Former Union resident placed in Top 12

Mekayla Eppers, a White Pigeon High School alumna, ended her career as a pageant contestant over the weekend in the Mrs. World event.

The former Mekayla Diehl (DEAL), who grew up in the community of Union, placed in the Top 12 Saturday in the 33-contestant pageant staged near Johannesburg, South Africa.

Prior to her departure Dec. 5 for the African nation, Eppers said she was more focused on the honor of representing the country and looking forward to meeting people from different cultures than she was on winning.

The 29-year-old Eppers logged a number of posts and videos on her social media pages during her time in South Africa. They include her travels throughout the city, shoe shopping at a mall, a visit to Mandela Square and a pasta dinner at a contemporary restaurant.

Eppers has said Mrs. World would be her final pageant as a contestant, as she and her husband, Chris, plan to focus on starting a family. They were married in October 2015.

She captured the crown of Mrs. America three months ago in Las Vegas.