MUSKEGON, MI – Under the spotlight sparkles the crown and glittery blue evening gown of a new Miss Michigan.
Miss Spirit of the State Hannah Palmer, of Brighton, won the 2025 Miss Michigan scholarship competition on Saturday, June 14, at the Frauenthal Theater in downtown Muskegon.
She was one of 22 contestants representing communities across Michigan competing in the 86th annual competition that kicked off Thursday, June 12.
“All night, I just felt a big sense of peace and a sense of accomplishment,” Palmer said. “It’s taken five years to get here, and I just feel so calm and ready and excited to serve the state of Michigan.”
RELATED: Guide to Miss Michigan 2025, featuring 22 candidates
Candidates showed off their knowledge, talent and stage presence during the preliminary round on Thursday. Palmer received the evening gown elegance award, one of three presented on opening night.
The competition continued Saturday night with the top 11 finalists gracing the stage to share their social impact initiative, answer an on-stage question, perform talent and model evening wear.
Miss Michigan 2024 Jenae Clayre Lodewyk then crowned Palmer, her successor.
RELATED: Miss Michigan 2025 first awards go to Miss South Central, Miss Spirit of the State
Miss Spirit of the State Hannah Palmer, of Brighton, is crowned Miss Michigan 2025 at Frauenthal Theater in Muskegon, Mich. on Saturday, June 14, 2025.Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com
During the competition, the third-grade Ann Arbor teacher spoke about her goal of earning a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.
Palmer performed a spoken word monologue about being an educator while several of her students supported from the audience. She highlighted her service initiative, the Sunflower Project, a nonprofit she started to provide educational and mental health resources.
During Saturday’s competition, Palmer also won an elegance in interview award. She was asked what woman in her chosen field did she admire. Palmer said the late Rita Pierson, an educator who showed her teachers can change the world.
In addition to the crown and the Miss Michigan title, Palmer earns a $10,000 scholarship and the opportunity to compete for the 2025 Miss America scholarship pageant.
Miss Spirit of the State Hannah Palmer during the opening night of the 2025 Miss Michigan Scholarship Contest at Frauenthal Theater n Muskegon, Mich. on Thursday, June 12, 2025. She won the evening gown competition. Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com
This year’s judges were Haley Williams-Pepper, Becca Hatinger, Kevin Foley, Alexis Robertson and Will Gray.
The final score was composited of 30% from the preliminary score along with new scores of 20% from talent, 20% for health and fitness, 20% for evening gown and 10% for the on-stage question and social impact.
RELATED: See photos from opening night of Miss Michigan 2025
In addition to a scholarship fund of $10,000 to the title winner, the competition’s runner-up receives $4,000, with $3,000 to the second runner-up, $2,000 to the third runner-up, $1,500 to the fourth runner-up, $1,000 to the other five semi-finalists and $500 to non-finalist contestants.
The top 11 semi-finalists were announced Saturday evening.
The runners up are:
- First runner-up: Miss Ludington Area Natalee Urbon
- Second runner-up: Miss South Central Lacy Jewell
- Third runner-up: Miss Washtenaw County Madalyn Poupard
- Fourth runner-up: Miss Greater Kalamazoo Lauren Mroczek
The other semi-finalists in no particular order are:
- Miss Oakland County Alexis Ulmer
- Miss Sunrise Side Mary Kamara-Hagemeyer
- Miss Lighthouse Coast Reese Johnson
- Miss Wayne County Mikaela Bannon
- Miss West Michigan Izzy Wallace
- Miss Cardinal Spirit Riana Hardyniec
Other scholarship award winners include:
- Miss Non-Finalist Talent Award, $500: Miss Great Lakes Bay Samantha McGaughy
- Miss Non-Finalist Interview Award, $250: Miss Apple Blossom Ashlee Pelham
- Pam Eldred Community Health Scholarship, $2,000: Miss Great Lakes Bay Samantha McGaughy
- Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson Community Service Award, $500: Miss Bay County Kenadie Mlujeak
- Miss Congeniality Award, $500: Miss Ludington Area Natalee Urbon
- Miss Excellence in Interview Award, $500: Miss Spirit of the State Hannah Palmer
- The Shelley Taylor Lead-With-Your-Heart Award, $500: Miss South Central Lacy Jewell
- S.T.E.A.M. Award: Miss St. Clair Shores Grace Hanke
Miss Spirit of the State Hannah Palmer performs “Your Dream is Waiting” from HERStory during the final night of the 2025 Miss Michigan Scholarship Contest at Frauenthal Center in Muskegon, Mich. on Saturday, June 14, 2025.Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com
Friday evening, Libbie Tacia was crowned Miss Michigan’s Teen 2025. Tacia, of Big Rapids, earned the title with a contemporary dance routine to “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” Her service initiative is to provide human trafficking education, visibility and support.
Her goal is to attend the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and major in finance, ultimately starting a career in the financial services industry.
Five Miss Michigan winners have gone on to earn the Miss America title, including Miss America 1939 Patricia Donnelly Harris.
RELATED: Forgotten Miss America mural in Muskegon connects pageant’s past and present
Other Michigan winners were Miss America 1961 Nancy Anne Fleming Lange, Miss America 1970 Pam Eldred, Miss America 1988 Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson and Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund.
Want more Muskegon-area news? Bookmark the local Muskegon news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Muskegon” daily newsletter.
