My first pageant was in my hometown of Nisswa, Minnesota. Myself and nine of my second grade classmates performed a choreographed dance to Greece Lighting. We didn't even wear dresses, they had us in black leggings, a boys plain white tee, white Keds and a small square scarf tied at our necks. We were introduced with a brief biography to the audience one-by-one as we walked down the runway to place our names in a hat. And you guessed it, my name was drawn from that hat and I was crowned Little Miss Nisswa 1998. My year didn't consist of much, just a few parades and appearances at other local pageants but something put a spark in me. Maybe it was the glittering of the tiara, the pretty dresses, or the accomplishment I felt. But all of that has passed...that tiara is now tarnished and those dresses are not only too small, but definitely out of style (it was the 90's), and that accomplishment, I mean my name was drawn out of a hat, pure luck. There is one thing that sticks with me though, and it's the respect and admiration I had for my sister queen, Sheree Knack. She may have only been a High School-er but I looked up to her like she was true royalty. She always looked out for me and was one of the nicest people I knew. I still have the card she made by hand with our picture on it that she gave me after our year of reign. She put the spark in me to continue on my pageant journey. Because of her I knew I would run for Miss Nisswa 2008. I wanted to be just like her and inspire a Little Miss Nisswa as she did with me.
So fast forward ten years to my senior year of High School when I signed up to compete in the Miss Nisswa pageant. Unlike last time, my name was not drawn out of a hat since we were actually judged and luck was not on my side. I was not crowned, and did not even place in the pageant. I was heart-broken. I love my hometown and as I stated above, I had been dreaming of being Miss Nisswa since I was eight years old. What I didn't know then was that there were two very special people in that audience that were going to change my life and open a world of doors for me. Those two people were Bill Musel and Vicki Randall.
Bill and Vicki were the directors of the Miss Brainerd Lakes Organization, a prelim to Miss Minnesota, and a Miss America affiliate. After they watched me on stage in Nisswa they approached me about competing for Miss Brainerd Lakes. It was a couple months after the Miss Nisswa pageant that I met with Bill and Vicki at the local coffee shop in Brainerd. They went over all of my questions and laid out every category of competition. I was stumped on one thing; talent. Now I have many talents, just none that you could put on a stage for 2 minutes. But Bill and Vicki weren't going to let that hold me back. They introduced me to dramatic monologues. Now I was never in theater, but I could speak publicly with no problem. Vicki gave me a piece that was already cut to the time and was a piece that she used when she had competed. Bill worked with me on the theater aspect and it all came together in time for the pageant in June. I was named 2nd runner up. Although I didn't win I was determined to compete again. So in 2009 I returned, this time with a different talent that was a clip from a play that Bill had been involved in. I worked so long and hard on this piece of talent, memorizing and getting the right emotions and it paid off because I made a bunch of people cry. Only at the end of the night, I was named 1st runner up. I was upset, I had worked so hard and got so close. I took everything and competed in other locals around the state. I went to Miss Northwest where I was named 2nd runner up and Miss Midwest where I again did not win. I contemplated competing in Miss Twin Cities, but got too busy with my school work that I didn't have the time. By the time spring had come around I was thinking of competing for Miss Brainerd, but was scared I would lose...again. I didn't want to be ridiculed and laughed at for competing so much and never winning, I was ready to just give up. So I met with Bill to tell him I was too chicken to compete for fear of losing, but Bill wasn't having it. I will never forget what he said to me over coffee in his office, "Do you win every race you run in track?" to which I shook my head no, "You don't stop running a race just because you don't win do you." Simple as that, I knew he was right. I couldn't give up just because I was scared of losing. I left that meeting with new plans for every area of competition. I was changing everything, I found a new swim suit, dress and for the first time since my hip surgeries I was well enough to do gymnastics for a talent. Every time I made it home from school I was working will Bill and Vicki on my interview, walking and talent. Every day for the week leading up to the pageant I was in the auditorium practicing. On the night of June 29, 2010 I wasn't leaving anything on that stage, I was there to win. I won the preliminary talent and swimsuit awards and after much anticipation I was crowned Miss Brainerd Lakes 2010. I was completely overjoyed. My year was filled so many fun activities and appearances and I got to compete for Miss Minnesota. The week of Miss Minnesota was one of the best experiences I've had and even though I wasn't crowned or even in the top 10 I knew I would be back.
After I gave up my title of Miss Brainerd Lakes I competed for Miss North Metro and won. I again had a year of appearances and the chance at Miss Minnesota. During Miss Minnesota rehearsals I rolled my ankle the day I was competing my talent. Now, being a gymnast for 14 years I didn't think much of a rolled ankle but my body was quick to tell me otherwise. After competing my talent I was in so much pain and the reality of continuing to do gymnastics was looking bleak. I had stopped competing in gymnastics my senior year of high school when I had my first hip surgery. Gymnastics takes a toll on the body and all of my joints ached after I would practice my talent. On finals night of competition I was not named in the top ten. I was devastated, I was so angry and upset. When a judge came up to me after to congratulate me and ask if I would be competing again I responded with a no. That was it, I was done with the America system. I knew I wouldn't be able to continue to force my aging body to do gymnastic on a hardwood stage and I wasn't going back to a monologue because I wasn't good enough at them to win. I had no talent to showcase, so I started exploring my options.
During my year as Miss North Metro I had the opportunity to work with one of the best coaches, Cheri Kennedy. After Miss Minnesota I met with her over dinner to discuss my pageant options and by the end of that meal I was ready to fill out my paper work and sign up for Miss Minnesota USA. I worked with Cheri every Friday leading up to the competition. I was as ready as I could be in those few short months and it paid off. I had the time of my life that weekend as was thrilled to be named into the top 15 on finals night. As the competition continued I did not make the cut for top 5. I was a little upset but still thrilled with my achievement. There was just one thing that was bothering me; I wanted to be a Miss Minnesota and time was running out. I met with Cheri one more time and she mentioned a system that was just getting on it's feet in Minnesota after being absent for awhile, it was the Miss United States Organization. I did some digging and loved everything I found about it. I signed up right away and got to working with Cheri again every Friday. On the night of February 23, 2013 all of my years of pageants paid off when I was crowned your Miss Minnesota United States 2013. I was beyond honored and still am to represent this fabulous state.
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| Brainerd Dispatch clipping of 1998 Little Miss Nisswa contestants |
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| Official photo as Little Miss Nisswa |
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| The card Sheree made |
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| Photo Credit James Netz-copyright |
