Lakeville Elementary had a beauty queen visit the school last week to take part in its annual ‘Fun Run? fund-raiser.
Kelly Oles, a 2006 Oxford High graduate who won the title of Miss Tip of the Mitt 2010 in Cheboygan Sept. 19, was there in her crown and sash to cheer the kids on as they ran and walked laps to raise funds for the school’s PTO (see photos on page 12).
The event fit in perfectly with Oles? platform of promoting healthy living for kids. ‘Healthy kids are going to make healthy adults,? she said.
Oles, 21, is greatly concerned about the weight-related issues facing kids.
‘The overweight and obesity rate in America today is one-in-three children. That’s huge,? she said.
To help spread awareness about this issue and encourage kids to be more active and eat right, Oles plans to spend the next eight months ? until she competes in the Miss Michigan pageant in June 2010 ? volunteering, speaking and appearing everywhere from schools to community events.
‘I’m ready to volunteer. Anybody who wants to contact me, I’m willing,? she said, noting her e-mail address is ktoles@oakland.edu.
Oles is scheduled to speak at the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Expo Thursday, Oct. 1. The event is being held at the Boulder Pointe Golf and Banquet Center.
‘I just want to help as many people as I can,? she said. ‘Anyway that I can do that and just get this issue out there would be great.?
Oles still can’t believe she won the title of Miss Tip of the Mitt, which represents northern Michigan. ‘I was first place in talent and evening gown,? she said.
For the talent portion, she sang ‘I Could Have Danced All Night? from the classic Broadway musical ‘My Fair Lady.?
Oles faced some stiff competition as she went up against 14 other young ladies, a couple of whom had just competed in the Miss Michigan pageant.
‘This is actually my second pageant,? she explained. ‘Here are these experienced girls and I’m on my second.?
‘I was very lucky and very humbled,? Oles noted.
About two months ago, she competed for the title of Miss Oakland County and was named fourth runner-up.
Hard to believe that next summer, she will compete against 26 other young ladies from around the state for the coveted title of Miss Michigan and the opportunity to compete in the 2011 Miss America pageant.
Oles decided to start competing in pageants as a way to do more volunteer work and earn money for her education.
‘I wanted to make more of a difference, so I looked up the Miss America organization,? she explained. ‘It promotes independent women who want scholarship money, but also love to help their community.?
‘I think she’s doing it for the right reasons,? said her mother, Sue Oles.
Right now, Oles is a senior at Oakland University majoring in communications and minoring in journalism.
‘I want to be a news anchor,? she said.
She’s hoping to win the Miss Michigan title and use the scholarship money to attain her master’s degree, perhaps in business.
Unlike many young ladies in the pageant world, Oles didn’t spend her childhood on stage.
‘I was a tomboy,? she said.
‘She played (flag) football in sixth grade,? noted her mother. ‘She was the only girl on the team.?
‘I was a tough little thing,? Oles added.
Until she takes the stage in the Miss Michigan pageant, Oles plans to spend a lot of time encouraging students at Lakeville Elementary to live healthier lives.
She’s no stranger to the school. Her younger brother, Adam Romzick, is a third-grader there.
‘I’ve been volunteering here since he was in kindergarten,? Oles said.