Some will say, “She is so lucky,” but all those who have followed Olivia Negri on her pageantry journey realize it was her determination, dedication, passion, hard work, and a willingness to grow that set the stage for her to win Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2024.
Winning is exactly what she did on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at the Verona Area High School Performing Arts Center in Verona, Wisconsin. She was crowned by Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2023 Shelby Hohneke of Hudson. About that winning moment, Olivia shared, “My emotions, when I was named the new Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2024, were all over the place. This has been something I have been working on for the past three years. Not everyone understands the meaning and entailment it takes to compete in these pageants. It is not about who has the most money, the best dress, or the prettiest. It is about girls finding their true selves and going out of their shells.”
The competition consists of an introduction, athletic wear, formal gown, and personal interview. Olivia said, “I was fortunate enough to be in the top five at the finals. The top five contestants were then required to answer an onstage question. My question this year was, “What is the best compliment someone has ever given you?” I responded with, “The best compliment someone has ever given me would be how passionate I am.”
Showing her passion for this pageant, Olivia has been in the Miss Wisconsin Teen USA competition for the last three years. In 2023, she placed 4th runner-up. She said the only difference this year compared to last year was that the preliminaries and finals were all in one day. She added, “I was not as nervous going into this year’s pageant as the previous years, but I still felt all the emotions.”
To better prepare for this year’s competition, and to help ease any nerves that could spring up, she worked on her interview skills talking with people. “I went around my town and to local businesses to talk to them about sponsorships and tell them more about what I do. In turn, this proved to be a great way to work on and improve my interview. Communicating with strangers and making small talk is a wonderful way to improve interview skills. I think this made a difference for me at the state pageant this year.”
Regarding her big win, Olivia said, “My parents were equally shocked and excited! This has been a dream for me, and my parents have supported me through all of it; I would not have been able to have these experiences without their love. It all happened so fast, and I think it was a bit of a shock for my parents, as well as me.”
She said when she got back home to Park Falls, she was greeted by her family, and the Park Falls Police Department escorted their family vehicle throughout town.
The community will get to see Olivia at various events across the county over the summer. She has been completing many interviews, and she will be making public appearances. She is currently scheduled to appear at the upcoming rodeo, 4th of July parade in Park Falls, and the fair.
Her next pageant will be the Miss Teen USA 2024 competition held in Hollywood, California.
After the upcoming pageant, Olivia shared her plans for the future. She said she plans on attending college either to get an audiology or business degree. “I do not plan on competing for a few years after this so I can start my adulthood and hopefully a career as an audiologist. But, you never know, as I may jump right back in as there are so many amazing things that come out of competing – networking opportunities, meeting new friends, scholarship opportunities, advocating for important causes….I could go on and on!”