Last year, law student Kaitlyn Ross was crowned Miss Indiana University.
(Sammy Nance Photography)
Kaitlyn Ross took the stage in a lab coat and goggles last year.
With just 90 seconds to show off her talent, she performed a chemiluminescent experiment — basically, she created glow sticks to show how fireflies glow.
A mentor once told her in her freshman year she wasn’t smart enough to become a scientist. But in her senior year, she won Miss Indiana University and used her platform to advocate for the next generation of feminists in STEM. Or, as she calls them, “STEM-inists.”
Ross, now in her first year of law school at IU, will pass on her title Sunday at 6 p.m. in Willkie Auditorium.
“It's so cliche to say, but I think it's really changed my life,” Ross said. “It's given me so much confidence in public speaking and being an advocate.”
Kaitlyn Ross performs her talet at Miss IU. At Miss Indiana competition, she was a finalist for the STEM award. (Sammy Nance Photography)
Fourteen contestants will compete for the crown this year, with about $4,000 in scholarships on the line. Unlike other local pageants, Miss IU is student-run. Hannah Oelschlager is in charge this year.
A senior and president of Pageantry at IU, Oelschlager said pageantry is more than “looking at pretty dresses all day.” It’s not a beauty pageant, she said. It’s a scholarship pageant.
“When you think of pageants, you think, ‘Oh, the most beautiful girl will be selected,’” Oelschlager said. “We really want the most well-spoken, the best representative of Miss IU, because they would obviously be selected to compete and represent IU for Miss Indiana.”
The pageant is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishables to donate to the Crimson Cupboard.
The winner will move on to the Miss Indiana competition and represent IU until the next one is crowned.
Teresa White, executive director and faculty advisor, said each woman will have a 10-minute, one-on-one interview with the judges. This is the most heavily weighted phase of the competition, and it takes place off the stage. Judges will learn what drives each woman and how they can handle a conversation.
“I once heard it described as, Miss IU would be someone you want to go sit and have coffee with,” White said.
On-stage, the women will explain their community service initiatives — a plan to work locally for an issue they believe in — and answer questions from judges.
Overall, 40 percent of contestants’ scores are based on speaking and interviewing.
“A lot of people call it a beauty pageant,” White said. “It's nowhere near a beauty pageant, hasn't been for years.”
Oelschlager said Miss IU is different from other local pageants because it includes a show. Continuing a tradition started more than 10 years ago, the all-women Crimsonettes dance group and Ladies First a capella will perform.
Contestants will perform an opening number choreographed by former Miss IU Shaylee Barnes. The dance will not be scored by the judges, Oelschlager said, but will be practice for Miss Indiana and Miss America.
During the talent portion, contestants have 90 seconds to perform or explain their skills. Oelschlager said this can be anything — martial arts, coding, dancing, singing. Ross will perform her science experiment again this year during intermission.
“It's really important that the contestant chooses something that just shows their creativity and a little bit of their personality,” she said.
During the evening gown section, judges will score contestants’ stage presence, confidence and composure. Contestants will wear their best dresses, Oelschlager said, and compete for 20 percent of their score.
At a homecoming parade, Ross poses with local girl scouts. She's a student troop helper. (Courtesy of Kaitlyn Ross)
Pageants that follow Miss America standards no longer have swimsuit sections. Now, contestants compete in a fitness section for the first time this year. The organization partnered with the American Heart Association and Rebel Athletics.
When it’s time to crown the winner, Ross will wrap up her final moments as Miss IU in a speech. She says it’s been a great experience.
“I think it's easy for women to shy away from talking about themselves,” Ross said. “My experience in pageants has really taught me how to really speak about what I've done and know that brings value.”
While judges award scholarships based on scores, the audience has some power too, Oelschlager said. Voting for People’s Choice has already begun and will close at intermission Sunday.
“They donate $1 either to Venmo or in cash,” she said. “Whoever gets the most money during that will get People's Choice.”
White said contestants want to be competitive and look their best, but there are other rewards. Everyone gets something different out of the competition, but many women build their confidence, improve in public speaking, and get better at performing.
Not everyone gets “pageant fever,” White said, but those who do tend to continue competing and start their own local competitions. It’s inspiring to see how far these women go, she said.
“The ones who end up finding it the most meaningful are the ones who aren't only focused on winning.”
White was recruited as a Miss IU judge in 2006. She began volunteering as executive director in 2011 after the state board asked her to take over.
“I was very impressed by all of them,” she said. “How well spoken they were, how earnest they were and how they had real goals in life.”
Students on and off the stage benefit from the pageant, White said.
Oelschlager said Pageantry at IU is run as a business, and she loves the club. She's in charge of securing funds from the IU Foundation, the largest source of their scholarship money. She delivered her pitch earlier this year in under five minutes.
Not everyone involved in the pageant is front and center on stage, she said.
“Since we're all student-run, everyone has to step up and volunteer,” Oelschlager said.
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her ataubmwrig@iu.eduor follow her on Twitter at@aubreymwright.
