Nearly every girl dreams of having her moment in the spotlight. For Kaitie Spaude, that moment happened at last month’s National American Miss Wisconsin pageant.
Spaude, a senior at Oconto Falls High School, won the 2013 Miss Wisconsin Teen Spokesmodel title at the annual pageant, held Aug. 23-25 in Wisconsin Dells. She competed against 60 others in the teen division of the pageant.
“It was a wonderful experience, and I’m very honored,” she said.
More than 500 girls participated at the state level in five divisions. Every girl was required to compete in three areas: modeling, interview and public speaking.
“Of all the aspects of the competition, the modeling was the easiest. It came naturally for me. You just had to walk, smile and exude confidence,” Spaude said.
She also chose to compete in two optional categories. She presented a live commercial reel for the judges and delivered a personal address, which won her the Spokesmodel title.
“I won with a speech on a topic that is very near to my heart,” she said.
She spoke about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and shared the story of a close friend who is battling an addiction. Her speech was titled “Why I Say No to Drugs: I Had a Friend.”
In addition to the title, Spaude received a $250 cash prize and an invitation to compete at the National American Miss pageant in California. While she has not yet decided if she will attend, she saved the prize money and may look for sponsors to help cover her travel expenses.
To qualify for the state pageant, she first appeared at an open call this spring in Green Bay. Pageant directors selected her to advance to the state level. This was her first year competing in a National American Miss pageant.
“Just because some girls have been doing this longer, that doesn’t set them above you,” Spaude said. “Everyone needs to go in with personal confidence. If you go in strong, you’ll come out strong.”
Spaude rehearsed with friends and family before her first pageant and said it was a unique opportunity to develop new skills. She looks forward to sharing her experience with other young women.
“I hope to inspire girls in the surrounding area and the state to go out, chase their dreams and never be afraid to step out of their comfort zones,” she said.
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