Eighteen girls from Door County and across northeast Wisconsin are set to compete at next month's Miss Door County Pageant. Last year, a field of seven total girls were whittled down to Miss Door County Kylie Duessler and Miss Door County Teen Emily Bley. This year, contestants represent almost a dozen institutions, including 10 from all four high schools on Door County's mainland. Executive Director Susan Fochs credits an expansion of the program, the goodwill built by last year's winners, and Duessler's Top 5 performance in the Miss Wisconsin pageant as factors for the growth over last year. Fochs says she is always amazed by the young ladies striving to represent the community.
Less than 100 tickets remain for this year's competition, which will occur at the Southern Door Auditorium on February 1st at 5:30 p.m. The contestants will earn thousands of dollars in college scholarships, and the three new titleholders will move on to take part in the Miss Wisconsin and Miss Wisconsin Teen competitions, which will be held June 18-21, 2025, in New Berlin.
Miss Door County 2025 Contestants
Isabella Dereszkiewicz-Hodowany
School: Sevastopol High School
Talent: Speech - "The Definition of a Woman"
Community Service Initiative: Empowering Voices to Protect Women's Lives
Ellie Engerson
School: Southern Door High School
Talent: Vocal - "Honey, Honey"
Community Service Initiative: Giving Students an Outlet Through Music
Faith Blackley
School: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Talent: Vocal - "Amarilli Mia Bella"
Community Service Initiative: Preserve Today, Protect Tomorrow
Amolia Jefferson
School: Sevastopol High School
Talent: Speed Cake Decorating
Community Service Initiative: Lead, Read, Succeed: Inspiring Kids to Enjoy and Excel in Reading
Miss Cherryland 2025 Contestants
Ntuhkem Fonkem
School: Fox Valley Technical College
Talent: Vocal - "I Will Always Love You"
Community Service Initiative: Empowering College Students with Sickle Cell Disease
Chloe Staudenmaier
School: University of Minnesota
Talent: Piano - "Comptine d'un autre été"
Community Service Initiative: POV: Protecting Our Veterans
Brooklyn Heyn
School: Concordia University Wisconsin
Talent: Violin - "Crystallize"
Community Service Initiative: Blood Donation: Let's Save Lives!
Hanna Mertens
School: Bellin College of Nursing
Talent: Jazz Dance - "Sax"
Community Service Initiative: Heart to Heart: Teaching the Importance of Cardiac Care
Miss Door County's Teen 2025 Contestants
Briana Barganz
School: Sturgeon Bay High School
Talent: Vocal - "When You Believe"
Community Service Initiative: Ribbon to Reality: Bridging Awareness and Financial Support for Cancer Care
Anna Dalke
School: Gibraltar High School
Talent: Piano - "Piano Man"
Community Service Initiative: Undercover Wheel
Abbigail Reseburg
School: Algoma High School
Talent: EpiPen Demonstration
Community Service Initiative: CH&S: Child Health and Safety
Sayde Jeanquart
School: Sturgeon Bay High School
Talent: Piano - Baritone Euphonium - "Back to December"
Community Service Initiative: Advocating for the Importance of Screen Time Management
Skyler Kopkey
School: Luxemburg-Casco High School
Talent: Vocal - "Crazy Dreams"
Community Service Initiative: Priceless Princess: Taking the Price Tag Off of Beauty
Elise Jackson
School: Southern Door High School
Talent: Piano - "Für Elise"
Community Service Initiative: Next Gen Civics
Teagan Williams
School: Southern Door High School
Talent: Vocal - "A Little Bit in Love"
Community Service Initiative: Little Literacy Launchers
Jakayla Steinhorst
School: Luxemburg-Casco High School
Talent: Tap Dance - "Better When I'm Dancing"
Community Service Initiative: Deep Roots Elevating Agriculture
Ophelia Linnan
School: Sevastopol High School
Talent: Traditional Argentinian Tango and Malambo with Boleadoras
Community Service Initiative: Wisconsin Initiative For Superior Education: Promoting Educational Equity In Rural Areas
Brynleigh Ash
School: Gibraltar High School
Talent: Vocal - "Let Me Be Your Star"
Community Service Initiative: The Palette Project
