MANSFIELD – The Miss Ohio competition took a high-heeled step into its future on Thursday with the first preliminary round of the 2018 race.
In an age of renewed female empowerment, the competition saw one of its last-ever rounds of swimsuit competition and awarded two new scholarships based on women in business and women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Abolishing the swimsuit competition went into effect immediately this month for the Miss America organization, but since state contests are already underway, states will not adopt the new format until after the national competition in September.
The question of who will represent Ohio in that national competition remains to be seen after the first round of preliminaries on Thursday. The night introduced the 20 women competing for the 2018 crown, including their talents and opinions on their respective platforms.
Miss Miami Valley Hannah Zimmerman and Miss Maple City Matti-Lynn Chrisman celebrated winning the swimsuit and talent competitions, respectively, at Thursday’s first night of the Miss Ohio competition.
Chrisman went back to Broadway for her singing talent, and discussed her platform “Pain Isn’t Always Obvious: Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention.” She hopes to end the stigma on mental health and suicide prevention by creating a world where it is OK to not be OK.
The nine other ladies competing in the talent portion of the competition on Thursday showed off singing, baton and dance skills. By far the most unique talent of the night came from Miss Greater Cleveland Xyla Foxlin, who combined art and engineering by playing violin via a Tesla coil and lightening that took 100 hours to create.
Zimmerman and the ladies of her flight strutted their stuff in both swimsuits and evening gowns. The women will flip competitions for the second preliminary round on Friday night.
The 20 contestants competed in four phases of on-stage competition, with the scarlet flight competing in talent and on-stage question and the gray flight competing in swimsuit and evening gown.
Chrisman, 22, is a student at Kent State University. This is the Zanesville native’s third try for the crown of Miss Ohio, with this being her first preliminary win. She wore a purple jumpsuit with attached train for the event.
Chrisman sang a musical theater number to the song “Life of the Party” from the musical Wild Party. She chose this piece because of the fun personality that she can reflect through the song.
Zimmerman grabbed the swimsuit preliminary by strutting to the song “That’s My Girl,” by Fifth Harmony. Zimmerman wowed the crowd and the judges in a light blue two-piece swimsuit.
Zimmerman, 23, is a native of Circleville and a graduate of the University of Dayton. This is her fourth trip to Miss Ohio and her second swimsuit preliminary win.
Both Chrisman and Zimmerman took home a $500 scholarship sponsored by Richland Bank.
Two new awards were also earned during Thursday’s Preliminary.
The Sarah Clapper Women in Business award in the amount of $500 went to Lauren Beard, Miss Talawanda, of Ontario.
The Sarah Clapper STEM award was presented to Monique Booher, Miss Northeastern Ohio of Sidney for $500.
Two $250 awards were given to Stephanie Shoop, Miss South Central Ohio, of Cleveland and Xyla Foxlin, Miss Greater Cleveland, also of Cleveland.
Other awards distributed at Thursday’s preliminary competition were two Americanism Essay awards in the amount of a $250 scholarship, two community service essay awards in the amount of $250, and the Spirit of Mowana award which was voted on by the contestants.
The Americanism essay winners were Foxlin, and Madeline Carter, Miss Clayland, of Berea.
Community service essay award winners were Beard and Foxlin.
Earning the Spirit of Mowana award was Chrisman.
The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program is a State preliminary competition to the Miss America Organization.
