Miss Wisconsin 2025 Announced

New Berlin, Wisconsin (June 21, 2025) – On Saturday evening, Willow Newell, a 22-year-old woman from Racine, swept the title of Miss Wisconsin 2025 among a field of 29 contestants representing their communities across the state.

Competing as Miss Racine, Newell receives $13,000 in scholarships along with other gifts and awards. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2026 the first week of September in
Orlando, Florida.

Newell also won preliminary talent and evening wear award honors, tied as the overall evening wear winner and tied for the overall Interview score. Additionally, she was named the top scoring vocalist and received the Ryan Guy Memorial Music Scholarship.

With those awards, Newell earned an additional $2,300 in scholarships.

For the talent phase of competition, Newell sang “And I’m Telling You” from the musical Dreamgirls. Her Community Service Initiative is Expression Without Exclusion which aims to provide an inclusive and accessible opportunity for arts through community connections, resources, and storytelling.

A 2025 graduate of Carthage College, Newell earned a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theater. She has been a vocal performer for over 15 years and has participated both on and off stage in 15 community and collegiate theater productions.

Newell has been a competitor in the Miss America Opportunity since 2017 when she competed as a teen delegate.

“The journey that Willow has been on within our organization began years ago in our Teen program.” said Brenda Baudo and Meghan DeMore, co-executive directors of the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Organization. “It has been exciting to see her grow into the accomplished and talented woman she is today. She found her purpose that she was searching for and now a voice as Miss Wisconsin 2025.”

Rounding out the Top 11 semi-finalists and court of honor were the following candidates:
Top 11 – Semi-finalists
● Miss Wisconsin Rapids, Olivia Heuer, Wisconsin Rapids, “People’s Choice” winner, $600
Scholarship
● Miss Great Lakes, Christel Rivera, Racine, Semi-finalist $500 Scholarship
● Miss La Crosse-Oktoberfest, Savannah Grace Horstman, Onalaska, Semi-finalist, $500
Scholarship
● Miss Wood Violet, Halle Bender, Madison, Semi-finalist, $500 Scholarship
● Miss West Allis, Jada Davis, Milwaukee, Semi-finalist, $500 Scholarship
● Miss New Berlin, Gabriella Suliga, Milwaukee, Semi-finalist, $500 Scholarship
Top 5 – Court of Honor
● Fourth Runner-up, Miss Sugar Maple, Evelyn Green, Oshkosh, $1,000 Scholarship
● Third Runner-up, Miss Northern Lights, Jordenne Butler, Onalaska, $1,500 Scholarship
● Second Runner-up, Miss Rock River Valley, Catherine Smith, Janesville, $2,000
Scholarship
● First Runner-up, Miss Madison, Jasmine Peck, St. Francis, $4,000 Scholarship