local title of Mrs. Santa Clarita United States earlier this year.  With her polished beauty and poised character, one would think Julie has graced her presence in many pageants, but on April 10, she will walk the runway for the first time and compete for the crown and title of Mrs. California United States.  
Born and raised in South Portland, Maine, Mrs. Santa Clarita United States, Julie Winkle, moved to the west coast in 1984 to attend Brooks College Fashion Institute, where she received her AA in Fashion Merchandise.  She enjoys exercising, horseback riding, parasailing and anything that has to do with the outdoors.  “Oh and I love shopping too!” states Julie.  
Julie married Jack, the love of her life, and they have been blissfully married for 18 years.  “I have two grandchildren from my stepson Christian and his wife Sarah, and together, Jack and I have our sweet son, Noah Augustine, age 11, who was diagnosed with moderate/severe autism at the age of 2,” states Julie.  
Julie will be participating in the Mrs. California U.S. on April 10 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, where she will be a part of the evening gown and swimsuit competition as well as have an interview with five panel judges, answer an on stage question and more.  If she is crowned queen, she will qualify to participate in the Mrs. United States Pageant that will be held in Las Vegas in the Fall.  
“I am looking forward to the pageant in April,” states Julie.  “It will be an opportunity to share my passion for helping those with autism achieve a bright and promising future.”  Julie is currently the President of Noah’s Friends, Incorporated, an organization promoting autism treatment and assistance.  
Julie’s passion for bringing awareness for autism came with her son’s diagnosis eight years ago. “Since Noah’s diagnosis, I decided to be involved in all aspects of my son’s welfare. I became the class mom for the special needs classrooms. This is my fifth year in that role at Helmer’s Elementary School in Saugus,” states Julie.
Just two years ago, Julie and her husband decided to share with other families what they had learned themselves as a couple and parents of a child with autism. Together, they established Noah’s Friends, Incorporated.  “We are both supporters of various types of treatments for children and individuals with autism, but also feel that there is a need in the community for a company such as ours that goes beyond just working with the individual and reaches into the heart of the family. When one member of a family is diagnosed with autism, the entire family is affected. This is where our desire and slogan was created-helping families with autism.”
“This is my journey,” states Julie, “as a wife, mother of a son with autism, a business owner and a participant in the Mrs. California United States Pageant.  I consider myself both fortunate and blessed to be able to help in the ways that I am able.”
We wish you the best of luck in your pageant and your journey to help others, Julie!
For more information, visit www.mrssantaclarita.blogspot.com/.