MANSFIELD — Miss Shawnee Stephanie Finoti was praising a friend’s talent backstage before she won the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program preliminary talent award for the gray flight Thursday.
“This is a little bit biased because one of my very close friends is Baylee Joy Martin,” she said. “She tried a new talent this year with ventriloquism.
“She came off stage and I told her Baylee Joy, I am so proud of you, prepare yourself to win the talent award. If I had to pick a runner-up, it would definitely be her.”
Finoti, a Columbus native, won the preliminary talent award and a $500 scholarship from the The Ontario Center on Thursday night.
She performed a ballet dance to Don Quixote, Kitri Act 3 variation.
“I was born bow legged and doctors told my mom she should put me in dance classes to strengthen my legs,” Finoti said. “I’ve been dancing since the age of 2 and I fell in love with it.”
Finoti said she took a break from dancing after an injury and didn’t put her pointe shoes back on until she decided to compete for Miss Ohio starting last year.
“I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to dance again,” she said. “It means the world to me to have been able to regain my gift and my strength and showcase my talent on the Miss Ohio stage.”
The 21-year-old performed the same dance in last year’s Miss Ohio competition with some tweaks to include jumps and turns this year.
“It is a Spanish dance and I am Latina, so I love being able to bring not only my talent on stage, but also my culture,” she said.
Finoti’s community service initiative is “That STEM Girl: How mentorship drives diversity in medicine.”
Finoti, a biomedical science major at the University of Cincinnati, plans to become a neonatologist focusing on premature baby care.
Cincinnati native LeAce wins first health & fitness award
Miss Greater Cleveland Lucabella LeAce earned the first health and fitness award in the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program’s history.
Health and fitness replaced the swimsuit portion of the competition, which halted in 2019 after Miss America announced changes in the national competition.
Zara Construction sponsored the $500 scholarship accompanying the health and fitness award.
LeAce, 20, thanked the judges for the award. She said she set 19 personal goals for herself during Miss Ohio week.
“Madison and other contestants told us to have goals outside of winning, and I’m contestant number 19, so I set 19 goals,” she said. “Some of them are small, like drink plenty of water or don’t snooze my alarm, but I also made a goal to really get to know each girl.
“It was so fun seeing everyone on stage tonight and cheering them on.”
This year marks LeAce’s first Miss Ohio as a Miss contestant, but she was a Teen contestant for five years. LeAce is a nursing major at Thomas Moore University and wants to become a children’s behavioral health nurse.
The Cincinnati native’s community service initiative is “Let’s Talk; Let’s Listen: Ending the Silence Surrounding Suicide.”
“We get to represent not just living a healthy life, but having a healthy heart and prioritizing mental health as well,” she said. “Health is something that encompasses your mind, body and soul. That’s really what being Miss America Fit means.”
The competition’s emcees are reigning Miss Ohio Madison Miller and 2004 Miss Ohio Amanda Beagle. The pair presented other scholarship awards to the contestants Thursday night.
Americanism essay award winners, earning $250 each, were Marina DeNunzio Brittney Putman. Budd and Diance Couts sponsor the Americanism essay scholarships.
Community service essay award winners, also earning $250 each, were Caitlin Seifert and Diamond Coleman. Mansfield Kiwanis sponsors the community service essay contest.
Riegel wins award voted on by fellow contestants
The “green team” was presented the “Spirit of the Pines” award from the candidates’ retreat to Hopewood Pines. Lexington native Grace Riegel, Miss Rock & Roll City, also earned a $250 scholarship with the personal “Spirit of the Pines” award. The award is voted on by fellow contestants.
The second Miss Ohio preliminary night will be Friday, featuring health and fitness and evening wear for the gray flight and talent and on-stage question for the scarlet flight.
Judges will announce the 11 semi-finalists Friday, including the winner of the People’s Choice award, after the second preliminary night. Contestants are scored based on a private interview, health and fitness, talent, evening wear and on-stage conversation.
The 2024 Miss Ohio will be crowned on Saturday.
