MyLife.MyCar.MyMess. Grand Prize Winner Announced

San Antonio Resident Points to Kids, Pets, Lipstick That Led to America's Messiest Minivan - Video Available

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 28 -- The Search for America's Messiest Car is over. The contest winner, San Antonio resident and mother of three Maria Williams, was chosen from among hundreds of individuals who submitted entries in the first annual MyLife.MyCar.MyMess. online contest to be the recipient of the grand prize: an all-new 2007 Chrysler Pacifica Touring with kid-, pet- and ketchup-proof YES Essentials cloth seating.

Williams' winning entry included photos of her messy minivan, as well as an essay describing how her favorite lipstick shades, her children's favorite foods and her pets' unique odors decorate her vehicle's interior as she zips to football practice, field trips and work.

"I heard about the contest and wanted to enter my 'Circus Car,' as I so lovingly refer to it," said Williams. "Our family of five practically lives in our vehicle, and we are constantly on the go, while eating and drinking on our way to the next event in our lives."

"I can't believe I won! This will definitely keep me motivated to keep our new family vehicle clean," she added.

According to a recent study by contest sponsor Milliken & Company, Americans are over-scheduled, over-worked and over-committed through trying to meet the daily demands of a career, family and friends. However, drivers still want to keep their car free of dirt and debris without committing to a daily car interior cleaning regimen.

Milliken research also showed that 70 percent of drivers surveyed rated getting a vehicle clean with as little effort as possible as one of the most important factors in maintaining a vehicle.

"We've had a lot of fun with this contest - it evolved into a support group for messy car owners, with participants representing nearly every state in the country telling a unique story about their 'life on the go,'" said Stacy Walker, Marketing Communications Manager for YES Essentials products. "After reviewing the entries, we are convinced that in order to find out just how your neighbor lives, you only need to peek through their car window!"

Based on the research, and in an effort to cater to drivers' busy lifestyles, Milliken developed an automotive fabric technology able to withstand and repel even the worst stains, to keep car interiors lasting longer and looking better. YES Essentials interior fabrics and floor mats can stand up against spilled coffee, dropped ketchup and smeared lipstick, which come right out of the woven fibers. The fabric also reduces static electricity, preventing shocks from sliding in and out of car seats, and resists odor-causing bacteria growth.

Chrysler is the first in the market to offer the YES Essentials fabric in its vehicles in 2007 and 2008.

"Chrysler is pleased to provide Maria Williams and her family with a new 2007 Chrysler Pacifica Touring," said Jennifer Maren, Chrysler Pacifica Brand Manager. "With a new more powerful engine, a new six-speed transmission, seating for six and the all-important YES Essentials fabric, we are confident that the Chrysler Pacifica will be a car the Williams family is proud of and will keep clean."

From Sept. 12 to Oct. 16, 2006, messy car owners were encouraged to visit MyLifeMyCarMyMess.com to post up to five photos of their car, plus a short essay explaining how a chaotic life has led to the turmoil in his or her vehicle. An online voting component was also added for visitors to rate the cars on a scale of "Squeaky Clean" to "Dumpster on Wheels".

Contest sponsors YES Essentials and Chrysler Brand then presented the winning family with an all-new 2007 Pacifica, and filmed a day-in-the-life video to find out how the winner's busy lifestyle caused the mess in the first place.

Additional prizes included a car upgrade for two first-place winners - with YES Essentials seat covers, floor and trunk mats - and sets of YES Essentials floor mats for 10 second-place winners.

The winning entries were selected by an independent judging panel, and can be found at www.MyLifeMyCarMyMess.com.