Thirteen women will compete for the title of Miss Indiana University at the Miss IU Pageant on Sunday. Admission for the pageant, which takes place at 6 p.m., is free and open to the public.
The women are competing for the crown and a share of $3,750 in scholarships. The pageant is a preliminary competition for Miss Indiana and Miss America.
Kellie Bocerek — junior from Inverness, Ill., majoring in sports marketing and management
“I really wanted to participate in the pageant because I think I could really make a difference on campus through it. The Miss America system provides so many wonderful opportunities to young women, and I am so excited to be a part of it. There is nothing I love more than being a part of IU, and it is such an incredible honor to just have the chance to compete for this position.”
Kyla Brummett — junior from Greenfield, Ind., majoring in sports marketing and management with a minor in theater arts
“I’m excited for the chance to meet and work with a group of beautiful and motivated young women who are trying to make a difference on their campus and find more ways to be the change they wish to see in the world. To me, participating in Miss IU means getting the opportunity to become an ambassador for my university, to be a voice for my student body and to be a role model, not only for little girls everywhere but also for my peers.”
Riley Colley — freshman from South Bend majoring in apparel merchandising
“My platform is Big Brothers Big Sisters. I am very passionate about the idea of every child having a role model to look up to. It is my dream to be the role model of little girls. I want to be an example of a strong, young woman who gets an education and makes a career out of something I am passionate about.”
Molly Crocker — junior from Carmel, Ind., majoring in tourism, hospitality and event management
“I wanted to participate in the pageant because I knew how much character development would come from stepping out of my comfort zone to try something new. I was really scared to do it, and I knew that if I would participate, I would be able to learn confidence in my own body and in who I really am. The pageant is not about being exceptionally pretty or flawless, but about having confidence in who you are and what you stand for.”
Bridget Dotson — junior from Indianapolis majoring in health management and policy and Spanish with a minor in Latino studies
“I thought participating in the pageant would be a great experience for me and a good position to be a voice for victims of domestic and sexual violence, a growing concern on university campuses and for our generation. Girls aged 14 to 24 are three times more likely to experience a form of domestic or sexual violence, and this has a huge impact on women’s self-esteem. I want to encourage women to be successful and remind them that they are beautiful, worthy and valued no matter what.”
Jessica Medina Negrete — freshman from Elkhart, Ind. majoring in nonprofit management
“I decided to compete for Miss IU because Miss IU represents not only a strong woman, but a hardworking student as well, one that manages her time between studying and getting involved. I think all of the contestants have this ability and any one of them would do an amazing job representing IU with the title. I’m so excited and cannot wait to perform.”
Ali Harris — junior from Bloomington majoring in arts management with a concentration in graphic design
“My platform is ‘Boosting Arts, Strengthening Education.’ Growing up, the arts gave me an opportunity to express myself, develop my interests and learn new things. Growing up in Bloomington, I was lucky to be exposed to a rich and vibrant arts community. I want to share what I have learned and provide art-related experiences for others through education and outreach.”
Mariela Jimenez — junior from Bremen, Ind., majoring in fashion design
“I wanted to participate in Miss IU because I feel that this pageant will help me grow as a person and will give me a great experience as I have never been in a pageant. We have a wonderful group of contestants, and I hope to get to know them better and to see what our hard work comes to be. It’s a privilege to be a part of such a great organization and to be a possible voice for the students on campus.”
Lauren McNeeley — sophomore from Georgetown, Ind., majoring in journalism
“I turned down a school that offered me free tuition to come to IU because I was in love with the culture and atmosphere and everything the University has to offer. Now, I have had to make sacrifices to pay for my tuition, but I don’t regret my decision for a second because I am part of a campus full of diversity and camaraderie that isn’t accessible anywhere else. I want to become Miss IU because I want to be an ambassador for this beautiful, unique and diverse campus.”
Katelyn Mehling — junior from Newburgh, Ind., majoring in political science and sociology
“My platform is ‘Building and Developing Strong, Passionate Leaders.’ I think it is incredibly important to develop leaders who have a strong sense of self and are passionate about doing good in the world. I have been involved with the Indiana 4-H program since the third grade, and it has made me into the person I am today.”
Lauren Mnayarji — junior from Terre Haute majoring in journalism and psychology
“I’m most excited about putting myself out there again. In 2013, my freshman year of college, I went to Miss Indiana and was a finalist. Even though I had a great experience, I knew I had a lot of self-development to do and wasn’t sure if I’d ever compete again. Since then, I’ve had a lot of life experiences, and I’m excited to perform again and represent all that I’ve worked for.”
Katie Price — sophomore from Bristol, Ind., majoring in sports broadcasting
“I’m a recent transfer student who wanted to get more involved coming from a commuter community college to a campus like IU where you meet someone new each day. I thought about how I could get out there and become a Hoosier, and that’s when I decided to do the Miss IU pageant. I want to represent the University I have fallen in love with.”
Madison Ross — freshman from North Salem, Ind., majoring in journalism
“I wanted to participate in Miss IU because I did a pageant program though my high school my senior year and won for my local program. I love the confidence it gives me and the chance to improve my interview skills. My talent in that pageant was using sign language to ‘Part of your World’ from The Little Mermaid, which I’ll also be performing this weekend.”
