In 2025, Elise Jackson of Forestville became the first representative in the history of the Miss Door County Scholarship Program to place in the top five of the Miss Wisconsin’s Teen pageant. In 2026, Jackson not only did it again, she got closer to the crown.
Jackson, who was serving as Miss Door County’s Teen when she was named third runner-up in the 2025 state competition, was named June 19 as first runner-up in the 2026 state teen contest in New Berlin. This year Jackson competed as an at-large contestant as Miss Cherryland’s Teen, a title sponsored by the Miss Door County program.
By finishing as first runner-up to new Miss Wisconsin’s Teen Meredith Rosemurgy of Madison, Jackson earned a $1,000 scholarship. She also won an additional $500 scholarship in the pageant’s “Patriotism Reigns” award, an essay competition in which she wrote about her brother’s enrollment in the military.
Rosemurgy competed as Miss Madison’s Teen and won $9,000 in scholarships in the state competition. Placing in the Top 5 along with Rosemurgy and Jackson were second runner-up Elioenai Samuel of Menomonee Falls, who serves as Miss Rock River Valley’s Teen; third runner-up Ruby Marti of Wisconsin Rapids, Miss Centralia’s Teen; and fourth runner-up Maliah Miller of Beloit, Miss South Central’s Teen.
Meanwhile, in the Miss Wisconsin pageant, also held in New Berlin, Kaylee Griep, the reigning Miss Door County 2026, and Kylee Duessler, who served as Miss Door County 2024 and is now Miss Northern Lights 2026 placed in the Top 11 as semifinalists. Jordenne Butler of Onalaska, serving as Miss River City, was crowned Miss Wisconsin 2026.
Along with Griep and Duessler each winning $500 scholarships, Griep earned a $1,000 “Hometown Pride” award scholarship for a two-minute video about her love and pride for the Door County community. Duessler was named fourth runner-up in the 2024 Miss Wisconsin competition, becoming the first reigning Miss Door County to place in the Top 5 at the state pageant.
Another scholarship winner at the state contest with ties to the Miss Door County organization was Hanna Mertens, who won the inaugural Miss Cherryland pageant in 2025 and is the current Miss Titletown 2026. She won the nonfinalist interview award and an $500 scholarship.
Also competing at the state pageant were Mia Glocke, Miss Door County’s Teen 2026, and Paige Nikodem, Miss Cherryland 2026.
Applications are being taken by the Miss Door County Scholarship Program for the 2027 Miss Door County, Miss Cherryland and Miss Door County’s Teen pageants, which will be held Feb. 7. It will mark the 30th anniversary of the Miss Door County Program as well as the 100th anniversary for Miss Wisconsin. The 2026 program saw a total of $24,000 in prizes and college scholarships awarded to contestants in the three pageants. Winners at the local levels go on to compete for Miss Wisconsin, with the winner of the state contest advancing to the Miss America pageant.
To apply or for more information, visit missdoorcounty.org.
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@usatodayco.com.
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County woman named 1st runner-up in Miss Wisconsin’s Teen contest
Reporting by Christopher Clough, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Christopher Clough, Green Bay Press-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
