Contestants ready to compete for Miss Ohio and Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen titles

Lou Whitmire, Mansfield News Journal
Updated ·6 min read

Twenty-three contestants will compete for the title of Miss Ohio in the week ahead, with the winner crowned June 17 at the historic Renaissance Theatre, making her eligible to compete at Miss America later this year.

Twleve contestants are vying for the title of Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen. The teen winner also will compete at the national level.

Miss Ohio contestants

Here are brief biographies of the 2022 pageant contestants:

Outgoing Miss Ohio Lora Current places the crown on new Miss Ohio Elizabetta Nies, 19, of Cincinnati at last year's competition.
Outgoing Miss Ohio Lora Current places the crown on new Miss Ohio Elizabetta Nies, 19, of Cincinnati at last year's competition.

● Miss Northeastern Ohio Elizabeth Cohara, 19, McClure. Education: Bowling Green State University, majoring in intervention specialism. Talent: instrumentalist. Social impact initiative: Equality: creating and maintaining equal opportunities for students with disabilities.

● Miss Mahoning Valley Piper Lambert, 19, East Palestine. Education: Youngstown State University, majoring in nursing; Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Community Connect: working on rebuilding communities with enrichment and service programs.

● Miss Cincinnati Alyssa Contreras, 18, Lebanon. Education: Sinclair Community College, majoring in exercise science. Talent: guitar. Social impact initiative: Rebuilding your relationship with your body through yoga. Focus is on everyone, but specifically those struggling with mental health and eating disorders.

● Miss Buckeye State Marina DeNunzio, 20, Shaker Heights. Education: The Ohio State University, majoring in history. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Sustainable and viable environment.

● Miss Heart of Ohio Bryn Hasenaur, 23, Holland. Education: Studying applied science. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Pink is Powerful, advocating for breast cancer screening.

● Miss Rock & Roll City Makenzie Regedanz, 24, St. Mary's. Education: Ohio Northern University, majoring in music education. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Ending the silence: Securing safety in education.

● Miss Talawanda Ivy Parker, 20, Columbus Grove. Education: University of Northwestern Ohio, majoring in medical assisting technology. Talent: cheerleading. Social impact initiative: Environmental sustainability: Grow with ivy.

● Miss Oxford Ella Roberts, 20, Cincinnati. Education: University of Cincinnati, majoring in medical laboratory sciences. Talent: science experiment. Social impact initiative: Bringing vocational education to high school seniors.

● Miss North Coast Madison Miller, 23, Coshocton. Education: Psychology and business administration, marketing. Talent: piano. Social impact initiative: The Veteran Narrative: Real Heroes. Real Stories.

● Miss Clayland Caitlin Seifert, 24, Niles. Education: Kent State University, majoring in fashion merchandising and MBA. Talent: baton. Social impact initiative: Turn A Key: Opening the door to volunteering.

● Miss Shawnee Baylee Joy Martin, 22, Portsmouth. Education: Wilmington College, majoring in psychology. Talent: pop vocal. Social impact initiative: B4 the Dawn, building your First Aid kit for mental health.

● Miss Northern Ohio Megan Riehle, 24, Edgerton. Education: Purdue University, Fort Wayne, majoring in business management and administration. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Helping hometown heroes.

● Miss Southwestern Ohio Brenna Geyer, 21, Dayton. Education: University of Cincinnati, majoring in music. Talent: singing/guitar. Social impact initiative: Passion for patients.

● Miss Lake Festival Grace-Ellen Rison, 19, Celina. Education: Western Carolina University, majoring in musical theater. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Radically celebrating neurodiversity and difference.

● Miss Greater Butler County Caroline Betty Trennophol, Cincinnati. Education: Thomas More University, majoring in marketing. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Girls C.A.N.

● Miss Cuyahoga Valley Mika Smith, 19, Parma. Education: Loyola University, majoring in political science. Talent: dance. Social impact initiative: Survivor, not victim.

● Miss North Central Ohio Kalli Gregory, 23, Castalia. Education: Bowling Green State University, majoring in neuroscience. Talent: contemporary dance. Social impact Initiative: Trent's Triumph, advocating for those with cerebral palsy to lead a happy and successful life.

● Miss Maple City Olivia Kentner, 23, Wapakoneta. Education: University of Cincinnati, majoring in communications; Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Ready, set, graduate.

