Emma Rose Lewis wins 65th Miss Clayland Title
Miss Ohio Lora Current and Miss Clayland 2020 Baylee Martin crown Miss Clayland 2022 Emma Rose Lewis.
Emma Rose Lewis, 24, of Cleveland was named the new Miss Clayland at the 65th annual pageant held on Oct. 16 at Claymont High School. Lewis is a student at Baldwin Wallace University and performed an opera selection Mozart’s “Queen of the Night” aria.
Her social impact initiative is Sexual Assault Prevention and Supporting Survivors.
Lewis received a $2600 scholarship plus a $500 in-kind scholarship to Kent State University Tuscarawas Campus. In addition to the scholarship awards, she received an official Miss America local preliminary crown and sash, a Vera Bradley gift from the Grove Gift Shoppe, and a winter neck scarf from “Stitches by Me.”
The Miss Clayland Scholarship program is a preliminary pageant of the Miss Ohio and Miss America programs. Lewis will have the opportunity to compete at the Miss Ohio pageant in June next year.
Each contestant was asked a question on stage and then gave a brief presentation to the audience about their social impact initiatives. The private interviews were held before the pageant and out of the view of the audience, so no interview award was given this year. During her private interview, Lewis spoke about sexual assault prevention.
“I am a survivor of sexual assault in 2019, someone attacked me, and so I realize that my healing includes helping others heal and sharing my story so other people feel empowered to share their stories,” Lewis said. “Because a lot of the times people don’t feel comfortable and then they don’t get justice.”
Lewis thinks consent education is vitally important.
“I use the FRIES method - freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic, and specific to make it relatable to people that this is what consent looks like in all areas of your life whether it is hugging a grandparent or going in for a job interview or spending time with a loved one,” Lewis said. “It spans all different areas of your life.”
Lewis is currently an ambassador for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.
“I went to training a couple of years ago and I realized that this is something that we need to talk about, and we need to educate people,” Lewis said. “Through their education and outreach program I’ve been working with them to develop a curriculum to say specifically for younger children that this is what you need to look for, this is how to be safe.”
Lewis is walking 150 miles, a few at a time, and hopes to raise $1500 by the end of November for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center which benefits all of Northeast Ohio.
She is looking forward to her reign as Miss Clayland.
“I am really excited to see all the other work that I can do with this title and working with Martha. I’m really excited to work with her and spend more time in this area. I really love it here,” Lewis said.
Olivia Kentner, 22, of Wapakoneta was named first runner-up. She is a student at the University of Cincinnati, and she sang “A Change in Me” from Beauty and the Beast. As first runner-up, she received a $500 scholarship. Her social impact initiative is Youth Career Exploration and Personal Development.
Autumn Kessler, 24, of Kent, a graduate of Muskingum University won the Community Service Award of $250. She performed a tap dance, and her social impact initiative is Bettering Children’s Mental Health.
The community service award was given in memory of six Miss Clayland volunteers who have passed since the last competition – Ken Hamilton, Marge Shelley, John Page, Dean Pocock, Mary Lee McClave, and Sam Orr.
Elizabeth Nies, 18, of Cincinnati, who performed Chopin’s Black Key Etude, a piano piece where the right-hand part is played on the black keys, won the Ray King Talent Award of $250.
There was no interview award given this year since that part of the pageant is out of view of the audience.
Each non-finalist received a $200 scholarship. Participating were Madison Miller, 21, of Coshocton is a student at Ohio Wesleyan University who performed “Think of Me” from Phantom of the Opera on the piano. Her social impact initiative is United States Veterans Appreciation and Mental Health Awareness.
Caitlin Seifert, 23, of Niles, a graduate student at Kent State University, performed a baton twirling routine. Her social impact initiative is Volunteerism.
Emily Fields, 20, of Aurora is a student at Kent State University and performed a tap dance at the pageant. Her social impact initiative is Invisible Disability Awareness.
The mistresses of ceremonies for the 65th Miss Clayland pageant were Sarah Clapper Shobe, Miss Ohio and Miss Clayland 2017, and Baylee Martin, Miss Clayland 2020.
Martin entertained at the pageant singing the National Anthem, Rockin’ Robin, and I Dreamed a Dream. Miss Ohio 2021, Lora Current, attended and announced that the Miss America pageant will be held in December this year and she is looking forward to the competition.
Serving as Chair for the judge’s is Allie Krucek Hoffman, Miss Clayland 2007. The judges were: Amity Sites Ryan of Nashport, Miss Clayland 1999, Kelsey Golec of Dennison, Amy Lint Conn of Dennison, Jenna DePizzo May of Columbus, Miss Clayland 2015, and Matt Marburger of Dover.
Campbell thanked the Claymont Intermediate School Art students for their donation of beautiful recycled plastic bottle hangings they made that decorated the stage area.
The Miss Clayland pageant is the longest running local pageant in the state of Ohio and one of the longest running local programs in the United States.
“We’re fortunate to be able to provide this scholarship opportunity for women for over 65 years,” Sarah Clapper Shobe said. “The program has been built by many volunteers through the years. The volunteers go out of their way, and they make this program happen. It is truly changing the lives of women all across the state of Ohio and across the nation.”
Clapper also thanked many area businesses and organizations for their help with the pageant and to keep it going for 65 years.
“Without their generosity these awards would not be possible. Their support is vital to the scholarship program,” Shobe said.