Title secures her spot at Miss Wisconsin pageant in June
By Jennifer Eisenbart
SLN Staff
For Elkhorn native Malainey Myrin, Sunday’s effort at the first-ever Miss Wisconsin Sweeps pageant was her last chance of the year.
“I really just wanted another shot at state this year,” Myrin said, who graduated from Elkhorn Area High School
The same could be said for the other 15 contestants, which ranged from first-year “senior” competitor Catherine Smith to former Miss Racine’s Haylee Bande and Alyssa Bohm and former Miss Burlington Area ChocolateFest Alexandria Knight. The sweeps were the last opportunity for young women looking for a chance to compete at Miss Wisconsin in June to pick up a crown and make the trip to Oshkosh.
And as it turned out, Myrin will be one of three women making the trip. Myrin won the Miss Wood Violet (the state flower), while Smith – originally from Janesville – won the Miss Badgerland after competing in the Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen pageant for the last several years.
The final title winner was Madeline Kumm of Wisconsin Rapids, who was named Miss Great Lakes. The titles are for three months, and after competing at Miss Wisconsin, will be immediately eligible to start competing at other local pageants throughout the state.
The sweeps pageant was a first for the state of Wisconsin, which normally has more non-area-restricted pageant titles available than it did this year. The field included contestants from as far away as Egg Harbor and Eau Claire to as close as Burlington with Knight. The competition featured the normal Miss America competition areas – swimsuit, evening gown, talent, on-stage question and the private interview with the judges.
Myrin spoke confidently in the on-stage question, then took the stage in a white dress, dancing a lyrical piece to “Amazing Grace” for her talent.
“It really just spoke to me. I have a message with my platform of just really being able to own what happens in your past and just being able to control your future,” Myrin said.
It was the idea of speaking about her platform – called “Own Your Story” – that had her the most excited. She is a senior at Ripon College, with aspirations of becoming a dentist.
“It’s just a powerful message, no matter what your background,” Myrin said. “I advocate for children’s emotional, mental and physical stability, and that they can aspire to anything they want to do.”
