Shelby County’s own Donna Cox was crowned Mrs. Alabama on June 25 and will now go on to compete for the title of Mrs. America on Sept. 7.

Cox, who lives with her husband and two sons in Chelsea, will travel to Palm Springs, Calif., on Aug. 24 to prepare for the competition, which will be held at the Riviera Resort and Country Club. The trip is part of her prize package for winning the title.

“I teach my children to have a dream, pray for God’s guidance and never give up,” Cox said. “By winning this competition I was realizing a dream that started several years ago.”

Cox is a native of Jasper and has been married to her husband, Steve, for 17 years. She said it has been her goal for more than six years to win the Mrs. Alabama title.

“I was in a daze,” she said after her crowning. “It felt really good to finally win.”

Her two sons, Andrew and Aaron, were supportive of Cox throughout the competition and were proud of their mother’s accomplishment.

“They were very excited for me,” Cox said. “This isn’t just an honor for me as mother, but also for my husband and kids.”

Cox works as a real estate broker in Birmingham.

Mrs. Alabama executive director Rhonda Gilliam said Alabama contestants competing in the Mrs. America competition had done well in the past.

“We are very proud that we have had three Mrs. Americas come from Alabama. Stacey Willis of Huntsville won the title in 2000, Kristi Phillips of Montgomery in 2003 and Julie Love Templeton of Tuscaloosa in 2004.

The Mrs. America Competition will be broadcast nationwide on PAX-TV. The winner of the competition will advance to the Mrs. World Competition.

“I’m tickled to be able to represent the State of Alabama,” Cox said. “I’m also excited about getting to take a little of Shelby County with me, too.