REGINA: How old are you?
MARY: I'm 32. I kept my eye out for a husband since starting college, but more seriously as time went on, after graduating. I also considered being a nun as a vocation.
REGINA: Did you "date"?
MARY: Overall I would say I dated on a friendship/getting to know someone level. Some were Catholic. Some were critical of my orthodox Catholic values, as is society. Early on I knew that I didn't want a "boyfriend" just to have one, with no certain and clear logical end to marriage. I knew I wanted my serious investment of self to go to my husband.
REGINA: Do you think that your orthodox Catholic values affected how you presented yourself visually?
MARY: For sure, the way you dress reflects how you respect yourself and others around you. God is order, beauty and dignity and we need to reflect Him in our architecture, dress, and manners. Revealing clothing, logos, androgynous design has always been promoted to my generation. Any form of modesty and beauty has been attacked.
REGINA: You have some strong opinions regarding dressing.
MARY: Yes. Catholic men and women need to start by dressing better for Mass. We need to bring a sense of occasion to events and Mass is the top of the list of those occasions. On that note, the Latin Mass and women wearing veils to Mass is superior and should be the way forward; back to the future. Mass pews used to have hat clips on the front for men to place their hats during Mass. These small ways of dignified dress, reverence and respect are gone. It's easy to put on the sloppy comfy outfit. On the other hand, beauty takes effort and it's worth that effort.
REGINA: You are also critical of the powers-that-be in the fashion world.
MARY: I find it funny that finally the left wing fashion "powers" are now tripping over themselves to cater to an interest group that has a demand for modest fashion on catwalk and fashion weeks, when for decades they were promoting the exact opposite to the predominant western culture.
REGINA: You have personal experience of this?
MARY: Yes, I was in a Miss USA pageant several years ago and decided to wear a modest opening dress and a one piece for the swim portion, in contrast to all the mini dresses and bikinis. Points were deducted for it and I didn't make even top five, while today if you wear swim attire in this competition covering you from wrist to ankle you are publicly celebrated and rewarded.
REGINA: Just wow.
MARY: The hypocrisy of our times is comical.
REGINA: So, you face professional pressure regarding modesty. Did you ever face pressure from men to compromise your beliefs regarding chastity?
MARY: Yes, though more so around the time I was in college. It was so prevalent, but there's always people out there who think likewise on chastity, despite what the media want you to believe. People always say it's so difficult to stay chaste; it's not if you stay on the straight and narrow. The hardest part is having the courage to not "fit-in". Looking back, I usually surrounded myself with likeminded people.
REGINA: Did any of your friends exert pressure on you to break your convictions?
MARY: Not really, more like I was the one to break their convictions if they were on a wayward path.
REGINA: Looking back, how difficult is it to recognize if a man has sound morals, or whether he is only putting on an act?
MARY: You can tell if things seem 'off'…red flags. Noticing details. What he says and does, what rules he thinks he can break. It can be difficult, but as long as you living in virtue and integrity everything will become clear and the truth will show.
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