Willow Newell was just crowned Miss Wisconsin, becoming the first Black woman to win the title. The 22-year-old native of Racine impressed the audience with her evening attire, interviewing prowess, and her rendition of “And I’m Telling You” from the musical “Dreamgirls,” securing the esteemed title.
“I still can’t believe it,” Newell said of her win to TMJ4. Her ascent served as a teaching moment about determination and staying loyal to oneself. This was her third attempt to win the Miss Wisconsin title. She has competed in Miss America pageants since 2017, when she was a teen.
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“I competed for years with my hair straightened because growing up, people made fun of me for my natural hair, and I didn’t feel comfortable in it,” Newell explained. “But there was one summer when I realized that this is the time.”
She faced up against about thirty competitors who represented various areas across the state. Apart from the title, she has been awarded almost $14,000 in scholarships.
On Monday, Newell returned to her day job at the Racine Public Library after her outstanding win on Saturday, showing off her crown and ribbon to a crowd of young fans.
“It’s mind-blowing and it’s encouraging for me because I haven’t always seen myself like this,” she said. “So having other people see me, and see me as something that’s impactful, and special is—it encourages me on a daily basis, and I feel more confident in myself as well.”
Keiko Skow, a youth services supervisor and librarian at Racine, said that Newell deserves the attention she has received.
“Just a wonderful person, very kind, and she’s just so natural,” Skow explained. “It’s not pretending, it’s not making up, but always she’s putting all genuine herself.”
Passionate about community service, the arts, and equal access, Newell’s community service project, “Expression Without Exclusion,” seeks to make the arts more accessible and inclusive using storytelling, community connections, and resources.
Now, Newell is getting ready to compete for the Miss America title in September.
“To be able to represent this organization, Wisconsin specifically, on this level is really a dream come true,” Newell said. “I know I come on the backs of so many. I just want to continue the legacy to bring more people.”
The trailblazer graduated from Carthage College in Kenosha with a bachelor’s degree in musical theater.
“It’s more than I could’ve ever imagined,” she said of her big win. “The community—both communities, Racine, Kenosha, the entire state of Wisconsin, has just been so lovely.”
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