Pageant Winner From Sykesville is Seeking More Than Just That Crowning Achievement

“Even if you’re from a small town you can achieve big things,” said Sykesville resident Kirsten Nicholson, 18.

Nicholson’s “big thing” was being crowned Miss Maryland Teen USA 2011 at the Miss Maryland Pageant in October 2010.

After a long weekend with rounds of interviews, gowns and swimsuits, Nicholson, who was the first runner-up the previous year, said she was speechless at winning the title. “I don’t think anything can prepare you for a year like this,” she said.

So far, Nicholson has attended events for charities such as Best Buddies and GirlUp, and most recently participated in the Polar Bear Plunge and was presented to the Maryland Assembly.

“The fact that I get to do this for a year is really humbling,” Nicholson said, adding she enjoys working with children, from speaking at elementary schools to working with the Girl Scouts. “They think you’re kind of like a princess.”

Nicholson, however, is not a lifelong pageant girl and doesn’t know how long she’ll continue competing. Her first pageant was the Miss Maryland Teen USA Pageant when she was 15 and she placed fifth. The next year she was first runner up and then this year she won. “I had the mindset that I wanted to come back and win,” she said.

Currently a freshman at Stevenson University, Nicholson is studying nursing with the hopes of working in pediatric oncology. “When people are sick I want to be someone that people can look to and be comfortable with,” she said.

However, she is considering competing for the Miss Maryland title, for the 18 to 26 age group, this year and is interested in modeling. “I want to live in New York City for a while,” she said, acknowledging that her career options are opposites. “I sometimes wish I was a little more definite in my plan.”

Nicholson admitted that there are conceptions about pageant competition that she would like to correct. “First off, it starts with the word beauty…so people immediately think it’s about beauty and how you look but really it’s about your presence and how you carry yourself and your inner beauty. Inner beauty is way more important,” she said.

Nicholson grew up dancing, which she said prepared her the most for the performance aspect of the pageant. “You have to get comfortable being on stage,” she said.

The most daunting part of the competitions can be the interviews, according to Nicholson. “My biggest fear and something I lacked the most was speaking,” she said. “You have to know about yourself […] They’re looking for someone who’s good on their feet.”

Currently, Nicholson said she is focusing on preparations for the Miss Teen USA Pageant, traditionally held in the Bahamas in July. She said she makes sure to still make time for dance and spending time with friends and family.

When this year it over, she said she hopes to find time again for another one of her hobbies: scrapbooking.

“This will be something cool to scrapbook about.”