Miss OCU 2015 enjoys volunteering, electronic dance music concerts and sleeping.
Veronica Wisniewski, mass communications senior, was born in Oklahoma City but moved to Tiawan when she was 8 months old. When she was 6, her and her family moved back to Oklahoma City.
She has competed in pageants for eight years, won two Outstanding Teen titles, and competed in Miss Oklahoma for five years. The closest to winning she got was second runner-up.
“Miss Oklahoma has been life changing,” Wisniewski said. “Out of all my titles, this is the best. I feel obligated to represent my school, and take home the title Miss Oklahoma.”
She said she plans to join the U.S. military when she graduates, then try to get a job at a non-profit, preferably Children’s Miracle Network.
The winner of Miss OCU receives two semesters of full tuition to OCU, a prep team and wardrobe for the Miss Oklahoma pageant, a photo session, and her portrait added to the Hall of Honor outside the Kirkpatrick Auditorium.
“College has always been a dream for me,” Wisniewski said. “I honestly didn’t think I was going to be able to come to OCU, so the fact that I am here is awesome.”
The morning before the pageant, the judges interviewed each of the contestants, asking about their future plans, as well as their views on current social issues.
These interviews made up 25 percent of the womens’ total score.
The other aspects, on-stage question (5 percent), lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit (15 percent), talent (35 percent), and evening wear (20 percent), were judged that night at the actual event.
Miss OCU 2013 Sarah Beth White emceed the event, with help from Elizabeth Stolper, last year’s winner.
“All of the judges have some kind of training or expertise in the pageant business,” said Kathy McCraken, chairwoman of the pageant board and organizer of the advisory board. “We usually try to find civic leaders in the community, and at least three have to graduate from OCU.”
Out of the 15 contestants, the judges chose Wisniewski as the overall champion, as well as the winner of the lifestyle and fitness category.
First runner-up was Amy Leonall, dance performance senior. Second runner-up went to Ali Bradley, theater performance sophomore, and Victoria Renard, dance management senior, took third as well as the Miss Congeniality award.
Fourth runner-up was Monica Thompson, music theater/ vocal performance sophomore.
Darwina Marshall, director of Miss OCU pageant, is now prepping Wisniewski for the Miss Oklahoma pageant and preparing for next year’s OCU contestants.
Contributing: Emily Wiley, Associate Editor
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