Student to enter Miss Missouri pageant

From the age of 6, Southeast Missouri State University student Mary Bauer has had her feet in the world of pageants. The senior public relations major currently holds the title of Miss Jackson, a part of the Miss America program, and will compete against 30 other women for the title of Miss Missouri in June.

Bauer's role as Miss Jackson is to be an ambassador for the community. She has been a spokesperson for the Special Olympics, the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.

Bauer also is an ambassador for Children's Miracle Network hospitals and is a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. She also speaks at several area schools about leadership and volunteerism.

Mary Bauer as Miss Jackson. Submitted photo

Bauer first started pageant competitions in the Tiny Miss Jackson pageant, a pageant children can participate in between 5 and 7 years old. She said she has always loved participating in the pageants in Jackson, Mo.

"It's not what you see on 'Toddlers and Tiaras,'" Bauer said. "My mom just always wanted me to be able to get on stage and speak in front of other people and to do my talent. So I caught that fever when I was 6, and it just has stuck."

Bauer won Miss Preteen Missouri when she was 12 years old. She began competing in Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen program at 13. She competed in that pageant for three years, and won the title her third year, winning a scholarship from the Miss America's Outstanding Teen scholarship program. Bauer then qualified for the Miss Teen America pageant.

"Getting to do that was an amazing experience," Bauer said. "That scholarship paid for almost my entire college education."

When Bauer was 17 she became eligible to compete for the title of Miss Missouri. She said that many people told her not to start competing immediately even though she was eligible because she was so young.

"I just loved doing it so much, and I wanted to give back to an organization that has given me so much that I started competing right at age 17," Bauer said. "So I've been competing in Miss Missouri now and have made the top five the past four years."

This will be Bauer's fifth year competing and she hopes that this will be her year to win.

"I've worked really hard, and I really think I would do a good job of representing Missouri," Bauer said.

Mary Bauer at a fundraiser. Submitted photo

The competition for Miss Missouri is a weeklong event, from June 1-8. Contestants start out with rehearsals and social events, and competition begins June 5. That day Bauer will have a 10-minute private interview with the judges. That evening she will compete in the talent portion of the competition, where she will sing "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

The next night will be the evening gown and on-stage question portions of the competition. June 7 is the swimsuit competition.

"On Saturday evening everyone is out on stage and they announce the top 10," Bauer said. "Those 10, their scores are all wiped clean and they will compete in everything again that night, and they come up with Miss Missouri."

If Bauer wins the Miss Missouri title, it will be her full-time job for one year. She said that the winner signs a contract on stage and immediately is sent to her first press conference.

Miss Missouri will then go on a 10-day media tour and begin preparations for the Miss America Pageant in September. During this time she tours the state, visiting schools, churches and participating in different community events as her service duties.

Bauer is no stranger to community service. Along with holding the title of Miss Jackson, she is also a member of Alpha Chi Omega on Southeast's campus.

"In Alpha Chi Omega one of our main goals is to enhance our love of service," Bauer said. "That's everything that Miss America is about, so they work hand in hand. Alpha Chi has encouraged me to do well in school, further my education and ultimately serve others, and the Miss America organization is very high on scholarship and service as well."

Bauer also said that from a young age her parents instilled in her the love for helping other people and advocating for organizations she believes in. She said that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Children's Miracle Network always have held a special place in her heart. Her parents donated to those organizations as she was growing up, so she in turn loved them as well and wanted to do more for them.

"When Miss America partnered with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals a few years ago, it was like God kept putting different opportunities in my life and experiences that kept linking me back to children's hospitals," Bauer said.

Bauer said that as Miss Jackson she feels she is already doing part of what it means to be Miss Missouri with her tours and services. But she knows being Miss Missouri will impact charities even more.

"Just this past weekend I hosted a fundraiser myself called 'Rockin' For Miracles,' and all the proceeds benefitted Children's Miracle Network hospitals," Bauer said. "It raised over $10,000. I thought if I could do this as Miss Jackson, oh my goodness, what I could do for Miss Missouri."