Meet the record number of women in the 2026 Miss Door County pageants

The Miss Door County Scholarship Program pageants appear to be more popular in 2026 than ever before, both with competitors and audience members.

A record number of 26 young women will be on stage for the 29th annual pageants sponsored by the Miss Door County Scholarship Organization Feb. 7 at Southern Door Community Auditorium in Brussels, compared to the 18 who competed in 2025.

Eight are vying to become the next Miss Door County, five for the second-ever Miss Cherryland (for contestants from 11 other Northeast Wisconsin counties), and 13 to become the 16th Miss Door County’s Teen. The 13 teen contestants also is a record, surpassing the previous record of 10 who tried for the crown last year.

And, seats for the pageants sold out within an hour of tickets going on sale, executive director Susan Fochs said. However, those interested can get tickets for the full dress rehearsal at 6 p.m. the night before, Feb. 6, and watch what essentially will be the same show as the competition show without the crownings of the winners for half the price of pageant tickets (while space is available).

Fochs said in an email to the Advocate she thinks several factors combine to account for the increased popularity of the pageants among local young women and audiences. Among them is the work the scholarship program has put into making the pageants an experience instead of just another even for the contestants and the public appearances and community service winners over the past couple of years have performed as Miss titleholders.

On top of those factors is yet another record for the program – the amount of scholarships available. Fochs said last year’s pageants awarded more than $17,000 in scholarships to its contestants, and the 2026 edition will set another record with more than $20,000 on tap.

“We have always been one of the highest awarding programs in Miss Wisconsin, but we’ve increased those scholarships tenfold over the last two years,” Fochs said. “(Reigning Miss Door County Faith Blackley’s) winning scholarship was enough to cover an entire semester worth of tuition at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

“So, they really are life-changing scholarships and I think our Door County girls are proactive and out here trying to earn their college educations without going into massive student loan debt. And they have realized that our program is a great way to do that.”

Areas of competition in all three contests are private interview, artistic expression in talent, lifestyle and fitness in sportswear, on-stage interview, and evening gown. The 2026 winners will succeed reigning Miss Door County Faith Blackley, Miss Cherryland Hanna Mertens and Miss Teen Elise Jackson.

The winners will move on to take part in the Miss Wisconsin and Wisconsin Teen pageants held from June 17 to 20 in New Berlin. The Miss Wisconsin winner, of course, advances to represent the state in the Miss America pageant in Orlando, Florida, in September.

Since the first Miss Door County contest took place in 1997, one titlist has gone on to become a Miss Wisconsin – Kimberly Sawyer, who won the local crown in 2008 and the state title in 2010, competing as Miss Green Bay Area.

2024 Miss Door County Kylee Duessler became the first reigning Miss Door County to place in the Top 5 at Miss Wisconsin, and 2025 teen titlist Jackson became the first Miss Door County’s Teen to place in the Top 5 at the state teen pageant. And, three Miss Wisconsins would become a Miss America: Terry Meeuwsen Friedrich (1973), Laura Kaeppeler (2012) and Grace Stanke (2023).

Appearing at this year’s pageant as special guests are the 2025 Miss Wisconsin, Willow Newell of Racine, and Miss Wisconsin’s Teen, Natalie Popp of Fitchburg. Rob Sussman, host of “Morning News with Matt and Rob” on WTAQ-AM radio, is the new emcee.

Miss Door County 2026 contestants are:

• Ashlynn Paulsen, a student at Sturgeon Bay High School. Her community service initiative is “Your Story Isn’t Over: Suicide Prevention and Awareness” and she will sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the musical “Carousel” for her talent.
• Ophelia Linnan, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her community service initiative is “WISE-Up About Rural Education” and she will perform an Argentinian tango for her talent.
• Amolia Jefferson, a student at Fox Valley Technical College. Her community service initiative is “Lead, Read, Succeed: Inspiring Kids to Enjoy and Excel in Reading” and her talent is cake decorating.
• Kaylee Griep, a student at UW-Madison. Her community service initiative is “Behind the Headlines: Bringing Clarity to Our Communities” and she will deliver an original monologue, “A Woman’s Objection,” for her talent.
• Ellie Engerson, a student at Northern Michigan University. Her community service initiative is “Music for a Brighter Tomorrow” and she will sing the Frank Sinatra classic “That’s Life” for her talent.
• Micaela Boucher, a student at UW-Green Bay. Her community service initiative is “POTS Strong: Reclaiming Lives Through Strength & Advocacy” and she will sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical “Les Misérables” for her talent.
• Abbigail Reseburg, a student at Bryant & Stratton College. Her community service initiative is “Secure Steps, Happy Hearts: Child Health & Safety” and she will give sign language to the Lana Del Rey song “Young and Beautiful” for her talent.
• Brynleigh Ash, a student at Gibraltar High School. Her community service initiative is “The Palette Project: Empowerment through the Arts” and she will perform a lyrical dance to “Cuckoo Ballet Interlude” for her talent.

