And the crown goes to...
UW-Eau Claire student earns shot to compete for Miss Wisconsin
Luke Anderson
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Student Life
Women between 17 and 24 around the country represent themselves and their respective states at the Miss America Competition every year. To reach the ultimate pageant of pageants, a contestant must win at the local and state level beforehand. One of UW-Eau Claire's own has completed the first step, and has her eyes on the Miss Wisconsin title.
Junior public relations major Maria White will compete for the Miss Wisconsin title June 18-20 in Oshkosh. If White ends up becoming Miss Wisconsin, she has a shot of becoming Miss America.
"It's pretty intense to think next year at this time I could potentially be Miss America," White said. "I don't know if that is going to happen or not, but you have to think like it can… That would be a huge undertaking. To be Miss Wisconsin would be amazing in itself."
Early beginnings
White said, like most little girls growing up, she dreamed of being a princess and always enjoyed watching the Miss America pageant on television. White, originally from La Crescent, Minn., competed in the Little Miss Apple pageant as a child. Although she didn't win as a little girl, she remained interested in pageants.
As a high school senior, White competed in the Miss La Crescent competition because "it was what most senior girls and my group of friends did." She ended up being crowned Miss La Crescent in 2006, years after she competed as a little girl.
"I was disappointed when another pretty little girl won the title (earlier) but I was even more thrilled to be crowned Miss La Crescent," she said. "It was a really great and valuable experience."
White said her most memorable pageant moment came after winning the Miss La Crescent competition. White had the opportunity to meet a little girl from her community who was terminally ill with brain cancer. The two talked and formed a friendship, but sadly, the little girl passed away.
"I must have had some kind of impact on her because when she passed away, her parents asked me to sing at her funeral," she said. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but the most rewarding because I wanted to do what I could do to give back to her."
On to Miss Wisconsin
White got the opportunity to compete in Miss Wisconsin after she became Miss Harborview last January in Onalaska. Along with her placement in the state competition, she received a $150 scholarship.
"I was shocked; it was fun," White said of her win. "It took me back to being crowned Miss La Crescent and how exciting that was. … It was a little overwhelming but very exciting at the same time."
There were a total of four contestants in the Harborview competition. However, at the Miss Wisconsin competition, there will be a total of 30.
"Preparing for Miss Wisconsin will be a much bigger deal than Miss Harborview was," she said. "I have already started (preparing) … getting my wardrobe together is a big thing right now because you have to have all of that set in stone before June."
Miss Harborview has indeed been on the go. She said in the short months she has until the competition, she will be taking voice lessons, working on perfecting her talents and furthering her platform. Last weekend alone, White did a mock interview, received a seven-page packet of interview questions, had a photo shoot and did volunteer work.
"I've been really busy, but I'm just happy that I get the experience of going on to Miss Wisconsin," she said.
White feels her competitions and community work go hand-in-hand. Her volunteer work last weekend was at the Children's Miracle Network and Gundersen Luther Hospital in La Crosse. She met people and got a tour of both facilities. She plans to return soon to meet more people and work on specific things pertaining to her platform.
"The way movies and TV portray pageants is like the bimbo that doesn't know a lot, and that is not what the Miss America Organization is like at all," she said. "The big thing is the community service platform that each girl chooses … so I will do all of my volunteer work working with kids and young adults and getting them involved in art."
In addition to all of the work White puts into pageants, she is also a resident assistant in Governors Hall and a publicist for the theater department as well. Over spring break, she will travel with the Women's Concert Chorale to South Africa, too.
"Eventually I would like to represent a major Midwest theater company as their PR specialist, so this is all a really good experience," she said. "We will be singing (in South Africa), so I will be taking my platform with me."
What if…
At the Miss Wisconsin pageant, there will be many categories White will compete in. On preliminary nights, contestants will be doing a swimsuit portion and taking on-stage questions, followed by a talent and evening gown portion. There is also a nine- minute interview with each contestant. The top 10 from these categories move on and the competition continues in a similar fashion, resulting a week-long event.
White says she gets quite nervous before competitions, especially for the interview portion. She compared her nerves to how some feel when giving speeches.
"You're not giving a speech but you are giving people insight into who you are, and they are judging your answers too," White said. "That is the most nerve-wracking part for me … I can walk around in a dress, I can sing on stage, but the interview is my favorite but also most nervous part."
Miss Wisconsin will earn a scholarship of more than $10,000, which can be used at any university in the state. White said the winner will stay busy, even more so than she is now.
"When you're crowned Miss Wisconsin … virtually every day she is making an appearance somewhere, at some high school, some pageant or sponsorship event," she said. "They even give you a car to use and gas because you are always running around representing the state."
Even if White wins Miss Wisconsin, she says her interest in pageants will remain the same.
