糖心Vlog传媒

Mandi Genord of Beaver Dam was crowned Miss Wisconsin 2024, earning a total of $14,000 in scholarships.

Smith came away with $3,200 in scholarships and won the overall vocalist award, for her performance of an opera selection.

Genord now goes on to compete in the Miss America pageant in January 2025. If Genord were to be crowned Miss America, Smith would step up to become Miss Wisconsin.

鈥淚 have full belief in her, she鈥檚 more than capable,鈥� Smith said in an interview Monday, following Saturday鈥檚 pageant, in which 30 contestants completed talent, interview, fitness and evening gown segments.

Contestants arrived in Oshkosh on Monday, June 17, with preliminaries last Wednesday and Thursday.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really good friends and have known each other for a long time,鈥� Smith said of Genord. 鈥淭he fact that I got to stand next to my really good friend was the peak of my entire week. It鈥檚 not just about the job, possibly taking over an opportunity of a lifetime, but it鈥檚 standing next to a woman who had such a profound impact on me that I have seen grown up.鈥�

Smith said Monday that she was happy with her placement and appreciated 鈥渙ne last shot,鈥� to be part of the Miss Wisconsin pageant.

Mindset was her greatest challenge this past week, Smith said.

鈥淚n any type of competition, you are your worst critic. Just 鈥榣etting go and letting God鈥� was probably one of the most difficult things for me, because I want to take so much control of my life. I鈥檝e been working actively to release that. I鈥檓 focusing on being in the moment and enjoying the ride,鈥� Smith said.

Smith is eligible to compete again for Miss Wisconsin in 2025, but is undecided at the moment.

鈥淵ou never know what the next month, the next week, is going to bring,鈥� Smith said.

Smith said her favorite part of the competition was 鈥渨alking away with 29 new best friends.鈥� She smiled at that thought.

鈥淚 know it鈥檚 cliche, but I have had some of my greatest friends in life and who will be in my wedding from this organization. You鈥檙e not competing against them, you鈥檙e competing with them. Every single one of them was so unbelievably kind. People will never understand that until they鈥檙e in that position.鈥�

For young girls and women looking to compete for scholarships, 鈥済o in and dive in deep, take in every single moment,鈥� Smith said.

鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for me getting a letter in the mail from the National American Miss and asking my mom to audition, I genuinely don鈥檛 know where I would be. I wouldn鈥檛 be first runner-up to Miss Wisconsin 13 years later.鈥�

Smith is an active member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 community, as a board member of Salvation Army Rock County and on a community committee for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and will soon partner with YWCA Rock County.

She is also becoming more involved with veterans affairs in Wisconsin, in part through a partnership with David Bellman of Bellman homes in Waukesha and Operation Finally Home in Wisconsin. The nonprofit provides mortgage-free homes for veterans suffering from PTSD or no longer qualified to be in the military.

Smith said she has many friends in the military who have suffered from mental health issues. 鈥淭hese individuals do not get the credit they deserve and they can suffer immensely after being discharged. We need to find alternative routes and help them.鈥� Smith said.