Miss Cherryland 2026 contestants are:

• Olivia Heuer, a student at UW-Green Bay. Her community service initiative is “Teachers Matter: Connecting Students, Families, and Educators” and she will dance to “Let’s Get Loud” for her talent.
• Hailey Plantico, a student at UW-Green Bay. Her community service initiative is “The Courage to Ask” and she will perform speed painting for her talent.
• Kayla Dufresne, a student at UW-Stevens Point. Her community service initiative is “Fur-Ever Friends” and she will sing “Hallelujah” for her talent.
• Paige Nikodem, a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Her community service initiative is “Stronger than Substance: Engage, Educate, Empower” and she will perform baton twirling for her talent.
• Brittany LaCourt, a student at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Her community service initiative is “Girl Power: Empowering Teenage Girls Through Life’s Toughest Moments” and she will play the flute for her talent.

Miss Door County’s Teen 2026 contestants are:

• Skyler Kopkey, a student at Luxemburg Casco High School. Her community service initiative is “Disability Not Invisibility; Advocating for Inclusion” and she will sing the musical theater song “Alto’s Lament” for her talent.
• Teagan Williams, a student at Southern Door High School. Her community service initiative is “Building Bookworms: Turning Pages, Shaping Minds” and she will sing and play marimba to “A Million Dreams” from the movie “The Greatest Showman” for her talent.
• Mia Weborg, a student at Gibraltar High School. Her community service initiative is “Beyond a Grade” and she will perform contemporary ballet for her talent.
• Halyn Rasmusson, a student at Gibraltar High School. Her community service initiative is “Helping Paws” and she will sing the Miley Cyrus song “The Climb” for her talent.
• Anna Dalke, a student at Gibraltar High School. Her community service initiative is “Undercover Wheel: The Importance of Safety Awareness on the Road” and she will give a “Rise on the Mat” wrestling demonstration for her talent.
• Katja Nelson-Newman, a student at Gibraltar High School. Her community service initiative is “Headspace (Teen Edition)” and she will sing and play guitar to the Andy Grammer song “Ladies” for her talent.
• Shelby Kelsey, a student at Sevastopol High School. Her community service initiative is “K.E.L.S.E.Y – Kids Experiencing Life Shifts – Empowering Youth” and she will perform “HERStory” for her talent.
• Amelia Van Boxtel, a student at Gibraltar High School. Her community service initiative is the “Welcome Home Initiative” and she will sing “Reflection” from the movie “Mulan” for her talent.
• Faith Lemke, a student at Sturgeon Bay High School. Her community service initiative is “A Home For Every Heart – Helping Shelter Animals Find Loving Homes” and she will sing the Benson Boone song “Beautiful Things” for her talent.
• Roxy Draz, a student at Southern Door High School. Her community service initiative is “Women in STEM” and she will give a ballet dance for her talent.
• Karissa Denil, a student at Southern Door High School. Her community service initiative is “Happy Tails Project” and she will give a monologue, “When the Dust Settles,” for her talent.
• Mia Glocke, a student at Gibraltar High School. Her community service initiative is “Mind Over Pressure: Prioritizing Mental Health in Schools” and she will play a trumpet concerto for her talent.
• Skya Scrimgeour, a student at Southern Door High School. Her community service initiative is “More Than a Body: Combating Eating Disorders and Loving the Skin You’re In” and she will play the Billy Joel hit “She’s Always a Woman” on flute for her talent.

Since its first competition in 1997, the Miss Door County organization has awarded more than $275,000 in scholarships, which the organization claims makes it one of the top local pageants for scholarships in the state. It also noted the women taking part have the opportunity to become involved in and represent the Peninsula at various events, network with the community, promote their community service initiatives, grow confidence and build relationships. The program started its Princess Program, now rebranded as the Cherry Blossom Program, in 2010 and the teen program in 2011.

The Miss Door County, Miss Door County’s Teen and Miss Cherryland contests start at 4 p.m. Feb. 7, at Southern Door Community Auditorium, on the Southern Door County School District campus, 2073 County DK, Brussels. Tickets are sold out but are available for the full dress rehearsal the evening before. For rehearsal tickets, which are $10, visit showclix.com and search for “Miss Door County – Dress Rehearsal.”

For more about the pageant or the Miss Door County Scholarship Organization, visit missdoorcounty.org.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Meet the record number of women in the 2026 Miss Door County pageants

Reporting by Christopher Clough, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect