Sleeves stood out among contestants participating in the Mrs. Texas International competition March 13, 2009. Bonnie Hubert, a member of the Woodlands 2nd Ward, Houston North Stake, was the only contestant with a sleeved dress and still took home the crown.

Photo by D. Carter

Bonnie Hubert begins her walk in her modest gown after being crowned Mrs. Texas International.

"I think the world sends a message that in order to be beautiful you have to reveal your body," said Sister Hubert. "I will say that it takes work, you have to want to live your standards, but you can find clothes that are your style that are modest."

For Sister Hubert, finding the right dress for the competition wasn't an easy task.

"The dress search was such a hard thing," she said. "I spent hours looking for a dress with sleeves that was appropriate for a pageant. After looking, I decided I would hire a dress designer."

She thought the dress was all taken care of; however, a few weeks before the competition a problem arose and the dress fell through. With no dress to wear and only three weeks until the pageant, Sister Hubert was discouraged. She sat down, cried and began to pray.

"I will not wear a dress that doesn't reflect who I am," she remembers saying. "If I can find something that reflects my standards I can be an example for others."

The next day Sister Hubert had a three-hour opening of time and decided that she would try — in a last attempt — to find a dress.

Returning to a store she had already visited, Sister Hubert recounted her situation to the clerk. The clerk listened, then told her of four modest dresses that could be possibilities.

When the clerk brought out the fourth dress, Sister Hubert saw a possibility.

"When I put the dress on my heart skipped a beat," she said. "It fit me, fit me perfectly, with no alterations other than the length. . . . Not only did it fit me, but it was also on sale!"

In preparing for the competition, Sister Hubert was given advice about what she should wear. She was told that to feel beautiful she would have to wear a dress that she felt comfortable in. If she felt uncomfortable, it would show in her walk, smile and overall performance. For Sister Hubert, a modest dress is what she felt comfortable in.

"I feel like it turned out great because I could feel beautiful and comfortable in what I selected," Sister Hubert said. "You have to put in a little effort, but it is worth it because then your beauty can shine through."

The competition is only one of many ways Sister Huber stands out. She works as a licensed professional counselor and volunteers with many organizations involving abused and neglected children, all while being a wife and mother to three children.

Involvement in the community is one way, Sister Hubert said, people can shine their light for others to see. It is also a positive way to share values with others.

"It is a great way to see that as Latter-day Saints we are active in the community, are great mothers and wives and can make a difference," she said.

mholman@desnews.com