Miss Minnesota Works To Raise Awareness Of Updated Competition

WEST SAINT PAUL, MN — As Miss Minnesota 2019, Kathryn Kueppers says one of the most common questions she gets is whether she "works for" Donald Trump. People commonly confuse the "Miss America" scholarship competition she is involved in with the "Miss USA" beauty pageant, a different organization that was owned by Donald Trump from 1996 to 2015.

Kueppers told Patch that incorrect assumptions like that don't bother her. As someone who grew up in and around the Miss Minnesota organization, she's used correcting her friends' and others' misconceptions and sees it as an opportunity to educate.

"Because I grew up with people essentially trying to offend my involvement with [Miss America], now at this point I'm like 'bring it on.' I am gonna crush every stereotype."

In addition to competing since she was a teen, Kueppers is the daughter of former Miss Minnesota, Vicki Plaster Kueppers, Miss Minnesota 1983. The two are only the 11th mother-daughter state titleholders in the history of the Miss America program over the last 99 years, and the first mother-daughter state titleholders from Minnesota.

As Miss Minnesota 2019, Kueppers is the recipient of a $10,000 educational scholarship. She was a double winner in both the talent and the social impact statement competitions in June.

Kueppers, a jazz vocalist, performed the song "In A Sentimental Mood" for her winning talent presentation.

In addition to the talent portion, each competitor pitches their own "social impact initiative." For Kueppers, her initiative is bringing a better understanding of the opportunities offered to women by "Miss America 2.0."

Miss America 2.0

Miss America rebranded itself in 2018 to "Miss America 2.0," eliminating the swimsuit phase of competition and focusing on empowering women and the causes they're passionate about. Candidates are no longer judged on outward appearance.

Miss America 2.0 has a distinctly Minnesotan flavor, and not only because Kueppers is making it her mission to inform the public about it.

Anoka native Gretchen Carlson, who won both Miss Minnesota and Miss America in the 1980s, was elected chairwoman of Miss America in 2018. She was tasked with ushering in a new, more modern era for Miss America after the organization was rocked by scandal.

In 2017, then-Miss America CEO Sam Haskell and Chairman Lynn Weidner resigned after a Huffington Post investigation revealed the two sent emails to each other lambasting former Miss America winners about their weight and sex life. Carlson had said the resignations of Haskell and Weidner were not enough, and called for a full leadership house cleaning.

"Everyone has been stunned by the events of the last several days, and this has not been easy for anyone who loves this program," Carlson said in a statement at the time. "In the end, we all want a strong, relevant Miss America and we appreciate the existing board taking the steps necessary to quickly begin stabilizing the organization for the future."

Kueppers sees herself as a part of that future, and wants to pave the way for those who will come after her. During her year of service as Miss Minnesota, she will keep a busy schedule traveling throughout Minnesota to inform the pubic about the organization and the ways it can "prepare great women for the world" and to "prepare the world for great women."

"No two days are alike" working the job of Miss Minnesota, Kueppers told Patch.

As part of her advocacy work, she produces YouTube videos, blogs, and spotlights the achievements of previous competitors. She created theinvisiblecrown.org, which serves as an online resource for candidates, volunteers, sponsors, and fans.

She also speaks to community organizations around Minnesota about her personal stories of being a candidate and how it has benefited her life and the lives of other women. She wants people to understand that Miss America can help women reach their educational and professional goals.

A Dean’s List student at Minnesota State University-Mankato, Kathryn will use her scholarship from Miss Minnesota to continue her degree in Family and Consumer Science Education after her year of service concludes.

In addition to everything else, Kueppers holds an AAS in Culinary Arts from Saint Paul College and uses her knowledge to teach healthy and nutritious snacking to kids with “Snack Attack,” which airs on the Minnesota Children’s Hospital Star Studio.

She uses whatever free time she has left in her schedule to sing with the group "Ella’s Cats" at cafes in the Twin Cities.

In the coming weeks, she will prepare for the national Miss America competition. Kueppers will compete for the title of Miss America live on NBC on Dec. 19.