OU student crowned Miss Oklahoma USA winner
Photo by Quinton Myers
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Spotlights illuminated the results of weeks and weeks of tanning, toning, dieting and studying. Donning evening gowns or swimwear, the Miss Oklahoma USA 2011 contestants walked the stage before an audience of devoted family and others in attendance.
Eight OU students participated in the pageant Nov. 26-28 in Guthrie, including the overall winner of the event.
Kaitlyn Smith, multi-disciplinary senior, took home the crown and title this year and won the interview and photogenic categories.
Although this year’s Miss Oklahoma USA was her first pageant, Smith saw it as an opportunity to challenge herself and make a difference.
“I just took it on as a new challenge,” Smith said. “I thought it would be a great way to make an impact and to push myself to do something new.”
Her platform for the competition was awareness of domestic violence against women, an issue she took seriously after seeing her friend go through an abusive relationship the summer before.
Smith said she really didn’t know what to expect of the competition but rather just “said a lot of prayers” and tried to stay optimistic.
“As cheesy as it sounds, just being yourself is important,” Smith said. “And if you don’t win, it’s not that they didn’t like you, but that they were just looking for something different that year.”
Public relations senior Kelsie Guthrie placed in the top 15 and won the swimsuit category. She had participated in Miss Texas Teen senior year of high school and made top 12 in last year’s Miss Oklahoma USA.
“For me it’s a hobby, but it’s also about personal skills, skills that will translate into the workplace,” Guthrie said.
Since philanthropy is an important aspect of a contestant’s resume, Guthrie has been heavily involved in volunteering for the Make-A-Wish foundation and acting as community service chair for her sorority Chi Omega.
To prepare physically and mentally, she underwent electrolysis with Body Trends, exercised with a personal trainer, worked on walking in her outfit selection with a pageant coach and studied with an interview coach.
“It’s a lot more time consuming than people think,” Guthrie said. “I was at Body Trends for two hours a day, five days a week, five weeks before the pageant. I was doing cardio two times a day in addition to all of that.”
With one winner, the odds of being chosen are slim.
“I was disappointed because it was kind of my goal [to win],” Guthrie said. “Honestly, I did my best and wouldn’t change one thing about what I did.”
The pageant spans three days and consists of several different stages.
Pageant contestants met for the first time Friday for orientation and a banquet where they get to meet the other competitors and learn the weekend’s agenda.
The actual competition took place Sunday night. After the opening dance number, the top 15 participated in swimsuit, evening wear and on-stage interview competitions.
“It’s an intense weekend, and you don’t get a lot of sleep,” Guthrie said. “But there’s nothing in the world like it.”
Ashley Merritt, journalism sophomore, said she’s loved performing on the stage and Miss Oklahoma USA was another opportunity for her to do what she loves.
“My favorite place in the world is to be in front of an audience,” Merritt said. “My goal was to be able to perform and feel confident and feel good. And I got that.”
In addition to a cash prize package, Smith will participate in the Miss USA pageant in May in Las Vegas.
Smith said she is taking next semester off to prepare for the pageant and is remaining optimistic about her chances.
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