She was Miss Racine. Now, the first Black Miss Wisconsin goes for another crown. | Opinion
Before Willow Newell even considered competing in beauty pageants, she practiced her contestant wave and smile in her bedroom mirror.
Now, at 22, Newell, who served as Miss Racine , no longer needs to pretend. In June, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Wisconsin.
In September, she will represent the state in the Miss America competition. Her pageant platform, "The Art of Belonging," focuses on how everyone can feel a sense of belonging through the arts.
Newell, who graduated in May with a degree in art from Carthage College in Kenosha , described how art has been her guiding light, helping her navigate through life's challenges, from the paralyzing grip of stage fright to the painful sting of bullying.
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For Newell, art transcends mere expression; it is a powerful force that empowers people and serves as a bridge fostering connections among people of all races and backgrounds.
In the Miss Wisconsin competition, Newell competed for the title alongside 29 other contestants from across the state and was recognized as the top vocalist in the competition after her rendition of " And I'm Telling You ," from the musical Dreamgirls.
Since being crowned Miss Wisconsin, Newell has had a busy schedule that includes visits to schools as well as television and radio interviews. On her social media pages, she has received praise from the BET Network, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver , attorney Benjamin Crump , and actress and producer Viola Davis .
Newell focused on being true to herself
Newell, who idolized Vanessa Williams — the first African American woman crowded Miss America in 1983 — always dreamed of fame and used to practice her pageant walk and wave in the mirror when she was younger. She recalls performing in church plays and receiving lead solos in her church choir as young as five years old. Through singing and acting, Newell felt a sense of freedom and found a way to express herself.
She didn't realize it at the time, but this art of performing would help her years later when she would grace the stage for pageants.
When she told her parents that she wanted to one day become Miss America, they became her biggest supporters.
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Newell began participating in competitions at the age of 14. In her first pageant, she performed well, but over the years, she faced her fair share of ups and downs. Despite the challenges, she never lost hope. There were competitions where she placed in the top five, along with a few occasions when she was the first runner-up.
In 2023, she won her first competition, being crowned Miss Kenosha. The following year, she was named Miss Racine, and that same year, she competed in the Miss Wisconsin competition, finishing as a semi-finalist while representing Miss Great Lakes. After being crowned Miss Kenosha, Newell knew that pageantry was truly in her blood.
Her mother, Anniekay, described watching her daughter's journey as rewarding, noting that Newell never gave up and continually sought to improve, while also promoting the importance of the arts. Anniekay, who also competed in pageants throughout her career, including Juneteenth competitions, praised Newell's unmatched dedication. "Whatever she puts her mind to, she achieves without getting distracted or frustrated," she said.
Newell confronted racism and the struggle to fit in
Growing up, Newell experienced significant bullying in school, often being the only Black student in her class. She remembers when she was four years old, other kids would not want to play with her or sit next to her at lunch, making fun of her natural hair and darker skin.
Even in competitions, she faced the sting of racism and bullying, sometimes questioning whether she should straighten her hair to fit the judges' expectations better. However, the more she considered changing herself to fit in, the more she realized that hundreds of Black girls looked up to her as a true reflection of themselves.
One of those girls is her 16-year-old sister, Winter, who also competes and hopes to become Miss Wisconsin in a few years.
When she talks to young girls who are thinking about competing, her message is simple: be yourself because what you have to offer is special, and you don't need to change that. Her words carry an inspiring message, encouraging each girl to shine brightly in her own way, reminding them that their individuality is not just valuable — it's powerful.
This is another reason why the arts are so important to Newell; they give people the chance to express their individuality, and that uniqueness is wonderful.
Newell's messaging could not come at a better time, as arts programs in public schools across the nation have experienced a severe decline in the U.S., particularly in the early 2000s. The decline of arts education has been felt most severely in low-performing, low-income schools.
While school officials reallocated funds from arts budgets to remedial math and English programs, Newell believes that the arts serve as a vital connector that unites people in ways that nothing else can.
She views art as a bridge between generations, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Newell plans to convey this message when she competes in the Miss America competition in Orlando, Florida, Sept. 2 to 7.
Although she admits she will be a bit nervous, it will be the ultimate dream come true for the little girl who used to practice her waves and smile in the mirror as she pretended to win the Miss America competition.
Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com ; follow him on X @jecausey .
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: First Black Miss Wisconsin to compete for Miss America 2026 | Opinion
