It’s Miss Ohio time.
And while Miss Ohio Stephanie Finoti’s year with the title will come to an end June 21, she said serving as Miss Ohio has been the honor of a lifetime.
“I’ve had the chance to travel over 50,000 miles across the state I call home, expanding the reach of my nonprofit, That STEM Girl, which provides skills, training, mentorship and resources to women, especially those from underserved communities, pursuing careers in science and medicine.
“I’ve seen firsthand how powerful representation can be, especially in spaces like STEM and medicine, where voices like mine are still too often missing,” Finoti said.
“Together, we’ve impacted over 100,000 students and professionals through school visits, workshops and national partnerships. It’s been the most meaningful work of my life so far,” she said.
“As the first Latina Miss Ohio, and a Top 5 finalist at Miss America, the first for Ohio in 30 years, I carried not only my own dreams, but the dreams of so many others who’ve never seen themselves reflected in these roles. And I carried them proudly.”
So, what’s next?
Finoti said she plans to apply to public-health graduate programs with a focus on maternal-fetal medicine.
“My passion for equitable health care only grew stronger this year and I’ll continue to lead That STEM Girl as we grow our reach and connect even more students with opportunity, mentorship and hope,” Finoti said.
Miss Ohio stage to come alive with contestants
Twenty-eight contestants from across the state will compete for the title of Miss Ohio on June 19-21 at the Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Avenue West, Mansfield.
Some Miss Ohio contestants are from central Ohio, including Miss Delaware County Macy Zachary of Delaware; Miss Franklin County Reagan Petersen of Gahanna; Miss Portsmouth Brittney Putman of Grove City; Miss Greater Columbus Olivia Jarrell of Columbus; and Miss Heart of Ohio Lexie Miller of Newark.
Miss Ohio contestants are ages 18-27.
Competing in Miss Ohio’s Teen are area residents Miss Tomato Festival’s Teen Justyce Murphy of Reynoldsburg and Miss Shawnee’s Teen Cassie Mattson of Columbus.
Miss Ohio’s Teen to be crowned June 18
Miss Ohio Week includes the Miss Ohio’s Teen show and crowning June 18 at 7 p.m. at the Renaissance Theatre. Eighteen teens ages 14-17 will compete for the title. The winner receives a scholarship and the opportunity to compete at the Miss America’s Teen competition in Orlando, Florida.
Finoti and current Miss Ohio’s Teen Allie Gray will co-emcee the teen competition.
Miss Ohio Scholarship Program Executive Director Steven Oliveri said the teen competition will operate exactly the same as the Miss Ohio competition. Each contestant will have the chance to earn the same percentages for each phase of competition: health and fitness, 20%; talent, 20%; her story (private interview), 30%; evening gown, 20%; and on-stage conversation, 10%.
Little Miss Buckeyes, formerly called princesses, will also be part of the shows at the Renaissance Theatre.
First Miss Ohio preliminary on June 19
The Miss Ohio first preliminary night will begin at 7 p.m. June 19. All portions of the competition will take place at the Renaissance Theatre.
The second night of preliminary competition on the Miss Ohio stage is June 20 at 7 p.m.
On June 21, it’s the Miss Ohio finals and a new Miss Ohio will be crowned. The show begins at 7 p.m. The winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship and the opportunity to compete in the Miss America competition.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
X: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: 46 contestants, 2 titles: It’s time for Miss Ohio, Miss Ohio’s Teen
Reporting by Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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