For a beauty queen, standing in heels for hours should not be a problem.

But it is for Mrs. Pennsylvania America 2005.

Kandace Getsy, 26, of East McKeesport, won the Mrs. Pennsylvania title in a June 25 pageant in Harrisburg.

But standing in heels on a stage is agony for her. The trouble comes from an incurable condition called fibromyalgia syndrome.

"It makes my muscles feel like concrete," said Getsy, a native of North Huntingdon.

The illness causes ongoing muscular pain and fatigue.

Consequently, standing for hours in spike heels and an evening gown aggravates the symptoms. But it hasn't stopped Getsy. For her, competing in beauty pageants is a chance to encourage others.

"I want my girls and my family and friends to see that you should never give up," she said. "I'll fight 24/7 to keep a smile on my face for them. I don't want them to ever give up."

Getsy grew up playing softball and participated in track and field as a teen. Although she carries on a career as a dental hygienist, over the years she has appeared in multiple beauty contests. She won the Mrs. Pennsylvania United States contest in 2002.

Now, however, there are many days when her husband, Lance, 29, has to help her out of bed.

It all began Oct. 30, 2002, the night before Halloween, which she calls "Devil's Night."

Five months pregnant with Kalei, now 2, she had gone to a local discount store to pick up baby food for Taylar, her first daughter, who is now 3.

A woman tooling around the store in a motorized scooter lost control and rammed into Getsy twice with enough force to cause internal bleeding.

The incident spawned a series of surgeries and triggered the stress that resulted in fibromyalgia, Getsy said.

Although she could not find an attorney who would take on the corporation that operates the chain of stores and provided the scooter, she's been determined to continue living.

"I've been told three times I wasn't going to make it," she said of what had become a life-threatening injury.

Now, six operations later, she's still on the pageant circuit. Her next stop is Sept. 7 in Palm Springs, Calif., for the 2005 Mrs. America contest.

Getsy says that while some may disparage beauty contests as having little worth, she knows that with the title comes recognition.

With recognition comes the opportunity to bring attention and support to others who work daily to overcome illness.