Miss Iowa Taylor Wiebers leaves Sunday for Atlantic City and the Miss America Pageant, the finals of which will air on ABC TV on September 13th.
The Clinton native chose childhood cancer as her platform, along with promoting the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. A few years ago, Wiebers shaved her head as part of a fundraiser for the organization. She says that made her even more passionate about the subject.
“I became best friends with a little boy named Josh who went through lymphoblastic leukemia and is in remission and is cancer-free,” Wiebers says. “I was able to impact his life but what he’ll never know is how much he’s impacted my life.” Wiebers is excited about what the coming weeks will hold but she knows if she doesn’t win the Miss America crown, she won’t feel like she’s let Iowans down.
“When I come home, they will be just as proud and just as willing to have me at their events and have me in the community,” the 21-year-old says. “That’s something I continuously take with me as I prepare for Miss America. Everything happens for a reason. If I’m the next Miss America, I am, but I’m also so proud of being Miss Iowa.” She says there are no losers in these pageants.
“By no means do I feel any pressure or any weight on my shoulders that I have to bring home the Miss America crown,” Wiebers says. “I feel like, if I do, that’ll be the most amazing thing ever, but if I don’t, I still get to come home to the most welcoming community, I still get the rest of the year to serve my state.”
Iowans can vote for Wiebers now on Facebook and Twitter. Of the “Final 15,” the top 14 contestants will be chosen by the judges but the 15th young woman will be picked based on votes received through September 10th. Vote for Miss Iowa by posting Iowa #MissAmericaVote on Facebook or Twitter. You can vote daily on both.
(Reporting by Dave Vickers, KROS, Clinton)