BEAVERCREEK, Ohio — An Ohio woman is making history after she was named the new Mrs. Ohio International and became the first Black woman to win the title. 

What You Need To Know

  • Jessica Gaston, of Beavercreek, was named the new Mrs. Ohio International 

  • Gaston became the first Black woman to hold the title since the pageant began more than 30 years ago 

  • She is a wife, mother of four, and runs her own finance business and her own nonprofit 

  • Gaston will represent the state as she moves on to the next competition this summer 

Jessica Gaston has been adjusting her brand new crown and sash after she was named the newest Mrs. Ohio International and made history. 

“I was astounded. I didn't think I had a chance,” said Gaston. 

The Mrs. International pageant, designed for married women 21 and up, has been going on for more than 30 years. A winner is chosen from each state before they compete for the overall international title. It's the first time in its history that a woman of color was chosen to represent Ohio.  

“I feel very honored to be the first Black Mrs. Ohio International, and it really shows that Black people can do whatever we want," she said. "We're just as good and we are awesome so we can go out there."

She’s not taking that title lightly. She’s already started getting ready for the next competition in between being a wife, a mother to four kids, an accomplished finance business owner, working at the Wright-Patterson Air Force base, and running her own nonprofit called Not Just a Pretty Face.

"Not Just a Pretty Face is to help moms build work-life balance. Work-life balance is important because after COVID-19, a lot of moms just weren't able to find that balance anymore,” said Gaston.

She said it’s her passion, helping women and families, that she hopes will drive her success in pageants. She’s planning to use it as her platform when she goes from Beavercreek, Ohio, to the Mrs. international pageant in July.

Until then, she plans to continue to inspire and change history. 

“There's so many shapes and sizes, so many shades, and so many women just feel like they can't be that person," she said. "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.”