"My journey thus far has provided me with so many valuable experiences," she said. "The Miss America Organization is such a great way to gain public speaking, interviewing and networking skills. However the pageant turns out in June, I know I will be a stronger, more self-confident young woman."
Junior public relations major Maria White will compete for the Miss Wisconsin title June 18-20 in Oshkosh. If White ends up becoming Miss Wisconsin, she has a shot of becoming Miss America.
"It's pretty intense to think next year at this time I could potentially be Miss America," White said. "I don't know if that is going to happen or not, but you have to think like it can… That would be a huge undertaking. To be Miss Wisconsin would be amazing in itself."
Early beginnings
White said, like most little girls growing up, she dreamed of being a princess and always enjoyed watching the Miss America pageant on television. White, originally from La Crescent, Minn., competed in the Little Miss Apple pageant as a child. Although she didn't win as a little girl, she remained interested in pageants.
As a high school senior, White competed in the Miss La Crescent competition because "it was what most senior girls and my group of friends did." She ended up being crowned Miss La Crescent in 2006, years after she competed as a little girl.
"I was disappointed when another pretty little girl won the title (earlier) but I was even more thrilled to be crowned Miss La Crescent," she said. "It was a really great and valuable experience."
White said her most memorable pageant moment came after winning the Miss La Crescent competition. White had the opportunity to meet a little girl from her community who was terminally ill with brain cancer. The two talked and formed a friendship, but sadly, the little girl passed away.
"I must have had some kind of impact on her because when she passed away, her parents asked me to sing at her funeral," she said. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but the most rewarding because I wanted to do what I could do to give back to her."
On to Miss Wisconsin
White got the opportunity to compete in Miss Wisconsin after she became Miss Harborview last January in Onalaska. Along with her placement in the state competition, she received a $150 scholarship.
"I was shocked; it was fun," White said of her win. "It took me back to being crowned Miss La Crescent and how exciting that was. … It was a little overwhelming but very exciting at the same time."
There were a total of four contestants in the Harborview competition. However, at the Miss Wisconsin competition, there will be a total of 30.
"Preparing for Miss Wisconsin will be a much bigger deal than Miss Harborview was," she said. "I have already started (preparing) … getting my wardrobe together is a big thing right now because you have to have all of that set in stone before June."
Miss Harborview has indeed been on the go. She said in the short months she has until the competition, she will be taking voice lessons, working on perfecting her talents and furthering her platform. Last weekend alone, White did a mock interview, received a seven-page packet of interview questions, had a photo shoot and did volunteer work.
"I've been really busy, but I'm just happy that I get the experience of going on to Miss Wisconsin," she said.
White feels her competitions and community work go hand-in-hand. Her volunteer work last weekend was at the Children's Miracle Network and Gundersen Luther Hospital in La Crosse. She met people and got a tour of both facilities. She plans to return soon to meet more people and work on specific things pertaining to her platform.
"The way movies and TV portray pageants is like the bimbo that doesn't know a lot, and that is not what the Miss America Organization is like at all," she said. "The big thing is the community service platform that each girl chooses … so I will do all of my volunteer work working with kids and young adults and getting them involved in art."
In addition to all of the work White puts into pageants, she is also a resident assistant in Governors Hall and a publicist for the theater department as well. Over spring break, she will travel with the Women's Concert Chorale to South Africa, too.
"Eventually I would like to represent a major Midwest theater company as their PR specialist, so this is all a really good experience," she said. "We will be singing (in South Africa), so I will be taking my platform with me."
What if…
At the Miss Wisconsin pageant, there will be many categories White will compete in. On preliminary nights, contestants will be doing a swimsuit portion and taking on-stage questions, followed by a talent and evening gown portion. There is also a nine- minute interview with each contestant. The top 10 from these categories move on and the competition continues in a similar fashion, resulting a week-long event.
White says she gets quite nervous before competitions, especially for the interview portion. She compared her nerves to how some feel when giving speeches.
"You're not giving a speech but you are giving people insight into who you are, and they are judging your answers too," White said. "That is the most nerve-wracking part for me … I can walk around in a dress, I can sing on stage, but the interview is my favorite but also most nervous part."
Miss Wisconsin will earn a scholarship of more than $10,000, which can be used at any university in the state. White said the winner will stay busy, even more so than she is now.
"When you're crowned Miss Wisconsin … virtually every day she is making an appearance somewhere, at some high school, some pageant or sponsorship event," she said. "They even give you a car to use and gas because you are always running around representing the state."
Even if White wins Miss Wisconsin, she says her interest in pageants will remain the same.
"My journey thus far has provided me with so many valuable experiences," she said. "The Miss America Organization is such a great way to gain public speaking, interviewing and networking skills. However the pageant turns out in June, I know I will be a stronger, more self-confident young woman."
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