As colorful streamers fell from new Miss Ohio Stephanie Finoti, tears of joy streamed down her cheeks on stage as she waved and thanked the Renaissance Theater judges.
Retiring Miss Ohio Madison Miller placed a crown Saturday evening on her successor, Finoti, who will receive a $10,000 scholarship and other gifts and awards. The 21-year-old from Columbus will represent Ohio on the Miss America stage in January.
Finoti won the health and fitness prize on Friday evening, a day after she was the provisional talent winner with her dance from the ballet ‘Don Quixote’.
More: Columbus woman receives double recognition at Miss Ohio Scholarship Program in Mansfield
Finoti is on track to graduate from the University of Cincinnati in December with a major in biomedical sciences. Her competition platform for a community service initiative was “That STEM Girl: How Mentorship Drives Diversity in Medicine.” She plans to pursue medical school to become a pediatrician and focus on caring for premature babies.
Finoti said during her second trip to the Miss Ohio stage, she thought she was dreaming when she realized she had won the competition.
“This whole week has been a dream. I feel like I’ve been wandering all week,” she said.
She thanked all the young women who completed this week for their kindness, support and instilling in her the idea that she could be Miss Ohio.
Finoti said she plans to work with all the contestants and their community service initiatives during her year as Miss Ohio.
“I have no words for how I feel right now. I am so honored, honored to be standing as a representative among 26 other amazing women,” she said. “I didn’t expect this. This year I came in wanting to compete and become a better version of myself. Last year was my first year and I didn’t really know what I was doing.”
Finoti said her goal was to be better than a year ago, be more confident on stage and be “more myself”. I wanted to express myself on stage and in interviews, so this just feels so great that I got to become Miss Ohio. by simultaneously becoming the best version of me.”
Finoti was one of the top 10 semifinalists at Miss Ohio last year. She arrived on the Miss Ohio stage this year as Miss Shawnee.
Runners-up:
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First runner-up: Miss Ohio River Olivia Fosson, 23, of Kitts Hill, who won a $4,500 scholarship.
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Second runner-up: Miss North Coast Caroline Trennepohl, 24, of Cincinnati, who won a $4,000 scholarship.
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Third runner-up: Miss Greater Cleveland Lucabella LaEace, 20, of Cincinnati. She won a $3,500 scholarship.
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Fourth runner-up: Miss Northern Ohio Caitlin Seifert, 25, of Niles. She won a $3,000 scholarship.
Rounding out the top 11: Miss Lake Erie Lauren Partin, 20, of Peebles, People’s Choice winner; Miss Greater Butler County Bryn Hasenaur, 24, from the Netherlands; Mrs. Oxford Marisa Matsanoff, 24, of Pickerington; Mrs. Clayland Brittney Putman, 21, of Grove City; Miss Portsmouth Baylee Joy Martin, 23, of South Webster; and Miss Chillicothe Autumn Kessler, 27, of Bethesda, Ohio.
More: Two contestants win Miss Ohio preliminary talent and fitness awards Thursday night
Miss Ohio 2024 Stephanie Finoti says she is the first Brazilian Miss Ohio
Finoti said she can’t wait to tell the people at the Whitehall Public Library that she won Miss Ohio.
“It’s where I first started volunteering. They’ve done so much for me,” she said.
Finoti said she believes she is the first Brazilian Miss Ohio. She said her parents are immigrants and could not speak English well when she was younger, and the librarians taught her to speak English.
“They taught me how to write, and from there it evolved into teaching others to read and write and volunteer and become a leader. I’ve done a lot of my performances there and so I know they’re the first people I get excited about ‘m to come back home and tell them I’m Miss Ohio,” she said.
She often speaks to underrepresented women in the STEM field through her nonprofit organization That STEM Girl, providing mentors and encouraging women to enter STEM.
“As Miss Ohio, I would do the same thing. I have something called the three ‘R’s’ – resources, representation and recruitment, and that is my plan for Miss Ohio, to be the representation that they need as women in the Miss Ohio program. of color, the first woman of color in over 10 years to hold the title of Miss Ohio. I hope to recruit more marginalized young women by going out into the community, telling my stories, connecting with individuals and within. build strong relationships in my community,” she said. “And once I do that, I plan to give them the tools they need to participate in the program and succeed within this program. their professional lives.”
Farewell to Miss Ohio 2023 Madison Miller
Miss Ohio 2023 Madison Miller gave a glimpse into her year driving 30,000 miles across Ohio in her emotional farewell video, reminding the next Miss Ohio winner, “You can do hard things.”
Miller also played a classical piece on piano, the same piece she performed at Miss America.
Miss Ohio 2011 Ellen Bryan and Tiffany Baumann Nelson, Miss Ohio 2000, served as co-emcees and asked the questions on stage.
Baumann sang and she told the crowd about her life in Texas, being a mother and marrying a preacher. She celebrated the 25th anniversary of her Miss Ohio win on Saturday evening.
The Miss Ohio singers and dancers gave the audience a glimpse of their musical talents throughout the evening. And numerous former Miss Ohio title holders shared a bit about their lives since becoming Miss Ohio.
Participants received numerous scholarship awards throughout the evening.
Miss Ohio ready for Miss America stage
Finoti and new Miss Ohio’s Teen Allie Gray, 17, of Celina, will compete at Miss America in January.
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This article originally appeared in Mansfield News Journal: Columbus woman crowned new Miss Ohio
