MANSFIELD — Nineteen contestants graced the stage at the Renaissance Theatre Thursday night, hoping to prove to a panel of judges that they have the poise, talent, intelligence and beauty that epitomizes what Miss Ohio is all about.

Thursday marked the first night of preliminaries, with the “Scarlet” flight competing in talent and on-stage question and the “Gray” flight competing in lifestyle and fitness and evening wear.

Miss Clayland Sarah Clapper, a five-time Miss Ohio contestant, won the lifestyle and fitness preliminary competition — a feat she’s achieved three times.

“It doesn’t feel any different than the first,” the 22-year-old said, beaming. “Each time I’m just so grateful and humbled to be here.”

She said she uses an app called “Aaptiv” to help her stay fit, normally using it while on the elliptical.

“It helps me stay in shape while also working a fulltime job at Berardi Partners,” she said. “And I will say, they make it very difficult because at Berardi, a multi-service architecture firm, we have birthdays every week just about and they always bring birthday cake and donuts.”

With tonight’s win, Clapper has earned over $17,000 in scholarship money at Miss Ohio. 

“That’s why we come back year after year,” she said. “It pays for your education and it’s truly a wonderful program.”

Miss Oxford CarolineGrace Williams, 22, wowed the judges with her vocal performance of “O Mio Babbino Caro,” earning the title of talent preliminary winner. 

“It’s kind of a comedic opera, but I sang a dramatic aria,” she said.

The Miss Ohio newcomer was in a Christian pop band while growing up in the heart of Nashville and enjoys performing jazz and classic musical theatre. “Really anything that you can tell a story in is my favorite,” she said.

The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, now in its 70th year, is awarding $47,150 in scholarships to the contestants, with Miss Ohio 2017 receiving a $10,000 scholarship from Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group.

Contestants’ scores are based on a private interview (25 percent), lifestyle and fitness (15 percent), talent (35 percent), evening wear (20 percent) and an on-stage question (5 percent).

The competition will continue Friday with the second night of preliminaries and will conclude Saturday when the 10 semifinalists re-compete in lifestyle and fitness, talent, evening wear and on-stage question. 

The winner will head to Atlantic City this September for the Miss America pageant.