Amy Swonger decided last December that she wanted to become Miss Pennsylvania — believing that would aid in her quest to help others in their fight against eating disorders.

She searched the Internet to find open pageants (those that accept contestants from any counties not just their home county) and decided to take the next step: Enter a preliminary pageant.

Although she wasn’t crowned in her first pageant, she came close and so she continued on.

She entered Miss Cambria County, Miss Greater Johnstown, Miss Central Pennsylvania, Miss Mid-State, Miss White Rose City and Miss Moraine Stage pageants, always finishing first or second runner-up.

She always came close and learned from each pageant, so she didn’t give up.

“I got a little more comfortable with myself” after each one, she said.

Her perseverance finally paid off.

She was crowned Miss Franklin County in March, representing a county far from home but earning the opportunity to compete at the state level and to promote her platform.

Miss Franklin County isn’t the first title she has held. She previously was Miss Townville 2001 and Miss Meadville Area 2003 and is the reigning Miss Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

Having held titles, she knew being a queen meant more than riding in parades.

Most of the pageants require a community platform or service issue and Swonger’s is “A Different Kind of Hope: Breaking Free from Eating Disorders.”

Swonger, who said she has suffered from bulimia for 10 years, received treatment in 2005 and is in recovery from the disease which she believes comes from low self-esteem.

“My recovery is not going to be complete until I help someone else,” she said, and being Miss Pennsylvania will take those opportunities to help to a new level.

She realized that an eating disorder is a lifelong struggle; when she worked on a community service platform, it “kept me accountable” for her recovery and actions in that recovery.