(KWNO)-Mikaela Mohr is the current Miss Winona. She’s also the last Miss Winona. Starting this year the annual winner will be crowned Miss Winona Steamboat Days.
“The Miss Winona program was a title directly under the Miss Minnesota and Miss America Organization, Miss Winona Steamboat Days is a festival title under Steamboat Days so if the new winner wants to go to Miss Minnesota they’ll have to pay a fee and go as an at-large (contestant),” said Mohr.
The aim is to move away from the traditional beauty contest format. Competitors will be judged on an essay they write and in-person interviews.
“There’s no fitness, there’s no talent, no evening gown, it’s kind of pulled away from the pageantry side and more into scholarship and just furthering women’s education,” said Mohr.
Courtesy Winona Steamboat Days Facebook
Applicants have to be 17-22 years old, graduates of a school in the District 861 footprint and ideally be from Winona or living in Winona.
“That’s really important this year, with the transition of the program (to Miss Winona Steamboat Days) we really wanted to bring the title to being from Winona,” said Mohr.
Information about the competition is on the Winona Steamboat Days website and Mohr will hold a virtual information session on April 21 for potential contestants and their families. The deadline to apply is May 1.
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