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30/08/2017
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Patti Zarling, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 5:06 p.m. CT Aug. 29, 2017
Miss Wisconsin 2017 McKenna Collins (formerly Miss Madison-Capital City) talks about winning the 2017 Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Pageant. (June 17, 2017) Nathaniel Shuda/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
MANITOWOC - When you’re competing for the title of Miss America and you live in Wisconsin, you may need to get a spray tan, even in late August.
That’s what McKenna Collins, formerly Miss Madison Capital City and now Miss Wisconsin, was up to Monday before boarding a plane Tuesday for Atlantic City and the Miss American competition.
“I’m not nervous,” Collins said during a phone interview. “I’m excited. I know how much I’ve worked for and prepared for the job, and I know I’m ready.”
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for the 21-year-old University of Wisconsin senior, who was crowned June 17 at the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Pageant.
“What an incredible platform to talk about issues that mean so much to me,” Collins said. “My favorite part is talking to people, getting to represent the state and the Miss Wisconsin organization.”
She kept busy her first two months as Miss Wisconsin working across the state to promote her platform, “Table Talk: Promoting Civil Discourse,” and preparing for the Miss America Competition.
Next, she’ll spend about two weeks in Atlantic City. The first 10 days or so will be spent bonding with fellow contestants and doing photo shoots, charity events, practices and rehearsals.
She flew to the East Coast on her own. About 50 people from Wisconsin, including her family, will arrive sometime next week. The competition runs Sept. 6-10.
“I’m just going to try to suck up every moment of the experience,” Collins said. “There’s nothing more I can do to prepare. I just want to appreciate every moment I am there.”
The spotlight is not new for Collins. She began her own business at age 15 and was a full-time professional ballerina at age 16. She is majoring in communications and political science and plans to attend law school in Washington, D.C. She has interned both with Robin Vos, speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, and U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.
“I liked having even a small hand in legislation,” she said.
While Collins is looking forward to her time in Atlantic City, 2016 Miss Wisconsin Courtney Pelot looks back.
Pelot, the Manitowoc native, said the past year “shaped me into the young woman I am today.”
The former Miss Green Bay Area made more than 190 appearances during the past year, visited 31 schools and logged about 34,000 miles across Wisconsin promoting her literacy platform.
“It’s so surreal what happened in a year,” Pelot said. “And now, our 2016 Miss America is coming to an end.”
Her advice to Collins is: “Every single day is packed, like living two or three days, so live in the moment. There were so many ‘pinch me’ moments.”
Pelot still has a hand in the Miss Wisconsin world. She does social media and public relations for the group.
“This organization gave me so much,” she said. “I want to give back.”
She plans to return to Manitowoc later this fall to visit special education classrooms and continue her work in literacy. She will bring her crown and sash along to show kids.
“The kids can try them on,” Pelot said. “They love to see how heavy the crown is. It’s not too heavy.
“And I have all my pageant stuff on a dresser, all the name tags and awards," Pelot added. "It shaped what I do so much. I’m sure it will continue to.”
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