2x pageant winner Mrs. Ohio International 2023 – and Dayton’s own – has won Mrs. Ohio United States 2024! Jessica Gaston is also one of the amazing contributing writers for the Dayton Mom Collective. We are so excited to be celebrating her and all her achievements.
Mrs. Gaston is a financial expert and motivational speaker that shares financial tips for the Dayton Community. She specializes in cognitive dissonance for women as it relates to financial behaviors. As Mrs. Ohio International 2023 and DBJ’s 40 under 40 Award 2023 recipient, she is proud to represent Ohio nationally.
She is a wife, mother of four, a business owner, and the leader of the non-profit, Not Just a Pretty Face, which helps women find work-life balance. She made history in 2023 as the first Black woman to win the Mrs. Ohio International title in its 30-year history. Mrs. Gaston told Sheena Elzie in a Spectrum News 1 interview, “I feel very honored to be the first Black Mrs. Ohio International, and it really shows that Black people can do whatever we want. We’re just as good and we are awesome, so we can go out there.”
She continues to inspire others and change history. Mrs. Gaston was crowned Mrs. United States At-Large 2024, and she will be competing for the Mrs. United States national title on October 6, 2024 in Memphis, TN. You can learn more about the pageant here – https://www.
She encourages others with these words she also shared with Spectrum News 1, “There [are] so many shapes and sizes, so many shades, and so many women just feel like they can’t be that person. What’s most important is just be yourself and get out there and just make sure that there’s always someone out there that’s like you.”
United States National Pageants has 8 divisions to celebrate women of every age and background and has over 30 years dedicated to promoting beauty, intelligence, and integrity. Toby Atkinson from North Carolina was Mrs. United States 2023, and we hope you’ll join us in cheering on Jessica Gaston as she competes this Fall to win this year’s title!
