Brooklynn Lambert a top 11 finalist at Miss Michigan
Brooklynn Lambert of Monroe was a top 11 finalist in Saturday night’s 2023 Miss Michigan Competition at the Frauenthal Center in Muskegon. Payton Perry-Radcliffe, Miss Monroe County 2022, also competed, but was not a finalist.
Maya Schuhknecht of East Lansing was crowned Miss Michigan 2023.
Lambert attended Miss Michigan as Miss Sunrise Side 2023. She was Miss Monroe County in 2017.
“I am so happy for Miss Brooklynn,” Dione Oerther, Miss Monroe County executive director, said after Brooklynn was announced as a finalist. “This is her seventh time here competing for Miss Michigan.”
Several of the Miss Michigan Competition categories took place earlier last week. The top 11 competed on stage Saturday in on-stage question, lifestyle and fitness, talent, and evening gown categories.
For lifestyle and fitness, Lambert wore a white sport tank top and black exercise shorts, Oerther said. For the talent, she wore a red statin costume with Swarovski crystals and red fringe.
“She performed her electrifying jazz dance to ‘Big Noise,’” Oerther said. “She nailed her talent, and the crowd cheered her on throughout her performance."
For the evening gown category, Oerther said, “Brooklynn wore a white V-neck mermaid gown with dazzling rhinestone accents and a white chiffon train. Complete elegance.”
Brooklynn was not named a top 5 finalist.
“She couldn’t have done anything any better. I am so proud of her and all of her accomplishments,” Oerther said.
During intermission, several 2022 Miss Monroe County Princesses performed on stage. A number of awards were given to contestants. One award is named for Monroe’s former Miss America: The Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson Community Service Award.
Non-finalist contestants had an opportunity to model evening wear on stage. Perry-Radcliffe wore a blue evening gown with a train.
“She was so graceful on the stage,” Oerther said. “Miss Payton has represented Miss Monroe County wonderfully here in Muskegon. She looked beautiful on stage and in all phases of competition and showed her bubbly personality on stage.”
Earlier on Saturday, Perry-Radcliffe won $550 in a “heads or tails” game at the Friends and Family luncheon.
“The announcer said they needed $115 to make the Miss Michigan auction goal of $9,000. Without hesitation, Miss Patyon raised her hand and said, ‘I will donate the $115,'" Oerther said. "This is just one example of the kind of heart that this special young woman has. I am so blessed to have her as Miss Monroe County 2022 and to have walked with her this week during Miss Michigan. She has a very bright future ahead of her. She plans to eventually apply to dental school. Lots of wonderful things are waiting for her to accomplish in her very bright future.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Brooklynn Lambert a top 11 finalist at Miss Michigan
