Posted 4:38 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2011
[caption id="attachment_3645" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Photo left to right, UW-L students Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Elizabeth Kramer, Miss Wisconsin Central Katie Williams, Miss Seven Rivers Raeanna Johnson. "]
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Raeanna Johnson had 10 minutes. The 21 year old had only 10 minutes to answer any question the Miss Wisconsin judges might ask, to show her passion and energy, and what’s behind the pretty face, the bright red lipstick and the dark brown locks.
“I’m not afraid of them asking a question,” explained the UW-La Crosse senior before her interview. “The only thing I’m afraid of is they will not see who I am.”
Ten minutes isn’t quite enough time to understand Johnson’s life story.
Six years ago she suffered grief and depression after her older brother ended his life, suffering from a meth addiction. But somehow Johnson found a way to break through and find purpose in sharing Tyler’s story. She traveled the state sending a message of drug use prevention and awareness as Miss Holmen and Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest. While talking to those crowds, her message was deeper than drugs.
“I didn’t have a relationship with my big brother at all,” she says. “I’d always tell students I was speaking with that I don’t have that opportunity anymore (for a relationship with him).”
Today Johnson says life has turned 180 degrees. She feels empowered. That helped her select her new platform, or issue to promote as Miss Seven Rivers, which she took to the Miss Wisconsin pageant June 13-18 in Oshkosh, “Empowering women: mind, body and soul. At the pageant, Johnson was named first runner up to Miss Wisconsin. Her platform was inspired in part by her UW-L women’s studies classes, where she learned about women’s struggles throughout history in a male-dominated society. Women found a voice, just like Johnson says she did.
“Through all this I empowered myself,” she explains. “I want other women to do the same.”
Johnson, Miss Seven Rivers, accompanied fellow UW-L students Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Elizabeth Kramer, who was fourth runner up to Miss Wisconsin, and Miss West Central Katie Williams at the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Pageant. A total of 21 young women vied to take home the title Saturday, June 18. They each had a story — a message — behind the lipstick smile.
“I think it’s a common stereotype that it’s all about beauty,” says Beth Vogt, director of the Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest pageant. “The goal of this program is to develop young women who will be movers and shakers in our communities.”
Johnson won $500 during the Miss Wisconsin pageant for winning the talent competition. She had her preliminary interview on June 15 – coincidentally her brother’s birthday. Her preparation was not about memorizing facts or figures. It was all about learning from life experiences, she said.
“What can prepare you the most for the Miss America program is life in general and making sure you are growing and learning from it,” she says.
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Raeanna Johnson had 10 minutes. The 21 year old had only 10 minutes to answer any question the Miss Wisconsin judges might ask, to show her passion and energy, and what’s behind the pretty face, the bright red lipstick and the dark brown locks.
“I’m not afraid of them asking a question,” explained the UW-La Crosse senior before her interview. “The only thing I’m afraid of is they will not see who I am.”
Ten minutes isn’t quite enough time to understand Johnson’s life story.
Six years ago she suffered grief and depression after her older brother ended his life, suffering from a meth addiction. But somehow Johnson found a way to break through and find purpose in sharing Tyler’s story. She traveled the state sending a message of drug use prevention and awareness as Miss Holmen and Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest. While talking to those crowds, her message was deeper than drugs.
“I didn’t have a relationship with my big brother at all,” she says. “I’d always tell students I was speaking with that I don’t have that opportunity anymore (for a relationship with him).”
Today Johnson says life has turned 180 degrees. She feels empowered. That helped her select her new platform, or issue to promote as Miss Seven Rivers, which she took to the Miss Wisconsin pageant June 13-18 in Oshkosh, “Empowering women: mind, body and soul. At the pageant, Johnson was named first runner up to Miss Wisconsin. Her platform was inspired in part by her UW-L women’s studies classes, where she learned about women’s struggles throughout history in a male-dominated society. Women found a voice, just like Johnson says she did.
“Through all this I empowered myself,” she explains. “I want other women to do the same.”
Johnson, Miss Seven Rivers, accompanied fellow UW-L students Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Elizabeth Kramer, who was fourth runner up to Miss Wisconsin, and Miss West Central Katie Williams at the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Pageant. A total of 21 young women vied to take home the title Saturday, June 18. They each had a story — a message — behind the lipstick smile.
“I think it’s a common stereotype that it’s all about beauty,” says Beth Vogt, director of the Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest pageant. “The goal of this program is to develop young women who will be movers and shakers in our communities.”
Johnson won $500 during the Miss Wisconsin pageant for winning the talent competition. She had her preliminary interview on June 15 – coincidentally her brother’s birthday. Her preparation was not about memorizing facts or figures. It was all about learning from life experiences, she said.
“What can prepare you the most for the Miss America program is life in general and making sure you are growing and learning from it,” she says.