● Miss Greater Columbus Stephanie Finoti, 20, Columbus. Education: University of Cincinnati, majoring in biomedical science. Talent: ballet. Social impact initiative: Girls to women: Inclusivity and diversity in STEM

● Miss Portsmouth Emily Legenza, 24, Athens. Education: music education. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: If you can, teach.

● Miss Lake Erie Jaeleen Davis, 28, Berea. Education: bachelor's degree in criminal justice and communication. Talent: singing. Social impact initiative: Kids should be covered: Prosthetics are not cosmetic.

● Miss Greater Cleveland Autumn Kessler, 26, Bethesda. Education: Muskingum University, majoring in public health. Talent: tap dance. Social impact initiative: Whole child. Whole health.

● Miss Spirit of Ohio Haylee Holt, 25, Sagamore Hills. Education: The Ohio State University, pursuing master's of education in visual impairment. Talent: musical theater vocals. Social impact initiative: The mental health movement.

Cassandra Kurek, 16, of Bucyrus, left, is crowned Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen in June 2022 at the Renaissance Theatre by outgoing winner Madison Yuzwa.
Cassandra Kurek, 16, of Bucyrus, left, is crowned Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen in June 2022 at the Renaissance Theatre by outgoing winner Madison Yuzwa.

Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen contestants

● Miss Portsmouth's Outstanding Teen Paisley French, 18, Wheelersburg. Talent: dancing. Community service initiative: Bringing awareness to the struggles of dancers' families dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

● Miss Heart of Ohio's Outstanding Teen Natalie Winland, 17, Bexley. Talent: science experiment. Community service initiative: Seen and heard, advocating for our youth.

● Miss Lake Festival's Ohio's Outstanding Teen MacKenzie Harner, 16, St Henry. Talent: ballet. Community service initiative: Equity: Lifting up the marginalized.

● Miss Spirit of Ohio's Outstanding Teen Melina Kopczewski, 18, Orient. Talent: pom routine. Community service initiative: Grow forward: Advocating for women in agriculture.

● Miss Oxford's Outstanding Teen Rachel Carter, 17, Bexley. Talent: science experiment. Community service initiative: Seen and heard, advocating for our youth.

● Miss Buckeye State's Outstanding Teen Megan Hitchens, 17, Newark. Talent: acrobatic jazz dance. Community service initiative: D.R.E.A.M.

● Miss Grand Lakes' Outstanding Teen Zoey Auckerman, 17, Celina. Talent: singing. Community service initiative: The importance of animal shelters.

● Miss Northern Ohio's Outstanding Teen Cassie Mattson, 16, Columbus. Talent: Irish dancer. Community service initiative: On our sleeves.

● Miss Maple City's Outstanding Teen Alia Ali, 17, Berea. Talent: singing and dancing. Community service initiative: Green light grow.

● Miss North Coast's Outstanding Teen Alia Williamson, 17, Coshocton. Talent: dancing. Community service initiative: Heroes of today.

● Miss Tallawanda's Outstanding Teen Arrianna Shinn, 17, Coldwater. Talent: jazz-acro. Community service initiative: Helping Ohio through philanthrophy.

● Miss Shawnee's Outstanding Teen Faith Claypool, 18, Portsmouth. Talent: singing. Community service initiative: Foster for future.

Miss Ohio Princesses

● Alexa Shepherd, 6, daughter of Kristi Fagg and Donald Shepherd Jr., a first-grader at Shelby Elementary School.

● Carlie Schnittke, 13, daughter of Carl and Brenda Schniitke, eighth-grader at Ontario Middle School.

● Chesney Haubiel, 9, daughter of Danny and Kami Haubiel and Tonya and Derrick Wallace, a fourth-grader at Crestview schools.

● Elliana Nelson, 10, daughter of Matthew Nelson and Samantha Ball, a fifth-grader at Stingel Elementary.

● Emersyn Haubiel, 6, daughter of Danny and Kami Haubiel, a first-grader at Crestview Elementary School.

● Leighahna Lane, 10, daughter of Brooke Roderick and Julian Lane, a fifth-grader at Galion Elementary School.

● Madison Adams, 10, daughter of Ryan and Amanda Adams, a sixth-grader at Clear Fork Middle School.

● Michael Duda, 10, daughter of Star and Mike Duda, a fifth-grader at Crestview Middle School.

● Sienna Watkins, 13, daughter of Brent and Teri Ann Watkins, an eighth-grader at Green Middle School.

⬤Sofia Perez, 10, daughter of Racheal Rogers-Perez and Marcelo Perez, a fifth grader at Ontario school.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Meet 2023's Miss Ohio and Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen contestants