WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The new Miss Wisconsin Rapids and Miss Wisconsin Rapids’ Teen will be crowned later this month at the end of the Miss Wisconsin Rapids Competition.
The Miss Wisconsin Rapids Scholarship Organization will host the 2026 competition starting at 6 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Performing Arts Center, 1801 16th St. S. in Wisconsin Rapids.
‘What Dreams Are Made Of’
This year’s competition theme is “What Dreams Are Made Of,” and features three young women vying for the Miss Wisconsin Rapids title. Eleven teenagers will take the stage for the Miss Wisconsin Rapids’ Teen title.
Who will join the contestants on stage?
The show will feature Miss Wisconsin Willow Newell and Miss Wisconsin’s Teen Natalie Popp, both of whom will perform on stage. At the end of the competition, Olivia Heuer will pass along the Miss Wisconsin Rapids title, while Bianca Bowden will pass along the Miss Wisconsin Rapids’ Teen title.
What do preparations look like?
After an initial informational meeting for young women interested in competing, each of the contestants spent the last two months preparing for the competition with weekly workshops focusing on talent rehearsals, mock interviews, preparing for an on-stage question and developing a Community Service Initiative, a cause important to each contestant that she is passionate about and will advocate for and promote in the area.
Two titleholders will be crowned at the Oct. 25 event, then will prepare to compete at Miss Wisconsin in June. The two local titleholders who will be crowned Miss Wisconsin and Miss Wisconsin’s Teen will then move on to compete at Miss America and Miss America’s Teen.
What does this competition look like?
Miss Wisconsin Rapids and Miss Wisconsin Rapids’ Teen contestants will compete in five phases: interview, talent, evening gown, health and fitness and an on-stage conversation.
On Saturday morning, ahead of the 6 p.m. show, each contestant will meet privately with a panel of five judges for a 10-minute interview. That portion of competition is worth 30% of her overall score.
On stage, each contestant will perform a 90-second talent that shows her skills and personality. This portion of competition is worth 20% of her score.
Contestants will also show poise, confidence, beauty, charm and elegance in an evening gown that reflects their personal styles, worth 20% of their scores.
Health and fitness shows each contestant’s commitment to her personal health and wellness, also showcasing her energy, confidence and personality. In this portion of competition, worth 20% of her score, each contestant will wear Rebel Athletic wear and sneakers and will perform a short fitness routine.
Each contestant will also answer an on-stage question at the competition, counting for 10% of her final score. The on-stage question is designed to show her ability to think quickly and show her personality.
Where do I get tickets?
Tickets are $20 for the Saturday show, and they are currently available for purchase. Tickets for assigned seating can be purchased in advance at misswisconsinrapids.org/tickets or can be purchased at the Performing Arts Center the day of the show. Event organizers advise guests to purchase tickets in advance.
Meet the Miss Wisconsin Rapids contestants
Candidate No. 1: Camie Dittmann
Dittmann is a senior at Lincoln High School, and her community service initiative is titled “From Farm to Future: Inspiring Youth Through FFA.” She will perform a line dance to “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” by Shania Twain.
Candidate No. 2: Hailey Plantico
Plantico is a student at Mid-State Technical College, and her community service initiative is titled “The Courage to Ask.” She will perform a speed painting routine to “Crying at the Disco.”
Candidate No. 3: Madison Graf
Graf is a student at Mid-State Technical College, and her community service initiative is titled “Look Local First.” She will perform a tap dance to “Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyonce.
Meet the Miss Wisconsin Rapids’ Teen contestants
Candidate No. 1: Mia Dhein
Dhein is a student at Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School, and her community service initiative is titled “Women in STEM.” She will perform a monologue titled “Sick.”
Candidate No. 2: Caitlyn Mendrzycki
Mendrzycki is a student at Lincoln High School, and her community service initiative is titled “Music is an Instrument to Growth.” She will perform a contemporary pointe dance to “Hey Mando!”
Candidate No. 3: Aleah Jarosinski
Jarosinski is a student at Lincoln High School, and her community service initiative is titled “Spreading Memories Through Song.” She will perform a vocal solo of “When Will My Life Begin.”
Candidate No. 4: Alex Marcum
Marcum is a student at Lincoln High School, and her community service initiative is titled “Turning Kill Shelters Into Care Shelters.” She will perform a HERstory performance called “The Life of a Shelter Dog.”
Candidate No. 5: Suri Manning
Manning is a student at Lincoln High School, and her community service initiative is titled “Break the Silence: Mental Health Awareness.” She will perform a contemporary dance to “Telepath.”
Candidate No. 6: Kayla Sachs
Sachs is a student at Lincoln High School, and her community service initiative is titled “Dementia Friendly.” She will perform a vocal and guitar solo of “How Far I’ll Go.”
Candidate No. 7: Isabelle St.Myers
St.Myers is a student at Lincoln High School, and her community service initiative is titled “Ignite Awareness: Fire Safety and Prevention.” She will perform a jazz dance to “Fire in my Soul.”
Candidate No. 8: Gianna Peters
Peters is a student at Assumption High School, and her community service initiative is titled “Feeding our Future: Promoting Food Accessibility.” She will perform a vocal solo of “One Perfect Moment.”
Candidate No. 9: Devon Carter
Carter is a student at Lincoln High School, and her community service initiative is titled “Move Your Body, Transform Your Life.” She will perform a hip-hop dance to “Mashup.”
Candidate No. 10: Izzy Petta
Petta is a student at Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School, and her community service initiative is titled “Open the Pages: Promoting Language Arts Early.” She will perform a tap dance to “Uptown Funk.”
Candidate No. 11: Savannah Schmelzer
Schmelzer is a student at John Edwards High School, and her community service initiative is titled “The Benefits of Being Yourself.” She will perform an original poem called “The Queen.”
Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune: Meet the contestants running for Miss Wisconsin Rapids & Miss Wisconsin Rapids’ Teen 2026
Reporting by Caitlin Shuda, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune / Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune
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