Three local women competing this week in 94th annual Miss Missouri competition in Mexico

MEXICO, Mo. — The Miss Missouri Scholarship organization will crown its 94^th Miss Missouri on Saturday, June 14, after a week of preliminary competition featuring a private interview with the judges, talent performances, on-stage question and fitness. 

This year’s class competition class includes Miss Hannibal Grace Isch, Miss Clark County Evan Jones and Miss Mark Twain Kate Czarny.

Mexico will be the host for the 55^th time. During the reign of Miss Missouri 1970 Marcia Mossbarger, the pageant moved from St. Charles to the Missouri Military Academy campus in Mexico, thanks to the work completed by the Mexico Jaycees.

The anniversary week will feature a variety of surprises for the audience as past favorites will return to the Miss Missouri stage to perform their award-winning talents. Forever Miss Missouri and Miss America Debbye Turner Bell will return as a judge.

The preliminary competition begins Wednesday, June 11, and continues through Friday, June 13, when the delegates compete in two competition groups: Sigma and Alpha. The judges will crown the winner on Saturday, June 14. Reigning Miss Missouri Ashley Berry will have her final walk before crowning a new winner. Berry, the daughter of Mark and Amy Berry of Clinton, is a student at the University of Alabama, where she studies news media and political science. 

Isch is a daughter of Sara and Kevin Isch of Emporia, Kan. She is a student at Northwest Missouri State University, where she is studying multi-media journalism.

For the talent portion of the competition, Isch will perform a vocal. She will use her interview and on-stage question time to highlight her social impact initiative, “Fill Your Cup,” a movement that encourages individuals to prioritize their mental health.

Jones is a daughter of Jesse and Sharon Jones of Kahoka. She is a student at the University of Central Missouri and majors in fashion business merchandising and minors in marketing.   

For the talent portion of the competition, Jones will perform a jazz dance. She will use her interview and on-stage question time to highlight her social impact initiative, “Allergy Alert.” 

“My goal is to form education to the public on allergen safety in the home, classroom, and workplace,” Jones explained in a press release. 

Czarny is a daughter of Carla Czarny and the late Stanley Czarny of Columbia. She is a student at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.  

For the talent portion of the competition, she will perform a “HerStory” or monologue. She will use her interview and on-stage question time to highlight her social impact initiative, “The Lasting Impact: Recognize, Report, Recover.” 

“The Lasting Impact focuses on the importance of concussion awareness and prevention through education and community engagement,” she explained. “I created my community service initiative as a result of my experience with a life-altering concussion.”

Tickets for the competition are on sale through the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce office, 100 West Jackson, or by calling 573-581-2765. 

The Miss Missouri Scholarship Organization provided $85,000 in scholarships last year to the delegates competing for the Miss Missouri and Miss Missouri’s Teen titles.