People

* Spotlight on achievers

Lynnda Maria Davis

Mrs. America candidate

When she steps on stage in Palm Springs this month as a Mrs. America candidate, Lynnda Maria Davis hopes that people won’t see her as a beauty queen.

The image she hopes to convey to a national audience is that of crusader.

“My cause is mental illness,” said Davis, the reigning Mrs. California. “My main motivation for entering Mrs. America is to shed some light on what some people consider an ‘ugly’ illness.”

Davis, 37, has dealt with mental illness most of her life, she said, because her mother has been diagnosed as manic depressive.

Davis’ commitment to raising funds for research on the disease led her to the UC Irvine Brain Imaging Center, where she has spent countless hours as a volunteer.

She made a major contribution last year, co-producing a benefit featuring actor Rod Steiger as emcee.

“She’s really on a mission,” said Dee Meyer, president of the center’s support group, “to help find the answers to what causes mental illness.”

Davis, who lives in Mission Viejo with her husband and three children, won the Mrs. California title in July. That pageant was the first such venture for her.

The annual pageant is open to married women who are at least 18 years old. The competition includes such events as a swimsuit contest but also emphasizes family and community values.

Meyer said that seeing Davis crowned Mrs. America would be a tremendous boost for the staff at the UCI center. By speaking out about her convictions, Meyer said, Davis could draw national attention to the whole field of research on mental illness.

Besides, Meyer said, “she’s a wonderful lady. I’ll be rooting for her in Palm Springs.”

*

Phyllis Collier

Adviser to Orange County Board of Transportation

Phyllis Collier, who has a form of muscular dystrophy, has refused to let the disease keep her from being involved in the community. In fact, just the opposite is true.

The 55-year-old Irvine resident, who uses a power wheelchair for mobility, is an adviser to the Orange County Board of Transportation and a member of both the Orange County Special Needs Advisory Board and the Irvine Residents with Disability Advisory Board.

Her aim, she says, is to make Orange County accessible to all those who use wheelchairs.

Since she became involved with the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. 10 years ago, Collier has been an active volunteer, pitching in on a number of fund-raising projects.

This weekend, she will be one of the people behind the scenes at the 30th annual Jerry Lewis Telethon, a national broadcast that benefits the MDA.

Collier also works with developers to adapt building plans to accommodate the disabled.

COMPILED BY FRANK MESSINA AND DEBRA CANO