2008 Woodie Awards
Beauty queen sets sights on Miss America 2008
Amber J. Adams
Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: Culture
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By Amber J. Adams
Assistant Features Editor
Stefanie Wittler, Soddy Daisy, Tenn, sophomore, said she is like any other student.She sometimes wears her pajamas to class and stays up all night to finish essays.
But there is something about Wittler that is uncommon.
Her goal is to become the next Miss America.
While most students were working or sleeping late over summer break, Wittler was competing in the Miss Tennessee pageant.
Wittler, who placed third in the competition, begin her reign as a beauty queen her junior year of high school when she won the title of Junior Miss in Soddy Daisy.
Wittler said she always used to attend the competition every year with her mom as a spectator.
"It always looked like fun," she said. "I just decided to go for it my junior year of high school, and I won."
Winning the title of Soddy Daisy Junior Miss took Wittler on to the state Junior Miss program.
From there, Wittler begin her mission to capture the title of Miss America.
In 2005, Wittler competed for and won the title of Miss Hamilton County.
Winning the competition at that level allowed Wittler to compete for the title of Miss Tennessee.
Wittler said she was one of the youngest competitors.
"I knew going in to it that my age would be an issue," she said. "But I wanted to do it for the experience and to have fun."
She plans to compete again for the title of Miss Tennessee.
Wittler recently won the title of Miss Southeast Tennessee and was recognized in the talent and swimsuit categories.
If she wins the Miss Tennessee competition in 2007, she will go on to compete in the Miss America pageant.
"I have been watching the Miss America competition every since I can remember," she said.
"When I was little, my mom made me a bouquet from her flower shop and I would pretend I was Miss America," Wittler said.
Wittler said she has a team of coaches who help prepare her for the Miss Tennessee competition.
Assistant Features Editor
Stefanie Wittler, Soddy Daisy, Tenn, sophomore, said she is like any other student.She sometimes wears her pajamas to class and stays up all night to finish essays.
But there is something about Wittler that is uncommon.
Her goal is to become the next Miss America.
While most students were working or sleeping late over summer break, Wittler was competing in the Miss Tennessee pageant.
Wittler, who placed third in the competition, begin her reign as a beauty queen her junior year of high school when she won the title of Junior Miss in Soddy Daisy.
Wittler said she always used to attend the competition every year with her mom as a spectator.
"It always looked like fun," she said. "I just decided to go for it my junior year of high school, and I won."
Winning the title of Soddy Daisy Junior Miss took Wittler on to the state Junior Miss program.
From there, Wittler begin her mission to capture the title of Miss America.
In 2005, Wittler competed for and won the title of Miss Hamilton County.
Winning the competition at that level allowed Wittler to compete for the title of Miss Tennessee.
Wittler said she was one of the youngest competitors.
"I knew going in to it that my age would be an issue," she said. "But I wanted to do it for the experience and to have fun."
She plans to compete again for the title of Miss Tennessee.
Wittler recently won the title of Miss Southeast Tennessee and was recognized in the talent and swimsuit categories.
If she wins the Miss Tennessee competition in 2007, she will go on to compete in the Miss America pageant.
"I have been watching the Miss America competition every since I can remember," she said.
"When I was little, my mom made me a bouquet from her flower shop and I would pretend I was Miss America," Wittler said.
Wittler said she has a team of coaches who help prepare her for the Miss Tennessee competition.
