t’s not unusual for broadcast journalism freshman Kyleen Krstich to walk down Grand River Avenue and have total strangers smile and introduce themselves.
“It’s weird sometimes,” said Krstich, who is Miss Michigan Teen USA 2002. “It’s good and bad and absolutely wonderful at the same time.”
Krstich tried to keep her title a secret upon coming to MSU, not wanting her floormates or roommate to make assumptions about her.
But when she had to move into her Butterfield Hall dorm room two weeks after the rest of her floor because of the nationally televised Miss Teen USA competition in South Padre Island, Texas, she was bound to turn some heads.
And once the secret was out, not all reactions from her new floormates were positive.
“You’re always going to have negativity,” she said. “But I’ve been here a month now, and I’m getting along with everyone pretty well.”
To be crowned, Krstich had to score high in the three parts of the pageant: interview, evening gown and swimsuit.
Once a contestant made it into the top five, the judges asked questions and narrowed the finalists from there.
“It’s the most nerve-wracking thing in the entire world,” Krstich said.
Her interview - or platform - about teen violence in public schools, was reflected in questions like, “What do you think about school surveillance?”
When she was asked how winning the crown would affect her family and friends, Krstich recalled grinning at the faces of audience members, many of whom were those family members and friends.
“I said they’d support me all the way,” she said. “I gave them a little shout-out right from the stage.”
Style and glamour
“Just think of the excitement and glamour as you walk across the stage in your beautiful evening gown with the spotlight and applause all for you!”
This is the promise heralded on the American Coed Pageants National Web site, a promise that is echoed, if not in such plain words, by pageants across the country.
“I’ve been involved with pageants for probably 30 years, and I think they’re an absolutely wonderful vehicle to work with young girls and young women,” said Joyce Spangler, the director of Miss Capital City Michigan USA and Miss Capital City Michigan Teen USA. “It opens a lot of doors, gives them opportunities, gives them self-assurance.”
Spangler said her top priorities are the development of the contestants and fairness.
“The USA system has come a long way in trying to present a positive experience for young ladies,” she said. “The biggest gratification is having them come back and say, ‘I was so shy, I didn’t know how to talk to people or do an interview.’
“That happens a lot.”
Krstich started out at age 8, winning “Little Miss Troy.” Other MSU students also have been crowned National Cherry Queen, Michigan Bean Queen, Miss Great Lakes and MSU Rodeo Queen.
Krstich competed in Miss Motor City Teen USA last year and finished third runner-up.
“Miss America is more of a scholarship program with talent,” she said. “USA is more about building your career; you sign a contract.”
Fruit of the crown
As winners soon discover, there’s much more to being a queen or “miss” than walking down a catwalk with a sash and tiara.
Kinesiology senior Melissa Moser, Michigan Apple Queen 2002, had to have extensive knowledge of Michigan’s apple industry to win her crown.
“I’m the daughter, granddaughter and niece of apple growers,” she said.
Moser now travels extensively throughout Michigan and other states promoting the apple industry, making appearances and doing cooking demonstrations, as well as going into classrooms to teach children about apples and agriculture.
“Personally, for me it has been a wonderful experience,” she said. “I was very shy and quiet in high school. Being in scholarship pageant programs, I’ve learned a lot about interviewing, people skills and networking.”
But balancing appearances, schoolwork, work and extracurricular activities is challenging, Moser said.
“It is very hard. I learned to set my priorities,” she said. “But I realize being apple queen is something I only get to do for one year.”
Ashley Prusick, this year’s National Cherry Queen, earned her title through months of research and a series of interviews that tested not only her confidence and poise, but also her knowledge of cherries.
“I visited farmers to learn about the health benefits, the process of growing cherries, shaking cherries,” the communication junior said. “It’s a lot more research and work than a lot of people can imagine.”
Giving up other activities in favor of devoting time to her cherry queen duties was a sacrifice, but Prusick said it is a choice she made.
“For me, every job that I have to do is just a new opportunity to get to know other people and meet people within the industry,” she said.
Krstich said she goes home many weekends to fulfill her Miss Michigan Teen USA duties.
“I have an 8 a.m. class four days a week,” she said. “You finally get it all done and then it starts all over again.”
But overall, Krstich agreed with Prusick that the experience is worth the stress.
“It’s given me confidence,” she said. “I can stand up for myself. I’m not afraid to speak publicly.
“I love the fact that I can walk into a room and know I can take control of it.
