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She didn’t get enough votes to claim the readers’ choice designation in Glamour magazine’s annual Women of the Year issue. So LaToya Marsh won’t be part of the fashion and lifestyle magazine’s December issue with first lady Michelle Obama on the cover.

It wasn’t for a lack of trying.

The Special Olympics cheerleading coach and former Miss Greensboro is thanking “all my family and friends who voted for me and endured all my many, many, many e-mails and text messages every day.”

She said she couldn’t have done it without the support of the public.

“The editor told me it was so close, and secretly, everyone in the office was rooting for me because they were so inspired by me and my cheerleaders,” said Marsh, 32.

This summer, the publication asked readers to tell them about people whose inner beauty sparkled, and the UNCG graduate beat out hundreds to be in the top five.

After weeks of Internet voting, Marsh came in second among nominees nationwide cited for efforts such as fighting domestic violence and educating young women about HIV.

Marsh’s cheerleaders, with a variety of disabilities, won a bronze medal during their first state competition. Marsh also is credited with helping them believe in themselves.

The readers’ choice winner will be recognized in the magazine along with women in politics, entertainment and public service, who in the past have included Hillary Rodham Clinton and Tyra Banks.

Marsh is not out of the spotlight completely.

She will be honored by Gov. Bev Perdue with a Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service next month.

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com