The 2025 Miss Door County pageant has a new contest and a large field of Teen contestants. Here’s who’s competing

BRUSSELS – Not just one or two but three titles will be up for grabs for the first time, along with thousands of dollars in scholarships, during the 28th annual Miss Door County Scholarship Program pageants Feb. 1.

The 2025 pageants will crown Miss Door County for the 28th time and Miss Door County’s Teen (from a jam-packed filed of contestants) for a 14th time, but this year the program also will crown a first-ever Miss Cherryland. The new title was launched to provide more opportunities for young women living or working in 11 other counties in Northeast Wisconsin to take part in a pageant and possibly earn scholarships.

Four women each are competing in the Miss Door County and Miss Cherryland contests, with a record 10 vying for Miss Door County’s Teen. The Miss Door County and Teen winners will succeed 2024 winners Kylee Duessler and Emily Bley, respectively, in the annual contests sponsored by the Miss Door County Scholarship Organization.

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 new Miss Door County and Door County’s Teen will move on to take part in the Miss Wisconsin and Wisconsin Teen pageants held from June 18 to 21 in New Berlin. The Miss Wisconsin winner, of course, advances to represent the state in the Miss America pageant 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. Duessler last year became the first currently reigning Miss Door County to place in the Top 5 at Miss Wisconsin. 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 2024 Miss Wisconsin, Mandi Genord of Beaver Dam, and Miss Wisconsin’s Teen, Ella Bey of Pewaukee. Eric Paulsen, host of the “Discover Wisconsin” syndicated and streaming TV travel program, is the new emcee.

Miss Door County 2025 contestants

Isabella Dereszkiewicz-Hodowany, a student at Sevastopol High School. Her community service initiative is “Empowering Voices to Protect Women’s Lives” and she will give a speech on “The Definition of a Woman” for her talent.

Ellie Engerson, a student at Southern Door High School. Her community service initiative is “Giving Students an Outlet Through Music” and she will sing for her talent.

Faith Blackley, a Northeast Wisconsin Technical College student. Her community service initiative is “Preserve Today, Protect Tomorrow” and she will sing for her talent.

Amolia Jefferson, a student at Sevastopol High School. Her community service initiative is “Lead, Read, Succeed: Inspiring Kids to Enjoy and Excel in Reading” and her talent performance is speed cake decorating.

Miss Cherryland 2025 contestants

Ntuhkem Fonkem, a student at Fox Valley Technical College. Her community service initiative is “Empowering College Students with Sickle Cell Disease” and she will sing for her talent.

Chloe Staudenmaier, a student at the University of Minnesota. Her community service initiative is “POV: Protecting Our Veterans” and she will play the piano for her talent.

Brooklyn Heyn, a student at Concordia University Wisconsin. Her community service initiative is “Blood Donation: Let’s Save Lives!” and she will play the violin for her talent.

Hanna Mertens, a student at Bellin College of Nursing. Her community service initiative is “Heart to Heart: Teaching the Importance of Cardiac Care” and she will perform a jazz dance for her talent.

Miss Door County’s Teen 2025 contestants

Briana Bargan, a student at Sturgeon Bay High School. Her community service initiative is “Ribbon to Reality: Bridging Awareness and Financial Support for Cancer Care” and she will sing for her talent.

Anna Dalke, a student at Gibraltar High School. Her community service initiative is “Undercover Wheel” and she will play the piano for her talent.

Abbigail Reseburg, a student at Algoma High School. Her community service initiative is “Child Health and Safety” and she will give an EpiPen demonstration for her talent.

Sayde Jeanquart, a student at Sturgeon Bay High School. Her community service initiative is “Advocating for the Importance of Screen Time Management” and she will play the baritone euphonium for her talent.

Skyler Kopkey, a student at Luxemburg-Casco High School. Her community service initiative is “Priceless Princess: Taking the Price Tag Off of Beauty” and she will sing for her talent.

Elise Jackson, a student at Southern Door High School. Her community service initiative is “Next Gen Civics” and she will play the piano for her talent.

Teagan Williams, a student at Southern Door High School. Her community service initiative is “Little Literacy Launchers” and she will sing for her talent.

Jakayla Steinhorst, a student at Luxemburg-Casco High School. Her community service initiative is “Deep Roots Elevating Agriculture” and she will tap dance for her talent.

Ophelia Linnan, a student at Sevastopol High School. Her community service initiative is “Wisconsin Initiative For Superior Education: Promoting Educational Equity In Rural Areas” and she will perform a traditional Argentinian tango and malambo folk dance with boleadoras (stringed throwing weapons) for her talent.

Brynleigh Ash, a student at Gibraltar High School. Her community service initiative is “The Palette Project” and she will sing for her talent.

Miss Door County awards scholarships

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 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Southern Door Community Auditorium, on the Southern Door County School District campus, 2073 County DK, Brussels. Tickets are $20 and fewer than 100 remain available as of Jan. 21. For advance tickets, go to the Southern Door district office or visit southerndoorauditorium.org.

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

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or [email protected].

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Three young women will be crowned at the 2025 Miss Door County pageant