Hannah Neeleman, 2023’s Mrs. American, is competing in the Mrs. World pageant in Las Vegas again this year. It’s an extra special accomplishment, as she gave birth to her eighth baby just 12 days before competing.
Neeleman is a Juilliard-trained ballerina who has competed in pageants for years; she was crowned Miss New York City in 2010 and Mrs. Utah in 2021, while pregnant. She and her husband, Daniel Neeleman, launched Ballerina Farm together, which sells goods like farm-raised meat, sourdough starters, baked goods, and kitchen supplies. They have eight children, the youngest of whom was just born.
During the Mrs. American pageant — during which she was also pregnant, though it hadn’t yet been announced — Neeleman garnered applause for her response to a question on what made her feel the most empowered. “I have felt this feeling seven times now as I bring these sacred souls to the earth,” she said through tears. “After I hold that newborn baby in my arms, the feeling of motherhood and bringing them to the earth is the most empowering feeling I have ever felt.”
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In another video, she discussed the surprise pregnancy. “It’s brought a very interesting, exciting, challenging journey to prepare for this upcoming pageant,” she said. “Because my body is growing, its changing, and it also is very complicated getting a wardrobe ready for the pageant, because nothing fits that I can try on now, and I don’t know what my body’s going to be like after I have the baby.”
Now, she’s participating in the global competition, with her baby along for the ride. A video montage showed her working out and modeling gowns, all with her baby girl by her side. “It’s been a postpartum like no other,” she wrote on Instagram. “Your Mrs. American (and baby girl American) are here and ready to roll!”
In another post, she showed photos from two days of the pageant itself, including photos of her breastfeeding while she got her makeup and hair done. She also had spoken about how much she loved competing alongside the women in the pageant, most of whom were also mothers like her.
“Motherhood is a really beautiful journey. You’re sacrificing parts of yourself, but you’re also gaining so much,” she said. “It’s been a really cool experience to prepare for a pageant while also growing a baby.”
