When Miss Tennessee Stefanie Wittler was in first grade, her mother registered the blossoming singer in a talent show in what proved to be a successful means of preventing stage fright.
“My mother has always been terrified of public speaking,” said Miss Wittler. “She didn’t want me to have her fear of performing in front of people.”
Kim and Steven Wittler will be seated in the audience Jan. 30 as their daughter performs for an estimated 3.6 million TV viewers at the 89th Miss America Pageant. The pageant will be held at Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort in Las Vegas, hosted by Mario Lopez.
Should Miss Wittler win, she will be the first Miss Tennessee to be crowned Miss America since Kellye Cash Shephard in 1987, according to the Miss Tennessee organization.
Two local candidates have come close: Desiree Daniels Disterdick was first runner-up to Miss America in 1982 and Stephanie Culberson (a former Miss Cleveland) was second runner-up in 2001.
Hearing Miss Wittler run down her pageant prep, one realizes there is a lot more to winning Miss America than knowing how to work the runway in ballgowns and bikinis.
“I’ve been preparing since I won Miss Tennessee in June,” said Miss Wittler. “I’ve worked with a talent coach in Kansas City, Mo., an interview coach on how to handle controversial situations, and my trainer, Brandon Brown, at the Sports Barn.”
Mardi Boone, director of the Miss Hamilton County program, said “consistency” is the strength Miss Wittler brings to the Las Vegas competition.
“The competition includes judge’s interview, talent, evening gown, swimsuit and an onstage question. We’re very lucky that she is strong in each category. Stefanie is very personable and vivacious. Her personality wins people over. She’s not phony, what you see is what you get,” Ms. Boone said.
Win or lose, it will be an emotional week for the Wittler family. Miss Wittler said her boyfriend, Lt. Kevin Beavers, is scheduled to deploy for Iraq by the first of February. The couple is waiting to hear whether the Army’s call will allow him to attend the Las Vegas competition.
PAGEANT PREP
Talent: Miss Wittler will sing “I Will Always Love You.”
Interview: In addition to working with an interview coach on current events and handling controversial questions, she has a team of coaches who hold mock interviews to prepare her for the judging panel.
Swimsuit: Miss Wittler said the swimsuit preliminary is still relevant to today’s pageant.
“Miss America strives for a healthy body shape, it sets a standard of physical fitness the winner should meet,” she said.
She credits her trainer, Brandon Brown, with her win in the swimsuit category at Miss Tennessee.
“I try to work out twice a week, but I am on the road and rarely home. I use a treadmill in hotels when I’m traveling. We do stair-climbing, free weights, yoga, and I’ve just taken up boxing. It’s a good stress reliever.”
Platform: Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Miss Wittler’s family helped raise funds to build the Chattanooga house, and Miss Wittler (then 4 years old) was in attendance the day the house opened. She said she has grown up volunteering at the local house with her family.
“Stefanie volunteers every week at the house,” said Jane Kaylor, Ronald McDonald House executive director, who will be part of the local delegation flying to Las Vegas to support Miss Wittler.
“She’ll do anything that needs done, whether it’s folding laundry or stuffing envelopes. That kind of volunteer is rare.”
Miss Wittler sees her advocacy of Ronald McDonald houses as a perfect complement to Miss America’s role as spokeswoman for the Children’s Miracle Network. Ronald McDonald Houses lodge families of seriously ill, hospitalized children.
Drug-Free Tennessee spokeswoman: Miss Tennessee is employed by the state Department of Education to visit schools and speak on behalf of Drug-free Tennessee. She has logged more than 20,000 miles and spoken to thousands of students this fall.
Guilty indulgence: “I’m addicted to Starbucks. I know every Starbucks at every interstate exit in the state,” she said, laughing.