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Gamecocks have eyes on pageant prizes
January 27, 2015
Miss S.C. USA 2015 Sarah Weishuhn and Miss S.C. Teen USA 2015 Wesley Mitchell (Credit: Tim Dominick)
The below story was written by Amanda Coyne and is republished from The State.
Two Gamecocks will be representing South Carolina on the national pageant stage this summer.
December graduate Sarah Weishuhn and first-year student Wesley Mitchell were crowned Miss South Carolina USA and Miss South Carolina Teen USA last month and have already thrown themselves into preparations for the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA competitions while becoming fast friends.
Mitchell, who won the teen crown at her first-ever state pageant, was one of the only contestants three-time competitor Weishuhn didn’t know before their names were called at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, although many who meet the two assume they’ve been friends for years.
“We feel like we’ve known each other forever,” Mitchell said.
“It’s like it was meant to be,” Weishuhn agreed.
But right after their dream-come-true crowning moments, reality came right back for Mitchell and Weishuhn; both had final exams at the University of South Carolina two weeks after the pageant, and Weishuhn graduated Dec. 15 with a degree in public health. On top of their duties as titleholders and preparing for their national pageants, both continue to work part time.
Mitchell is returning for spring semester classes at USC and Weishuhn is preparing to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) in anticipation of applying to graduate programs for nutrition. But their realities aren’t preventing either beauty queen from living her dream.
“The other day, I was remembering sitting on the couch, watching Miss USA and admiring these girls, and I sat back and realized, I am one of those girls now,” Weishuhn said. “There were 88 girls at Miss South Carolina and South Carolina Teen ... We were watching the DVD of the pageant and I looked at Wesley and said, ‘Out of all those girls, it’s us.’”
It still hasn’t sunk in for either woman a month after winning. Mitchell said she is still surprised and flattered when fans reach out on social media. Weishuhn still does a double take when she is called by her title. “People say ‘Hi, Miss South Carolina,’” and I have to look around like ‘Where?’” Weishuhn said with a laugh.
Weishuhn and Mitchell have hit the ground running with their plans as titleholders. Weishuhn already has begun making appearances, speaking to her high school, Stratford High School in Goose Creek, and appearing at a Wounded Warrior Project event. She plans to use her title to encourage South Carolinians to live a healthy life physically, mentally and spiritually and to bring awareness to causes supporting cancer research.
“The title gives you a voice you wouldn’t have without it,” Weishuhn said. “You can change a lot of lives by doing small things.”
The causes are close to her heart both as a future health care professional and the daughter of a cancer survivor.
Mitchell plans to speak to schools about the power of confidence in making good life choices and resisting peer pressure.
“If you’re confident, you don’t have to give in to peer pressure. You’re confident that doing the right thing will lead you where you want to go,” Mitchell said.
While making plans, the two beauty queens are also eyeing the ultimate goal: the national title. Mitchell follows in the footsteps of
K. Lee Graham, the Chapin native crowned Miss Teen USA in August; Weishuhn is next in a long line of Palmetto State queens who have placed high at Miss USA in recent years. Both have high hopes for success at their pageants.
“Hopefully, this time next year, we’ll both be living in New York” at the national titleholders’ apartment, Weishuhn said.
