Gowns, dances, sashes, oh my! On March 7th, nine women competed for the title of Miss Oshkosh and seven girls competed for the title of Miss Outstanding Teen Oshkosh at the Alberta Kimball Auditorium here at West. Although the pageant itself was only a few hours long, the preparation for this event started at the beginning of the year with an informational meeting.

“The first meeting was on January 20 and it was a workshop where we did headshots, ran through the whole process and were told about what other things we would be doing at all the rehearsals,” freshman Kyla Birshbach said. “We learned the opening number dance and the evening closer.”

After this meeting, auditions took place where participants were interviewed and asked about their platforms and talents. The whole process lasted two months, but for Birschbach it was all worth it to participate in a competition she was loved for years.

“Ever since 2014, we have pretty much gone to every pageant following when my dance teacher’s daughter won, and I always look up to the girls as role models with their confidence and abilities,” she said. “Not only do I admire their talent, but speaking skills as well. I aspire to be that role model for little girls.”

Eighth-grader Madelyn Rutkowski has had a similar passion and began watching the competitions when she was five. Once she became old enough, she was very excited to participate and right way began working on her platform.

“My platform is called Equity in Education, and it focuses on getting people to realize that there’s still inequity in our school system,” she said. “It’s not something that most people realize and I want the title so I can get my platform out there so people realize it’s an issue and we can fix it.”

Birschbach decided to focus her platform, called Take a Deep Breath, on teenage anxiety, something she can relate strongly to. Her goal is to prove that her abilities and worth lie beneath the surface as well.

“ I want to show the judges that I have all the abilities to be successful in the Miss America Organization,” she said. “I have the public speaking skills, talent, poise and confidence, and I really want to show the judges my real self and not just a pretty face.”

For senior Jessa Nemeth, looking into the future was an aspect that influenced her decision to participate again after competing for the past two years.

“Going into college I knew that this would be a great way to get my face and name out there so I decided to do that,” she said. “The competition also gives away tons of scholarship money and I’d love to get my social impact initiative out there to everyone.”

After planning and practicing for months, the competition day finally arrived beginning with private interviews with the judges. The questions range from asking about school to personal passions. Nemeth was grateful for all who showed up to help get the girls ready before the competition officially began.

“A lot of girls that have run before always come to support the show and help us backstage with makeup and hair,” she said. “Also, a couple of hair studios and makeup artists come and help us backstage the day of the event.”

The competition began at seven with an opening dance number. After the dance, each girl headed on stage to introduce themselves. Then the performances began.

“The next stage of the competition is talent; it’s one minute and thirty seconds, and mine is dancing,” Birschbach said. “However, there’s poetry, monologue, singing, piano, speed painting, and even a comedy act. Then the teens have lifestyle and fitness, which is like a little exercise routine that shows off your confidence as well as your stage presence and athletic ability.”

Following this section is an intermission where the Miss Oshkosh candidates have an onstage interview and present their platform statement. The night closes with a dance after which awards are given out, and many of the candidates were excited about the possibilities of their success.

“If you do win, you get to give service to the community which is also a way to give back,” Birschbach said. “I really want to be a girl that gives back to my community whether I win or not.”

Heading into the event, Birschbach maintained the mindset that even if she didn’t win, the process still gave her many important skills.

“I got so much experience with the interview and speaking on the spot,” she said. “You walk out with a lot of skills for the future, especially job interview skills, and you’ll also be able to talk more confidently in front of other people.”

Throughout the event, Rutkowski also kept a positive attitude and committed to always giving it her all, whatever happens.

“I just tell myself that whatever happens, happens. For example, if I drop my baton, it’s not the end of the world. I give it all that I got,” she said. “Nobody is going to be disappointed, as long as you try your hardest.”

Nemeth also shared her methods for keeping a calm stature while performing, but she knows that being nervous is all part of the process.

“I do this thing from gymnastics and it has stuck with me every single time I have to do something nerve-wracking,” she said. “I take three deep breaths and say ‘I think I can, I know I can,’ and I just go out there and do it. It usually works, but sometimes I get a little nervous. I just have to remember to breathe and smile.”

While on stage, all three girls felt comforted knowing that there were many people in the audience who came out to encourage them.

“My family has been with me through the whole process,” Rutkowski said. “We’re a close family and we’re always there for each other, so I know that they’ll support me through it all.”

Nemeth was also very grateful to see familiar faces when looking out from the stage, which helped calm her nerves and gave her some assurance.

“All of my other friends are coming to support me, since it is so nerve-wracking having every single person in the audience judging you,” she said. “But, when you know that people are there who want to see you succeed, it makes you feel so much more confident in yourself.”

In order to get over the nerves that take over, Nemeth found that it helped to fully put herself out there and show the judges all aspects of her.

“I want the judges to see that I’m super fun but also have a serious, mature side to myself,” she said. “I hope they see that through my interview. But during the pageant, I try to put a little comedy in it because I don’t think any other girl is doing that. I try to put a little bit of spunk in there.”

Some may think that participating in a pageant is too vulnerable for girls and spreads the wrong message that physical beauty is more important than what is on the inside, but Birschbach believes the contrary.

“The word ‘pageant’ can throw a lot of people off because the first thing people think about when they hear ‘pageant’ is beauty pageant. They think of pretty faces and skinny bodies, but it’s totally different from the aspect of the judges,” she said. “A lot of the women in the Miss America Organization are not the ‘ideal’ body type, and they’re so confident. I aspire to have as much confidence as they do.”

This is, in fact, the main goal of these pageants and competitions, to give girls more assurance and belief in themselves.

“The Miss America Organization is about empowering women and having that here in Oshkosh shows this to young girls,” Rutkowski said.

With this goal in mind, Nemeth believes that the organization and event does a great job of helping to create friendships and bonds between each of the girls involved.

“It definitely brings a lot of different people from the community together because of the sponsors and the girls competing, too,” she said. “We all get to know each other really well and it’s super sad when we have to split our ways at the end. It can bring really anyone together.”

For this reason, Rutkowski strongly feels the Miss Oshkosh pageants are great to participate in because of the lasting relationships they build and the considerate environment that is created.

“I would encourage young girls to participate in things like this because you meet some really good friends and people that will hopefully always be there for you,” she said. “Everyone involved in the pageant is really nice, helpful and supportive.”

Nemeth found that the relationships she made while participating in Miss Oshkosh will prove very helpful for her in the future looking into college, even meeting other girls who are majoring in Elementary Education at UWO like herself.

“You get to meet so many different people and organizations through Miss Oshkosh, so when you’re going to college and you need someone, they are going to be there,” she said. “And you meet a lot of other girls that can give you advice. They’ve told me about professors and other helpful tips, and it’s just a good way to get to know your future.”

by Aspen Oblewski, Abby Eaton, and Keerthana Ambati

Published March 20th 2020

Oshkosh West Index Volume 116 Issue 6

Miss Oshkosh pageant promotes positivity