Miss Hoboken International Represents the State, Aims to Raise Awareness for Celiac Disease

Jenna Drew is more than just a beauty.

As the winner of the Miss New Jersey International pageant, she said she will work to raise awareness in Hoboken for Celiac disease and will work to volunteer all over the state.

Drew won the Miss New Jersey International competition earlier this month. This is the second year Drew competed in the competition, she said.

Drew, who works in Hoboken but lives in Edgewater, said she is honored to have won the competition and has chosen celiac disease awareness as her cause. Drew has worked for Litzky PR in Hoboken for a year.

"But," she said, "I spend way more time (in Hoboken) ... it's a great city."

Her first order of business is to work with Mayor Dawn Zimmer to declare May Celiac Disease Awareness month, Drew said in a recent phone interview. She will also work with the American Heart Association.

Other ideas to raise awareness, Drew said, is to create better education about the disease for those working in the food service industry.

Drew picked her cause, because she was diagnosed with Celiac disease — which includes a dangerous allergy to gluten — in 2009.

"It's not like a regular allergy," Drew explained. "One crumb of bread on a salad can make me ill."

"I love spending time in Hoboken," said Drew. "There are lots of restaurants with gluten free options."

Among her favorites, she said, are The Melting Pot and Bin14.