Harbor Country Living

Kaylee Magro

Kaylee Magro reigns as congenial Miss Blossomtime

By David Johnson, News editor

Kaylee Magro of Three Oaks takes that first triumphant walk as Miss Blossomtime 2005 on March 7 in the Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College. - photo by David Johnson
BENTON TOWNSHIP - Miss Three Oaks/River Valley Kaylee Magro experienced the thrill of being crowned a Blossomtime queen twice last Monday night.

First, her fellow Miss Blossomtime Pageant contestants chose the 18-year-old New Buffalo High School senior as Miss Congeniality.

Then, while she was still trying to catch her breath from that crowning experience, Kaylee received the most coveted title in Southwest Michigan - Miss Blossomtime 2005.

"Not only do the judges love you, but your peers do as well," noted co-emcee Lainie Lu Howard Von Behren just moments after Magro had been fitted for her crown, sash and a large bouquet of roses by Miss Blossomtime 2004 Brittney Brown of Benton Harbor. "This is incredible!," the new Miss Blossomtime said to the assembled multitude that packed the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center on March 7. "I want to thank God and all of the girls. You're the most beautiful girls I've ever met and I'm so blessed to have all of you in my life."

Joining Kaylee in the Blossomtime 2005 court are First Runner-up Kourtney Marvin of Watervliet and Second Runner-up Chelsie Baucus of Edwardsburg. Kaylee is the daughter of John and Kimberly Magro of Three Oaks. She has three younger brothers - Jay, Conner and Cameron. "I just couldn't be prouder," John Magro said during the post-pageant gathering. "She means the world to us." Mom gave credit to a higher power. "I knew that she deserved it, and I prayed that the judges would see what a beautiful person she is, and they did," Kimberly Magro said. "God had a hand in this. God knew that (he) could work through that beautiful girl, and he's going to. And she's going to make a difference in Southwest Michigan."

Kaylee referred to the entire experience as a blessing. In reference to being chosen Miss Congeniality by her pageant peers, she said, "It's such an honor and a privilege, and I won't let them down." And then there was that other crowning. "I'm so honored. It's so amazing to be in this position," Kaylee said. The new Miss Blossomtime said she hopes to set a good example during her reign. "Just talking to people and being able to hopefully inspire them the way people have inspired me," she said. "I want to give them confidence and help them in everything that they do."

Kaylee referred to her life-long goal of performing on Broadway several times during the pageant. In keeping with the Miss Blossomtime Pageant theme of "A Child's Dream," each contestant was asked what their childhood dream had been. Kaylee's response? "My childhood dream was to be on Broadway." She also noted her admiration for Audrey Hepburn's performance as Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady." This led to an exchange of lines from that film with co-emcee Pat Moody that ended with Magro quipping "Wouldn't it be lovely?"

A veteran of New Buffalo High School productions such as "Oklahoma!" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Kaylee is currently practicing for an upcoming presentation of "The Wizard of Oz." Her part? In a role that couldn't be much farther removed from her new real-life position as Miss Blossomtime, Magro is set to portray the Wicked Witch of the West. "It will be a lot of fun," she said.

Kaylee plans to attend Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac for two years after high school before transferring to Columbia College in Chicago to study the performing arts. In addition to drama club, Kaylee's school-related activities include Student Senate, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), basketball, softball and cheerleading. Her formal wear for the March 7 pageant was a cocoa-brown strapless gown. She wore a slightly less formal outfit during the commercial skit portion of the March 6 Showcase of Queens event - a Winnie the Pooh costume.

Miss Three Oaks/River Valley Committee co-chairs Marcia Sherrill and Gail Shoemaker definitely felt that the judges, and the contestants, had chosen wisely. "I just know that Kaylee will represent the whole area in an amazing way," said Shoemaker. "She really is an amazing person. I just can't say enough about her and I knew that she would make a wonderful Miss Blossomtime, but I just didn't know what the judges would think." "Now we know!" added Sherrill.

The co-chairs also noted that Blossomtime officials were saying Kaylee was the first Miss Blossomtime to also be named Miss Congeniality. The three judges for the Miss Blossomtime Pageant were: Nicole Brink of Muncie, Ind. (Little Miss Junior Indiana in 1986, Mrs. America and Mrs. World 2003, and a former Mr. Blossomtime judge); Sy Barker of Granger, Ind. (the national director, independent distribution, retail channel for Whirlpool Corp.); and Bonnie Kanicki Wilson of Saginaw, Mich. (a lieutenant at the Michigan State Police Bridgeport post in Saginaw County, Mich., and a Miss Blossomtime judge in 2001, 2002 and 2003).

Miss Bridgman Abbey Nemitz and Miss Galien Paige Olney were among the 10 contestants chosen as top-10 finalists. Both are seniors at Bridgman High School. The other finalists, in addition to Magro, Marvin and Baucus, were: Jessica Gilbert of Berrien Springs, Meenakshi Davuluri of St. Joseph, Chelsea Ghatoaura of Buchanan, Jessica Chopp of Mattawan, and Danielle Small of Paw Paw.

Also participating in both the March 7 Miss Blossomtime Pageant and the previous evening's Showcase of Queens were: Miss New Buffalo Nika Corwin, Erica Soto of Bangor, Carrie Krotzer of Baroda, Ashley Hampton of Benton Harbor, Kelly Cline of Bloomingdale, Ashley Solloway of Cassopolis, Karen Mitchell of Coloma, Anna Glassman of Eau Claire, Erin Killeen of Gobles, Venessa Garcia of Hartford, Miss Heart of Blossomtime Lindsey Weaver of Marcellus, Lacey Wiemuth of Niles/Brandywine, Katie Novotny of South Haven and Drew Aiken of Stevensville.

Joshua Wahlstrom of Buchanan was crowned Mr. Blossomtime 2005 on Sunday, March 6. Recognized during Monday's pageant as the top three Blossomtime communities for ticket sales were: 1. Cassopolis; 2. Three Oaks/River Valley; and 3. Bridgman. Olney was named the top seller of program ads on Sunday. Magro received a Communications Award during the March 6 Showcase of Queens.

Kaylee will reign over such Blossomtime festival events as the May 1 Blessing of the Blossoms at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center; the May 2-4 Blossomtime Good Will Tour; the May 3 Keys to the Cities Mayors Banquet at Pebblewood Country Club in Bridgman; the May 4 Blossomtime fashion Show at the LMC Upton Center; and the May 7 Grand Floral Parade through St. Joseph and Benton Harbor.

March 10, 2005 -David Johnson, News Editor
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