My Miss America Experience (Part Three)

By Mandi Genord

[On Instagram, I asked what questions people would ask a Miss America candidate. Several wonderful questions were submitted. Mandi Genord, Miss Wisconsin 2024, was kind enough to take a crack at answering them for us. This is her third, and final, entry in this series -S36F]

How did you spend your down time?

Most of the time, I spent it reorganizing my room, creating content for social media, calling or texting friends and family, or eating! I’m the type of person who gets nervous right before competition begins, so whenever I had a calm moment, I made sure to grab a bite to eat. It helped fuel my body with the energy I needed to stay productive throughout the day.

What goes through your mind as you’re standing on the Miss America stage?

Not much! I tried to really focus on the music during evening gown, fitness, and talent so I could concentrate on my musicality instead of worrying about the thousands of people watching me. However, when it comes to the onstage question, I always tell myself over and over that it’s just one question. I remind myself to take a breath and focus on my pacing, because the Midwesterner in me tends to get a bit too energetic when I talk!

How did it feel presenting your SII/talent/gown on stage?

I’ve never felt more empowered in my life. When I imagined competing on the Miss America stage before actually doing so, it brought me nerves and stress. But when I was actually on the stage, all of my anxieties disappeared. The onstage portions of the competition have always been my favorite, because I grew up performing as a competitive dancer. For me, it was incredible to experience that feeling of performing for an audience once again.

What was the prelim process like?

I’ve always been a “go with the flow” kind of person, so the prelim process worked well for me! Although, I will say, since I was toward the end of the states in alphabetical order, I had to stand on stage for a long time, smiling and posing, before finally giving my onstage question response and walking for fitness. That was probably the hardest part, but I tried to keep from getting too anxious by looking for my friends and family in the audience and singing the Wicked soundtrack in my head.

What were your first thoughts after it was all over?

Let’s do it again! The week was so much fun, and I enjoyed every single second of Miss America! I loved having my hair and makeup done each day. I enjoyed talking to people about my adoption advocacy work, my love of dance, and my educational background. I also loved dressing up and attending events. Honestly, I just didn’t want the excitement to end. When I got back to Wisconsin, I was living in a little post-Miss America cloud for a few days, but I’ve slowly started to come back to reality.

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Mandi Genord is the current Miss Wisconsin. You can find her on her title's Instagram and/or her personal Instagram. 

This is her third blog for Section 36 Forevers. Follow the link for her other Section 36 Forevers Guest Blogs.

My Miss America Experience (Part Two)

 By Mandi Genord

[On Instagram, I asked what questions people would ask a Miss America candidate. Several wonderful questions were submitted. Mandi Genord, Miss Wisconsin 2024, was kind enough to take a crack at answering them for us. This is her second entry in this series -S36F]

What moment were you most proud of?

I know that awards don’t truly determine an individual’s success or performance, but I was incredibly proud to have won a preliminary health and fitness award. I’ve been heavily investing in my health and fitness since winning Miss Wisconsin, given the demands of being a titleholder. However, being recognized on the Miss America stage for health and fitness was never something I expected, especially because, when the health and fitness portion started, I noticed four water spots on my shorts. I had to run downstairs and borrow Miss Alaska’s, Jordan Naylor’s, shorts! In Wisconsin, we don’t have Health and Fitness Preliminary Awards, so I never really knew how I have performed in that category. It was a complete shock, and I’m so humbled to have brought that award back home for the state of Wisconsin.

What was the favorite interview question you were asked?

I should preface this by saying that I went to school in Alabama, but I grew up in and currently live in Wisconsin. One of the judges noticed this and asked, “So, I see you went to school in Alabama but live in Wisconsin. What’s the biggest difference you’ve found between the two states?” I smiled and replied, “We have way better cheese in Wisconsin!” I think this was my favorite question because it reminded me to just be myself. I’m not typically a very serious person—I love to laugh, smile, and make jokes. This question and response gave me the chance to really embrace that side of myself.

What kept you grounded during the week?

I reminded myself that I was doing a good job and that, regardless of my placement, I was confident in my performance. For a lot of women in pageantry, it can be really difficult to give ourselves compliments, and I know that’s something I particularly struggle with. But this time, I genuinely felt proud of my performance in interview, prelims, and finals. I had also competed in the teen competition back in 2018 as Miss Wisconsin’s Teen, and I remember being so stressed about not making it to finals, which made the whole experience less enjoyable. This time, I really focused on building off the positive energy of the women around me, and I made sure to place myself in happy, uplifting conversations.

What was your favorite non-competition event?

I loved the Little Sisters Tea Party! As a dance teacher, it was especially meaningful because two of my students came to Miss America to watch the competition and join the tea party. One of them had also been my little sister at the Miss Wisconsin competition this year, so having both of them there made it even more special. We made Build-A-Bears, took pictures, enjoyed a great meal (which was my favorite of the week!), and for a few hours, I didn’t feel like I was at Miss America—I just felt like I was out to lunch with a few close friends.

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Mandi Genord is the current Miss Wisconsin. You can find her on her title's Instagram and/or her personal Instagram. 

This is her second blog for Section 36 Forevers. Follow the link for her other Section 36 Forevers Guest Blogs.

My Miss America Experience

 By Mandi Genord

[On Instagram, I asked what questions people would ask a Miss America candidate. Several wonderful questions were submitted. Mandi Genord, Miss Wisconsin 2024, was kind enough to take a crack at answering them for us. This is her first of three posts on this topic. -S36F]

Did you have a favorite fan/friend/family encounter of the week?

After the Miss America Finals, the contestants and I were heading to the bus for visitation. When we got outside, Abby Lee Miller was waiting for us, taking photos with all the girls! She had wanted to attend the show, but there were no tickets left, so she waited until it was over to meet us.

How did you select your gown?

My evening gown was a custom design by Jovani Fashions, partially sponsored by Dressed in Time in Brookfield, WI. During my Miss America headshots, the photographer dressed me in a black velvet gown with white puffs. What I loved about the dress was how it drew attention to my face, while also being something unique for the Miss America stage. This dress ultimately became the inspiration for my Miss America gown!

When did it first “hit” you that you were competing at Miss America?

I don’t know if it has yet, and I’m not sure it ever will! I remember watching videos of myself on the Miss America stage after prelims and finals, and it felt so surreal. While I know I competed at Miss America, it never felt like I was actually at a competition while I was there. Like many women who have walked the Miss America stage, I grew up watching the competition on TV every year. So, when I think of Miss America, I think of women like Laura Kaeppeler, Betty Maxwell, Savvy Shields, and others. It’s hard to believe I now share that experience with them, but maybe one day it will truly sink in!

What were some of your favorite activities with the other candidates?

I’m a huge Harry Potter nerd, so the day we went to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure was honestly one of the best days of my life! It wasn’t ideal that we got rained on, but I’m such a visual person that just walking around the park was enough for me! I also really enjoyed going to hair and makeup and sitting in the room with the other contestants. It was nice to have some normal conversations and talk about the differences between our state competitions and what each of our states is known for!

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Mandi Genord is the current Miss Wisconsin. You can find her on her title's Instagram and/or her personal Instagram. 

This is her first blog for Section 36 Forevers.