by Bob Gross
Rashontae Wawrzyniak, representing St. Clair Lake, was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2015 on Saturday at McMorran Theater in Port Huron. Maria Rendina, of Monroe, is the new Miss Michigan Teen USA. The pageant featured 83 young women competing for the title of Miss Michigan USA; 44 teens competed for Miss Michigan Teen USA.
Wawrzyniak, who was first runner-up in last year's pageant, also was selected most photogenic.
Miss Port Huron USA Kayla Sesi was selected Miss Congeniality by the pageant contestants.
And the competitors brought their cheering sections with them. Lilly Santiago, of Dearborn Heights, was there to watch her daughter, Taylor Sherman. Santiago had about 20 people with her — children and grandchildren. She said Sherman was Miss Michigan Teen USA in 2011. "If the double whammy happens, call the EMS," she said.
The experience, Santiago said, wasn't new. "I love pageants," she said. "She's been doing them since she was six." It was a new experience for Katrina and Kyle Fellenbaum, of Fenton. Their daughter, Faith Weier, 20, was competing as Miss Fenton. "She has never done this before; this is her very first time," her mom said. "I think it's great," she said. "Very energetic and everybody looks great.
"It's gone very well. I'm very happy." She said her daughter plays basketball at Alma College, so a pageant is something different. "This is one of the greatest moments of her life," she said. "She's learned a lot about herself. This has been a very good thing for her."
Marci Fogal, president of the Blue Water Convention and Visitors Bureau, said such events are good for Port Huron. "Look around," she said in a crowded theater lobby. "It's a good opportunity to showcase our community. "It drives our economy — these people have been out in our restaurants, shopping, having a good time." She said she's heard many positive comments about Port Huron from people visiting for the pageant.
"It's nice to hear that," she said. "It's just a great opportunity." Pam Keller and her daughters, Addison and Pamela, had signs supporting her daughter and their sister, Kaci Keller. She was representing Decatur in the Miss Teen Michigan USA competition. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for her," Pam Keller said. "She just turned 18 in July." The signs read "Good Luck Kaci" and "We Love Kaci." Addison Keller said they would have made more signs, but "we ran out of duct tape."
THE RESULTS
MISS MICHIGAN USA 2015
• Winner: Rashontae Wawrzyniak, Miss St. Clair Lake USA
• First runner-up: Sarah Gerberding, Miss Boyne City USA
• Second runner-up: Elizabeth Johnson, Miss Plymouth USA
• Third runner-up: April Strong, Miss Swartz Creek USA
• Fourth runner-up: Laura Esqueda, Miss Northville USA
MISS MICHIGAN TEEN USA 2015
• Winner: Maria Rendina, Miss Monroe Teen USA
• First runner-up: Maria Smith, Miss Shelby Township Teen USA
• Second runner-up: Ujaneé Wells, Miss Lake State Teen USA
• Third runner-up: Stephanie Staurov, Miss Chesterfield Township Teen USA
• Fourth runner-up: Amanda St. Germain, Miss Marquette USA
