A late Villager’s granddaughter has been crowned Miss Kansas USA.
Alyssa Klinzing, of Olathe, Kan., was selected as the winner during the Nov. 25 pageant that was held at the Kansas Star Event Center at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Mulvane, Kan. Her late grandfather is Joe Klinzing, who lived in the Village of Fernandina and died this past April. Alyssa’s grandmother, Michele, still lives in The Villages.
The 21-year-old Alyssa will represent Kansas in the Miss USA 2019 pageant, which will be held in the coming year. She is vying for the opportunity to represent the United States in the Miss Universe pageant.
Alyssa, who beat out 13 other candidates to win the Miss Kansas USA crown, is no stranger to the world of pageants. In December 2012, she also won the title of Miss Teen Kansas USA.
Alyssa shared her feelings on social media after winning the recent pageant: “There are no words to describe this feeling. Trust in his timing. All the glory to God… I am so proud to be the new Miss Kansas USA. Next stop…. Miss USA!”
In addition to Alyssa, the other top finishers were 1st runner-up Alyson Acklin (Great Plains), Faith Tyrell (South Johnson County), Camila Sacco (Wichita) and Hayden Brax (Kansas City).
Alyssa chose two charities to support as Miss Kansas USA – Steps of Faith Foundation in honor of her late grandfather and Warriors for Ross.
Steps of Faith is a nonprofit charity dedicated to providing prosthetic care, hope and comfort to amputees needing financial help.
Warriors for Ross is the official charity of the Miss Kansas USA program and was established in honor of Donald “Ross” Elliott III, who died when he was 3½ years old in September 2011 after battling a rare type of cancer, Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia M-7.
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