2024 Miss St. Joe Court is Crowned

On December 2, the Miss St. Joe court of 2023 passed their crowns down to the new queens and kings. Harry Kalin, 11 and Jackson Milnickel, 11 were both named Mr. St Joe. Isabelle (Izzy) Schrauben, who attends Our Lady of the Lake, was named Miss. Congeniality and second runner up to Miss. St. Joe. Ava Christie, 12 was named first runner up to Miss. St. Joe. Jillian Bartz was crowned Miss. St. Joe 2024. 

“Going into Saturday morning, I was nervous, but the committee did a really good job at calming me down and helping me to be confident as I went into my interviews,” Jillian Bartz, 11 said. 

This was Jillian's first year competing in a pageant.

 “I’ve always looked up to the people in Blossomtime. I’ve always wanted to be on one of the pretty floats. Many of my friends also encouraged me to join the pageant,” Jillian expressed. 

Jillian looks forward to her reign of Miss. St Joe, specifically all of the volunteer activities and getting to know the people on the other courts better.

The kings expressed that they began preparing for the pageant a little over a month before the pageant. Practices included practicing walking the girls down the stage, preparing a dance, and practiced interview skills, etc. 

 “My favorite part of this whole experience was definitely the practices, and getting to hangout with and meet a lot of new people. And also getting to hangout with Jackson,” Harry Kalin, 11 said. 

“I’m excited to participate in all of the volunteer activities, helping out around town, and going to all of the other pageants,” Jackson Milnickel, 11 said.

When asked why these kings decided to participate in the pageant, Harry expressed “My mom told me it'll be good for college and my sister told me it would be a fun experience.”

“I’d say if considering whether or not you are deciding to participate in the pageant, I’d say just do it. There are a lot of benefits, and I’m having fun so far,” Jackson added.

If Jillian were to give advice to someone who is thinking about participating in the Miss St. Joe pageant next year, she’d say, “Be yourself. That is how I went into the pageant, I didn't want to be stressed out, so believing whatever happens happens helped me.”