Seventeen contestants will take the stage at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, in McCain Auditorium, competing for the 2022 Miss K-State title. Delta Upsilon hosts the event, with proceeds going to the Global Service Initiative.
This year marks the ninth annual Miss K-State Competition and the first year that new men’s head basketball coach Jerome Tang will crown the winner.
Tyler McCoach, junior in kinesiology and integrative physiology and vice president of philanthropy at Delta Upsilon, said Miss K-State is a widely-anticipated event on campus. He said there is a social media competition, a donation-based competition and four competition rounds during the event.
Round Breakdown:
Round One (“The Wildcat Round”): Contestants introduce themselves, the organization they represent and why they are proud to represent their organization.
Round Two (“Talent Round”): Contestants show off their talent this round. Past talents include singing, dancing, weight lifting and speed painting, and this year will include stand-up comedy. After round two, half the contestants are cut.
Round Three: (“Career Round”): Remaining contestants show what they are passionate about in a creative way while using props and outfits to convey their message.
Round Four (“Questions Round”): Contestants display their speaking and improvising ability in this round, answering a random question relevant to Kansas State.
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The 17 contestants range from sorority members to those involved in multicultural organizations, as well as competitors from scholarship and residence halls.
“We want to identify which of the contestants has the most talent, character and confidence,” McCoach said. “We want to distinguish that it is a competition and not a pageant just because people associate that word with the event. Connotations of the word pageant do not portray the event exactly like it is.”
Rita Woster, freshman in biological systems engineering and member of Sigma Kappa, said she is excited to represent her organization in this year’s competition and see all of the creative ways competitors showcase their career goals during round three.
“As an engineering major, that one was kind of difficult for me to come up with an idea, but I am excited for what I have in store for that one if I make it that far,” Woster said. “I am looking forward to seeing all of the others girl’s career ideas and just the creativity with all of the rounds because that is a big part of it. Since I am a freshman, I have not seen it in the past, so this will be my first experience looking at everyone’s creativity and what they bring to the table.”
Contestants can win several awards at the event beyond Miss K-State, such as:
- Team Spirit award
- Fan-Favorite
- Social Media award
- Miss Congeniality
- First, Second and Third runner-up awards
Miss K-State will receive a crown, sash, bouquet, trophy, $200 for a philanthropy/charity of her choice and a $500 scholarship.
Woster said she anticipates an entertaining evening focused on a greater cause.
“While we are here to have fun doing this and it will be very entertaining, this is happening to raise money for [Delta Upsilon’s] cause and hopefully my cause, the Sigma Kappa Foundation or whoever wins,” Woster said. “It is ultimately for a good cause, so you can’t go wrong.”
Kade Kaufman, sophomore in biology and assistant vice president of philanthropy at DU, encourages people across campus to come to the event.
“We are hoping to have about 1,000 people show up,” Kaufman said. “It is not just open to sororities or organizations supporting their contestant — anyone else can come.”
Tickets are available for purchase on the day of the event at the McCain Auditorium box office. More information about the Miss K-State Competition is available here.
