MANSFIELD — Caitlin Seifert clinched her first-ever preliminary award in the Miss Ohio competition on Thursday night.
She earned her second about 24 hours later.
Competing as Miss Central Ohio, the Niles native earned a preliminary health and fitness award on Friday during the second night of the Miss Ohio 2025 competition.
The nine-year Miss Ohio veteran said she had more confidence in herself this year, which made all the difference.
“Being able to win two of them (preliminary awards) is just so surreal,” Seifert said. “I never would’ve thought that would happen this year.”
A chance to be crowned as the next Miss Ohio — and maybe even Miss America — excites Seifert. But the opportunity to affect communities around the Buckeye state ranks even higher.
She said she wants to leave a lasting impact on the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program, much like it’s left on her.
“Being able to spread volunteerism across the state would not only impact those local communities and make such a difference to them, but it would make Ohio thrive even more,” Seifert said.
Fosson takes preliminary talent award
Olivia Fosson captured the judges attention with her voice for a second straight year Friday.
Competing this year as Miss Clayland, the Kitts Hill native clinched a preliminary talent award with her performance of “The Jewel Song from ‘Faust'” by Eric Hammerstein and the London Promenade Orchestra.
Fosson clinched the same award during last year’s competition. She was also Miss Ohio’s 2024 first runner-up.
“I’m just so grateful,” Fosson said. “Coming back with the same talent that I won that award with was very motivating because I wanted to perform up to my standards that I had last time.”
Currently enrolled at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Fosson suffered a career-altering injury while attending Oklahoma City University — where she graduated with a degree in musical theatre.
She described the injury as “gruesome” and said it put an end to her performing career.
Friday night offered a chance to reconnect with that side of herself.
“Getting the opportunity to perform and feel that joy again in performing on the Miss Ohio stage has been indescribable and I’m so grateful for that,” Fosson said.
Seifert, Fosson motivated to make impact year-round
While Miss Ohio week is certainly a highlight of the year, Seifert and Fosson remain passionate about using their platforms to motivate and inspire year-round.
Fosson said the opportunity to leave an impact on someone’s life every day is what motivates her daily.
She makes specific efforts to work with youth, as well as elderly community members living in assisted living facilities.
Some of Fosson’s frequent activities include visiting schools to read a book she authored and teaching mobility and stability workshops to assisted living residents.
Seifert said the work of her fellow Miss Ohio competitors inspires her. Seeing the efforts and volunteer work they perform throughout their communities makes her want to do the best she can.
“One of the things I would love to be able to do as Miss Ohio is partner with every single local title-holder throughout the year and help them advance their own community service initiatives and spread volunteerism in all of their local communities as well,” Seifert said.
(Below are photos from the second evening of the 2025 Miss Ohio competition. This story continues below the photo gallery.)
Scholarship winners
Seifert and Fosson each received $500 scholarships as preliminary winners.
Kalli Gregory was awarded the Mina O’Guinn Memorial Scholarship ($500). Seifert and Bellville native Kendall Windsor both received a $500 Women in Business scholarship.
Lucabella LaEace and Madalynn Anderson each won a $500 Women in STEM scholarship.
This year’s competition concludes Saturday night when 10 semifinalists will re-compete for the title of Miss Ohio 2025.
