PAGEANT Circle

Haley Berger, representing Lawrence, was crowned Miss Kansas USA 2023 on Sunday, June 18 at Polsky Theatre in the Midwest Trust Center, Overland Park. The 22-year-old pharmacy student at the University of Kansas will now prepare to represent Kansas at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada on a date yet to be announced. Darby Davis of Kansas City and Megan Reinhart of Wichita were declared the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Natalie Hotz of Topeka, Jaelynne Seirer of Russell County, and Aryssa Joel of Prairie Village rounded out the Top 6 finalists. "I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the sponsors and the pageant organization for providing this platform, allowing us to showcase our intelligence, and inner beauty," the new Miss Kansas USA shared on social media after winning her first pageant ever. "I have been inspired by the incredible women I have met throughout this competition. We have bonded, supported one another, and shattered stereotypes together

Gracie Hunt, representing Kansas City, was crowned Miss Kansas USA 2021 in a glittering competition held on Sunday, April 11 at the B&B Live Performing Arts Theatre in Shawnee. The 21-year-old works in marketing and development for the Kansas City Chiefs and currently pursuing her master’s in sport management from the University of Kansas. She is a global ambassador for Special Olympics, a certified health and fitness coach with Celiac disease, and founded the nonprofit Breaking Barriers Through Sports in 2016 to aid the disadvantaged and promote respect and inclusion worldwide. Gracie succeeds Hayden Brax and will now prepare to represent her state at the Miss USA 2021 pageant. The new Miss Kansas USA is the daughter of Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt and former titleholder Tavia Shackles, who finished as a runner-up in Miss USA 1993. "I cannot put into words how honored I am to join the VANBROS family and Miss Kansas USA legacy & represent the amazing state of Kansas," she po