Northern Kentucky University crowned its newest Miss NKU on Sunday evening as Sarah James took home the 2025 Miss NKU pageant title. The pageant was held in the student union ballroom and focused on the talents, community service and confidence of six contestants.
The evening began with an introduction segment where contestants addressed a variety of social issues, including mental health, accessibility and STEM education. A panel of six judges, composed of NKU faculty and local community leaders, evaluated the participants across several phases of the competition, including fitness, talent and evening wear.
The fitness phase focused on confidence and stage presence rather than physical appearance, which is often emphasized in traditional pageants. The fitness section led directly into the talent portion, which showcased a range of performances.
James performed a clogging routine, a skill she has honed since childhood. “I’ve been clogging since I was six at my hometown studio, Studio One School of Dance,” James said. “I’ve been on the same team with basically the same people the whole time, and it didn’t ever feel like we were actually having to practice — it was more like we were just hanging out dancing.”
Her talent stood out among other impressive performances, which included Michaela Rhodes giving a speech on mental health, Tori Lafferty’s rendition of Rihanna’s “Love On The Brain” and Jill Wilhelm’s moving monologue on athleticism and her battle with degenerative disc disease. Amanda Bailey performed a speed painting routine of the “Star Wars” character Yoda on a spinning canvas, while Ashley Gilker delivered a sign language interpretation of “Beauty and the Beast.”
In the evening gown phase, contestants navigated the stage in their chosen evening wear. This was followed by outgoing Miss NKU 2024 Kandice Williams making her final walk in an evening gown, bidding farewell to her reign.
The pageant was focused on more than just individual performances, with several awards being given out before the Miss NKU title. Gilker was awarded the Community Service Award, while Wilhelm received the People’s Choice Award, voted on by the guests of the event during an intermission. Bailey was named Miss Congeniality, an award given based on a contestant’s friendly and supportive demeanor.
James, a Winchester, Kentucky native and junior biology major, reflected on her journey to the Miss NKU crown. Although she had experience in pageants during childhood, it wasn’t until a friend encouraged her to enter Miss NKU that she decided to compete.
“When I was younger, I did pageants at my county fair,” James said. “I hadn’t done one since high school, but my friend said I would have fun doing this, so I gave it a shot.”
Beyond the pageant, James is an involved campus leader. She works with Norse Violence Prevention, where she teaches workshops on bystander intervention and healthy relationships, and serves as the lead ambassador for the Student Wellness department. She is also a resident assistant for University Housing, a member of Norse Leadership Society and a member of Delta Zeta sorority.
Mackenzie Veliquette, an NKU alumna who helped organize the pageant, praised the event’s significance on campus and the opportunities it provides for students.
“[Miss NKU] gives campus a bit of representation in an area where NKU hasn’t always been represented,” Veliquette said. Referring to the contestants, the organizer said, “They are so wonderful. It is really, really great to see them flourish and blossom on stage.”
The event concluded with James earning recognition not only for her overall victory but also for winning the talent and evening gown categories. Rhodes was named first runner-up, while Bailey earned the title of Miss Highland Heights.
James will hold the Miss NKU crown for the next year and will serve as a campus representative. The pageant is also a preliminary competition for this year’s Miss Kentucky pageant, which she will have an opportunity to attend.